David Macklin signed

stltoday.com reports the Rams have signed CB David Macklin to a 1-year contract.

With increasing chatter/innuendo/distrust that Fakhir Brown will blow, or has already blown, the league drug test for the third time and be suspended for the season, the Rams at a minimum had to get some veteran insurance. Even if Brown manages to beat the Piss Man, the Rams can use the veteran depth.

Veteran depth, though, is about all Macklin's qualified for. He's not going to set the world on fire. Another 5'10" CB doesn't help a secondary that's already too small. 14 INTs in 8 seasons doesn't make him much of a playmaker. He's 29, so his upside's limited. He went from starting two seasons for the Colts to their bench, then from starting two seasons for the Big Dead to their bench. Oh, and HOORAY, ANOTHER Big Dead alum. He had limited playing time with the Redskins last season.

Macklin's arrival doesn't really change much as I see it. Assuming Brown smokes his way out of the league, what the Rams really need is for the light to come on for Bartell and for Jonathan Wade to make a leap forward in training camp. It's best if the Rams can credibly start Tye Hill with Bartell, and Wade as the nickel. In particular, if Bartell can't beat Macklin out at CB, there's little point keeping him around much longer. Macklin probably doesn't even lessen the Rams' need to draft a CB, though I expect they have lowered the draft priority of that position with his arrival.

David Macklin doesn't figure to have much of an impact here, other than to be a measuring stick of how well or poorly the Rams have performed at drafting defensive backs.