5 NFL Free Agents LA Rams should target for 2020 comeback

As the LA Rams try to restock their roster with pennies on the dollar, perhaps the team should turn to these 5 NFL Free Agents ripe for a comeback in 2020

The LA Rams may be limited in free salary cap and 2020 NFL Draft picks, but the team is bursting with opportunity. Defensively, the team boasts perhaps the best defensive secondary in the NFL in 2020, and is led by standout defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Opportunity enough to attract NFL Free Agents, particularly those seeking a chance at a comeback.

Offensively, the Rams have running back Todd Gurley, quarterback Jared Goff, and a host of wide receivers led by Cooper Kupp.  This team can score points almost at will.

Still, the team has little available money to pay players this year.  While the team stares at farewells to ten veteran NFL players, some players have already begun to post their social media farewells to Rams fans.  It’s a concerning time for fans who want to cling to the hope of a successful 2020 season, but struggle to absorb the massive loss of talent to free agency this year.

For our part, we’ve worked the challenge of succeeding in 2020 from two different angles.  We ran a mock draft aiming at building depth at positions most adversely affected by free agent losses. Alternatively, we identified seven players already on the roster who must step up to fill the shoes vacated by Rams outgoing free agents.

With few available dollars, the team is not in position to sign marquis players in free agency.  But perhaps the team can aim at NFL Players who are ripe for a return to the pros.  Here are five such players who sat out a year who could make a solid run at Comeback Player of the Year in 2020.

Nose tackle Bennie Logan – Bennie Logan is a versatile 6-foot-2 315 pound defensive lineman who has excelled at nose tackle, but has the ability to play at defensive tackle or defensive end as well.  He last played for the Tennessee Titans in 2018, where he signed a one-year $4 million deal.  He only saw the field for 22 percent of the defensive snaps, and was not re-signed. Logan entered the NFL in 2013 with the Philadelphia Eagles,  and had enjoyed success until signing on with the Titans. Logan never suffered a major injury, and could be had for a league veteran minumum contract of just $820,000.

He would file multiple defensive spots for the Rams defensive line, and help mentor young incoming players.

Defensive tackle Corey Liuget– Corey Liuget is another stout defensive linemen, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 300 pounds. He also has remarkable versatility, playing all over the defensive line.  While he played in 2019, he did so with the Buffalo Bills (7 games) and the Oakland Raiders (3 games).  He last played a significant amount of defensive snaps for the LA Chargers in 2017. In both 2018 and 2019, his usage fell to under 20 percent of the defensive plays.

He too could fill multiple roles on the Rams defensive line, as well as help develop young additions to the team.

Outside linebacker Nick Perry – Nick Perry is another player whose season ended prematurely in 2018, and he was unable to sign on with a new team in 2019.  He is a 6-foot-3 265 outside linebacker who can be devastatingly effective when he gets his game on track.   He was every bit a star for the Green Bay Packers in 2017 and 2016.  Over that two year period, he averaged 9.0 sacks, 45 tackles, and 15 quarterback hits per season.  He drew some interest last year, but did not sign on with a new team – likely still suffering from his 2018 injury. The Rams could bring him in at less than $1 million, and let him compete for playing time.

Offensive tackle Ryan Schraeder – Ryan Schraeder is a 6-foot-7 300 pound offensive tackle who last played for the Atlanta Falcons, where he started 13 of 16 games. He was a cap casualty of the Falcons in 2019, where his release saved the team $6.45 million.  Still, he was a 6 year starter for the Falcons, only missing his final three games of the season due to the NFL concussion protocul.
A starting right tackle for the Falcons all six seasons, he is just 31 years old and would be an ideal low-risk high-reward signing for the team this season.

Defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson – Muhammad Wilkerson stands 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 315 pounds. He last played defensive end for the Green Bay Packers in 2018, where he played just 11 percent of the defensive snaps.  Another candidate for veteran minimum contract, Wilkerson contributed to the Jets defense in 2017. He suffered an ankle injury in 2018 which required two different surgeries. The good news is that his career was not threatened and he should be ready to play once more.  His production was very good up to his injury, but he simply did not get signed on to a team in 2019.