LA Rams complete 2020 restricted free agent ranking

The LA Rams face many personnel decisions. To help follow along, here is the  Rams 2020 restricted free agent list and team option players

The LA Rams have remained silent while many NFL teams have cut players to make room for the upcoming free agency market set to hit in March 2020. Players who are released now are not subject to free-agent rules.  That means any other of the 31 NFL teams can sign the player to a new contract immediately, and it also means that these players will not count towards the 2021 compensatory pick calculations. While the Rams have not cut players loose, the team has a fairly long list of players who are not unrestricted free agents, but who are not currently returning to the Rams for 2020. Yet.

Of course, there are several categories of these players. The first is players whose contract extends a team option to bring the player back at a predefined salary.  Retired safety Eric Weddle was such a player under a team option year.  Another category not under any 2020 contract is the exclusive restricted free agent.  These are players who fall into the category where the LA Rams need only make a one-year qualifying offer and the player has only an option to return to the Rams or sit out a year. They are unable to negotiate with other NFL teams.

The third and final category is the restricted free agent classification.  These are the players the Rams must designate with a “Tender offer”.  Once so designated, the Rams are locked into a 2020 contract salary for that player.  If another team wishes to sign the player, the Rams have a right of first refusal to match the offer. If the Rams do not match, the team will receive a draft pick from the team signing the player away.

Right now, the Rams face the risk of eight such players in these categories.  Of course, one such player, Eric Weddle, has already opted to retire from the NFL rather than chance not return to the team in 2020. So who are these players? Furthermore, how should the Rams handle each?

2020 ERFA, RFA, Team option players

The LA Rams have multiple categories of players no longer under an obligating contract to play in 2020.  The first, and simplest, of the categories, is the team-option contract. That merely needs the LA Rams to exercise their option, and the player returns next season.   The ERFAs and RFAs are a bit trickier, in that they require the Rams to make qualifying or tender offers. Here is the up-to-date list of players not obligated to play for the LA Rams in 2020, but who do not qualify as unrestricted free agents. Please note 2019 salary cap information provided by Spotrac.com:

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS – Defense

DE Morgan Fox – 2019 salary cap hit $645,000.
DB Donte Deayon – 2019 salary cap hit $265,587

Team Option  – Defense
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman – 2019 salary cap hit $6,050,000 , 2020 salary cap hit $4,500,000 at team option

EXCLUSIVE RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS – Defense

OLB Josh Carraway – 2019 salary cap hit $393,000, excluded due to injured reserve

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS – Offense

WR Jojo Natson – 2019 salary cap hit $645,000, excluded due to injured reserve.

EXCLUSIVE RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS – Offense

TE Johnny Mundt – 2019 salary cap hit $570,000
C Coleman Shelton – 2019 salary cap hit $495,000

Retired – Safety Eric Weddle – 2019 salary cap hit – $5,751,525

While the Rams must wrangle over the likelihood of re-signing unrestricted free agents, the team must make the offer to the ERFAs to activate the protections awarded for that designation.  For the RFAs, the Rams must decide what tender offer best protects their interests.  Once an offer is made, the team is obligated to a salary commitment as soon as the team makes a designation towards each restricted free agent.  Team option years are already factored into the available salary-cap calculation at OverTheCap.com or Spotrac.com.z

CB Robey Coleman

CB Nickell Robey-Coleman (Team Option) – Salary cap hit $4,500,000

Background – Nickell Robey Coleman plays the slot cornerback position for the LA Rams, and plays it very well. Of course, everyone equates the NFL Championship game non-call to the player, but he has delivered solid coverage for years.

Strengths – He is a strong coverage slot cornerback, which is not an easy role to fill. He hovers between 50 and 65 percent of the defensive snaps per season but continues to deliver throughout the game. His PFF grade for 2019 was 74.5, but he has graded higher than 82.

Weaknesses – at 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, he will lose to tall receivers. He is relegated to a slot cornerback in the NFL, but has a role at that position with the LA Rams and fills it well.

Team Impact – He is a significant contributor to the LA Rams on defense for the past seven seasons. Right now, his likely replacement would be CB David Long Jr., who may not be quite ready to fill those shoes just yet.

Estimated market value – if the LA Rams decline his option year, he could sign for as much as $7 million / year for a team desperate to improve their pass coverage (i.e. the Philadelphia Eagles)

Projected team action – Rams will pick up his option year and bring him back for 2020.

Most likely team to sign him – LA Rams. If they opt not to bring him back, look for him to garner interest among NFC East teams – specifically the Philadelphia Eagles.

DE Fox

DE Morgan Fox (RFA) – Defensive end Morgan Fox is a restricted free agent for the LA Rams this season. The Rams must make a qualifying offer to Fox. The team can then match any offer sheet made to Fox during the 2020 free agency period.

Background – Defensive end Morgan Fox is a player who could be called upon to fill the void by outgoing defensive end Michael Brockers. Fox has enjoyed some success as a backup, playing in a third of the team’s defensive snaps. He stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 275-pounds.

Strengths – Fox looks the part of an NFL defensive end. He arrived at the Rams undrafted in 2016 and has worked hard to earn his role among the team’s 53-man roster. He has seen playing time in 36 games, including four starts. Despite just a third of the defensive snaps, he can get pressure on the quarterback as well.

Weaknesses – Fox was out the entire 2018 season on injured reserve, and thus spent 2019 reestablishing himself among the defensive line rotation. While he is the most experienced backup defensive lineman, he truly has not jumped off the page as the obvious successor to Brockers.

Team Impact– The LA Rams have painted themselves somewhat into a corner here. With four starters projected to leave the team via free agency, the Rams may be forced to retain Fox for continuity.

Estimated market value – His production was less than his experience would expect. But NFL teams overpay at defensive end.  With the 2020 NFL Draft loaded elsewhere, he would command an annual salary of $2-3 million.

Projected team action – With few better options, the Rams will extend a qualifying offer to Fox. Then the team will likely let the chips fall where they may.

Most likely team to sign him – Surprise Surprise. The Dallas Cowboys, ripe with special teams coaches from the LA Rams, might be tempted to bring Fox in to play special teams, and back up their defensive linemen.

TE Mundt

TE Johnny Mundt (ERFA) – as an exclusive restricted free agent, Mundt will receive the minimum contract offer and will be unable to negotiate with other NFL teams.

Background – Johnny Mundt is the “other guy” at tight end. He is one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL and was the highest-graded special teams player for the team in 2019. As a Rams receiver, he’s been targetted eight times and caught five passes.

Strengths – Johnny Mundt excels at the NFL stuff which simply does not show up on statistics. He is a rock-star on special teams play and is the reason the LA Rams offensive line and quarterback play stabilized in the second half of 2019.  He is a big body at 6-foot-3 and 233 pounds.

Weaknesses – Not a receiving threat for the Rams.  As such, he will be limited to specialized packages on offense and special teams play.

Team Impact – Mundt delivers in areas fans are not likely to easily notice. But whether it’s on special teams, chip blocking pass rushers, or run blocking, Mundt is a solid player who is not easily replaced on the Rams roster.

Estimated market value – Special teams players who perform very well can attract NFL contracts in the $3-5 million per year range.

Projected team action – Rams will extend the qualifying off and keep Mundt through 2020.

Most likely team to sign him – LA Rams

C Shelton

C Coleman Shelton (ERFA) – As an exclusive free agent, Shelton will receive the minimum salary offer. Like Mundt, he will not be able to negotiate with any other NFL teams.

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Background – Coleman Shelton was a mid-season signing off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad to add depth to the offensive line in the midst of injuries.

Strengths – 6-foot-5 285 pound Coleman Shelton is an athletic interior offensive lineman. He is quick enough to lead sweeps and outside runs, but powerful enough to penetrate to secondary assignments on inside runs. The Rams have options to place either Austin Corbett or Brian Allen at the center. Shelton is healthier than Allen, and a more natural fit at center than Corbett.

Weaknesses – Of all of the LA Rams offensive line, Shelton is the one with the least experience. Arriving at the team mid-season, he never had the opportunity to train with his teammates. And singing on as added depth, he was the backup to the backup of a backup.  Now, as the linemen return to health, coaches may overlook Shelton in their fervor to reacquaint themselves with more familiar players.

Team Impact – If given a chance, I expect he will earn significant playing time with the Rams in 2020. He is well-experienced at the center, affording the offense a much better rushing offense, as well as picking up interior blitzes.

Estimated market value – Even a backup center can command $3 million per season.

Projected team action – The LA Rams will likely sign him

Most likely team to sign him – Unless the Rams are penny wise and pound foolish, the LA Rams will sign him.

WR Natson

WR Jojo Natson (RFA)- 5-foot-7 153-pound JoJo Natson is one of the smallest players in the NFL. But that helps when he is returning punts or kick-offs.

Background – WR Jojo Natson signed on with the Rams in September 2018.  He is a pure special team return specialist, serving as both a punt and kick returner.

Los Angeles Rams

Strengths – Natson’s strength is his kick return. He has returned 19 kickoffs for the Rams over two seasons and averaged 20.9 yards per return. With the emphasis on improving in all aspects of the game, the Rams will likely look to retain Natson and perhaps draft his replacement late in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Weaknesses – His size limits his usefulness on the roster. He’s too small to endure the pounding at running back and too short to be a good target in the passing game as a receiver. As long as the team can afford to fill a roster spot with a return specialist,

Team Impact – Natson is a one-trick pony for the LA Rams, but excels at it. The Rams do not currently have a replacement on the roster

Estimated market value – His 2020 tender offer would be approximately $2.1 million. Despite the lack of draft picks, I cannot see the Rams tying up valuable cap space for the return role.

Projected team action – I expect the Rams will take a watch and see position. Without committing to a 2020 contract, the team will likely hope that he comes back to the team to play for $1 million or less.

Most likely team to sign him – If the LA Rams fail to activate a tender offer, look for the Dallas Cowboys to steal Natson for a $1.5-2 million / year contract.

DB Deayon

DB Donte Deayon (RFA) – Donte Deayon is a defensive back signed to the team’s practice squad in December 2018, and finally signed to the 53-man roster in November 2019.

Background – Deayon played off and on for the New York Giants in 2017 and 2018 before being cut and signed to the LA Rams. He’s enjoyed no better than spot duty over his three-year NFL career.

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Strengths – While most of his time has been serving on the NFL practice squad of an NFL Team, Donte Deayon remains ready to be called up at a moment’s notice and play in the NFL.

Weaknesses – Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing just 159-pounds, he is judged as not durable for the physical play inherent in the NFL today.  He could fill an NFL team’s need as a slot cornerback. Unfortunately, the Rams have two such players on the roster already.

Team Impact – Slight. Deayon played just four percent of the Rams defensive snaps, and nine percent of the team’s special team snaps.

Estimated market value – The going rate for a tender offer is $2.1 million, and that’s about where Deayon could look if he were to sign on as a backup cornerback today.

Projected team action – Uncertain if the Rams make the tender offer.  $2 million for such small production is too much of an investment with such salary cap constraints.

Most likely team to sign him – Look for both the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys to sniff around. If no team signs him, the Rams would likely welcome a chance to re-sign him for $800k per year.

OLB Carraway

OLB Josh Carraway (ERFA) – As an exclusive free agent, Carraway will receive the minimum salary offer. Also, he will not be able to negotiate with any other NFL teams.

Background – The LA Rams signed linebacker Josh Carraway to a contract on May 2, 2019. Unfortunately, he was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2019.

Strengths – He was the TCU Horned Frogs sack leader in 2015 and 2016 before hearing his name called in round seven by the Tenessee Titans. At 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, he has the right dimensions to make quarterbacks nervous with a solid edge pass rush.

Weaknesses –  He has not played a snap in three seasons, and tore his Achilles tendon in 2019.

Team Impact – With star outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. priced out of the Rams market, the team may sign Carraway just to keep camp numbers up at outside linebacker.

Estimated market value – Under $1 million.  Carraway must return to health and impress the coaching staff this season to salvage his football career.

Projected team action –  The LA Rams can sign him to a minimum contract and see if he has any upside heading into the 2020 season.

Most likely team to sign him – The LA Rams hold the leverage here. The risk is slight, so the Rams will likely give him another shot.