Los Angeles Rams Just Miss Signing Free Agent TE Marcedes Lewis

St. Louis Rams rosterThe first big free agency news for the Los Angeles Rams broke several weeks ago when the team announced they would not be bringing back veterans Chris Long, James Laurinaitis, and Jared Cook.  And immediately the need to backfill their positions became apparent.

Just how the team intends on doing that is anyone’s guess at this point.  The Rams did re-sign William Hayes today, and they’ve stated that Alec Ogletree is sliding inside to middle linebacker.  But we all know to take what’s said in the offseason with a grain of salt.

What we haven’t heard is any speculation about how the Rams intend on filling the vacant spot at tight end, opposite Lance Kendricks.  At least until this afternoon...as Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis popped up:

Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis has signed a 3-year deal to remain with the team after late push by Rams

— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) March 9, 2016

One would think, after cutting Cook, the team would look for a pass-catching threat at tight end; especially given the fact that Kendricks is primarily, and rightly, used as a blocking TE.  That may have been the case at one point, but not recently for Lewis.

Marcedes Lewis is weird.

Scored 10 TDs in 16 games in 2010.

But has scored only 17 TDs in his other 136 career games.

— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) March 9, 2016

What Edholm’s tweet does not include is the 2015 campaign for the Jaguars’ 31-year old tight end.  Last season, Lewis hauled in 16 catches for 226 yards and no touchdowns.  Over the past two seasons he’s combined for 34 receptions, 432 yards, and two scores.  Hardly the pass-catching threat the Rams’ offense could obviously use.

Regardless, it’s pretty telling what the Rams intentions were to help solidify the open tight end spot on offense.  And "uninspiring" might be the best way to describe their attempt.

So it’s back to the drawing board for the Rams.