It’s still nearly two weeks before the official new league year begins, but the Los Angeles Rams continue to make moves to alter their roster. Just moments ago, the Rams announced they had reached an agreement with the Miami Dolphins to trade defensive end/outside linebacker Robert Quinn in exchange for draft pick compensation. The Rams and Dolphins will also switch a couple of late-round picks.
The move opens up more than $11 million in salary cap space for the Rams in 2018. The early word is that the Dolphins will be shipping the Rams a “mid-round” pick. If Los Angeles had kept Quinn, they would have paid him more than $12 million next season.
Compensation update: Dolphins are sending a mid-round pick to the Rams in exchange for DE Robert Quinn, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2018
It’s been four years since Quinn recorded a double-digit sack season, though he came close in 2017, playing in 15 games and starting 14 for Wade Phillips’ defense. Quinn had 32 tackles, two forced fumbles and 8.5 sacks. It was his highest total, in both sacks and games played since, he had 10.5 sacks in 2014.
L.A. needs more cap money as they’re working a new, long-term deal with defensive tackle Aaron Donald that will almost certainly make him the highest paid defensive player in the sport. Not only that, but even after trading for Marcus Peters at cornerback, Los Angeles hasn’t decided to fold its hand on pending free agent corner Trumaine Johnson. On Wednesday, Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters he’s still working to keep Johnson on the squad.
“We want Trumaine back,” McVay said. “We want to try to see if that can work. We do have a lot of respect and appreciation for probably the market that he’ll have. And I think that’s where as you get a little closer to free agency, you see what does that market look like? That will then determine if we’re able to get him back and see him continue to play for us.”
Only two players have more than 15 strip sacks since 2012:
Robert Quinn and his new @MiamiDolphins teammate, Cameron Wake pic.twitter.com/7UgD8sidWn
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) March 2, 2018
For Quinn, the production and recent injury history just made his current contract too difficult to swallow for L.A. While he had a solid season in Phillips’ defense, the Rams got nearly as much pass rush from the vastly cheaper Matt Longacre and free agent acquisition Connor Barwin. Longacre had 5.5 sacks and 23 tackles. Barwin had five sacks and 34 tackles. Both Longacre and Barwin are free agents and shouldn’t cost a lot to bring back.
Los Angeles has franchise tag decisions to make on Sammy Watkins and Lamarcus Joyner. This boost in cash should help. It also shows that the Rams could be looking for a pass rusher in the first round of April’s NFL Draft.
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