I have some news/speculation to tack on to Tackle Box's look at Strong Safety in the latest installment in his Being Billy Devaney series. Yesterday, the Raiders released SS Gibril Wilson, putting another free agent SS on the market. Could this be a fit for the Rams?
Wilson, 27, playing behind a porous Oakland line racked up 129 total tackles. 2008 was Wilson's first year in Oakland, after the NY Giants let him walk in free agency, much as the plan to do with SS James Butler. Now there are two free agent safeties out there with ties to Steve Spagnuolo. Either one would be a much needed addition to the a Rams defense that set a dubious franchise record for the most rushing yards allowed. Wilson would likely have a higher price tag than Butler.
Of course, look at where both Wilson (5th round, 2004) and Butler (undrafted free agent) were drafted, or weren't drafted, that drives at Tackle Box's point that the Rams can find real value at a fairly deep position in the later rounds of this year's draft. The right pick could play right away, even if he had to split time with Todd Johnson. Wilson, for instance, started 7 games his rookie season. If the Rams address the NT and MLB positions, they won't need a marquee solution at SS.