The Los Angeles Rams are bringing back a familiar face along the defensive line and parting ways with another. The team announced on Friday it has re-signed Morgan Fox and released Tanzel Smart.
Fox for Smart isn’t a one-for-one replacement, since they play different positions. Fox is more of a defensive end or outside linebacker in certain packages, while Smart is a defensive tackle, often backing up Aaron Donald at 3-technique.
Fox was a restricted free agent this year, but the Rams opted not to tender him, allowing him to hit the open market. He’s opted to return to Los Angeles, likely seeing not much interest from other teams in free agency.
He missed the entire 2018 season due to injury, but he had two sacks and 18 total tackles last year in 16 games, including three starts. In his last two seasons when healthy, he’s played about 31% of the defensive snaps, rotating in with Michael Brockers at defensive end.
The Rams’ defensive line was made deeper this offseason with the addition of A’Shawn Robinson and the return of Brockers, so Fox will join those two and Sebastian Joseph-Day, all of whom can play defensive end.
Smart had been with the Rams for three years and played 31 total games. He doesn’t have a sack and has just 21 total tackles with one quarterback hit.
