LA Rams NFL Free Agency aims at comp picks as Brockers leaves

The LA Rams 2020 NFL Free Agency strategy on track to be awarded a 4th-round comp pick due as Brockers takes a deal with Ravens

The LA Rams general manager Les Snead hinted that the team would be weighing the impact of the 2020 NFL Free Agency market against the future benefit of potential 2021 compensatory NFL Draft picks.  So far, that plan appears to be on track.

With the LA Rams potential loss of veteran players due to the 2020 NFL Free Agency market greater than six players (K Greg Zuerlein, DL Michael Brockers, OLB Dante Fowler Jr, ILB Cory Littleton, ILB Bryce Hager, and S Marqui Christian).  Of course, the Rams stand to lose a far greater number of players this year, but based on the NFL compensatory pick formula, no team can be awarded more than four comp picks in any one draft.  And the calculation, therefore, focuses on the highest valued veterans lost via free agency.

Now, not all of the listed players are assuredly lost to the LA Rams this year.  In fact, the Rams may be one of the reasons, however remote, that no news about Fowler or Littleton was released on Monday, March 16.  It may very likely be that the Rams are working on trades or restructuring contracts intended to free up the salary cap space to allow the team to re-sign a player or two.

It’s certainly well within the scope of the Rams 2020 offseason to end up in a situation of being awarded up to four compensatory picks for the 2021 NFL Draft.  At the projected market value of some potential contracts for Rams veterans, that could equal two third-round picks and two fourth-round picks. Four comp picks in one draft is a very good haul, and the LA Rams are well on their way to that future.

The Rams currently only have 2021 NFL Draft picks in rounds 2, 3, 6, and 7.  With no relief in sight for the team’s salary cap situation, the Rams would be wise to investigate ways to add draft picks next year.

Perhaps the true reason the Rams have cited the interest in 2021 comp picks is simply that the team has little available cap space to spend?