Rams 2021 free agents: Morgan Fox

I already wrote about Morgan Fox as an underrated free agent back in the beginning of December. At the time, Fox had posted a career-high three sacks over 11 games, with five QB hits and four tackles for a loss. Maybe at that point, Fox felt even more motivated.

Fox posted three sacks, four QB hits, and four tackles for a loss in the final four games of the season alone. Then he had a sack and two tackles for a loss in the 30-20 wild card win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Is he worth more now than he was two months ago?

Last time, here were some contract comps I gave for the 26-year-old defensive lineman who finished with six sacks and nine QB hits despite only playing in 39% of the snaps:

Consider players like Danny Shelton, who entered free agency last year after four underwhelming seasons before having a career-season with the New England Patriots: 61 tackles, three sacks, six QB hits and he was roughly the same age as Fox.

Shelton signed with the Detroit Lions for two years and $8 million.

It is possible that the Lions overpaid because they’re the Lions and Shelton is a former first round pick, but the Atlanta Falcons also extended defensive lineman Tyeler Davison to a three-year, $12 million contract and he has roughly the same pedigree and a similar career to Fox.

It would not surprise me to see Fox land a deal in the $4 million per year range and even if that isn’t relatively expensive (not in the top-50 for interior defensive linemen), it could be too rich for the Rams. The team has locked in Donald, Brockers and A’Shawn Robinson, while Greg Gaines continues to gain experience alongside them.

It may be possible that Fox is replaceable on the cheap because of what Aaron Donald’s presence does for those around him, but I will say that Fox was more productive in 2020 than any other non-Donald defensive lineman of 2019. Including, of course, Michael Brockers. But then again, his season was about as productive as what Matt Longacre did for LA back in 2017, when he was also 26.

Longacre’s been out of the NFL for two years now.

Fox’s future won’t be determined by Donald, Longacre, or Brockers. It will only be determined by Fox. We’ll soon know what team gives him that opportunity.