Have the LA Rams buyer’s remorse over OLB Leonard Floyd?

Brockers brought buyer’s remorse?

The first step is to have an incentive to do so. Have the LA Rams suddenly shifted their enthusiasm away from Leonard Floyd when veteran Michael Brockers became available again? After all, isn’t the belief that where there is a will, there is a way to sign the players? So is it a matter of balking due to buyer’s remorse?

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The problem that the Rams currently have at the linebacker position is huge. At this moment in time, the Rams have completely cleaned house at the linebacker position.  All four starters from 2019 have been released or signed onto contracts elsewhere.  And while the team has adequate reserves for players to compete for a starting role, whoever wins that starting slot will be new to the responsibility.  Typically, a team tries to promote one backup to a starting role per season. The Rams may be promoting four reserve linebackers to starting roles simultaneously. If the thought of that does not scare you, just think how promoting two of five offensive linemen turned out for the team in 2019?

So it’s very important for the team to add an outside linebacker who has experience in a starting role in the NFL. And that is exactly what the team had done in reaching an agreement with Floyd.  Floyd has a variety of skillsets that the Rams can use very effectively. He has the potential to threaten opposing quarterbacks off the edge, as well as blanket tight ends in pass coverage.  Despite the absence of league-leading statistics, Floyd is a player coaches have described as special.

The Rams find themselves painted into a corner of their own doing. By committing to multiple defenders at a contract price in excess of their available cap space, the Rams must now make tough choices. The will not be any NFL teams eager to give the Rams fair value for players now that they know the Rams are desperate to offload players with big contracts. So a second-round pick for a WR Brandin Cooks suddenly deflated into a sixth-round pick instantly.

There will be no trades to fix this tight spot the Rams find themselves in. The team will need to find the money by shifting 2020 dollars to 2022 or beyond. And hopefully, in the process, the Rams will learn not to create such a perilous position for themselves going forward.