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Grading The St. Louis Rams’ Free Agency

By Blaine Grisak

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The St. Louis Rams had a much busier first two weeks of free agency than many would have expected. Entering free agency with only $6.7 million of cap space it was hard to see the team making any big moves that would have helped them get significantly better.

That was until the Rams released Kendall Langford, Scott Wells, and Jake Long giving general manager Les Snead another $18 million in cap space to work with. It didnt end there however, to open up even more cap space the Rams and Eagles traded quarterbacks, providing the team with $12.985 million dollars in cap relief.

In doing so, the Rams also moved up into the 4th round of the upcoming NFL Draft while giving the Eagles their 5th, and they also earned a 2nd round pick in the 2016 draft.

And that was just the start.  Once the signings began the Rams re-signed tight end Lance Kendricks and wide receiver Kenny Britt while bringing in defensive tackle Nick Fairley, linebacker Akeem Ayers, quarterback Case Keenum, and offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds.

Prior to free agency, many would have probably said that offensive line, quarterback, and wide receiver were the Rams’ top three priorities.  With the moves that the Rams made, in some way, shape, or form, they addressed those needs. To what extent however is debatable.

With the moves that the Rams have made what grade would they receive? According to CBS’s Pete Prisco the Rams received a C-. Here’s what Prisco had to say,

"“Their big move was trading Sam Bradford to the Eagles for Nick Foles and draft picks, which is an odd move, although getting picks helps. Signing Nick Fairley as backup depth on a one-year deal is a good move. Akeem Ayers will help the linebacker group. They were smart to bring back receiver Kenny Britt.”"

It’s hard to disagree here with Prisco. The Rams’ only big move was really the quarterback swap with them and the Eagles. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s also hard to see where the Rams in fact got better in the areas of need. Specifically the offensive line.

If I had to give the Rams a grade right now I’d give them a little more credit than Prisco and give them a B-. The Rams did open up a lot of cap space by making some difficult business decisions, something that Jeff Fisher has struggled to do in the past being that he is a players coach.

There is still time to address these needs that are remaining in the second wave of free agency, but time is running out.

Next: St. Louis Rams 2015 Draft: Wide Receiver or Offensive Line?

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