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A week ago, the Denver Broncos decided not to pick up their contract option for OT Russell Okung, freeing up more than $10m in cap space to play with this offseason.
Today, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport listed the Los Angeles Rams as a potential landing spot for the free agent tackle:
Potential landing spots for FA OT Russell Okung: #Jets, #Giants, #Chargers, #Rams, and #Vikings... but don't rule out #Seahawks
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 1, 2017
On one level, this just seems like roster scanning. “Oh, who has a need at offensive tackle? Let me list the obvious ones...” But Rapoport has been in the game for a hell of a long time and is certainly working 2,000 rumors at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine. I would at least read into this that the Rams are serious about adding offensive tackle talent, and perhaps specifically at left tackle.
It’s not hard to understand why. Greg Robinson has underwhelmed since being drafted #2 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. With the only functional depth behind GRob in veteran Rodger Saffold who could slide over as a bit of an emergency (though that would create an additional need at his now-filled guard slot) though would do so with legitimate injury concerns along with Andrew Donnal who heads into his third season as a fourth-round pick from the 2015 NFL Draft, there’s clearly an open spot on the depth chart beyond 2017 as this is Robinson final year on his rookie contract.
Whether or not Okung gets an opportunity to audition for that future role as a free agent signing later this month...well, we’ll find out soon enough.