8 LA Rams players who won’t be back in 2022

Potential Rams 2022 Free Agents

One of the most difficult predictions to make about the LA Rams is which player will be brought back the following year.  With what seems to be an annual battle of the budget, the Rams fight to keep a lid on their expenses, while trying to ensure the best roster out there.

Speaking of the best roster around, let’s do some quick assumptions. ERFAs (Exclusive Restricted Free Agents) could be signed at $850k in 2021. That cost is estimated to be $895k in 2022. So for now, let’s assume that the ERFAs will return next year. That includes ILB Travin Howard, QB John Wolford, and S Juju Hughes. I cannot see how the LA Rams will open up auditions for placekicker again, so let’s pencil in Matt Gay’s name for now as coming back next season too.

Finally, I cannot see the LA Rams vacating their offensive center position so rapidly. The team will likely go with the least expensive of the three options (Coleman Shelton should be cheaper than either Brian Allen or Austin Corbett). Finally, I expect the team to come to terms with TE Johnny Mundt’s return on a team-friendly deal.

Rams Roster: 2022 projected free agents

To estimate the costs of the various Qualifying Tender Offers for RFAs in 2022, check out this Over The Cap article, which does a good job breaking down the projected costs. The hardest-hit positions in the 2022 Free agency departure are as follows:
UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent RFA=Restricted Free Agent ERFA=Exclusive Restricted Free Agent

CB (2) – Darious Williams (UFA), Donte Deayon (UFA)
DT (1) – Sebastian Joseph Day (UFA)
ILB (2) – Travin Howard (ERFA), Troy Reeder (RFA)
OL (4) – Coleman Shelton (RFA), Brian Allen (UFA), Austin Corbett (UFA), Joseph Noteboom (UFA)
OLB (2) – Von Miller (UFA), Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (UFA)
PK (1) – Matt Gay (RFA)
QB (1) – John Wolford (ERFA)
RB (2) – Sony Michel (UFA), Buddy Howell (UFA)
S (1) – Juju Hughes (ERFA)
TE (1) – Johnny Mundt (UFA)
WR (1) – Odell Beckham Jr. (UFA)

*bold names indicate players likely to be re-signed

So with 44 players under contract, the team should be able to get to 50 players under contract without breaking a sweat.

So now it comes down to which players will be given the green light to sign elsewhere, and who will extend with the LA Rams for the 2022 season and beyond? It does go without saying that the LA Rams traded for running back Sony Michel and outside linebacker Von Miller, so both players arrived at the team with built-in incentives for the organization to realize more than a rental in their acquisition.

Or do they? Let’s dive in a bit further…