Los Angeles Rams: Three replacement options for Mark Barron
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Rams released former first-round pick Mark Barron on Tuesday and are going to need to find his replacement at middle linebacker.
One of the biggest needs for the Los Angeles Rams heading into the offseason after falling short in Super Bowl LIII was at linebacker, both outside and inside. That need grew larger on Tuesday when it was announced that the Rams had released inside linebacker, Mark Barron.
It might seem foolish on the surface for a team to release a player from a position of need that also happens to be a former first-round pick. However, Barron has his history with injuries and even missed the first four games of 2018.
Although he bounced back and had a decent year, his injuries are certainly something to be concerned about. Mix that with the fact that the Rams saved $6.33 million in cap space and it is a no-brainer why the team released Barron.
He is certainly a solid player but that is how the NFL works. It is a numbers game with the salary cap and Barron’s injuries made the Rams’ decision easy — he was not worth the money.
The Rams still need to find a replacement for Barron, though. This replacement could come from another established option that is worth the money or could come from the 2019 NFL Draft.
Here are three potential replacement options for Mark Barron with the three different ways that the Los Angeles Rams could obtain said option.