Rams free agents review

As the Rams begin to sort through their options in free agency for next season, they'll have to decide which of their own free agents to keep or let go. Here's how RamView hopes that process will go:


Unrestricted Free Agents:

WR Mark Clayton - priority: high. Clayton and Bradford really clicked the few games he was in there this year and he represents a (rare) downfield threat. It sounds like he wants to stay here, and it shouldn't take a lot of money. The only excuse for the Rams not to re-sign Clayton is that they don't want him, which seems very unlikely.

CB Kevin Dockery - priority: low. He's a nickel at best; if Fletcher or Bartell go down, you can't line him up on the outside (see: game #9 at San Francisco). He may have been their best nickel by the end of the season, but Justin King can probably play it just as well, and Dockery was injured almost as often as the ceramic King.


TE Daniel Fells - priority: low-medium. He's a gamer without question, but he misses blocks and isn't really a playmaker. Remember, the Rams nearly let him go to New England before this season. The Rams very much need to add explosive players, but Fells will never be one.

DT Gary Gibson - priority: medium. He's their second-best DT, though by default. Gibson's another gamer, but would ideally be farther back in the rotation, with the Rams upgrading at DT through free agency or the draft.

G Adam Goldberg - priority: low-medium. Spagnuolo seems to love Goldberg, so he'll probably actually be a high priority. And I respect his ability to play just about anywhere on the line. But John Greco is easily a better run-blocker, and Renardo Foster was the #3 tackle all season. I'm going to assume Goldberg actually stays because they believe him to be the better pass-blocker, and Greco will be gone.

DT Chris Hovan - priority: low to none. He'll be 33, and his website leaves the impression that he'd just as soon have stayed with the Bucs. Fair enough.


TE Darcy Johnson - priority: none. Simply a bad tight end, with poor hands. Can block a little; maybe he's depth if things break right for him.


S Michael Lewis - priority: none. Lost game #9 at San Francisco; that's reason enough for me. His chances improve a lot, though, if the Rams choose not to keep Oshiomogho Atogwe (due an $8 million bonus next month).


WR Laurent Robinson - priority: none. Hard worker but that's about it. Became a good blocker by the end of the season. No speed, though; can't get open; not a deep threat; unreliable pass-catcher. We'll always wonder how it would have been had Robinson not broken his leg early last season, when he was really tearing it up.

DT Cliff Ryan - priority: low. The Rams should be able to sign him on the cheap if they want to keep him. I don't see the rest of the league clamoring to sign a DT who just squeaked onto the roster in August and then missed almost the whole season with migraine headaches. If he's on, he's their 2nd best DT. That's why I'd consider keeping him. On the other hand, word is that Ryan is pretty much already writing off his chance of returning here next season.


TE Derek Schouman - priority: none. Only around because of late-season injuries at TE.


G Mark Setterstrom - priority: low to none. Setterstrom's unmistakably a gamer, and could potentially provide depth in the middle of the line. He's been good enough to start there in the past. His injury history is terrible, however.



Restricted free agents:

CB Quincy Butler - priority: none. Good athlete but makes too many mistakes in coverage and on special teams. Jerome Murphy won't be any worse.

LB Chris Chamberlain - priority: mid-level tender. I don't see a team willing to give up a seventh-rounder to take him away. (Yes, I know the free agency rules could be completely different in 2011.) Meanwhile, Chamberlain's emerging as a force on special teams and has improved at LB to the point of being solid depth. He's a keeper.


RB Kenneth Darby - priority: none. I don't see a big line forming up to sign him. As we've been saying for at least two years, one of the Rams' biggest needs is a quick back who can get outside. If the Rams ever get that guy, Darby's expendable.

OT Renardo Foster - priority: low-level tender. Foster's a player the Rams need to be very careful to keep, imho. As an undrafted free agent, I don't believe there's any point putting a mid-level tender on him, but the low-level tender will at least give the Rams the right to match.

G John Greco - priority: low-level tender. I have a feeling the Rams are going to make Greco expendable, but I'd be working to keep him if I were GM. Not sure I can justify putting more than a low-level tender on a guy who's never started, though, and spent most of the season on the inactive list. Just make sure you maintain your matching rights.


LB Curtis Johnson - none. Mostly practice squad. Hasn't sounded like a threat to crack the lineup. Is probably behind even David Nixon on the depth chart.


CB Justin King - priority: low-level tender. No one's ever going to give up a 4th-rounder for him, so mid-level tender is an option. I'd want the Rams to maintain their matching rights because there's a 20% chance King's the starting nickel next season. Of course, there's a 20% chance Jerome Murphy beats him out. And a 60% chance King tweaks a buttock in training camp and spends another season in the trainers' room.


LB David Vobora - none. I don't see that he's getting the job done in run defense or on special teams. The Rams are almost certain to add linebacking help in free agency and the draft, and I believe Chamberlain has developed into a better overall player.

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