Rams Reach Agreement To Retain Mark Barron
Mark Barron‘s career resurgence will continue with the organization that triggered it, albeit in a new city. The Rams have reached an agreement to keep Barron, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Heading to Los Angeles on a contract worth approximately $9MM per year, ESPN.com’s Mark Domenik (Twitter link) reports, Barron will stay the course that helped him bounce back. Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter) shines more light on the lucrative deal for Barron; it’s reportedly a five-year, $45MM accord.
The Rams are planning to keep Barron at weakside linebacker, Nick Waggoner of ESPN.com tweets. Alec Ogletree will slide to middle linebacker as a result of this mammoth contract.
Multiple teams wanted to sign the former first-round pick to play safety, but the Rams prefer him at linebacker after relocating the 26-year-old talent there last October.
Barron ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 20 overall linebacker last season, and the former No. 7 overall selection of the Buccaneers’ resided as one of the position’s top UFAs.
Barron’s deal, as of now, resides third among outside linebackers in 4-3 defenses, behind just Lavonte David and Bruce Irvin. The market for this position has intensified considerably over the past year, with K.J. Wright‘s $6.75MM-per-season pact representing the spot’s high-water mark late last summer.
Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Rams Extend First-Round Tender To Case Keenum
The Rams have offered a first-round tender to restricted free agent Case Keenum, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Keenum would earn $3.635MM in 2016 under the one-year deal.
If another club expressed interest in poaching Keenum, they would not only have to sign him to an offer sheet, but they would need to sacrifice a first-round pick if Los Angeles declined to match the offer. That scenario seems wholly unlikely, so Keenum will likely return to the Rams, who have already said Keenum will enter the offseason as their starter.
Keenum, 28, took over as the Rams’ starter last season after Nick Foles was benched — he went on to start five games, completing about 61% of his passes for 828 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Head coach Jeff Fisher has said Keenum will start, but it’s always possible that the club brings in competition, either via the draft or through free agency.
Foles, meanwhile, can reportedly be had via trade, and a number of clubs could make sense as suitors.
Free Agent Rumors: Browns, Harrison, Titans
The Browns have had a knack for stealing headlines in recent years, but that trend could come to a halt this offseason. New Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown is not looking to make a splash in free agency, various agents tell Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Browns already lost out on one significant free agent target today when Marvin Jones signed a lucrative deal with the Lions.
Here are the latest free agent rumors:
- There’s nothing brewing right now between the Titans and free agent defensive tackle Damon Harrison, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets.
- Safety Tashaun Gipson is a longshot for the Eagles but it’s not out of the question, Geoff Mosher of 97.5 The Fanatic (on Twitter) hears.
- The Seahawks are working to bring back Brandon Mebane, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
- The Rams are in good position to bring back linebacker/safety Mark Barron, a league source tells Vincent Bonsignore of the Daily News (on Twitter).
- The Jets are sniffing around the free agent tackle market and that could spell the end of Breno Giacomini in New York, Alex Marvez of FOX Sports tweets.
FA Rumors: McLeod, Vernon, Steelers, Sweezy
Safety Rodney McLeod is one of the top young safeties set to hit the market today, and Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) hears that the Ravens are a “strong contender” for the Rams’ free-agent-to-be.
While the Ravens could use some help at free safety, since Kendrick Lewis didn’t prove in 2015 that he’s the long-term answer and Lardarius Webb doesn’t have much experience at safety. But the idea that Baltimore would make a play for someone like McLeod is surprising, since the team typically doesn’t foray too aggressively into free agency, and doesn’t have a ton of cap flexibility.
As we wait to see if anything comes of the Ravens’ apparent interest in McLeod, let’s check in on a few other free agent rumors….
- In an interesting piece for TheMMQB.com, defensive end Olivier Vernon, one of the top free agents available, acknowledges that he “probably” won’t be back with the Dolphins in 2016.
- With Heath Miller having retired, the Steelers are exploring the tight end free agent market, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). According to Rapoport, Coby Fleener, Ladarius Green, and Jared Cook are names worth monitoring for Pittsburgh.
- Over a half-dozen teams remain in the mix for offensive lineman J.R. Sweezy, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network, who tweets that the Broncos are worth keeping an eye on.
- Offensive tackle Bobby Massie has received interest from the Bears and Giants, but his market isn’t up to $8MM per year yet, tweets Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. A Monday report indicated that Massie could end up landing a deal in that range.
- The Rams are intent on trying to re-sign defensive end William Hayes, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Per La Canfora, Hayes has a “nice market,” but wouldn’t rule out a return to the Rams.
- The Bears resumed negotiations on Tuesday with tight end Zach Miller, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Miller’s reported asking price of $5MM per year, which seemed outrageous a few weeks ago, doesn’t look quite as far-fetched after Dwayne Allen got $7MM+ annually from the Colts.
FA Rumors: RGIII, Beachum, Lamur, C. Long
The Rams have not shown any interest in free agent quarterback Robert Griffin III at this point, reports Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link). Ten clubs are reportedly giving Griffin a “hard look.”
Here are a few more free agent rumors from around the NFL:
- Having reached a deal to bring back veteran guard Ramon Foster, the Steelers think they might be able to re-sign left tackle Kelvin Beachum on a one-year deal, tweets Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Beachum is coming off a torn ACL, which may be limiting his market.
- Free agent linebacker and special-teamer Emmanuel Lamur is not expected to re-sign with the Bengals, according to Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer, who writes that the Lions, Vikings, and Dolphins are among the teams that have expressed interest in Lamur since the legal tampering window opened.
- Former Rams defensive end Chris Long enjoyed his visit to Washington and has genuine interest in joining the club, but he has more free agent visits planned, so it doesn’t sound like any deal is imminent, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
- The Raiders have already made a pair of big splashes in free agency, reaching agreements with Kelechi Osemele and Bruce Irvin. Bill Williamson of Fanrag Sports suggests (via Twitter) that cornerback Janoris Jenkins is another name to watch for Oakland.
Rams Could Have Interest In Ryan Fitzpatrick
We learned earlier today that Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is expected to reach the free agent market Wednesday. Should that happen, the team that drafted him – the Rams – could be among his suitors if the price is reasonable, according to 
Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link).
Fitzpatrick, 33, looks primed to join Denver’s Brock Osweiler as one of the top two quarterbacks available in free agency this year. The 11-year veteran is coming off the best season of his career, having thrown for nearly 4,000 yards to go along with 31 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. Fitzpatrick, who has started for six different teams since the Rams took him in the seventh round of the 2005 draft, made $3.25MM last season during a 10-6 campaign for the Jets and could be in line for as much as $10MM to $15MM per annum on his next deal.
During his two seasons with the St. Louis Rams, Fitzpatrick appeared in five games and threw four TDs against eight picks. He has improved significantly since then, though, and would be an on-paper upgrade over incumbent Los Angeles signal-callers Case Keenum and Nick Foles.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cole’s Latest: Harrison, Vernon, Mack, Ayers
With the NFL’s legal tampering period underway for 2016, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report has passed along several noteworthy free agent rumors. Let’s round up the highlights…
- While plenty of teams will have interest, the Titans appear to be the club most willing to meet Damon Harrison‘s asking price, according to Cole (video link). The Jets would love to retain their standout nose tackle, but given all the suitors expected to be in play, the price will be high. That may be an issue for the Jets, who have already committed $15MM+ to Muhammad Wilkerson.
- The Dolphins may ultimately decide to pull the transition tag they placed on defensive end Olivier Vernon last week, says Cole (video link). As Cole explains, if the Dolphins decide not to match an offer sheet for Vernon, the pass rusher wouldn’t factor into the compensatory pick formula for 2017, since only departing unrestricted free agents can earn teams extra picks. So if Miami senses the bidding on Vernon will be too high, the team may surrender its right to match an offer, in order to regain the $12MM+ in cap room and line itself up for a mid-round 2017 comp pick.
- Free agent center Alex Mack has generated “extensive interest” from the Falcons, per Cole (video link). Cole says the Jaguars, who signed Mack to an offer sheet in 2014, don’t have as much interest this time around, and adds that the Rams have expressed some interest, but aren’t expected to be serious contenders.
- The “rumor late last week” was that defensive end Robert Ayers was looking for $10MM per year from the Giants, tweets Cole. While it’s possible that was Ayers’ starting point in negotiations, it seems extremely unlikely that he’d actually land that kind of salary. Ayers had a strong year in 2015, but it’s the first time he had more than 5.5 sacks in a season, and he’ll be turning 31 this year.
- Cole confirms (video link) that the Raiders and 49ers will both be in the mix for the top cornerbacks on the free agent market, including Sean Smith and Janoris Jenkins.
Free Agent Rumors: Sean Smith, Niners, Raiders
The very latest free agent news:
- The 49ers have discussed Chiefs free agent cornerback Sean Smith, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter). He adds that Smith has been on the Niners’ radar in the past as well. The Chiefs have not reached out to Smith since the start of the tampering period, but they have talked with his agent since the Combine, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes.
- The Chiefs know they will have to raise the current offer to Smith in order to retain him, but it’s not clear if they will, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweets. The Raiders will also be in play for his services, he adds.
- The Chiefs have expressed interest in former Raiders receiver Rod Streater, Paylor writes. Streater’s best season came in 2013 when he hauled in 60 catches for 888 yards and four scores.
- Seahawks free agent guard J.R. Sweezy is generating a ton of early interest with at least ten teams expressing serious interest, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. The Buccaneers, Falcons, Lions, Dolphins, Saints, 49ers, Jaguars, Bears, and Jets, have all made it known that they will be suitors (link).
- Donald Penn’s agent met with the Raiders but the tackle is expected to hit the free agent market on Wednesday, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets.
- The Cardinals have expressed interest in Rams free agent defensive end William Hayes, according to Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter). The eight year vet has racked up 21.5 sacks over the last four years.
Broncos To Tender RFA Brandon Marshall
As the Broncos attempt to get deals done with bigger-name free agents like Malik Jackson and Brock Osweiler, the team is taking care of one if its restricted free agents. According to ESPN’s Trey Wingo (Twitter link), Denver is placing a second-round RFA tender on linebacker Brandon Marshall.
While he hasn’t made as many headlines as teammates Jackson, Von Miller, and Danny Trevathan this offseason, Marshall is a key cog in the Broncos’ defense, starting all 16 games and three postseason contests for the club this past season. Marshall totaled 101 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.
By assigning him a second-round RFA tender worth $2.553MM, the Broncos will assure that if any team signs Marshall to an offer sheet that they choose not to match, they’ll receive a second-round pick as compensation.
Per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post, the Dolphins and Seahawks are among the teams expected to have some interest in Marshall. However, I doubt that any club will be willing to part with a second-round pick to sign him, so the most likely scenario is that Marshall plays out the year on his tender before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency next winter.
Here’s more on the Broncos:
- Peyton Manning is retiring, but it’s not clear yet whether the Broncos will place him on the reserve/retired list or simply release him. As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk explains, it’s worth keeping an eye on, since Manning could come out of retirement down the road with no roadblocks if Denver cuts him.
- According to Peter King of TheMMQB.com, the Rams’ brain-trust had mild interest in Manning, but hadn’t yet had a serious internal discussion about him, and likely wouldn’t have guaranteed him a starting job. If the Rams were the only club with any level of interest in Manning, as King suggests, it likely made the quarterback’s retirement decision easier.
- For what it’s worth, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets that Manning and agent Tom Condon never attempted to determine other teams’ interest in the QB — their deliberations were simply about whether or not to retire.
- The Texans are expected to contact Jimmy Sexton, the agent for Brock Osweiler, when the legal tampering period begins today, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS.
Rams RB Tre Mason Arrested
Rams running back Tre Mason was arrested in Hollywood on Saturday, according to Paradise Afshar of ABC 10. Mason was charged with resisting arrest, possession of cannabis, reckless driving, and failure to register a motor vehicle.
Clearly, the arrest not only means Mason will likely face a suspension, but it could also put his status on the Los Angeles roster in question. Mason, 22, acted as Todd Gurley‘s backup in 2015, rushing for 2.8 yards per carry on 75 attempts and scoring once. As a starter in 2014, Mason was performed much better, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt in 12 games. Mason is signed thorough 2017 at near-minimum rates.
The Rams are still “gathering information” on the situation, tweets Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, and while it’s doubtful the club will take any action before the league does, Mason’s arrest could force Los Angeles to look for another running back in the coming weeks. Besides Mason, the Rams also have Benny Cunningham and Malcolm Brown, among others, behind Gurley.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.