Michael Brockers was one of the first departures reported for the Rams this offseason after he agreed to a three-year deal with the Ravens. It was a tough pill for fans to swallow, considering he’s one of the longest-tenured players on the roster.
Those in L.A. woke up to some good news on Friday, though, as Brockers’ deal with the Ravens fell through, opening the door for a return to the Rams. And that’s exactly where Brockers is headed. He’s re-signing with the Rams, landing a three-year deal worth a maximum value of $31.5 million.
If this situation feels familiar, it should. Six years ago, the Rams were on the verge of losing Rodger Saffold, who agreed to a deal with the Raiders during 2014 free agency. A failed physical caused the Raiders to pull out from the agreement, allowing Saffold to go back to the Rams.
He spent the next five years with the Rams and became one of the best guards in football over that span. Last offseason, he left to join the Titans, but the Rams have to hope this scenario with Brockers works out as well as it did when Saffold returned in 2014.
Of course, the biggest difference is the timing and size of the contract. Saffold was 25 at the time and the Rams gave him a five-year deal worth $42.5 million. Brockers is 29 and his deal is only for three years, though the structure of it will make it even shorter than that.
But, this is still a win for the Rams. They get to retain a leader in the locker room, a stout run defender up front and bolster their defensive line with yet another big body.
