LA Rams upcoming NFL Free Agency strategy is a nail-biter

Safety first Christian

The LA Rams lost veteran safety Eric Weddle to retirement. And it’s that loss which makes the projected free agency of safety Marqui Christian so challenging.  At any other time, he would fall into the cap casualty category. But this year, losing two safeties simultaneously may not be wise, particularly for a team projecting to start John Johnson, who is himself returning from injury.

Background – Marqui Christian was originally selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.  For two seasons, he was a special teams player for the Rams. But in 2018, he was rotated into the defense and has played both on defense and special teams.

Strengths – Marqui Christian is the type of “glue” player who holds an NFL team together over the course of a season. He can play special teams, can slide in for his rotation at defensive back, and can even take an occasional start. He has amassed 36 tackles in each of his last two seasons, despite playing just a third of the defensive snaps.

Weaknesses – Christian misses nearly 20 percent of his tackles. And while he does limit pass completions to just 60 percent of passes targetting him, he allows nearly 13.0 yards per completion.

Team Impact – The Rams will certainly need to add safeties for the 90-man roster, and perhaps to carry one on the 53-man roster.

Estimated market value – He is hoping for a larger role in the NFL, and a larger salary.  If that happens, he could command a contract of four-years and $9 million. If he does not generate as much interest early, he may need to settle for a four-year $4 million contract.

Projected team action – Unless Christian is willing to return to the LA Rams at the NFL minimal veteran salary, the team will likely be willing to watch him walk away without actively pursuing his return.

Most likely team to sign him – Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, and Philadelphia Eagles are all in the market for depth at the defensive backfield. Look for the Dallas Cowboys to offer the most, and the Cowboys know Christian’s value on special teams as well.