Rams Cut C Tim Barnes
The Rams are in the market for a center. The team released center Tim Barnes on Thursday, agent Matt Brei tweets.
Barnes made 32 consecutive starts for the Rams. Now, he’s free to sign with any club.
Last year, Barnes re-signed with the Rams on a two-year, $5.6MM deal with $2.5MM guaranteed. His $750K roster bonus would have become guaranteed for injury if he remained on the team on the third day of 2017 league year (later this week). That would have become fully guaranteed if he remained on the roster through June 17.
In 2015, he ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 29th-best center out of 39 qualifiers. This past season, PFF ranked him 31st out of 38 qualifiers.
Free Agency Rumors: Titans, Hightower, Rams
Let’s round up some of the latest free agency rumors:
- The talk of the Titans pursuing linebacker Dont’a Hightower might not be at the levels some have reported, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets. Hightower stands as one of the best free agents left on the board.
- Not a huge surprise, but the Rams are not expected to bring back safety T.J. McDonald, ESPN.com’s Alden Gonzalez writes. I have McDonald ranked as the No. 40 free agent on my Top 50 list, in terms of earning power. He’s not my favorite safety in this year’s free agent crop, but he is young and his hard-hitting style should translate into dollars.
- Despite formally declining his option on Thursday, the Chiefs have expressed interest in retaining quarterback Nick Foles, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.
- There are still plenty of teams sorting through the offensive tackle market, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. That list includes the Chargers, Jets, Vikings, Giants, and Broncos. It should be noted that JLC’s tweet came before Denver’s acquisition of Ronald Leary. It’s not immediately clear if they’re still looking for high-end linemen.
- Russell Okung probably goofed by not having an agent last offseason, but he has one now, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter links). Cole does not identify the rap by name, but says that he has talked with teams and is not NFLPA-certified.
- Packers free agent guard T.J. Lang is likely going to have to take some trips before signing, Cole tweets. He had hip surgery in January and teams want to check that out before signing him. This jibes with earlier word that Lang will have to wait a bit before signing elsewhere.
Rams To Sign Aaron Murray
The Rams will be the latest team to give Aaron Murray a shot, planning to sign the former fifth-round draft pick, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Murray spent last season on the Eagles’ practice squad, following offensive coordinator Doug Pederson from Kansas City to Philadelphia. Murray could not make the Chiefs’ roster out of training camp last year in a crowded competition that saw Nick Foles bump each previous backup-quarterback candidate down a peg.
Los Angeles has two QBs under contract presently, with Sean Mannion being behind Jared Goff. Case Keenum is a UFA. A Georgia product, Murray has yet to throw an NFL pass despite entering his fourth NFL offseason. He worked out for the Jets and Panthers in January after the Eagles did not retain him via reserve/futures deal.
Rams To Sign WR Robert Woods
Robert Woods intends to sign a five-year, $39MM deal with the Rams, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The pact will include $15MM in guaranteed cash.
Woods, 24, spent the past four years in Buffalo after being selected in the second round 2013 draft. Playing opposite Sammy Watkins, Woods settled as a dependable No. 2 receiver in an offense that always worked primarily through the running game. During his time in Buffalo, Woods averaged 51 receptions, 613 yards, and three touchdowns per seasons.
In Los Angeles, Woods is (for now) the No. 1 receiver on the depth chart, as the Rams have lost free agent Kenny Britt to the Browns. Woods will play alongside a group that includes Tavon Austin, Mike Thomas, and Pharoh Cooper as 2016 No.1 overall pick Jared Goff attempts to right the ship at quarterback under new head coach Sean McVay.
PFR had Woods ranked as one of the 15 best receivers available in this year’s free agent class.
Rams To Sign OT Andrew Whitworth
Former Bengals tackle Andrew Whitworth is expected to sign with the Rams today, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In terms of talent, I had the veteran ranked as the top tackle on the open market. 
It’s a three-year, $36MM deal with $15MM guaranteed, Schefter tweets. That also includes $2.5MM guaranteed for year two of the deal. The cash flow seems favorable as Whitworth is ticketed for $24.5MM through the first two years, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
This will result in former No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson sliding inside to guard, Rapoport tweets. Under interim coach John Fassel, the Rams were exploring this idea. They’ll now follow through with it under Sean McVay in what seems like a last-ditch move to try and salvage Robinson’s career with the franchise.
Reportedly, the Bengals front office tried to convince teams at the scouting combine they’d ultimately re-sign the veteran.Whitworth’s camp, meanwhile, told potential suitors that a return to Cincinnati was not locked down. Whitworth’s crew wasn’t lying – he’s leaving.
Whitworth spent some time at guard last season but he’s likely going to play on the outside in L.A. Offensive line was one of the Rams’ major areas of need this offseason and they have found themselves a major piece to group with Rodger Saffold and Rob Havenstein. Now, rising sophomore quarterback Jared Goff should have much better pocket protection. Whitworth’s 92.5 score for pass blocking on Pro Football Focus led all tackles last season.
Whitworth, 35, spent his entire 11-year career in Cincinnati until now. He’s been remarkably durable, missing only two games since the start of the 2009 season. In 2016, PFF rated him as the second-best tackle in the entire NFL and he’s been a Top 5/Top 10 guy for the last five years in a row.
The former first-rounder has started 71 games during his five-year career.
NFC Rumors: Rams, 49ers, Lions, Saints
The Rams are receiving “significant interest” as they attempt to trade franchise-tagged cornerback Trumaine Johnson, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link). As of yet, the only club to be directly linked to the Johnson discussions is the Browns, and even that report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was seemingly tangential and not indicative of definitive interest. Johnson is set to earn nearly $17MM in 2017 under his second consecutive franchise tender.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- Free agent defensive tackle Terrell McClain is generating “a lot of interest” from the 49ers, writes Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News. McClain is coming off the best season of his career, as he started more 12 or more games for the first time since 2012. In 15 starts, McClain put up 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He’s also been linked to Atlanta, Seattle, Washington, and Miami.
- The Lions reached out to offensive tackle Mike Remmers before signing Ricky Wagner, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Remmers isn’t an elite tackle like Wagner, but he can play both the left and right side and has started 32 games for Carolina over the past two seasons. He rates as PFR’s No. 10 free agent offensive tackle.
- Although the Saints have interest in retaining linebacker Michael Mauti, a deal may not come together until later in free agency, according to Joel Erickson of the Advocate (Twitter link). Mauti, 27, played in eight games for New Orleans last season before being placed on the NFI list with an intestinal issue. While he’s not a contributor on defense, Mauti did play 35% of the Saints’ special teams snaps despite only managing a half-season.
- The meeting between the Vikings and controversial running back prospect Joe Mixon went “very well,” tweets Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. Mixon will meet with the Raiders next, per Miller, after posting a successful Pro Day this afternoon.
Browns Involved In Trumaine Johnson Talks?
The Browns may be one team to “keep an eye on” as the Rams attempt to trade franchise-tagged cornerback Trumaine Johnson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Browns Interested In A.J. Bouye]
Cleveland makes sense as a potential destination for Johnson on a number of levels. For one, the Browns now employ former Los Angeles defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, under whom Johnson performed with aplomb during the past several seasons. Second, Cleveland boasts more than $100MM in cap space, meaning it could either allow Johnson to play out his franchise tender at a cost of nearly $17MM or sign him to an extension.
At present, the Browns’ secondary depth chart is exceptionally barren behind No. 1 corner Joe Haden, who himself has dealt with injuries and ineffectiveness in recent years. Cleveland recently released veteran defensive back Tramon Williams, leaving Jamar Taylor, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, and Trey Caldwell as the other corners on a defense that ranked 30th in DVOA against the pass.
The Rams, for their part, likely don’t view Johnson as a perfect fit for new defensive play-caller Wade Phillips‘ scheme. Phillips runs a 3-4 front that relies on man coverage in the back-end, while Johnson has always played better in a zone scheme with help over the top.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/7/17
Unrestricted free agent news will obviously dominate the day, but several clubs also had to make decisions on whether to offer tenders to restricted and exclusive rights free agents. All RFA tenders listed are original round/right of first refusal (worth $1.797MM), and all links go to Twitter:
RFAs:
Tendered:
- Bengals — G T.J. Johnson (via Jim Owczarski of the Enquirer)
- Bills — C Ryan Groy (via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com)
- Buccaneers — DE Jacquies Smith (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times)
- Giants — DE Kerry Wynn (via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com)
- Patriots — T Cameron Fleming (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
- Rams — DT Dominique Easley (via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
- Ravens – S Marqueston Huff (via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com); WR Michael Campanaro, T James Hurst, RB Terrance West (via Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun)
Non-Tendered:
- Bills — DE IK Enemkpali, P Colton Schmidt
- Broncos — OL Sam Brenner (via Mike Klis of 9NEWS)
- Chargers — WR Jeremy Butler (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk)
- Seahawks — LB Brock Coyle, CB DeShawn Shead (via Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com)
ERFAs:
Tendered:
- Broncos — LB Zaire Anderson, OLB Shaquil Barrett, RB Kapri Bibbs, C James Ferentz, WR Bennie Fowler, LS Casey Kreiter, C Matt Paradis, WR Jordan Taylor (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post)
- Cardinals — QB Zac Dysert, DT Olsen Pierre, G/T John Wetzel (via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com)
- Jaguars — S Peyton Thompson (via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union)
- Lions — DE Brandon Copeland (via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com)
- Packers — LB Joe Thomas (via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Panthers — C Tyler Larsen, P Michael Palardy
- Patriots — CB Justin Coleman (via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald), TE Matt Lengel (via Kevin Duffy of MassLive)
- Saints — WR Brandon Coleman (via Nick Underhill of the Advocate)
Non-Tendered:
- Buccaneers — DE Howard Jones (via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
Rams Discussing Trumaine Johnson Trade
The Rams are in discussions with several teams about potentially trading franchised cornerback Trumaine Johnson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Johnson was tagged for the second year in a row, giving him a one-year, $16.742MM tender. The Rams and the 27-year-old corner have until July 15 to agree to an extension, but it sounds like he could be shipped out before that point.
If the Rams do trade Johnson, it’s likely that they will pursue some of this year’s top available cornerbacks. Last year, the Rams let Janoris Jenkins leave via free agency and their pass defense suffered tremendously. Some of this year’s biggest available names include A.J. Bouye, Logan Ryan, Stephon Gilmore, Morris Claiborne, and Dre Kirkpatrick. We also consider Prince Amukamara, Brandon Carr, Terence Newman, Nickell Robey-Coleman (recently released), and Kayvon Webster to be among the ten best CBs on the market.
The Rams’ other cornerbacks under contract are Lamarcus Joyner, E.J. Gaines, Blake Countess, Troy Hill, and Michael Jordan (no, not that Michael Jordan).
In 2016, Johnson had 57 total tackles and one interception in 14 games. In the year prior, he racked up 71 total tackles and seven interceptions. Johnson’ position as Pro Football Focus’ No. 26 cornerback last season is nothing to sneeze at, but he probably didn’t perform quite at the level expected of him.
Cowboys To Pursue WR Kenny Britt
The Cowboys are among the teams with interest in Kenny Britt, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). Britt may be a replacement for Terrance Williams, whom they are expecting to leave via free agency.
Britt finished out the 2016 season with 68 receptions for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns. It has been estimated that he could get $6-$8MM per year on his next deal, but I think he could possibly get even more. Britt ranks as my fourth-best wide receiver in this year’s class and I can’t imagine a team pegging him any lower in terms of ability. Furthermore, Britt made just over $4MM last season and he is undoubtedly due for a pay bump.
2016 was a breakout campaign for Britt. Prior to his first season with the Rams, Britt’s best season came in 2010 with the Titans, when he collected 42 receptions for 775 yards and nine touchdowns.
If Britt does indeed join Dallas, he’d presumably slide in as the team’s third receiver behind Dez Bryant and Cole Beasley. Last season, Williams finished the campaign with 44 receptions, 594 yards, and six touchdowns, which are about on par with Britt’s career averages.
We learned yesterday that the 49ers are among the teams that have also expressed interest in Britt.