Bobby Wagner to the LA Rams? Look to his coming, at first light…

The LA Rams may not be battling the nefarious forces of Mordor, but GM Les Snead could be compared with some accuracy to wizard Gandalf the White and that scene-stealing line from The Two Towers: “Look to my coming, at first light, on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East.” – Per Gandalf.

In some ways, the LA Rams could suit that quote. The team has been scattered by free agency, and the team is facing an upcoming 2022 season with one of, if not the, most difficult schedules in the NFL. From last year’s defense, the team has already lost:

1. OLB Von Miller to the Buffalo Bills
2. NT Sebastian Joseph Day to the LA Chargers
3. DB Darious Williams to the Jacksonville Jaguars
4. OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo to the Houston Texans

And so, there is a bit of concern over reinforcing the defense at this point. But look for Les Snead’s coming at first light LA Rams fans. The Wizard appears to be returning with some desperately needed reinforcements:

If you stopped believing that the LA Rams could get this contract signed, you can forgive yourself now. Appearances of whether or not these LA Rams could make anything happen were rather bleak. The Rams are the defending NFL Super Bowl Champions, yes. But in terms of Running It Back? Well, veteran outside linebacker Von Miller, the subject of that optimistic hope for cohesion, shuffled off to Buffalo.

Yes, hope was dimming. The LA Rams were facing insurmountable odds.  The Seattle Seahawks had released All-Pro inside linebacker Bobby Wagner, and he met with the LA Rams. Both Wagner and the team wanted to get a deal done. But other teams joined the fray. The Baltimore Ravens wanted Bobby Wagner. The Dallas Cowboys did too. Hope was fading that the Rams would remain competitive with so many other teams vying for his services.

And then, his former teammate Richard Sherman hinted that an announcement would be coming on the morning of the last day of March 2022. Would it be the Rams? Or would it be another disappointment?

But morning signifies many things. It’s the dawn of a new day. It’s the light of optimism. It’s the rays of new hope. And in the light of that new day, the Rams got it done and are bringing inside linebacker Bobby Wagner into the fold.

The rumors were true. The LA Rams managed to add a piece to their defense that, in the view of many, has been sorely lacking in five years. If the Aaron Donald effect can help other players hit career-high production, just imagine the ceiling for All-Pro inside linebacker Bobby Wagner?

Hey, while we’ve been awaiting this signing, there is a lot to unpack with this one.  I think it’s safe to say that the LA Rams defense appears to be in a very competitive form right now. And there is more to come.