The Los Angeles Rams landed their first free agent on Wednesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with Leonard Floyd. The news came shortly after Dante Fowler Jr. bolted for the Falcons, coming to terms on a three-year deal with Atlanta.
According to reports, Floyd’s contract with the Rams is worth $10 million with a max value of $13 million. To some, it seems like an overpay. To others, it’s reminiscent of the Rams’ bet on Fowler last offseason.
About a year ago, the Rams signed Fowler to a one-year, $12 million deal that could be worth up to $14 million. It’s not all that dissimilar to Floyd’s deal this offseason, and it’s not as if the players are completely different, either.
The season before Fowler cashed in, he had four sacks, five tackles for loss and six QB hits for the Jaguars and Rams in 2018. He showed flashes of being a productive player, but he didn’t consistently contribute rushing off the edge.
Last season, Floyd’s sack numbers weren’t as good, but he was a more effective pass rusher than Fowler was in 2018. He had only three sacks, but he hit the quarterback 12 times and generated 26 pressures; Fowler had 24 pressures two years ago.
For the Rams, they have to hope Floyd works out the way Fowler did last season. While it’s a short-term bet on the former Bears linebacker, it’s not necessarily a bargain of a deal. Giving him $10 million for one season eats up a good portion of the salary cap, especially for a team that’s not exactly flush with space.
So what would a successful season for Floyd look like? If he reaches the 11.5 sacks Fowler had in 2019, it’ll make the Rams look smart for taking a chance on him. But Floyd has seen his sack numbers drop in each of the last three seasons and never even had double-digit sacks in college.
The Rams are banking on him having a career year and proving he can be a reliable starter in the NFL – because that’s exactly how he’s being paid next season. If he flops, the Rams will look foolish for not upping the ante for Fowler or pushing to sign Devon Kennard, who landed a three-year deal worth $20 million with the Cardinals.
