The Los Angeles Rams went all in to win Super Bowl 56 and they were successful in that quest. They defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in come from behind fashion, winning 23-20. But, they will now have some tough decisions to make in the offseason.
Los Angeles doesn’t have a draft pick until late in the third round, so the draft may not offer many options to help immediately. Some veterans could also price themselves out of the Rams’ price range as they do not have a ton of cap space to use.
The team has a few needs heading into the offseason, more so if they are unable to retain some of their free agents. As a result, Los Angeles will likely be looking for bargain deals and players who might have a flaw or two that some coaching up would fix.
Who could be on the Rams’ radar this offseason? Here are three free agents the team should pursue.
3. S DeAndre Houston-Carson
The Los Angeles Rams signed Eric Weddle out of retirement heading into the postseason to give some perspective on how their situation in the defensive backfield was looking. It is hard to imagine Weddle coming back for another season, so the Rams will have to fill their needs elsewhere.
Finding a cheap, versatile player that can fill a few spots would be ideal for Los Angeles. One player that could pique their interest is DeAndre Houston-Carson of the Chicago Bears. Houston-Carson earned solid marks in 2021, receiving an overall grade of 78 last season.
Given the propensity of the Rams to play in dime personnel defensively, Houston-Carson would be a good fit to compensate for his shortcomings. He is good in coverage, providing a lot of value on third downs.
If he can improve as a run-fitter, a team could have a steal of a free agent signing on their hands.
2. G Michael Schofield III
The interior of the Rams’ offensive line could get poached by opposing teams in free agency. Starting guard Austin Corbett and center Brian Allen are both hitting the open market and could demand deals that price themselves out of the range the Rams can pay.
If that occurs, expect Los Angeles to focus their draft capital on the interior of the offensive line. But, they could still use a veteran presence and Michael Schofield III could be a good, cost-effective option.
Schofield has his shortcomings in base blocking, which makes him a fringe starter in the NFL. But, if the Rams can surround him with a strong supporting cast, they may be able to compensate for his struggles.
Finding a fringe starter for cheap isn’t easy, but Schofield is projected to sign a deal with only $1 million guaranteed. Even the cash-strapped Rams should be able to afford that price tag.
1. LT Duane Brown
The Rams have two players hitting free agency along their offensive line that could need to be replaced. There is a strong possibility that there is a third spot that needs replacing at left tackle where Andrew Whitworth has been entrenched since 2017.
The 40-year old Whitworth is leaning toward retiring, which could open up a huge void on the blindside of Matthew Stafford. Finding a good left tackle isn’t easy, but if Whitworth does move on, the Rams should pursue Duane Brown.
Brown isn’t as dominant as he once was but is still more than capable of getting the job done. The Rams would follow a similar model that they did when they landed Whitworth, as Brown can fit in any scheme and looks to have plenty left in the tank.
There have been some injury concerns in recent seasons but Brown is among the best offensive linemen available this offseason for a team in need of an immediate replacement at left tackle.