LA Rams never seem to re-sign former players. Why not?

Talk about running it back? The LA Rams may have originally meant re-signing players from the 2021 roster. But the word is out now, and NFL players who have played for HC Sean McVay over the past five years suddenly began to crawl out of the woodwork. OL Rodger Saffold, who last played for the LA Rams in 2018, found himself released by the Tenessee Titans.

The LA Rams enjoyed the play of both OLB Dante Fowler Jr. and ILB Cory Little as recently as the 2019 season. But both signed on to lucrative contracts elsewhere. Fowler signed with the Atlanta Falcons, where he played for the LA Rams’ current defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Littleton signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he never seemed to play to his potential. They became free agents.

Even placekicker Greg Zuerlein, who followed former ST Coordinator John Fassel to play for the Dallas Cowboys, was released. Another former Rams player is back in free agency.

Available, but forgotten

Now, all four became free agents (there are more still) in the off-season due to salary cap cuts and/or not fulfilling the expectations of their former teams. It’s not a speculative argument. But it falls to reason that if a player is living up to their contractual value, the team looks elsewhere to save money.

But all these players, whether by poor play on their own merits or impressive play by someone behind them on the roster, were considered expendable. Littleton was the latest of the trio to learn of his release.

The LA Rams had opportunities to reunite with so many players who had a strong history with the team. The team could negotiate a deal to have them return to the team, and afford them a chance to earn their own Super Bowl ring this year. But what decision did the team make? What they’ve always done whenever a former player’s contract expires.

In a word? Simply, nothing.