The Los Angeles Rams have been among the least active teams in free agency over the past three years, ranking 28th in the NFL in total signings and 23rd in total contract value. Here's a look at how those decisions have panned out on the field:
Total signings: 22* (28th in NFL)
Total contract value: $131,712,181 (23rd in NFL)
Three-year W-L: 17-31
Biggest hit: Where would the Rams' offense have been without Kenny Britt? It's a weird question, because it has been bad regardless. But Britt provided the Rams with a true vertical threat at a reasonable price. The Rams signed Britt to a one-year, $1.4 million contract in 2014, then a two-year, $9.15 million contract in 2015. In those three seasons, Britt amassed 152 catches for 2,431 yards despite consistently bad quarterback play. In the final season of that stretch, he gave the Rams their first 1,000-yard receiver -- heck, their first 800-yard receiver -- since 2007. Britt is a free agent once again, and chances are he won't be back. But the Rams certainly got their money's worth.
Biggest miss: That would be Coty Sensabaugh, the 28-year-old cornerback who signed a three-year, $14 million contract last March. Sensabaugh was brought in to help make up for the loss of primary corner Janoris Jenkins, who signed a five-year, $62.5 million contract with the Giants. Sensabaugh was supposed to compete with E.J. Gaines for the spot opposite Trumaine Johnson, but he was released four games into his tenure. Sensabaugh tried to adjust to the outside with the Rams after playing mainly as an inside corner on nickel packages with the Titans the previous four seasons. He made $4.5 million in his time with the Rams and is due an additional $1 million this month.
Sneaky-good move: This one got lost because he played as a backup on a deep defensive line, but Dominique Easley proved to be a nice find last offseason. The former first-round pick was released after three seasons with the Patriots, labeled a draft bust with questionable character on his way out the door. The Rams scooped him up for $600,000, and Easley provided 3.5 sacks -- more than he had in his entire Patriots career -- and two forced fumbles despite getting only 444 snaps, 12th most on the team. Pro Football Focus ranked Easley 26th among 127 qualified interior defenders. Not bad.
Verdict: The Rams built primarily through the draft during this time, so it's hard to really grade their free-agent activity over the past three years. But they needed to hit on some value signings and didn't really do enough of that. Outside of Britt and Easley, the success stories for players acquired from the outside are difficult to find. Perhaps tackle Garrett Reynolds, who had a nice 2015 season but spent 2016 on injured reserve. Or maybe linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who was second on the team in tackles in 2012 but was unable to replicate that production. After that? Well, then you're really reaching. Linebacker Akeem Ayers and defensive end Quinton Coples were eventually let go, Wes Welker didn't do much, and the Sensabaugh acquisition failed.
*Signings made during free agency period beginning in March.
