LA Rams fail to use franchise or transition tag in 2020 NFL Free Agency

The LA Rams may have a winning strategy, but they do not have a veteran NFL player under either a franchise or transition tag in 2020 NFL Free Agency

The LA Rams had three choices for the 2020 NFL Free Agency market. Employ a franchise tag to ensure that they, and only they, had the rights to one of their veteran players about to become a free agent in 2020. Employ a transition tag to ensure that they had protected their rights of first refusal for one of their veteran players about to become a free agent in 2020. Or do nothing. The team elected option three.

What that means in financial terms is that the LA Rams have not committed any funds which will hit their 2020 available salary cap further.  What that means in terms of their 2020 NFL roster is that the team will likely have quite an uphill climb on re-signing any of their 10 unrestricted free agents.

Not impossible. Just challenging.  Right now the current rumors suggest that the LA Rams are working to resign four of their ten free agents: left tackle Andrew Whitworth, defensive end Michael Brockers, center Austin Blythe, and edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr.

A notable name not appearing in this list is that of inside linebacker Cory Littleton.

The Rams will need to make some moves to have a chance at re-signing more than a single free agent.  As of today, those moves have neither occurred nor been reported. Of course, the use of a franchise or transition tag is not a move to take lightly. As it severely restricts the options for the NFL player, it will strain the relationship between team and player.  And if the team intends to negotiate a team-friendly deal, the use of either tag could complicate those negotiations.

The LA Rams have limited available dollars at this moment.  But that could change quickly.  Stay tuned folks. As important as this offseason is to the team, you can bet events will change quickly.