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As the Combine continues in Indy, the Los Angeles Rams are doing some personnel evaluations of their own back in L.A. After slapping the franchise tag on CB Trumaine Johnson for the second consecutive season, it looks like Free Agent safety T.J. McDonald is set to walk away from the team next week.
FYI on #Rams safety T.J. McDonald. Looking more likely he'll hit open market & #Rams will have at least one new starting safety next season
— Vincent Bonsignore (@DailyNewsVinny) March 5, 2017
This is significant in a couple ways. Obviously, this decision leaves the Rams without their starting Strong Safety, but it also shows that they may be targeting some big names in free agency.
McDonald would likely have cost the Rams upwards of $5M annually to retain. That could be the difference between signing Terrelle Pryor/Alshon Jeffery vs Kenny Stills/Michael Floyd.
Personally, I’m on board with this decision. McDonald has always been a liability in coverage and has struggled mightily at times with the Rams. But looking at the bigger picture, this is a disaster for the Rams. A year ago, they had the 5th highest rated secondary in the NFL per Pro Football Focus.
Now? Trumaine Johnson is the only remaining starter from that group.