Rams focused on keeping as many of their free agents as possible – NFL Nation

Only a few weeks in the past, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay was celebrating his staff’s Tremendous Bowl victory. That did not final lengthy, as McVay and common supervisor Les Snead now are already deep into planning for subsequent season and the way to safe one other championship for the Rams.

“It has been such a whirlwind, to say the least,” McVay mentioned just lately. “Now you begin to transfer ahead. You wish to preserve as many foundational items in place whereas not being naïve to the very fact it is a brand-new 12 months.

“There’s going to be a number of turnover … Step one for us is making an attempt to signal as lots of our personal (free brokers as attainable).”

The Rams do not have an in depth record of potential free brokers as they put together to “run it back” in 2022. However the record does include some huge names and vital contributors to the franchise’s first championship since 1999 and its first title in Los Angeles since 1951: Huge receiver Odell Beckham Jr., linebacker Von Miller, cornerback Darious Williams, guard Austin Corbett, heart Brian Allen and operating again Sony Michel.

Beckham and Miller have been integral items after being acquired by the Rams midseason, as Beckham had seven landing receptions in 12 video games (together with playoffs) with the Rams after being launched by the Cleveland Browns whereas Miller had 9 sacks in 12 video games (together with playoffs), together with two in Tremendous Bowl LVI, after being acquired from the Denver Broncos.

Williams has been a gentle presence at nook and nickel, Corbett and Allen each began on the offensive line and Michel helped preserve the Rams’ operating sport afloat after the Rams suffered accidents to operating backs Cam Akers — who missed 16 video games with a torn Achilles — and Darrell Henderson Jr., who missed 5 regular-season video games and three playoff video games with quite a lot of illnesses.

The selections on the way to proceed in retaining these gamers are sophisticated by a number of components, together with the ACL that Beckham tore within the Tremendous Bowl and a decent wage cap state of affairs, because the Rams are roughly $17.5 million over the cap based on ESPN’s Roster Administration System. Others are the attainable retirement of left deal with Andrew Whitworth, the way to deal with All-Professional defensive deal with Aaron Donald — who additionally hinted at retirement previous to the Tremendous Bowl and can be in line for a increase if he returns — and an extension for quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has one season remaining on his contract.

“There’s positively going to be an intentional plan and (an extension for Stafford) is part of that to make all of it work,” Snead mentioned. “However the blueprint that is on paper now’s to deal with the gamers whose contracts are going to run out as a result of that is what we all know is coming down the pike and is most pressing.”

The Rams, relying on their success in retaining their very own free brokers, may very well be searching for assist at broad receiver, offensive line, edge rusher and cornerback.

Snead indicated the Rams would try to re-sign Beckham, despite the fact that he will not be out there when subsequent season begins.

“We might positively like Odell to be a component (of the staff),” Snead mentioned. “You simply know he may miss the primary half of the season. The adverse to that’s that is simply an unfortunate break. The constructive is you may get somebody with very recent legs for the stretch run.”