Just In: Los Angeles Rams named one of the worst free agent signings This Season….
The Los Angeles Rams have had a reasonably strong offseason with the 2024 NFL Draft on the horizon. LA needed to make additional quality moves following the team’s return to the postseason after a one-year hiatus. However, not everyone has loved what the Rams did in free agency.
Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report named LA’s reunion with cornerback Darious Williams as one of the 14 worst free agent signings this offseason. This is all that Fowler had to say about the transaction:
“While Darious Williams was paid handsomely to start opposite of Tre’Davious White, there’s only so much to expect from an undersized perimeter corner who’s allowed nearly 2,000 yards in coverage over the last three seasons.
Although Williams spent his first four seasons of his NFL career with the Rams, the team didn’t re-sign him back in 2021 for a reason. And furthermore, expecting the former UDFA out of UAB to evolve into a lockdown perimeter stalwart would be well-wishing considering his age (31).
It wouldn’t be a shock if GM Les Snead were to add corner talent early in the NFL draft,” Fowler wrote in his April 15 column.
On the flip side, Tre’Davious White might end up being one of the most underrated moves of the NFL offseason if he can return to form. As for Williams, I understand why Les Snead made the move. Williams has familiarity with the scheme and Snead likely wanted a player he knew well enough to help build up the secondary. Plus, the defender put together a solid final campaign with the Jaguars in 2023.
There is a legitimate debate as to whether Williams can maintain an ounce of that production entering the first year of his three-year deal. He is already on the wrong side of 30 which is troublesome for someone at his position.
Again, I do understand why Snead made the move and I don’t entirely disagree with it. Three years is still quite an investment for a 31-year-old corner who will be the Rams’ highest-paid defender for this upcoming season. Let’s just hope this signing pans out or else it’s back to the drawing board in the secondary for Snead and company.
The writing seems to be on the wall regarding what the Bears will do with the No. 1 overall pick. There are few analysts and insiders who don’t believe Chicago will…
The writing seems to be on the wall regarding what the Bears will do with the No. 1 overall pick. There are few analysts and insiders who don’t believe Chicago will draft quarterback Caleb Williams, but even if the Bears continue on with Justin Fields as their starter, they will need to add depth at wide receiver this offseason.
DJ Moore had a career year in his first season with the Bears, finishing with career highs in receiving yards (1,364), catches (96) and touchdowns (8). The Bears will be looking to pair him with a vertical threat downfield, and one who can potentially fill the void that will be left by Darnell Mooney if the team elects not to re-sign him. With Tyler Scott and Velus Jones Jr. the only other wideouts slated to be on the roster, it’s safe to call receiver a primary position of need for the Bears.
Here’s a look at the top wide receivers who could be available for Chicago when free agency hits.
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After four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver Gabriel Davis is set to test the free agency waters. At 6’2” and 225 pounds, Davis would give the Bears a reliable big-bodied target to pair with DJ Moore. Davis isn’t a WR1 by any means, but he has skills that would compliment Moore well. He has experience lining up out wide (1,629 career snaps) and in the slot (443 career snaps), which fits what the Bears need on offense. In 2023, Davis finished with 45 receptions for 746 yards and 7 TDs in 17 games. His best season came in 2022, when he caught 48 passes for 836 yards and 7 touchdowns. He has averaged 42.7 yards per game over his career.
Davis is a smooth blend of talent, strength and durability. He has played in 64 games (47 starts) for the Bills over his four years with the team and has never missed more than two games in one season. He has also proven himself to be clutch in big matchups. Davis missed the playoffs after the 2023 season due to injury, but he made his mark in previous postseasons, hauling in six touchdowns in seven career playoff games. Spotrac has his market value projected at $13.6 million per season, which the Bears can afford.
The Arizona Cardinals aren’t likely going to place the franchise tag on wide receiver Marquise Brown, so he’s widely expected to be available. The No. 26 overall pick out of Oklahoma for the Baltimore Ravens in 2019, Brown was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for a first-round pick in 2021. It was a move requested by the wide receiver himself, as he says he wasn’t happy in Baltimore.
He landed in Arizona, where he was reunited with his college quarterback, Kyler Murray. After two so-so seasons with the Cards, he’ll likely be playing for his third team in 2024.
Brown has some definite upside. He turns 27 in June and like Darnell Mooney, has a 1,000-yard season under his belt. As with Mooney, that came in 2021, when he finished with 91 catches for 1,008 yards (11.1 yards per catch) and 6 TDs. Brown has found the end zone far more than Mooney has, though. While Mooney has 11 receiving scores in 60 career games, Brown has 28 touchdown receptions in 70 games.
Last season, Brown had the lowest catch percentage of his career (50.5%), hauling in 51 passes on 101 targets for 574 yards (11.3 yards per catch) and four touchdowns. To be fair, the Cardinals didn’t have their starting quarterback for eight games last season, as Murray was out with a knee injury. Brown should command somewhere between $14-$15 million per season. There are definitely better and more affordable options available this offseason, but he’s a solid option.
