Another one: LA Rams FA OLB Derek Rivers reaches deal with Texans

The LA Rams are not out of the free agency news just yet it seems. Late signed outside linebacker/defensive end Derek Rivers is the latest and last of the LA Rams edge rushers to agree to terms to play in 2021. If you recall, Rivers was added late in the 2020 NFL season as a stopgap player to bolster the Rams outside linebacker depth in the face of injuries.

Rivers did appear in five games for the Rams, two on the defensive side of the ball. He saw limited action, 29 defensive snaps, and 75 special teams’ snaps in 2020. For the effort, he recorded one tackle in 2020. While that may not seem significant, he did manage to put pressure on the quarterback during his 2018 and partial 2020 seasons with the New England Patriots.

He missed the 2019 NFL season due to a serious knee injury, which sidelined him for the entire year. When he returned to the Patriots in early 2020, he had some success, but not enough to ensure his spot on the 53-man roster. The Rams claimed him from waivers before the Patriots could sign him to their practice squad.

His agent did an excellent job of parlaying that cameo appearance into a one-year dealt to play for the Houston Texans for $3 million.  While he may have been a late market option for the Rams at the edge position at a league minimum, he has taken a more significant contract to play in Houston.

He has ties to former Patriots Nick Caserio, so that explains their interest in him at Houston.

This deal now means that four former LA Rams players have agreed to sign on with other NFL teams. Curiously, no offensive players have signed elsewhere. The Rams have now lost safety John Johnson III to the Cleveland Browns, outside linebacker Samson Ebukam to the San Francisco 49ers, outside linebacker Derek Rivers to the Houston Texans. And the only non-defensive player, long snapper Jake McQuaide, has agreed to sign on with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Rams did agree to re-sign OLB Leonard Floyd to a 4-year $64 million deal and extended a first-round Qualifying Tender offer to Darious Williams.  Two will remain with the Rams, while four players will play elsewhere.