Javon Kinlaw and 4 free agent disasters the LA Rams wisely avoided

As the Los Angeles Rams turn the corner from a frantic Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Free Agency market to a much slower, almost pedestrian pace on Day 2, there is a lot to absorb and consider over the team's first advances to reconstruct a successful Rams roster. And as easy as Rams GM Les Snead makes it appear, the task is a daunting one. Not only must the Rams know who to successfully target and then manage to lure with a contract, the team must know who to avoid as well.

Sometimes the player is not the right fit. Sometimes the durability of a player puts their value in question. And sometimes other teams are simply too eager to launch sacks of cash in the player's direction that it is just not cost effective.

Whatever the contributing factors, Rams General Manager Les Snead always has his work cut out for him.

IDL Javon Kinlaw

Agreed to a 3 year deal worth up to $45 million with the Washington Commanders.

The LA Rams are very familiar with DT Javon Kinlaw, and some fans even tossed out the idea that the Rams might consider adding Kinlaw this offseason. While the 6-foot-5, 319-pound defender played all 17 games for the 49ers in 2024, his production simply fell short of expectations. He put up 40 tackles, five tackles for a loss, and 4.5 quarterback sacks in 697 defensive snaps in 2024.

Compare and contrast that with NT Poona Ford, who had 39 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, and 3.0 quarterback sacks in 604 defensive snaps in 2024. The Rams signed Ford to a three-year deal that comes in at under $28 million. Kinlaw managed to squeeze a similar three-year deal from the Washington Commanders, but his price is $45 million.

That's off the charts to his level of production. In fact, Kinlaw never had the type of production on the football field to warrant that type of contract.

IDL Jonathan Allen

Agreed to a 1 year deal worth up to $20 million with the Minnesota Vikings

I was all in favor of the Rams signing up veteran defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. But in my defense, I never imagined that he would attract a contract worth $20 million for one year's worth of work. In my view, the Rams young group of defensive linemen would benefit from the production and presence of a veteran who had been there, done that. And coming off a pectoral injury in 2024, Allen appeared to be the type of veteran who could be signed to a team-friendly contract.

Then the Vikings showed up with sacks filled with Benjamin's. So much for the plan to sign him off the bargain shelf.

The Rams have pass rushers, and needed more run-stuffing on the defensive front. Even I admit that is not Allen's strong suit. But I envisioned Allen as a rotational player at modest compensation. That was an underestimation on my part. In 301 defensive snaps in 2024, Allen put up 19 tackles, 3.0 quarterback sacks, and three tackles for a loss. I like the Rams' addition of Poona Ford. Not only is Ford a cheaper signing, but he specializes in what the Rams are looking for.

CB Byron Murphy

Agreed to a 1 year deal worth up to $22 million with the Minnesota VIkings

There was a great deal of buzz surrounding 27-year-old cornerback Byron Murphy. As a 2024 Pro Bowler in the Minnesota VIkings secondary, expectations for his next contract were off the charts. And while the deal he agreed to terms with the VIkings is less than expected, I suspect that the final price was influenced by the fact that he was returning to the same defense that helped him to flourish.

I won't deny that Murphy had a superb season in 2024. I'm simply wary about a veteran cornerback who flourishes on a team in one season after putting up multiple 'meh' seasons prior to that breakout season. At worst, he is a one-hit wonder. At best, he found the perfect secondary to resonate with his specific skill sets. The fact that the Vikings, the team that witnessed his stellar 2024 performance, was only willing to extend him a one-year deal is telling.

LT Dan Moore

Agreed to a 4 year deal worth up to $84 million with the Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans ponied up to the negotiating table for former Pittsburgh Steelers free agent left tackle Dan Moore. After intense negotiations, the Titans managed to convince Moore to accept $84 million over the next four years. While that may not seem overly expensive, not all is as it seems in this contract.

For starters, the Los Angeles Rams managed to re-sign starting left tackle Alaric Jackson on a three-year deal worth a maxiimum of $57.75 million over three years. So the Rams got a bargain when holding Jackson's contract up to the light. Better still, the initial cap hit of Jackson's contract is only $7 million in 2025, because the team has incentivized the deal with performance clauses.

Alaric Jackson played 893 offensive snaps in 2024. Over that span, he committed seven penalties and allowed three quarterback sacks.

But the Titans paid $21 million APY for Dan Moore. While Moored played 1,111 offensive snaps in 2024, he committed five penalties and surrendered 12 quarterback sacks last season. That number of sacks allowed comes in as the 141st out of 141 offensive tackle. So he got a lucrative contract despite performing the worst in the NFL at his position. Yikes.

You may not love all of the Rams free agency moves this offseason. But things could always be worse. Thankfully, GM Les Snead saves the Rams from overpaying and miscues more often than not. He has thankfully ignored me many times. It's times like these that elevates my appreciation of Les Snead being the steady-freddie NFL GM that we have all come to depend on.

And as always, thanks for reading.

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