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LA Rams cap casualty Eric Weddle hangs up cleats, retires from NFL

By Bret Stuter

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Eric Weddle #32 of the Los Angeles Rams enters the stadium prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Eric Weddle #32 of the Los Angeles Rams enters the stadium prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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LA Rams cap casualty safety Eric Weddle retires, leaving Rams another position to fill for the roster to prepare for the 2020 season

LA Rams safety Eric Weddle signed on as a free agent for a two-year deal worth a modest $12.5 million. The plan to address a vacancy at the safety position was sound, and should be the Rams strategy for a number of roster vacancies this season.  Sign a veteran who can start at the position, while simultaneously drafting his successor.

Not only did the Rams sign Weddle, but they astutely drafted his replacement, Taylor Rapp, with their 61st pick.  The Rams had not only solid veteran coverage, but also a young talented prospect to work into game minutes as Rapp earned them on the practice field.  A great plan, which followed the path many great plans do. It failed to consider the other starter, safety John Johnson, who had multiple injuries in the 2019 season.

That forced Rapp to start alongside Weddle, and they did an admirable job on the back end of the defense.  They did an admirable job together, and for one of the few positions on the Rams roster, the future was even rosier.  With Johnson returning to health this season, the Rams would be able to start  Johnson and Rapp in 2020.  Of course, that meant a demotion of sorts for Weddle. Weddle opted for a different route in 2020, retirement.

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I don’t believe that was the way either the LA Rams or Eric Weddle saw retirement in 2020 a year ago.  When he chose to clean up his knee with off-season surgery, that was not a move for a player intending to retire.  That was the type of “get me ready for next season” timing move which suggested Weddle planned to come back for his final season.

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Planned, but other things got in the way.   The emerging talent of Taylor Rapp was one thing. But perhaps a greater factor was the Rams ever tightening salary cap.  The team’s available salary cap fell to approximately $15 Million, not the type of budget a team needs leading into the NFL Free Agent market.

We had laid out a 5 step process to free over $80 million of free salary cap space just day previously.  One of the moves we highlighted was the need for the Rams to part ways with Weddle, and restore $4.25 million to the team’s available cap space.  Retirement is a kindler and gentler way for the same effect.

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The timing of this announcement is not conincidental. The Rams are working to re-sign free agent left tackle Andrew Whitworth.  That means that the team is freeing up enough cap space to do so.  Yes, Eric Weddle is retiring.  But make no mistake, this a a cap casualty move by the Rams to free up salary cap space. There will be more coming.

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