2015 NFL Free Agency: Ex-Rams OT Joe Barksdale Agrees to Terms With Chargers Per Report

OT Joe Barksdale has agreed to terms with the #Chargers, per a league source.

— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) May 19, 2015

After a wasted first season with the Raiders after being selected by Oakland in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Barksdale signed with the Rams in late September of the 2012 season ahead of a week four clash with the Seattle Seahawks.

The news was buried that day as the referee lockout had recently ended.

The news was buried that weekend as Greg Zuerlein kicked a franchise record 60-yard field goal.

Barksdale slowly found a way to climb out of the lower levels of the depth chart en route to 31 starts for St. Louis in the last three years establishing himself as the starting right tackle the last two seasons.

With the selection of Wisconsin OT Rob Havenstein in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Rams had clearly gone for their right tackle of the future. Barksdale, a free agent, was not going to be a needed commodity for the Rams. The question now is how he fits in with the Chargers line who already boast LT King Dunlap and D.J. Fluker who will kick inside to guard for 2015.

In the end, Barksdale was one of the few free agent signings for GM Les Snead and HC Jeff Fisher that worked out for the duration of his contract. His departure signals a level of confidence moving forward that the Rams have more than a stopgap solution on the offensive line in Barksdale's absence.