St. Louis Rams Free Agent Options: Dan Connor

by papapegasus on Feb 24, 2012 9:01 PM CST

A glaring need for the St. Louis Rams is outside linebacker. The Rams have addressed the position in consecutive seasons with free agency and hangers on from busted regimes; which to everyone’s dismay, hasn’t worked out as expected. Other free agent positions demand more money, namely the offensive line and wide receiver. The organization will look at the deep free agent linebacker pool for those who won’t demand as much cold hard cash.

The Carolina Panthers drafted Dan Connor in the 3rd round of the 2008 NFL draft. The Pennsylvania native attended Penn State, one of college football’s linebacker factories. A prototypical linebacker, Connor stands 6’2" and weighs in at 231 lbs. His college career was nothing less than astounding; having set the school’s career tackles record at 419, and winning the Chuck Bednarik Award. In 2008, he ranked number 23 on Sports Illustrated’s top 25 NFL Draft Candidates list. During the NFL Combine in 2008, he ran a 4.63 40 yard dash, and is strong, showing his strength by bench-pressing 225lbs - 22 times.

Dan’s NFL career has been slow to develop, mostly due to Carolina’s depth at the linebacker position. 2008 saw Connor’s play interrupted by a torn ACL in week 3. Fully recovered at the start of 2009, Dan went on to have just 22 tackles in 16 games played as a backup. In 2010 with Na’il Diggs being released in the off season and going to the St. Louis Rams, Connor came on strong, having 47 tackles in just 8 games played. The injury bug would strike again, this time with a fractured hip halting his season. Making a miraculous turn around in 2011, Connor started 11 games and played in 15, racking up 75 total tackles and a forced fumble. Carolina’s defense only allowed conversions on 3rd down 42.8 percent of the time.

The news out of Carolina is they are letting Connor walk this off season. Connor’s 2012 salary is set to be $555,000. Having signed an initial rookie deal of only $2,494,000 for 4 years, and considering his injury history, Connor would be a cheap pickup for the Rams. Although he has been the "mike-backer" for most of his career, he has the athleticism and stature to move over to the outside. While wanting a starting position at his new destination, Connor may have to settle for a degree of uncertainty. With Gregg Williams and the host of other new defensive minds around Rams Park this off season, St. Louis may well be at the top of the list of destinations for those who have yet to prove their defensive talents.

Poll

What say you Rams fans?

Snag Him!

454 votes

No Thanks.

88 votes

Someone else please.

117 votes

659 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 2 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

why did he get drafted in the 3rd round?

being a top 25 prospect by si, seems like he should have been drafted by the end of the 2nd at least.

his injuries worry me, but im also at the point of being interested in anyone who might be able to help. if they come from the clearance rack, even better!

by itsvon on Feb 22, 2012 10:41 AM CST reply actions

Still trying to dig up the dirt on why he dropped so far.

Here are some links to a few articles about it:

They will notice and they will giggle.

by papapegasus on Feb 22, 2012 5:19 PM CST up reply actions

Damn embedder

Here ya go:

http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2008/04/wait_continues_in_nfl_draft_fo.html

http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2008/04/finally_dan_connor_is_loved.html

They will notice and they will giggle.

by papapegasus on Feb 22, 2012 5:20 PM CST up reply actions

Here is another one with Kiper giving the Panthers an "almost" A.

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2008/04/kiper-on-panthe.html

They will notice and they will giggle.

by papapegasus on Feb 22, 2012 5:51 PM CST up reply actions

I was really interested in the Rams drafting him

back in 2008. That didn’t happen, but it looks like we have another chance at the guy on the open market.
It seems that he would come at a bargain deal, but would have only one year with the guy considering his contract is up after 2012. It’d be for this. Worst case scenario, we beef up depth at a position that has been starved for talent outside of JL.

With that said, I’m still hoping for D. Hightower in he 2nd round of the draft. Fingers are crossed.

by CaliRamMan on Feb 22, 2012 12:18 PM CST reply actions

This would be an excellent pickup in FA...

Dan Connor would be a good SLB for the Rams for cheap. He wouldn’t command the big salary and has youth and starting experience in the league. He can play MLB as well which would be a asset for the defense if anything happens to JL55. The Rams really need to make a play for this guy to hold down the SLB spot for at least 3 or 4 years and draft a WLB in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft. That would be a smart move IMO. Travis Lewis, Bobby Wagner, and Sean Spence would be available in those rounds I would think

by Jballa2005 on Feb 22, 2012 1:02 PM CST reply actions

No clue about his work as an OLB.

I was only aware of him as primarily a 2-down, run-stuffing MLB who stepped in at one point due to injuries on the Panthers roster. No clue if he’s a starting-caliber guy, but if we’re talking depth, sure.

by Abrantes on Feb 22, 2012 1:12 PM CST reply actions

Injury history concerns me

since we have so many here already. But he would be a cheap pickup

Follow @iAmMrEddieP

by EddieP on Feb 22, 2012 1:28 PM CST reply actions

I say snag him

and I’m not easy.

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Feb 22, 2012 1:47 PM CST reply actions

You're not.

Must be done!

I dream of .500...

by douchiedude on Feb 24, 2012 10:41 PM CST up reply actions

I'd love him

would be rather cheep and he is exactly what the Rams need a SAM

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

by Brick Top on Feb 22, 2012 2:07 PM CST reply actions

"Wake Up People!!!"

We must be discussing backups am I right? Carolina is not interested in keeping him at $555,000. D. Connor has never been able to hold a starting job in the NFL. Bad injury history and the Rams certainly don’t need that. He doesn’t excel at anything from a LB standpoint. He is merely adequate at BEST. Really, do we need more players like these?

by StuffDog on Feb 24, 2012 10:14 AM CST reply actions

I guess you voted no?

Yeah, he is probably a risky pickup. But for his cheap price it would be worth bringing him in and see what he can do. He has been healthy for a whole year, and really excelled this seaon. I mean, heck, we took a chance on lesser backers in Poppinga and Leber for more money. Regardless, if he is a backup we would add depth at a thin position, and if it works out for him to be a starter then all the better.

They will notice and they will giggle.

by papapegasus on Feb 24, 2012 3:18 PM CST up reply actions

He's underrated IMO cause while he's not a great MLB he'd be a really good SLB though I think

They aren’t keeping him cause they have so much depth at LB and need money for their secondary

Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS

by King Sam Rules! on Feb 24, 2012 11:55 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

i cant read another on of thease

Plz stop now its agravating

*Drew Bress Will Never Forget The Day He Got Chris Longed!!!!

by Ramzman18 on Feb 24, 2012 9:58 PM CST via mobile reply actions

We only have in the neighborhood of 100 FAs, and a couple hundred draftees to go before the draft in April to get through...

Part of our effort to make sure you have all the information you need, on every player the Rams could look at for the 2012 season.

Si hoc signum legere potes, operis boni in rebus Latinus alacribus et fructuosis potiri potes!
Join my Google+ circle

by Douglas M on Feb 24, 2012 11:07 PM CST up reply actions

Near-Last resort Back-up? Sure.

Starter? probably not
He tackles, but does he make plays? Big plays?
WR isn’t the only position where “playmakers” are needed.
Why continue the painfully long void of talent at OLB?

by RadicalRamsFan on Feb 24, 2012 10:37 PM CST reply actions

He'd come cheap

And would be a big upgrade over old Chris Draft, Leber, Popps, Chamberlain, etc. I’d take him.

Been losing sleep over Rams football since 1999.
Steven Jackson is a beast, a legend, a HoFer and should be treated as such.

by Joe Mazzi on Feb 24, 2012 11:27 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

See?.... (pointing to your list)

How low the “bar” has been set?
WE have all been starved of dominant defense (Especially from the LB corps) for too long!
Anybody else sick and tired of admiring and envying other teams’ defenders…
more than our own?!
Seems the new staff should be able to find a young playmaker worthy of the roster space he would take up.

We need more dominant athletes, instead of more average technicians-

by RadicalRamsFan on Feb 25, 2012 1:33 AM CST up reply actions

Thats a big Roger.

We need more big play makers on defense, but the young play maker you are talking about is going to cost a LOT of money that the team will need to spend elsewhere this year. As much as linebacker is a need for us, its not the priority. Offensive Line, Wide Receiver, and Defensive Back is going to suck up most of our cap space. Our defense can compete with just a few cheap upgrades. I would put my money on the Rams going BIG on defense in next years draft and free agency.

They will notice and they will giggle.

by papapegasus on Feb 25, 2012 10:22 AM CST up reply actions

Thinking more along the lines of inexpensive mid-late rounds in the draft,

not FA’s with big contracts.
Spence or Bradham, or both!
Bradham SLB – #55 MLB – Spence WLB

by RadicalRamsFan on Feb 25, 2012 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

I got that

but is there really someone outside of the first and second round that can make an immediate impact at that position? Unless we go with a Lavonte David or Bob Wagner I don’t see it happening in this draft. We won’t pickup a linebacker until the 3rd or 4th round and all of those guys are a year away from impact IMO.

They will notice and they will giggle.

by papapegasus on Feb 25, 2012 1:59 PM CST up reply actions

The Rams will draft STUDS

I got that
but is there really someone outside of the first and second round that can make an immediate impact at that position? Unless we go with a Lavonte David or Bob Wagner I don’t see it happening in this draft. We won’t pickup a linebacker until the 3rd or 4th round and all of those guys are a year away from impact IMO.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Rams are in a great position w/#2 pick. A lot of talent can be acquired in the fist three rounds with the additional picks that the Rams will pick up.

by StuffDog on Feb 26, 2012 11:38 AM CST up reply actions