WOW! The Rams have made some bold moves this off-season and their defense will look much different (and hopefully play much better) in 2018. We are about a month away from the Draft and GM Les Snead could make even more deals. With the start of the League Season on March 14^th, Los Angeles has been one of the busiest teams in free agency as well as trades. Let’s take a look at the transactions the Rams have made and the potential impact on the team moving forward.

PLAYERS THE RAMS ADDED:

CB Marcus Peters: Los Angeles acquired Peters and a 2018 sixth round pick from the Chiefs for a 2018 fourth round pick and 2019 second round pick. Peters is one of the premiere cornerbacks in the league but also one of the most volatile. If he can control his emotions and play to his ability, the Rams will have a great move, given that in addition to immense talent, Peters is still on his rookie contract so the salary cap value is huge.

CB Aqib Talib: Los Angeles acquired Talib from the Broncos for a 2018 fifth round pick. Talib was a cap casualty in Denver but is reunited with DC Wade Phillips in Los Angeles and should provide veteran leadership for Marcus Peters. Talib may be on the backside of his productive career but he is still a top flight corner and with Peters on the other side, the Rams have arguably the best cornerback tandem in the league.

DT Ndamukong Suh: The Rams signed former Dolphin Suh to a one year $14 million deal and he is the biggest free agent signing of the off-season (literally and figuratively). The All-Pro lineman should team up with DT Aaron Donald to give Los Angeles a historically strong pair of defensive interior lineman. Like Talib, Suh is in his thirties but he is still a Pro-Bowl caliber player and the one year is not a high risk for the Rams.

CB Sam Shields: Shields signed a one year dear after sitting out all of 2017 to heal from concussion issues. Sam was a solid player for the Packers when he was healthy and the Rams are hoping he returns to his pre-injury form. If he is truly back, Sam should provide much needed depth for the defense.

LB Ramik Wilson: The Rams signed former Chief Wilson to a one year deal and he will help fill the void at linebacker for the Rams. Wilson is a young player with potential and is a Georgia alumnus like the player he will try to replace, Alec Ogletree; however, he is not the player that Ogletree is and Wilson has also dealt with injuries in the past. If he can stay healthy and earn a starting spot then this signing is great.

PLAYERS THE RAMS LOST:

LB Alec Ogletree: The Rams traded Ogletree and a 2019 seventh round pick to the Giants for fourth and sixth round picks in the upcoming 2018 draft. Alec will be hard to replace on the field and even more so from a leadership role. He led the Rams in tackles four of the last five seasons and was also a Captain the past two years.

LB Robert Quinn: Los Angeles traded Quinn and their 2018 sixth round pick to the Dolphins for Miami’s 2018 fourth and sixth round picks. Robert was an All-Pro in 2013 with 19 sacks; however, injuries plagued him since then and his fit in the Rams 3-4 defense was not ideal. Even though Robert was respectable with 8.5 sacks in 2017, Los Angeles was able to save cap space and gain some draft picks by trading him.

WR Sammy Watkins: Sammy signed a huge free agent deal with the Chiefs after Los Angeles decided to use the franchise tag on FS Lamarcus Joyner. The Sammy Watkins experiment was a failure. Even though HC Sean McVay and GM Les Snead might say otherwise, trading away E.J. Gaines and this year’s second round pick for one year of Watkin’s services was not a good move. The Rams now have to replace Sammy’s downfield threat and red zone production and they have only one pick in the first two rounds of this year’s draft.

CB Trumaine Johnson: Johnson signed a mega-deal with the Jets after being franchised by the Rams the last two years. It was anticipated that Johnson would not be with the Rams in 2018 and when Los Angeles acquired Peters and Talib, it was a done deal. Johnson is a solid player but the defense should be fine with their current corner backs. One very interesting fact is that the Rams will pay Peters, Talib, Shields, Joyner, and Robey-Coleman about the same as the Jets will pay Johnson in 2018.

PLAYERS THE RAMS RETAINED:

OL John Sullivan: Sullivan was a solid starter at Center for the Rams in 2017 and although he will turn 33 this year, he should be the starter again. His experience was valuable to the offense, especially helping QB Jared Goff in his second season. The Rams gave Sullivan a modest two year deal that looks like money well spent.

SS Lamarcus Joyner: Joyner had his best season as a professional under DC Wade Phillips and graded out as one of the top safeties in 2017. Los Angeles decided to use the Franchise Tag on Joyner while trying to sign him to a long term deal. His salary cap for 2018 is a little over $11 million so he will have to be even better than last year to justify that type of salary.

CB Nickell Robey-Coleman: Robey-Coleman played well as the slot corner in 2017 and the Rams were able to resign him to a three-year contract at a little over $5 million per year. He should maintain his spot and will hopefully play even better moving forward.

DT Dominique Easley: Easley was a solid contributor in 2016 after failing to live up to his first-round expectations in New England. Unfortunately, he tore is ACL in training camp and missed all of 2017. Los Angeles is hoping Dominque returns to form and can add to the immensely improved D-line.

Los Angeles has really improved their defense but must find capable replacements for Ogletree and Quinn. The Rams have been one of the most active and talked about teams this off-season and they might not be done as rumors have been flying around that the Rams could be in the market to trade for WR Odell Beckham. I personally don’t think Los Angeles needs him (or more so his Diva Attitude) and I am not sure how they will sign him to a long term contract when they still have not given Aaron Donald his extension. It has been and exciting month and next month we have the Draft! Next month’s report will look at possible Ram draft picks. Love and blessings to my family. Miss you Pops! Aloha!

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