Where will LA Rams CB Troy Hill next landing spot be?

Have the LA Rams shot their bankroll too quickly? Or, are the first shots fired by the Rams in free agency just a prelude to a salvo of blinding fast insightful moves? Well, judging by the fact that the Rams appear to have committed more than $20 million in fresh NFL salary cap salaries on top of that gi-normous $33 million cap deficit figure bandied about last week, it seems as though the Rams are printing money.

And maybe they are.

But the Rams have more needs. And they are still in the market for cornerbacks.  That brings us to the question about cornerback Troy Hill, the LA Rams unrestricted free agent who awaits the right offer from some eager NFL team.

It seems this year’s free agency requires one signing to set the market for a particular position, and then the floodgates open to a flurry of signings to follow in quick order.  And so when Seattle Seahawks CB Shaquill Griffin got nabbed by Jacksonville for a three-year contract worth $44.5 million with $29 million guaranteed, as reported by NFL Network, the market was pegged.  That’s because his new deal places him seventh among CBs.

FA thrill for CB Troy Hill

Is the LA Rams CB Troy Hill now deemed worthy of being paid at a level equal to or better than Griffin? Are there teams now willing to pony up that kind of money for a sixth-year veteran cornerback such as Hill? One who is versatile enough to play the increasingly-important slot cornerback position, but can also play the outside, too?

After all, his contributions to the team’s stalwart defensive last year were both considerable and flashy. Hill’s star shined brightly last year when he showed the ability to do more than just defend, but also to score from the defensive side of the ball, to cause a turnover, and then take it all the way to the house. Hill scored three touchdowns in the last six games of last year’s NFL season. He plays defense.

A cornerback’s stat line does not tell all. Hill played in all 16 games last year and was targeted 91 times and allowed 64 receptions for 646 yards and only four touchdowns, according to Pro-Football-Reference. Those numbers go along with 77 tackles, three interceptions (with two pick-sixes), 10 passes defended, and one forced fumble.

That’s some stingy pass defense right there.

New defense, or new team?

So where will it be, Troy Hill?  Right now, nothing appears to be imminent, but that could change very quickly.  And based on the fans’ comments on social media, the Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Buffalo Bills all have fans hopeful to read an update indicating that he is on his way to their team.

But where is he likely to draw the most interest?

Now that ex-Rams cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant has become the new defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator for the Detroit Lions, it is only natural to think the Motor City would be a prime contender to grab Hill in free agency. He could also provide a bit of veteran leadership to a Lions secondary that will likely be young next year.

Obviously, Coach Pleasant knows what Hill brings to the table every Sunday. Does he see enough value there to lobby for his team to make a push for Hill?  Keep in mind that the Lions’ GM is also a former LA Rams executive, Brad Holmes. If they believe Hill is an upgrade, they will likely make a push to sign him.

Jets or Packers too?

Another team that desperately needs a secondary upgrade would be the New York Jets, who have had only one reliable starting corner for the last two seasons. Hill is young enough to be a viable chess piece for any defensive rebuild. And new head coach Robert Saleh, the former defensive coordinator of the rival San Francisco 49ers, is keenly aware of what Troy Hill can do in a Jets’ uniform. As a proven durable starter whose equally effective outside and in the slot, Hill would bring versatility and stability to a porous Jets secondary.

And last year’s playoff loss by the Green Bay Packers to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ lofty passing attack only underscored their need for an improved secondary, so they are a potential landing spot for Hill as well. Keep in mind that they have hired former Rams linebacker coach Joe Barry to take over that defense. He would love nothing more than to convert the lessons learned while working with the Rams’ deceptive defense into a stout Packers D. Cornerback Troy Hill is the last player from that gifted secondary still on the market. It’s him, or nothing.

Troy Hill may not be signed yet, but he will be. He is a solid ‘get guy’ who is the last unsigned piece to a stellar LA Rams secondary from 2020. Which team will sign him? Well, that’s to be determined. But whichever team does so, will get a solid upgrade to their pass defense.