Ramik Wilson signed with the Los Angeles Rams last season, inking a one-year deal worth $750,000. It was a financially savvy move by the Rams, adding a potential starter and solid backup for relatively cheap.
With his contract expiring, the Rams need to make a decision of whether to bring him back for another year. Wilson will hit free agency on March 13 and could opt to test the market rather than re-signing with the Rams beforehand.
- 2018 stats: 35 tackles, 2 PBU, 3 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR
- Pro Football Focus grade: 64.3 (unranked)
Analysis
Not knowing exactly what they’d have at linebacker following the trade of Alec Ogletree, the Rams brought in Wilson on a cheap one-year contract. He was a solid insurance plan in the event that Mark Barron wasn’t healthy to start the year – which he wasn’t – and a valuable special teams contributor.
Wilson made four starts in the beginning of the year with Barron still recovering from an Achilles injury, playing in 16 total games. But when Barron returned, Wilson barely played defense. He went from playing about half the snaps from Week 1-4 to playing just 34 the rest of the season.
He did have an impact in a limited role, though. He made three tackles for loss on only 157 defensive snaps, whereas Michael Brockers only made four tackles for loss on 680 snaps. He also forced a fumble against the Packers on Ty Montgomery’s kick return, recovering the loose ball, as well.
That play essentially locked up a win for the Rams and almost single-handedly made signing Wilson worth it for Los Angeles. He’s still a decent run defender and while he isn’t great in coverage, he can contribute for someone at inside linebacker.
Positional need: Medium
The Rams are almost certain to have Cory Littleton back as he’s a restricted free agent, but Barron could be a cap casualty. Wilson is unlikely to get another crack at the starting job after last year’s situation, so if the Rams re-sign him, it’s mostly as a special teams player.
Inside linebacker is still a need for L.A. with Barron struggling in the regular season, but it’s not as pressing as some other spots. Micah Kiser should get a chance in 2019, too, while the Rams are likely to either sign a potential starter in free agency or draft one in April.
Prediction: Signs one-year, $1 million contract elsewhere.
Wilson does provide some value on special teams, but having been a starter in the NFL before, he likely wants to get a chance to be one again. The Rams don’t necessarily offer him that chance with Littleton and Barron possibly returning as starters, having also invested a fifth-rounder in Kiser.
If Wilson were to be willing to return as a backup and special teams player for less than $1 million, the Rams should be open to it. However, there’s a decent chance he’ll try to catch on elsewhere as a free agent.
