LA Rams DE Michael Brockers first FA loss, heading to Ravens

LA Rams DE Michael Brockers is 1st UFA to commit to a new NFL team, reportedly projected to sign a 3-year $30 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens

The LA Rams first news from the 2020 NFL Free Agency was not signing, but rather was news of an unrestricted free agent defensive end Michael Brockers. He is reportedly committing to signing with the Baltimore Ravens, with reported terms of three years and $30 million.  As of this moment, the more crucial factor of guaranteed dollars is not yet known.

The LA Rams had to see this coming.  On January 31, 2020, Michael Brockers and his wife Faith posted a thank you to the fans of the LA Rams.  Even that early into the NFL offseason, the message had a haunting undertone of farewell to it.  Haunting to those who wanted Brockers to return. Relief to those who did not.

Whichever side of the issue you stand is now a moot point. The situation is now virtually a certainty that the Rams will not have Brockers to mentor younger defensive linemen in 2020. And while Brockers may not have cleared frequent quarterback sacks, he was a stalwart defender of the running game on a defense where too many defenders focused upon pass-first priority to the defense.

The Rams simply have too many players all deserving of big-pay contracts in 2020. Whether deserving or not, the team had already filled the 2020 quota for big contracts by committing to QB Jared Goff, RB Todd Gurley, and WR Brandin Cooks.   So where did that leave DE Michael Brockers?