The NFL’s free agent legal tampering period begins today, March 9, at 9 a.m. PT and runs until 12:59 p.m. PT on Wednesday March 11. In this time, teams are free to contact and negotiate with players that are unrestricted free agents. While teams and players can come to an agreement during this time, contracts cannot be officially signed until the tampering period has closed.
overthecap.com lists 600+ unrestricted, street, and void year free agents. Teams fortunes can quickly change with strategic
additions. Both Super Bowl participants, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots dipped frequently and wisely into the free agent market hastening their turnarounds.
Using free agency “wisely” is the hill to climb. Should a team just consider needs or should they also take positional history into account. According to Tej Seth, analytics expert for sumersports.com, finding difference-making players can be difficult at certain positions. He charted how each position’s Top 15 players ( based on APY, average salary per year) were acquired. Seth said:
What are the Rams needs and who are possible addition?
QB#2: Will Sean McVay want a veteran backup, if so, Sam Howell, Trey Lance, Kenny Pickett, and Zach Wilson are young, have good draft pedigrees, and multiple NFL starts. They have also all had their struggles, but might flourish in a QB-friendly scheme.
WR#2: Lot of candidates pushing or already 30 years-old. Younger guys, Alec Pierce and Wan’Dale Robinson certainly fit the bill, but would be pricey.
OT#3: While all three have had more down than ups, Mekhi Becton and Evan Neal are former Round 1 picks, while Teven Jenkins went in Round 2. One of the trio might be worth working with.
LB#3: Although Channing Tindall was expected to be a starting-grade linebacker, his career hasn’t went that way. He would add some stellar athleticism to the unit and help out on special teams
S#4: Ashtyn Davis would be a nice change, a true free-range centerfielder. Uber-athletic, he was a dangerous return man in college as well.
CB #2 and #3: Greg Newsome might be pricey but is a former Round 1 pick and his draft review was that of a Cover3 and quarters specialist, the Rams use a lot of both. Bringing back Roger McCreary would inject needed physicality and attitude. A pair like this would add give the Rams defense the versatility of being a tough, aggressive man/press defense as well as zone.
Will the Rams be active?
It appears L.A, would have to free up some money to troll for any big fish. Over the cap has them with a shade under $20mil in the coffers without Tyler Higbee’s $2mil. With the rookie pool $10+mil, a very simple accounting would give Les Snead $6-8mil to play with. In reality, NFL salary caps are really just a suggestion and the Rams front office has shown they can squeeze out money for players they want.
