The Los Angeles Rams shared some disappointing news Sunday, announcing that Micah Kiser will undergo surgery on his injured pectoral and be out indefinitely. The team didn’t give a specific timeline, but Kiser will be sidelined for a while.
Sean McVay mentioned Bryce Hager as someone who will step up in Kiser’s absence, but that hardly instills confidence. He’s started a total of one game in four seasons and only got 53 snaps last year.
If the Rams aren’t sold on Hager as a starter, here are four free agents who could help.
Josh Bynes
It’s surprising that no one has picked up Bynes yet. The Cardinals cut him back in March and he’s sat on the free agent market ever since then. He had a productive 2018 season in 11 games with Arizona, earning an overall grade of 75.8 from Pro Football Focus. He made 75 total tackles and broke up five passes, also recording a career-high two sacks.
Unless there’s something wrong with Bynes that teams know and we don’t, the Rams should certainly give Bynes a call. He’d be a quality addition at this point in the year, particularly for a team in need of linebacker help.
Mason Foster
Foster was a surprise cut by the Redskins this offseason, but it’s even more shocking no one has signed the veteran linebacker. He was Washington’s leading tackler in 2018 with 131 tackles, but Washington preferred to save $4 million in cap space by cutting him. The timing of it all, coming just before training camp, was especially questionable.
Still, Foster would be worth a look by the Rams. If nothing else, he could provide insurance in case Hager or Travin Howard really struggle. At best, he comes in and starts 16 games, providing veteran leadership along the way. He won’t break the bank, either, which makes him an intriguing option for the Rams.
Stephone Anthony
Anthony is a former first-round pick who has flopped in the NFL. He’s started just 19 games in four seasons (two with the Saints, two in Miami) and hardly had an impact outside of his rookie year. However, he’s the mold of linebacker the Rams might be looking for, bringing a strong physical presence in the middle of the field.
The Falcons recently cut Anthony so he’s once again available, which obviously isn’t a great sign for his talent level. But unless his speed and athleticism have completely fallen off, he still has the potential to succeed.
Manti Te’o
Te’o has starting experience across his six NFL seasons. He’s started 47 of the 59 games he’s played, and while injuries are of course a concern with him, Te’o can have an impact when healthy. He was a solid player for the Saints when he wasn’t injured the last two seasons, while he also had two productive years with the Chargers in 2013 and ’15.
Te’o isn’t someone who would come in right away and be a clear-cut starter. However, he could compete with Hager and Howard and be a backup plan in a worst-case scenario. He was drafted in the second round for a reason and despite his lack of speed, he’s shown flashes of starter ability.
