LA Rams: Let’s figure out a way to sign Jadeveon Clowney

Roll the dice one more time

Rams GM Les Snead would have to perform a salary cap miracle to get Clowney signed for 2020, right?  If the Rams could create $15 million for a one-year deal, the Lombardi Trophy would be within grasp. Remember, offense sells tickets but defense wins championships according to Coach Bear Bryant of Alabama.

Of course, the template for managing that cap space miracle is already in place. The LA Rams one-year deal with outside linebacker Leonard Floyd is all-but-a-one-year-deal for $10 million. But the contract clauses provide for two years of extension at the team discretion, essentially allowing the Rams to shave that 2020 cap impact down to $6.67 million. Repeating that process for Clowney’s asking price of %15 million could be shaved down to $8.33 million if the Rams structured the contract with $5 million in salary and $10 million as a signing bonus, stretched over the same three-year period.

To free up that money, the Rams could reclassify Jared Goff’s 2020 Roster bonus into a signing bonus over his remaining five years. That would push over $16 million into future years. Is it worth it? Well, the Rams have never shied away from moves that give the team a fighting chance to compete in post-season. As a member of the Rams’ defense, he would most certainly project to record over 10 quarterback sacks. That would be enough to make the Rams defense surprisingly good for rookie defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.

Of the remaining free agents on the market, Clowney has the most potential to impact the Rams season in a dramatically positive manner. And as one final stroke of irony, adding Clowney to the Rams roster would eliminate the Seahawks’ chances of resigning him. Let’s see what happens.