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

Player 6 – Like a bridge over troubled water

When the LA Rams announced that the team was sending a 2022 sixth-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick to the New England Patriots for the services of running back Sony Michel, the estimation of the trade was that the Rams paid too high of a price.

Of course, that seemed to be an exorbitant price through the first 12 weeks of the season, as Michel had carried the football a meager 79 times. But the Rams have stepped up the workload of Michel as of late. In the last four games, all victories, by the way, Michel has carried the football 89 times for 423 yards and two touchdowns.

Whether or not intentional, the sudden surge in Michel’s production has him running at an NFL-best pace for the month of December.

Right now, there are quite a few NFL teams looking for running help when the 2022 NFL Free Agency Market opens for business. And guess whose name is circling in those discussions? You guessed it, Sony Michel.

A nice but unaffordable luxury

As it stands the LA Rams are looking to bring back three running backs, all of whom have suffered injuries and missed significant playing time in 2021. From that standpoint, it really does make sense for the Rams to give a solid effort at extending Michel for at least one more season on an affordable team-friendly deal, right?

Well, there’s the rub. Already, Sony Michel is being linked as a possible option to replace RB Melvin Gordan with the Denver Broncos. Based upon the performance of Michel as the NFL season winds down, I expect his asking price to be relatively high, higher than the budget for the Rams to pay a running back.

Besides, the 2022 NFL Draft will have plenty of inexpensive prospects with fresh legs as well. I think the Rams would like to extend Michel. But the interest from other teams will simply drive up his price tag too high.