4 options for LA Rams defensive end: Re-sign, Sign, Draft, or Promote Defensive End?

Promote

If the team has sufficient depth and talent at the defensive end position, then promoting a current player is the way to go.  For Rams defensive ends Morgan Fox and Tanzel Smart, they have been putting in the time and effort for that very outcome.

In 2020, defensive end Tanzel Smart faces the last year of his NFL contract.  As we had discussed before, NFL players in their contract year can be surprisingly effective and productive. To date, Smart has been relegated to spot duty on both special teams play and defense.  But the Rams may test Smart in 2020, and should they do so, Smart must show up.  Selected in round six of the 2017 NFL Draft, Smart had a draft grade of round 4-5., suggesting he had the capacity to develop into an NFL starter.  While he had four starts and saw action in all 16 games as a rookie, his sophomore season found him frequently on the inactive list on game day.  That will change in 2020. A new defense, a new coaching staff, a new season, and a new urgency all shape up to give Smart a huge incentive to break out in 2020.  Even if he merely earns more playing time, that helps the Rams fill the Brockers’ roster void. And that gives the team a better rotation going forward.

Restricted free agent (RFA) Morgan Fox has no contract with the LA Rams in 2020. We reviewed what RFA means in our 2020 Free Agency Primer article.  The Rams may designate a tender offer on Fox beginning February 25 and will have until March 10th at 4:00 pm EST to do so.  The Rams must offer Fox a one-year tender offer.  After that, Fox may re-sign with the Rams, or opt to sign with other NFL Teams.  Once another team makes Fox an offer sheet, the Rams will have the right to match that offer and keep Fox, or decline.  Any team signing away Fox will subsequently be required to transfer the appropriate draft pick to Fox.

With so many unrestricted free-agents (UFAs) available in 2020, the Rams will likely have next to no competition for the 6-foot-3 275-pound Fox. Based on the team’s needs in 2020, it makes perfect sense for the team to bring Fox back, with or without Brockers.  Fox made a substantial impact in a very limited role during his 2016 rookie season. Factoring out the lost 2018 season due to an ACL injury, Fox has seen a steady 30-plus percent of all defensive snaps.  In that time, Fox has earned some spot starts and has gradually developed into a steady performer. Is he ready for a full-time starter role? Yes, he is.

No matter how the Rams address the defensive end position soon to be vacated by outgoing free agent Michaels Brockers, the team has many solid options to do so.  Whichever option the team selects, the outcome will have an impact on the team’s success in 2020.