Rams Tender LB Cory Littleton, Others
Cory Littleton established himself as a surefire Rams starter last season. He figures to be a key component of Los Angeles’ 2019 defense.
The Rams placed a second-round tender on Littleton. That will come out to a $3.1MM salary for 2019, should no extension be reached before June’s RFA signing deadline.
A fourth-year UDFA, Littleton broke out for a 125-tackle, four-sack season in 2018 — his first as a full-time starter. With so many big contracts on the Rams’ roster, it helps they can get quality production from players with rookie-deal salaries. While the $3.1MM will take Littleton to a slightly higher tax bracket, that is a manageable figure for the Rams.
In addition to Littleton, the Rams made the following moves with other restricted and exclusive-rights free agents:
RFAs tendered at original-round level: DB Blake Countess, RB Malcolm Brown, CB Troy Hill
ERFAs tendered: DE Morgan Fox, CB Dominique Hatfield, WR KhaDarel Hodge, CB Kevin Peterson, WR JoJo Natson
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/17/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DB Tyson Graham, DT Garrison Smith, DT Justin Zimmer
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: WR Quincy Adeboyejo, RB Alex Collins, CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, TE Vince Mayle, LB Patrick Onwuasor, OL Maurquice Shakir, OL Matt Skura (ERFA)
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: TE Nick O’Leary, CB Lafayette Pitts, TE Logan Thomas, DE Eddie Yarbrough (ERFA)
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: WR Damiere Byrd, OL Tyler Larsen, P Michael Palardy (ERFA)
Chicago Bears
- Signed original round RFA tender: CB Bryce Callahan
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: WR Geronimo Allison, CB Donatello Brown, QB Joe Callahan, WR Michael Clark; FB Joe Kerridge, G Justin McCray, T Adam Pankey, G Lucas Patrick, S Jermaine Whitehead (ERFA)
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: RB Malcolm Brown, K Sam Ficken, CB Troy Hill (ERFA)
New York Jets
- Signed original-round RFA tender: S Rontez Miles, TE Neal Sterling
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: LB Paul Dawson
- Re-signed: C Joey Hunt, DE Branden Jackson, LS Tyler Ott (ERFA)
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/12/18
Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions, with the list being updated throughout the day.
RFAs
Tendered at second-round level:
- Falcons: G Ben Garland (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution)
- Jaguars: RB Corey Grant (via John Oehser of Jaguars.com, on Twitter)
- Redskins: T Ty Nsekhe (via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
- Titans: G Quinton Spain (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky)
- Vikings: G/C Nick Easton (per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, on Twitter)
Tendered at original-round level:
- Bears: CB Bryce Callahan, WR Cameron Meredith, WR Josh Bellamy (via Rich Campbell and Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, all Twitter links)
Non-Tendered:
- Broncos: WR Bennie Fowler (via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post, on Twitter)
- Packers: P Jake Schum (per Rob Demovsky of ESPN)
ERFAs
Tendered:
- 49ers: RB Raheem Mostert (per Mostert’s agent, Brett Tessler, on Twitter)
- Broncos: LS Casey Kreiter, WR Jordan Taylor, LB Zaire Anderson, T Elijah Wilkinson, LB Jerrol Garcia-Williams, LB Joseph Jones (Jhabvala reports, Twitter links)
- Giants: G Jon Halapio (via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan, on Twitter)
- Jaguars: TE Ben Koyack, OL William Poehls (Twitter links, via Oehser)
- Packers: WR Michael Clark, OL Justin McCray, CB Donatello Brown (all Twitter links via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com and Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Raiders: K Giorgio Tavecchio, LB Shilique Calhoun (Twitter links via Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Josina Anderson of ESPN.com)
- Rams: RB Malcolm Brown, CB Troy Hill (per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
Non-Tendered:
- Bears: LS Patrick Scales (via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, on Twitter)
- Cardinals: TE Ifeanyi Momah (Twitter link via Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic)
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/19/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: TE Jim Dray
Buffalo Bills
- Released: LB Jelani Jenkins
- Waived: S Trae Elston
Chicago Bears
- Promoted to active roster: DB DeAndre Houston-Carson
- Waived: WR Tanner Gentry
Houston Texans
- Waived: TE Evan Baylis
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: DT Michael Bennett
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from suspension: CB Troy Hill
- Waived: CB Kevin Peterson
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted to active roster: DT Garrison Smith
- Waived: DE David Bass
Rams Make Cuts, Reach 53-Man Max
The Rams added a player via trade on Saturday, but their real focus was on mass cuts to get down to the 53-man max. Here’s a rundown of their moves.
Waived:
- DT Omarius Bryant
- WR K.D. Cannon
- OL Parker Collins
- K Travis Coons
- CB Carlos Davis
- LB Kevin Davis (waived/injured)
- OL Michael Dunn
- OL Jake Eldrenkamp
- LB Josh Forrest (waived/injured)
- DB Tyquwan Glass
- RB Aaron Green
- DB Isaiah Johnson
- DB Michael Jordan
- OL Alex Kozan
- OLB Willie Mays
- LB Cassanova Mckinzy
- WR Paul McRoberts
- OLB Andy Mulumba
- OL Pace Murphy
- LB Folarin Orimolade
- DB Aarion Penton
- NT Mike Purcell
- FB Sam Rogers
- WR Shakeir Ryan
- DT Casey Sayles
- WR Brandon Shippen
- WR Nelson Spruce (waived/injured)
- OLB Carlos Thompson
- RB Lenard Tillery (waived/injured)
- OLB Orlovsky was signed in July, but he was facing long odds since the Rams already had Jared Goff and Sean Mannion as their top two QBs.
- G Cody Wichmann
- TE Travis Wilson
Released:
- TE Cory Harkey
- QB Dan Orlovsky
Reserve/Injured:
Reserve/PUP:
- RB Lance Dunbar
Reserve/Suspended:
- CB Troy Hill
- WR Michael Thomas
Orlovsky was signed in July, but he was facing long odds since the Rams already had Jared Goff and Sean Mannion as their top two QBs. Since being drafted in 2005, the 34-year-old has made just 12 career starts.
Troy Hill Gets Two-Game Suspension
The NFL has suspended Rams cornerback Troy Hill two games for a violation of its substance abuse policy, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The ban stems from Hill’s arrest on a DUI charge in November.
Although Hill graded as one of Pro Football Focus’ 10 worst corners last year, his second season in the league, the former Bengal saw action in the majority of the Rams’ games (12) and made four starts. The 25-year-old may have played a full season had he avoided off-field trouble, but the Rams cut him shortly after his arrest. The club re-signed Hill to its practice squad the next day, though, and added him back to its active roster in mid-December.
If Hill remains with Los Angeles through the summer, he’ll be eligible to participate in training camp and the team’s preseason games. His reinstatement would come prior to the Rams’ Week 3 trek to San Francisco.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Seahawks have made a series of roster moves, announcing that they’ve signed running back Kelvin Taylor and cornerback Ronald Powell to their 53-man roster while placing running back Troymaine Pope and fullback Will Tukuafu on IR. Tay is the son of former NFL great Fred Taylor.
- The Bears have signed tight end MyCole Pruitt off the Vikings‘ practice squad, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispacth, while Chicago announced that it has cleared a roster spot by waiving defensive back De’Vante Bausby. Pruitt, a 2015 fifth-round pick, has played in 18 games over the past two years.
- The Packers will sign linebacker Jordan Tripp, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Tripp, primarily a special teamer, was recently waived off Seattle’s IR.
- John Hughes won’t be staying home alone any longer, as the Buccaneers announced that they’ve re-signed the veteran defensive tackle. Hughes, 28, has already played in three games for Tampa this season.
- The Ravens announced that they’ve placed running back Lorenzo Taliaferro on injured reserve and signed linebacker Lamar Louis to the active roster. Taliaferro, a 2014 fourth-round, hasn’t been able to get on the field in Baltimore, as he’s managed only 14 carries over the past two seasons. The Ravens are also promoting WR Michael Campanaro, tweets Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Rams have signed cornerback Troy Hill from the practice squad and placed tight end Cory Harkey on injured reserve, the team announced today. Hill had been waived following a DUI arrest, but has now earned a second chance on the roster.
- The Bills signed safety Shamiel Gary and offensive lineman Michael Ola to the active roster, per a club announcement. Linebacker Bryson Albright has been waived in a corresponding transaction.
- The Redskins announced that they’ve promoted linebacker Nick Moody from the practice squad to the active roster and placed defensive end Anthony Lanier on injured reserve. Lanier, 26, has 25 games of NFL experience under his belt since entering the league as a San Francisco draft pick in 2013.
- The Cardinals have swapped out punters once again, announcing that they’ve waived Drew Butler in favor of Matt Wile, who was promoted from the practice squad. Arizona also signed quarterback Zac Dysert off the taxi squad.
- The Falcons have re-signed cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, the team announced today. BWW had just been waived last week in order to clear a spot for wide receiver depth.
- The Browns announced that they’ve promoted DL Gabe Wright from the practice squad to active roster. Wright, a former Detroit draft pick, was claimed by Cleveland earlier this year.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/23/16
Wednesday’s practice squad changes:
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: CB Troy Hill (via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Aaron Grymes
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: OLB Chris McCain (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Malcolm Johnson (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
Rams Release CB Troy Hill
Days after being arrested for a DUI, the Rams announced that they have released cornerback Troy Hill. The team also announced that cornerback Dwayne Gratz has been waived and linebacker Josh Forrest has been placed on injured reserve. To take their spots, cornerback Michael Jordan and linebacker Nic Grigsby are being called up from the practice squad. 
Hill, 25, entered the league as a Bengals undrafted free agent in 2015 and didn’t play much during his rookie season. This year, he saw an increased role, appearing in every game for the Rams (until this weekend) and starting four contests. As Los Angeles’ fourth cornerback behind Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, and Lamarcus Joyner, Hill has played on 320 defensive snaps this year, but Pro Football Focus gave him poor marks for his play. His release should have opened a door for Gratz, but he also finds himself out of work.
Forrest, a sixth-round pick, suffered an ACL tear on Sunday. Forrest was Alec Ogletree‘s primary backup at middle linebacker, so they are now without an important reserve. As I suggested yesterday, Grigsby is getting a promotion to help fill the void.
Rams CB Troy Hill Arrested For DUI
Rams cornerback Troy Hill was arrested Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com. Los Angeles has released a statement indicating that it is aware of the situation, and also announced that Hill will be inactive for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
[RELATED: Rams To Start Jared Goff]
Hill, 25, entered the league as a Bengals undrafted free agent in 2015 and didn’t play much during his rookie season. But he’s established himself during his sophomore campaign, appearing in every game for the Rams thus far and starting four contests. As Los Angeles’ fourth cornerback behind Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, and Lamarcus Joyner, Hill has played on 320 defensive snaps this year, but has earned poor coverage grades from Pro Football Focus.
With Hill set to be inactive, fellow cornerback Dwayne Gratz could see a role for this first time this season. Claimed off waivers from the Jaguars in mid-October, Gratz — who has 25 career starts under his belt — has yet to appear in a game for the Rams.