There’s been a revolving door in the Rams’ secondary since 2017, but the one consistent presence throughout it all has been Nickell Robey-Coleman. He’s been the team’s slot corner the last three seasons, starting alongside Trumaine Johnson, Kayvon Webster, Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill.
His tenure in Los Angeles has come to an end, however, as the Rams declined his option for 2020. It’s a move that saves the team $4.5 million in cap space, while also making Robey-Coleman an unrestricted free agent.
With how well Robey-Coleman has played since joining the Rams – he had a PFF grade of at least 74.5 each year – this move is a surprising one. Why part with a reliable starter to save only $4.5 million? It’s a hard decision for fans to swallow, but there are layers to this move.
David Long Jr. is ready to start
The Rams took Long in the third round last year, showing how much they valued the former Michigan Wolverine. He had trouble getting on the field in the Rams’ loaded secondary, and when he did get playing time, he had his share of struggles.
But with Robey-Coleman gone, Long is clearly the top choice to take his spot in the slot. He’s not the biggest corner, but he’s excellent in man coverage, which the Rams are expected to utilize more of under Brandon Staley.
Darious Williams could get a chance to compete for the starting slot role, too, as the Rams possess a ton of depth at cornerback right now. That’s the primary reason the front office felt good about letting Robey-Coleman go.
The Rams desperately want money
Entering free agency, the Rams had a little more than $17 million in cap space. By moving on from Robey-Coleman, they’re now over $20 million. They haven’t used any of that money yet, but there could be some moves coming.
Andrew Whitworth is an obvious candidate to return, as is Austin Blythe. Robey-Coleman’s $4.5 million savings should even be enough to cover Blythe’s entire salary for 2020.
The Rams have made it clear that they want to open up some cap space and save some money in free agency, letting Michael Brockers and Cory Littleton leave. Perhaps Les Snead has something up his sleeve – could Chris Harris Jr. be a target? – and plans to make a splash by signing an outside free agent or re-signing Dante Fowler Jr.
Brandon Staley is making changes
Staley said the Rams’ defense will have a lot of similarities to the one Wade Phillips ran, but his fingerprints are going to be on this scheme and roster. This could be the first domino to fall as he brings in players he likes and moves on from those who don’t fit his system.
He’s mentioned the value of versatility on the defensive line and in the secondary, so it’s possible that Robey-Coleman’s role exclusively as a slot corner was a deal-breaker for Staley. His potential replacement, David Long, can play in the slot and outside, providing more matchup choices.
“That’s something you’ll probably hear me talk about a lot, having the versatility to play any place in the front, any place in the back,” Staley said, via the team’s official site. “We’re fortunate that we have that here, guys that have played a lot of roles. Groups that are connected, (because) those groups depend on each other a lot.”
Staley will be part of the process as the Rams remake their defense, and it’s very likely he had a say in this decision.
