LA Rams pull DB Eric Weddle out of retirement over these 3 FAs

Who did the Rams not sign instead?

Some may ask why the Rams didn’t give veteran safety Earl Thomas a ring? He retired after the 2019 NFL season as well, but his final two years in the NFL were not good. In fact, many Ravens fans wanted to swap Thomas for Weddle after that 2019 season.

The end of an NFL season is not the best time to start shopping for roster help.  But safety Tedric Thompson is someone who may have moved the needle on the defense if he was signed instead. Standing 6-foot-0 and weighing a muscular 204-pounds, Tedric Thompson was recently waived after having a storied five-season NFL career.  He’s played 38 games and started 16. Most of his work came while playing for the NFC West Seattle Seahawks from 2017-2019.

He was drafted by the Seahawks with the 111th pick (Round 4) of the 2017 NFL Draft and was highly regarded in that draft profile. He even rotated in on nine games in his rookie season. I believe he would have been an ideal player to sign because he has had playoff experience in 2018 when he started against the Dallas Cowboys.

Former Raheem Morris safety not signed?

Safety Sharrod Neasman is another safety recently waived off the New York Jets roster, and another surprising oversight from an LA Rams front office that has been remarkably effective at signing players with former links to the defensive coordinator. While Neasman was waived by the Jets in 2021, he was five-year safety for the Atlanta Falcons from 2016-2020. He played in 16 games in 2020 and even started two games for the Falcons. He stands 5-foot-11 and weighs a rock-solid 213-pounds.

In 2021, he played 11 games for the New York Jets and started once. He chalked up 14 tackles in 225 defensive snaps, so he was active when he played. He truly did shine in pass coverage though. In four targets, he allowed only one completion. He also intercepted a pass too and returned in 13 yards. Since he had some history with Raheem Morris, and clearly is very effective, not signing him is a huge head-scratcher.

Nickel corner hybrid?

Defensive back Chris Jones is a cornerback by trade, but he is a big-bodied defensive back who could serve the LA Rams in a pinch. Standing 6-foot-0 and weighing 200 pounds, he has all the prerequisite size required to suit up and play centerfield.  While his draft profile described a mixed bag of a rookie prospect who was a bit raw, he has stuck in the NFL for four seasons.

His first two years were with the Arizona Cardinals, the team that the LA Rams will face this weekend. That alone should have placed him on the Rams’ radar scope. Over the past four years, he has played in 29 games and even started in six of those contests. In seven games with the Tennessee Titans, he was targeted ten times but only allowed three receptions.  He is even a solid contributor on special teams.

The LA Rams re-signed a familiar face to help them prepare to face the Arizona Cardinals in the Wildcard Round of the NFL Playoffs. But was Eric Weddle the right choice? You decide. But by doing so, the Rams may have missed out on signing a player who could make a positive impact.

Stay tuned…
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