As we near the opening of training camp for the 2019 Los Angeles Rams, we’re counting down the top storylines.
We’re kicking off with some Rams who might be saying their goodbyes this year.
There’s a good chance we look back at the 2018-20 three-year run as a prologue.
With the Rams heading into their new, (semi-) permanent home next year, we might be closing out a run to reintroduce the Rams to LA before establishing a more formal presence. New home, new digs.
New success.
And while that in and of itself is worth getting excited about, there’s also the success we’ve enjoyed in this era already. Even if 2019 doesn’t measure up to the lofty bar set last year (and more on that coming in a future Countdown to Camp), you’ve got a historic 2018 in which the Rams set out on a Super Bowl or Bust campaign that made it all the way to Super Bowl LIII. Achievement unlocked.
But as we close out this three-year period and head into the years that will define Head Coach Sean McVay and QB Jared Goff (more on that too later this week), it means we’re going to be saying goodbye to some of the Rams that helped us get to the Super Bowl last year and contribute to the journey of however far we might get this year to say nothing of the years prior.
The Rams currently have two dozen players who are headed into the final year of their contracts:
2020 LA Rams Free Agents
| Player | POS | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | POS | Type | Outcome |
| Malcolm Brown | RB | UFA | Re-signed, 2-yr $3.25m |
| Blake Countess | DB | UFA | Waived |
| Jared Goff | QB | UFA | Optioned |
| Troy Hill | CB | UFA | Re-signed, 2-yr $8.25m |
| Austin Blythe | OL | UFA | |
| Michael Brockers | DL | UFA | |
| Marqui Christian | CB | UFA | |
| Dante Fowler, Jr. | EDGE | UFA | |
| Tyler Higbee | TE | UFA | |
| Cory Littleton | LB | UFA | |
| Marcus Peters | CB | UFA | |
| Aqib Talib | CB | UFA | |
| Mike Thomas | WR | UFA | |
| Andrew Whitworth | LT | UFA | |
| Greg Zuerlein | K | UFA | |
| Brandon Allen | QB | RFA | |
| Justin Davis | RB | RFA | |
| Morgan Fox | DE | RFA | |
| Jojo Natson | KR/PR | RFA | |
| Kevin Peterson | CB | RFA | |
| Josh Carraway | OLB | ERFA | |
| Donte Deayon | CB | ERFA | |
| Dominique Hatfield | CB | ERFA | |
| KhaDarel Hodge | WR | ERFA | |
| Jeremiah Kolone | OL | ERFA | |
| Johnny Mundt | TE | ERFA | |
| Aaron Neary | OL | ERFA | |
| John Wolford | QB | ERFA |
Some of these Rams’ potential re-signing might well depend on how they perform in 2019. CB Marcus Peters, EDGE Dante Fowler and TE Tyler Higbee come to mind. On the other hand, it’s likely the final go with several other Rams. LT Andrew Whitworth is all but certain to retire after this go round. CB Aqib Talib might well join him. And DL Michael Brockers, one of the most tenured Rams, is likely headed into a similar situation as OL Rodger Saffold III where the Rams have to begin prioritizing youthful options to maintain future salary cap flexibility.
Little is certain heading into the regular season for any team. Personnel turnover is one of those few certainties.
So while it may be bittersweet to see Big Whit heading into his swan song or to go into a year saying goodbye to Brock. the first draft pick ever from Rams General Manager Les Snead, it may just be fitting to match the pain of that goodbye with the joy of something special.
As those young crooners in the 90s relayed to us…
It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.