NFL Free Agency 2016: Los Angeles Rams Review

The Los Angeles Rams have been pretty quit so far in NFL free agency 2016.

The Rams’ off-season plan looks to be value their own talent rather than other teams’ players,  as so far the Rams haven’t signed any outside free agents, but instead have put focus on re-signing their own.

So far, the Rams have re-signed centers Tim Barnes, Brian Folkerts, hybrid line backer Mark Barron, wide receiver Brian Quick, safety Cody Davis, defensive end William Hayes and franchise tagged corner back Trumaine Johnson –pproving the Rams are invested in developing instead of stop-gap players.

The Rams weren’t able to retain all their talent, though, as they lost two key starters in corner back Janoris Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod.

Two players that will be hard to replace but haven’t been replaced yet.

But both players would’ve been hard to keep as both seen the market in free agency valued both as top players at their positions, as Jenkins signed a 5-year $62.5 million deal with the New York Giants and McLeod signed for 5 years and $37 million with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Some of the re-signed players the Rams was able to retain include starting center Tim Barnes. He signed a 2 year, $5.5 million dollar contract with the Rams after starting all 16 games in 2015 after being a back-up for his first three seasons in the NFL.

Finally getting the chance to start  in 2015 after being an un-drafted free agent in 2011, he will continue being the starting center for a few more seasons as he keeps on developing.

Another positive signing is Mark Barron.

The Rams’ switching of his position from safety to line backer my have been the thing best thing to happen to the Mark Barron.

The NFL is transitioning, and hybrid line backer is the new trend and the contract Mark Barron signed is proof — the former-first round pick signed a 5 year $45 million contract with the Rams.

A contract the may not have happened if he still was a safety.

Mark Barron will continue being the starting weak side line backer for the Rams after having a great 2015 campaign may be a little overpaid but the Rams hope he can continue improving as a linebacker.

William Hayes signing is an underrated signing.

Hayes signed a 3 year deal worth up to $21 million.

The defensive end will look to take over long time ex-Ram Chris Long’s spot along the Rams defensive line. William Hayes had a exceptional season taking over for often injured Chris Long for the past two seasons gave Hayes the chance to prove he can be a starter in the NFL.

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He, too, finally will get the chance.

The one year deal with Brian Quick is a low risk low reward hoping Quick can get over the injuries and the Rams get the receiver they expected him to be.

Not much to this deal as the others.

Cody Davis a back up safety signed a two year deal with the Rams and can be a possible replacement for the lost of Rodney McLeod.

If not, he’ll continue being a backup who’s comfortable and knows the Rams system.

The franchise tagging of Trumaine Johnson was really smart.

After failing to come to terms on a contract, the Rams couldn’t let Johnson test free agency.

Definitely not after the season he had for the Rams. Johnson will be the number 1 corner after losing Janoris Jenkins in free agency.

Which he proved shouldn’t be a problem. Johnson was the better corner of the two and we’ll be interested to see if he can improve from his impressive 2015 campaign.

The Rams made priority signings with the lost of Janoris Jenkins and Rodney Mcleod the Rams couldn’t lose three more key pieces to their defense.

Especially after releasing long time Rams James Laurinaitis and Chris Long they couldn’t afford lose Johnson, Barron, and Hayes.

These signings were moves the Rams had to make to avoid making strengths into weakness and have to go out of house to find replacements. Which is never the answer to successful franchise

But one has to think what the Rams plan is now?

Of course. re-signing their own talent should always be a priority but they lost more than they gained.

How will the replace the free agents they lost like Jenkins and MeLeod, though?

Maybe the Rams didn’t want to overpay for other teams talents and will look into the second and third tier free agents.

Next: Janoris Jenkins Leaving Rams For Giants

There are still quality free agents that can come in and make and impact like Casey Hayward and Robert Griffin III just to name a few . Maybe the plan is to build through the draft.  But we will see what’s the plan in Los Angeles.