No Love, and other shocking LA Rams free agency moves at training camp

LA Rams surprised with free agent roster moves in training camp today. Who are they? What do they mean?

The LA Rams are finally tweaking the roster. While the moves will not be 2020 starters, the team is definitely showing that the roster is not done and that the team is interested in finding additional talent. Let’s break it down for you.  The LA Rams first of all signed two linebackers.  While we are familiar with LB Danial Bituli, we will discuss the new addition, Derrick Moncrief, in a moment.

BItuli is one of the original 22 undrafted free agents signed to the team. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 246-pounds, he had a high day-three draft grade until a medical flag drove his stock down.  The fact that the Rams re-signed him suggests that he is medically cleared to put on the pads.

To make room for the two additions, the team needed to release two players. The first player released was UDFA rookie LB Bryan London II.  Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 232-pounds, London was a huge producer for Texas State University.  Unfortunately, he did not seem to catch much interest from the Rams after putting on the pads.

The Rams have no love for a fourth quarterback

The other release is that of quarterback Josh Love. That one was very surprising.  In a normal year, an NFL team usually goes with four or more quarterbacks. In the current culture of COVID-19 and injuries threatening the team’s starting quarterback, the consensus is to add more quarterbacks, not go exceptionally lean with just three quarterbacks. Love was a traditional pocket-passer, more aligned with the Jared Goff style than any other quarterback on the roster not named Jared Goff.

The move suggests that the Rams will be revisiting the quarterback depth in the very near future.  With ex-Rams quarterback Blake Bortles still looking for a team, I would not be surprised in the least for the team to bring him back. To be honest, I actually expect that to occur in the next few days. Now onto the new name in the announcement: LB Derrick Moncrief.

So what do we know?

The LA Rams added former CFL star linebacker, Derrick Moncrief. In a bit of irony, Moncrief was released from the Las Vegas Raiders after they signed former Rams inside linebacker Cory Littleton. So it just seems fair that the LA Rams sign up Derrick Moncrief after losing Littleton to free agency.

How good is Moncrief?  Well, he is very intriguing? He is a three-year veteran from the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders. His production shows a nice upward trend. Of particular note is his 2019 season, where he started 17 games, intercepted three passes, racked up 69 tackles, and got to the quarterback four times. In that season, he was named to the West Division and the CFL All-Star team.

Could he make the roster? Perhaps.

Raiders GM Mike Mayock seal of approval means something

The fact that the Las Vegas Raiders signed Moncrief to a futures contract until landing ILB Cory Littleton in free Agency says quite a bit about the player. And the Rams may have found a competitor for the linebacker role for the team. As for Moncrief? He can’t wait:

"“”I’ve been focused ever since I was five, six years old, on this moment,” he said. “I’ve been preparing myself … It’s the same league (and) the same football, just a different location. I’m ready for the opportunity to be one of the greatest of all time.” – Derrick Moncrief via CKOM News"

Before Moncrief signed on with the Raiders in January, he logged a lot of air miles as he visited numerous teams who were interested in the CFL All-Star. Signing on with the Rams with just days to go will be a disadvantage for Moncrief for sure.  On the other hand, there is no indication that the Rams coaching staff is overly confident in the current inside linebackers. Adding two players at that position today indicates that the team is still very much searching for players.

The Rams training camp keeps getting more and more intriguing.  Who will win the spots on the roster at inside linebacker? Will the team be adding another quarterback to the roster in the near future? Stay tuned!