It turns out Dante Fowler Jr. won’t be hitting the free agent market after all. The Los Angeles Rams announced on Sunday night that they’ve agreed to terms on a new contract with the pass rusher, keeping him in L.A. for another season.
Fowler was set to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the deal is for just one season, allowing Fowler to prove he’s worth a long-term contract.
After recording two sacks in the regular season with the Rams and 1.5 in the postseason, Los Angeles likely wanted to see more from him. He has immense potential at just 24 years old and is a perfect fit at outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
The Rams acquired Fowler at the trade deadline, sending the Jaguars a third- and fifth-round pick. Losing him may have netted the Rams a compensatory pick, but keeping their young pass rusher for one more season was crucial. He was expected to generate a lot of interest on the open market with the Jets reportedly preparing to pursue him.
The legal tampering period begins on Monday, allowing teams to negotiate with unrestricted free agents. The Rams have already made two big moves before the start of free agency, signing Eric Weddle to a two-year deal and now keeping Fowler.
