Looking ahead at pending free agents for Los Angeles Rams in 2019

Before we enter into the last quarter of the season and the playoffs, let’s take a look at the Los Angeles Rams pending free agents, and consider which players may be in their last run with the team.

The Los Angeles Rams will look different in 2019. They have a number of players set to be free agents, though they have gotten a lion’s share of the heavy lifting out of the way.

Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald, Brandin Cooks, and Rob Havenstein have all been extended. Those moves alone would make for a ridiculous offseason haul.

However, the Rams have a few players left that are requiring work, as shown on the list below.

• DT Ndamukong Suh
• S Lamarcus Joyner
• OG Rodger Saffold
• OLB Dante Fowler, Jr.
• DE Dominique Easley
• OLB Matt Longacre
• CB Sam Shields
• DE Ethan Westbrooks
• QB Sean Mannion
• ILB Ramik Wilson
• CB Troy Hill
• RB Malcolm Brown
• ILB Bryce Hager
• CB Dominique Hatfield
• WR Jojo Natson
• CB Blake Countess
• DE Morgan Fox
• ILB Cory Littleton
• CB Kevin Peterson
• OLB Garrett Sickels
• WR KhaDarel Hodge

By my count, four of these players qualify as starters (Fowler, Joyner, Saffold, and Suh, but I did not count Easley as a starter, though a case could be made for him as a starter). Let’s deal with them one by one.

When the Rams signed Suh, it sent analysts crazy talking about the dominant force their defensive line would be. And it has been fairly dominant, except mostly not because of Suh, but because of Aaron Donald outdoing his DPOY season last year.

Suh has been fine, but has fallen short of expectations (only 3.5 sacks through 12 games). Would the Rams bring him back on a team friendly deal? Would Suh even want that?

Suh is nearing the twilight of his career, where he may be more likely to choose the best team and the best fit over the most money, but how much of a discount will that be, and how interested are the Rams at paying it, compared to bringing in another edge threat or locking up one of the above free agents?

Would the Saints or Chiefs or, even the Patriots, pay more than Los Angeles to lock him up?

Lamarcus Joyner has been a staple in the defensive backfield the last two seasons, to the degree that the Rams franchised him last offseason. The diminutive (5’8″) but spunky safety has not exactly played like a franchise player, although this sures up that safety position.

Given the other needs, I think it is likely that the Rams let him test free agency and walk, resulting in him getting overpaid by another club.

Roger Saffold is one of the longest tenured Rams, as he was drafted in 2010 with Sam Bradford. He is a good character player who has earned the respect of coaches, players and fans.

I imagine it is likely that both the player and team want to keep him in LA for the remainder of his career. But, and here is where sentimentality makes it tough, is it better for either Joe Notebook or Brian Allen to get experience at a cheaper price tag than Rodger?

It’s a hard question to ask, but one the Rams need to consider. Saffold, for as great of a teammate and a player as he has been, has suffered his share of injuries, only playing in 16 games once (though he has been nearly perfect since 2015).

Fowler came over via trade from Jacksonville. It’s no secret that the Rams are weak at edge, and that he has helped since joining the team. The biggest question may be the price tag.

Will there be a feeding frenzy for his services? Would LA consider franchising him for around $15 million to get another year out of him without commitment?

Other questions still remaining:

• ILB Cory Littleton is a restricted free agent, but will another team try to sign him away, forcing the Rams to turn down a pick to keep him? I say he is back with the Rams.
• What will the Rams do at backup QB? Will they bring Sean Mannion back or find a veteran or a mid-late round rookie to serve as the backup? Honestly, I think they move on from Mannion.
• With a collarbone injury and a pending free agency, have Malcom Brown‘s days backing up Todd Gurley come to an end, ushering in the era of John Kelly or even the speedy Justin Davis?
• Could the Rams extend 2020 free agent this offseason, like Marcus Peters or Jared Goff?

While the main focus over these final few weeks will be the NFC playoff picture, it’s never too early to look ahead to 2019 for the Rams.

Not to jump too far ahead, but if Los Angeles does go on to win the Super Bowl, keeping a lot of these guys is going to become a top priority for the Rams to give them a better chance of repeating.