When you look at the 2015-16 St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams roster, it’s difficult not to immediately call for head coach Jeff Fisher’s head. Fisher’s teams are consistently mediocre, but with the best Rams roster since 2003 taking the field, it wasn’t too hard to believe that the Rams could put together a winning campaign this season. Instead his poor coaching decisions and bad hires once again led to a 7-9 season.
With the team moving, owner Stan Kroenke didn’t want to make a coaching change and Fisher is heading into the final season of a five-year, $35 million contract. So Fisher gets one more shot, but if he wants to make the most of it not only does he have to hire a new offensive coordinator and get out of his way, he has to make some hard decisions on the team’s best upcoming free agents.
Must Keep
Janoris Jenkins (cornerback), Trumaine Johnson (cornerback), Mark Barron (safety/outside linebacker)
Jenkins and Johnson have become two of the premier corners in the NFL and if the Rams want to stay aggressive on defense, they can’t afford to lose either guy. Barron came in on a trade last season and immediately became a factor in the Rams’ third down defense. This year he stepped in for injured linebacker Alec Ogletree at outside linebacker and was a consistent playmaker.
Jenkins and Johnson both are going to cost real money to keep on the team, but losing either guy is a disaster. If the hard choice must be made, the Rams will go with Jenkins and hope that E.J. Gaines, returning from an injury of his own, can step in and play as well as Johnson did this season. I wouldn’t take the chance.
Barron’s worth to another team may not be as high as his with the Rams. Hopefully that will come to play. As a former first-round pick, Barron has already made $14.4 million in his time in the NFL. The Rams should offer him a similar deal to stay.
Can’t Keep
William Hayes (defensive end), Eugene Sims (defensive end), Nick Fairley (defensive tackle)
The fact that the Rams were able to put these guys on a defensive line with Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers and Chris Long for as long as they did is a luxury that has run its course. The Rams would love to keep all of these men on the team, but the problem is the free agent market will snatch them all up at prices the Rams, with their other free agent needs, won’t be able to match.
Hayes is the real star here and when Long missed time the last two seasons with injuries, he was the one the Rams started in his place. In his four seasons with the Rams, as a back-up, he’s recorded 21.5 sacks and averaged around 35 tackles and five sacks a season. Hayes is 30 years old and has one more good contract in him. Somebody is going to show up with a three-year, $15 million or more deal that the Rams can’t match.
Fairley joined the Rams this season on a one-year contract and had the second best season of his career as a back-up. For his sake, he should probably find a way to stay, but again as a defensive tackle, especially one that seems to be rejuvenated, will draw a lot of interest and probably $20 million or more.
Of all the guys here Sims is the one that might be able to stick around. Sims has never started, but played plenty and been a valuable member of their defensive line. Unless he’s handed a starter job on another team, Sims might make the trip to Los Angeles with the rest of the team.
Replaceable Starters
Rodney McLeod (safety), Greg Zuerlein (kicker), Cory Harkey (fullback), Tim Barnes (Center)
Zuerlein has a powerful leg and has been a real weapon for the Rams, but his accuracy can sometimes be an issue. McLeod is a decent player, but is better served as a back-up in the NFL, not a starter. Harkey, as a fullback, won’t require a lot of money to keep and won’t likely be swayed by a big payday elsewhere. Barnes is the starter at center the Rams settled on in the offseason, but didn’t do enough to show another team he’ll fix their offensive line problems.
All these guys should be in the Rams’ pocket to return at good prices. They also represent positions the Rams could look to improve in the draft or free agency.
Decision Time
Wes Welker (wide receiver), Brian Quick (wide receiver)
The Rams currently have three NFL-level wide receivers under contract and one of those, Stedman Bailey, may never play football again after being shot twice in a drive-by this season. Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin both had decent years, even though the Rams hired two Fudruckers Grillmasters as back-to-back offensive coordinators. With a new guy (probably Pat Shurmer) calling plays, the Rams offense should be way better and the team really needs to keep both Welker and Quick. Welker should be easy to deal with as plenty of NFL teams had chances to grab him this year before he signed with the Rams. Quick is another matter.
Quick is the poster child for untapped potential. It took him a while to get good, but when he did in 2014 he was the best receiver the Rams had on the field. Then he got hurt and was never really 100 percent this year. Quick shouldn’t be expensive, but that potential that shines out from him might be enough for a wide receiver-poor team to throw money at Quick the Rams are unwilling to match.
Restricted Free Agents
Case Keenum (quarterback), Cody Davis (safety), Darren Bates (linebacker)
Keenum started for the Rams over the final games of this season and played OK. There’s still no way he beats out Nick Foles in a training camp battle, especially if Shurmer is the offensive coordinator. Keenum is a decent back up who can play when he has to and that should equal a long career. Cody Davis is a popular guy in the Rams locker room and a great special teams player. Bates has really only ever contributed on special teams, but in that he’s been tremendous. I don’t see a problem with the Rams keeping either of these guys and no one is going to come in with strong contract offers on three back ups.
