The Los Angeles Rams are expected to have about $30 million in cap space this year as they enter roster-management mode for 2019. Like every other team, they’ll have big decisions to make on high-profile free agents like Ndamukong Suh and Lamarcus Joyner, which will have an impact on their salary cap.
Furthermore, cuts will be made in order to save the Rams money – cap casualties, as they’re often called. They have several options in that department, potentially freeing up a boatload of money.
If the Rams cut all six players on this list, they’d save $32.55 million in cap space for 2019, which would double their current total. Marcus Peters, who the Rams could save another $9 million by cutting, was excluded because Los Angeles would trade him before flat-out releasing him.
The list is in order of greatest to least cap savings, not the likelihood of each happening.
Michael Brockers
2019 cap hit: $11 million
Potential savings: $10.25 million
Brockers is one of the longest-tenured players on the Rams’ roster, but don’t be surprised if 2018 was his last season in L.A. He disappointed this season with just four tackles for loss and four quarterback hits – half as many of each as he had in 2017. With a potential savings of $10.25 million, cutting him has to at least cross the Rams’ mind.
This season, he was the 82nd-ranked interior defender by Pro Football Focus as he struggled to make a big impact next to Aaron Donald and Suh. The Rams could potentially release Brockers and use that $10.25 million to re-sign Suh.
Aqib Talib
2019 cap hit: $8 million
Potential savings: $8 million
Talib was very good when healthy in 2018 and has played well in recent years despite being past his prime years. That being said, he is 32 years old and there’s absolutely no penalty if the Rams cut him. It’s a straight savings of $8 million on the cap, which may not seem like a lot for a starting cornerback, but it could help the Rams bring back Rodger Saffold or pursue a pass rusher in free agency.
Cutting Talib is unlikely to happen because of the way he played this year and it’s clear Wade Phillips has a lot of respect for him, but don’t completely rule it out just yet.
Mark Barron
2019 cap hit: $9.67 million
Potential savings: $6.33 million
Barron has struggled to stay healthy the past two seasons and before he elevated his play in the postseason, he was a weak link on defense. He was missing tackles and allowing big runs, hurting the Rams with inconsistent play. To put his contract into perspective, his cap hit of $9.67 million in 2019 is the fourth-largest of any inside linebacker in the NFL, though he’s hardly the fourth-best player at his position.
There will be cheaper options available who will likely be better fits in the Rams’ 3-4 defense, and they have Micah Kiser waiting in the wings, too. Barron’s play simply doesn’t match his cost for L.A., which makes him a prime candidate to be released.
John Sullivan
2019 cap hit: $6.25 million
Potential savings: $5.25 million
Sullivan will be 34 years old in August and he’s become the worst of the Rams’ five offensive linemen. He really struggled in the Super Bowl and in the middle of the 2018 season, allowing constant pressure up the middle. With a potential savings of $5.25 million, don’t be surprised to see the Rams move on from the veteran in favor of a cheaper, younger option like 2018 draftee Brian Allen.
Sullivan could also retire, especially if the Rams say they’re going to release him, but he’s the biggest question mark on an otherwise great offensive line.
Tyler Higbee
2019 cap hit: $2.15 million
Potential savings: $2 million
Before you ask why the Rams would move on from Higbee, consider this: They were reportedly willing to trade him for a sixth-round pick last year, but the Vikings only offered a seventh. So it’s not out of the question for them to simply cut the tight end in order to get Gerald Everett, a former second-round pick, more playing time in 2019 and beyond.
Higbee played about twice as many snaps as Everett this past season but had fewer catches and yards. A potential savings of $2 million might be worth it enough for the Rams to move on and hand the keys to Everett.
Mike Thomas
2019 cap hit: $749,017
Potential savings: $720,000
Cutting Thomas saves the Rams the least amount of money of any player on this list, but keeping him is far from a certainty. He spent just about the entire season on IR, but even going back to the two previous years, he’s contributed very little in L.A.
He has eight career catches for 130 yards and no touchdowns and hasn’t returned a single kick since 2016. Yes, he has good speed, but the Rams aren’t starved for depth at wide receiver and a draft pick would likely bring more potential than Thomas.
