The St. Louis Rams are eyeing former Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes, according to Jim Thomas, along with the Buccaneers.

Grimes got the franchise tag from the Falcons last spring. They lost him in the opening week of the season when he tore his Achilles tendon. He's still recovering from that injury, but is said to be making progress. Coming back from a torn Achilles is no small matter, but it has been done.

That injury history could make him available at a discounted rate. Remember, this is a guy who the Falcons felt deserved the franchise tag just a year ago. Grimes plays mostly on the outside, and would give the Rams some depth at that position after letting Bradley Fletcher walk away in free agency this year. He also has the potential for some real upside, and could give the Rams a nice backup if a starter goes down or one of younger players struggles.

Thomas also reported that the Rams were still in the mix for defensive end William Hayes. Of course, Hayes has suitors elsewhere around the league, most notably the Lions. His seven-sack season could get him a nice bump up from the $1 million deal he took last year with the Rams.