Leonard Floyd re-signs with Rams for $16 million per year

Leonard Floyd has signed with Los Angeles Rams for $16 million per season, according to a joint report by Josina Anderson and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It was rumored that the Rams were closing in on Floyd, while the New York Giants were making a huge push for his services, but he now stays in LA with a contract that far exceeds what he could command as a free agent a year ago.

This must signal the end of the Rams’ search for an outside linebacker of note — as well as potentially any other free agents since LA couldn’t possibly have much money left.

It is a four-year, $64 million contract, per Adam Schefter. This is roughly the same as what Za’Darius Smith received from the Green Bay Packers in 2019 and is the same as what Melvin Ingram received from the LA Chargers in 2017.

Floyd, 28, was the ninth overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Georgia, spending his first four seasons with the Chicago Bears. He entered free agency a year ago and chose to follow former position coach Brandon Staley to the Rams on a one-year contract that paid him $10 million. Floyd had 55 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 19 QB hits, and 11 tackles for a loss in 2020.

The money sure does seem like a lot, but relatively speaking in 2021 terms, is the cost of a mid-tier number one edge rusher, which might be what Floyd is right now. Plus, he’s supposed to be good in run defense. It does fill a need for LA, but is this too much for Floyd?