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Booming safety market makes Eric Weddle's deal with Rams look even better
Booming safety market makes Eric Weddle’s deal with Rams look even better
By: Cameron DaSilva | 59 minutes ago
The Los Angeles Rams didn’t sign a single player on Monday when the legal tampering period officially began, but oftentimes sitting out the first day of free agency is the smartest move a team can make.
Rather than pursuing one of the top safeties available – someone like Earl Thomas or Adrian Amos – the Rams signed Eric Weddle to a two-year, $10.5 million deal on Friday. They got ahead of the booming safety market, which is on fire thus far.
The Redskins are giving Landon Collins a six-year deal worth $84 million, which includes $45 million guaranteed. That’s a huge contract for someone who’s considered a box safety, making him the highest-paid player at his position in the NFL.
That came on the same day that Earl Thomas’ asking price was reported to be around $14 million, according to NFL Network’s Jane Slater. With Collins earning $14 million per year, it’s entirely possible Thomas will match or surpass the former Giants safety’s contract.
Tyrann Mathieu is one of the top defensive backs available and is sure to generate a lot of interest in free agency. The Texans want to keep the Honey Badger in Houston, but he’s exploring other offers. He was reportedly offered a deal worth more than $9.5 million per year, which wasn’t enough to retain him … yet.
Kenny Vaccaro, who’s on the second tier of safeties, landed himself a nice payday, though not on the level of Collins’ deal. He’s signing with the Titans, a four-year deal worth $26 million that includes $11.5 million in guarantees.
All of the figures that have begun to surface are higher than what the Rams gave Weddle, which should make fans in L.A. very happy. He was Pro Football Focus’ 10th-best safety in the league last year but is making just $5.25 million per year – slightly more than a third of Collins’ reported salary.
And this is just the start of the safety market’s rise. Thomas has yet to sign, Amos is still available and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix’s asking price remains a mystery. Lamarcus Joyner, of course, is also a free agent and could receive a lucrative long-term contract, as well.
No matter how the market shakes out, the Rams were wise to get ahead of the curve and sign Weddle when they did. Not only is he cheaper, but he won’t count against the compensatory pick formula and is still a quality safety.
AgamemnonI want Tillery. Everyone else wants the fat kid.
honestly. i’d be happy with either one.
i’m beginning to wonder if either of them will even be there.
Me, too. Tillery is just number one on my list. Hey, maybe Simmons? He is a talented player with red flags that I might take a chance on. Trade down? I think we will be just fine. I do kind of lean toward Dline.
AgamemnonI want Tillery. Everyone else wants the fat kid.
We do need a NT. Tillery can’t play NT. He is too light too play NT. Plus, he is not a 1st rounder. Tillery is not a top 50 player. I posted my top 50 players of the draft awhile ago. If the Rams want Tillery, they would have to trade down to late in the 2nd round.
I take Tillery and don’t look back. I go on my own stuff. If I need a NT, I can get a NT later in the draft. Besides that, Wade doesn’t even play a traditional 2-gap system.
AgamemnonI would just a soon have him as Suh. So, there is that. lol I am OK with the signing. Let’s see what he does.
AgamemnonI think the cap number on Blythe is a mistake. Higbee has the same mistake. I think it should be 720K. The number quoted, by both web sites is the cap number for a low end rfa. I think that number was entered by mistake and both sites get their numbers from the same place. I hope the Rams caught this. I think the 4 year vet. min. would be correct. imo
The total contract number matches when the 720 figure is used.
AgamemnonThey always did sux. They made an inedible soggy mess. Now, Rice Krispys or Shredded Wheat, there is a cereal.
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What cereal gets a picture of Antonio Brown? AgamemnonWhen I add everything up in my head, I see the Rams having about $5M in usable Cap Space. Of course, they can and will change this by various means, so it is not a hard fast number. Not all the costs kick in right away. If they want to do something, they can make it happen. Just write a low cost for this year’s Cap into the contract.
The Rams have almost $100 million in Cap Space for 2020.
AgamemnonDraft Costs for Rams 7 picks: $5,534,505 – (7 x $495,000) = $2,069,000
Right now we only count 51 players against the Salary Cap. Later we will count 53. that will and another 2 x $495,000(rookie min. wage) = $990,000
Practice Squad of 10 players for games equals, 2019 Practice Squad Weekly Pay: $8,000.00 ($136,000 if on all 17 weeks) x 10 = $1,360,000.
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$2,069,000 – draft pool
$990,000 – 51-53
$1,360,000 – practice squad
$5,000,000 – Injured Reserve, plus or minus a million.
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$9,419,000 yearly expenses AgamemnonSchefty just said on espn the real number is closer to $11 M
— the Answer to the Question of Life, Universe, & (@Son_DeeRRF) March 11, 2019
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I was hoping he’d tweet but here’s the quote from Get Up “I’m told that number realistically is gonna be about $11M/yr…..and that they’re probably gonna lose Suh as well”
— the Answer to the Question of Life, Universe, & (@Son_DeeRRF) March 11, 2019
AgamemnonReport: Dante Fowler Jr.'s one-year deal with Rams is worth $14M
Report: Dante Fowler Jr.’s one-year deal with Rams is worth $14M
By: Cameron DaSilva | 1 hour ago
The Los Angeles Rams are in desperate need of outside pass-rush help and late Sunday night, they took the first step toward addressing it. They agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Dante Fowler Jr., keeping him in Los Angeles for another season and preventing him from hitting free agency on Wednesday.
Giving him a one-year contract to allow him to prove himself is a smart move, considering his lack of overall production in the NFL and his limited time in the Rams’ system. He played just 11 total games with L.A. last season, recording 3.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss.
That one-year deal won’t come cheap, though. According to Ian Rapoport, Fowler’s contract is worth $14 million for just the 2019 season.
Last night, the #Rams agreed to terms with pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. on a 1-year deal worth $14M, source said. The former 1st rounder gets another year with the team that traded for him at roughly the amount that the fifth-year option would’ve been, then can hit the market. 💰
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2019
As Rapoport states, that’s about the value of what would’ve been the fifth-year option for Fowler. The Rams didn’t have the chance to exercise it because they acquired him after the Jaguars had already declined it, but they clearly feel good about paying him a significant amount of money.
The exact structure of the deal is unknown up to this point, but considering it’s only for one season, it’s highly likely that most of the money is guaranteed. The Rams may have built incentives into the contract to make it worth up to $14 million, but either way, Fowler is going to get paid in 2019.
Los Angeles could’ve placed the franchise tag on Fowler and paid him $15.4 million, which wouldn’t have been much more to guarantee him staying for another year. However, the Rams were able to save some money by locking him up to a one-year deal, albeit an expensive one.
AgamemnonWhen I saw it was a one year deal for Fowler I thought that the two sides probably worked off the tag number for DE (~17 million). So I’m not surprised with 14 million. Although, I doubt it actually ends up being 14 million.
Starting to hear rumors that Fowler’s deal is closer to $11 million( Schefter on ESPN? ). Maybe $14 million includes incentives? Sooner or later we will get the exact figures.
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$14 million is about what his 5th year option would have been. Agamemnon$14 million, I consider that a bit high, but it is just one year.
I’m looking at Michael Brockers to be traded or cut. Me thinks the reason Brockers has not been cut, is the Rams may have some trades to evaluate. Just a thought.
Could happen, but we only have 5 defensive linemen. I am probably more for keeping Brockers than most.
AgamemnonWhat happens to Dante?
This happens to Dante..
If Dante has a big year he can cash in big time next year, much more that he can this year with a limited resume. So the Rams get to have a viable if not great edge rusher for one more year. imo
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I guess for about $8 million? Agamemnon— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 5, 2019
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 10, 2019
AgamemnonThe Antonio Brown saga is finally nearing a close. Sources say the #Steelers are dealing AB to the #Raiders in exchange for a third round pick and a fifth round pick in this 2019 draft. Brown will also get a reworked contract that makes him the NFL’s highest paid WR.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2019
Contract details for new #Steelers WR Antonio Brown: 3 years, $50.125M, source said. Max value is 54.125M. He gets $30.125M guaranteed, more than the $0 he preciously had. The contract was he biggest hurdle.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2019
Agamemnonhttps://www.therams.com/news/rams-eric-weddle-agree-to-terms-on-two-year-deal
The Rams secondary now features two veterans in Weddle and cornerback Aqib Talib, who are No. 9 and No. 2 in interceptions, respectively, among all active players.
Agamemnon2 days ago
D’Marco and Myles chat about the reported early free agency moves Los Angeles is making to get ready for the 2019 season, recap what came out of the NFL Combine, and chat about how the Rams might manage RB Todd Gurley’s workload going forward in this edition of Between the Horns.
AgamemnonIt’s official!
Welcome to the squad, @weddlesbeard! pic.twitter.com/WIrb2iPXlr
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 8, 2019
New @RamsNFL safety Eric Weddle is expected to replace Lamarcus Joyner (UFA) as the defense's primary free safety.@weddlesbeard was one of the best in the NFL last season when aligned as a deep safety, allowing a league-best 0.26 yards per coverage snap. pic.twitter.com/3r5CeUWreP
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 8, 2019
AgamemnonRams add NT Dexter Lawrence, fortify secondary in 4-round mock draft
For all you Dexter lover’s 😉
Rams add NT Dexter Lawrence, fortify secondary in 4-round mock draft
With just about every pre-draft event now in the rear-view mirror – from the Senior Bowl to now the NFL combine – only pro days are left before the main event in April. The Los Angeles Rams will be in the market for players at several positions, but particularly on defense.
They met with a handful of defensive linemen and pass rushers at the combine, and while they surely had interviews with other players, those were the ones made public by prospects. It’s clear the Rams need help up front, which is why Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling has them taking a stud defensive lineman at No. 31 overall in his latest mock draft.
The Rams take Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence, who ran a 5.05 40-yard dash at 342 pounds before suffering a minor quad strain.
31. Los Angeles Rams Dexter Lawrence DL Clemson
Free agency could have a huge impact on the NFC champs’ defense, as they could be looking to replace key starters at defensive tackle and safety. In this situation, general manager Les Snead opts to find the successor to Ndamukong Suh, landing the massive but explosive Lawrence to lock down the middle of the defensive line.
He would be a perfect fit at nose tackle in the Rams defense, replacing Suh. He has phenomenal size and athleticism and while he may not be a dominant pass rusher – no nose tackle is – he’s excellent against the run.
The Rams don’t have a second-round pick, but they do have two in the third round. They select Jaquan Johnson, a safety out of Miami, and Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams in the third, fortifying the secondary.
94. Los Angeles Rams Jaquan Johnson S Miami (FL)
88. Los Angeles Rams Joejuan Williams CB VanderbiltJohnson disappointed at the combine, running a 4.69 40-yard dash at 191 pounds. He can play both safety spots, but there are concerns about his speed and size. Williams comes with similar weaknesses, running the 40 in only 4.64 seconds – not a great time for a corner, but he is 6-foot-4, 211 pounds.
He can be a good press corner, though, if used properly. And with the way Wade Phillips typically likes to use corners in press-man coverage, it’s easy to connect the dots on this pick.
133. Los Angeles Rams Ben Banogu EDGE TCU
Lastly, the Rams select Ben Banogu out of TCU. The edge rusher had a strong performance at the combine with a 4.62-second 40-yard dash, a broad jump of 134 inches and a vert of 40 inches. His three-cone drill of 7.02 seconds at 250 pounds is also fairly impressive and while he’s not a refined pass rusher, the traits are there.
Agamemnonwell if brockers stays i’m on the draft dexter lawrence train.
i know ag will disagree but a 340 pounder who moves that fast with that kind of length?
drool.
Lawrence is ok. I just think Simmons and Tillery are better. I am fine with keeping Brockers, too. I think the Rams will use the first round draft choice on some kind of pass rusher. imo
Simmons and Tillery have some pass rush in them, more than Lawrence. They can play DE in a 3-4. They said Tillery can even do a bit of LBer. Simmons can play a 3 technique. AgamemnonVincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
FYI on John Sullivan: #Rams get back all $6.25m in cap space and a $1m salary cap credit. So basically $7.25m in not picking up his option. Mark Barron saves $6.33 so essentially #Rams created $13.5m in space created todayThis does not necessarily mean #Rams we will be active in FA but the savings could be used for trades, resignings and players who get cu
Maybe Vinnie is right on this? Spotrac said they saved S5.25 million. I will change what I posted earlier.
Agamemnon
