Rams should stay away from this list of players who could break the bank
Every year NFL free agency brings more bad signings than good, and some teams just aren’t quick to learn lessons.
If history is any indication, there will be more bad deals when players hit the open market next month. These are the players I think could break the bank and the teams who sign them will sooner than later regret those contracts. This is also who the Los Angeles Rams should ensure they stay away from:
Sam Darnold, QB; Minnesota Vikings
Darnold turned into a pumpkin in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions and in the Wildcard round versus the Rams. All-in-all he put together a borderline top-10 QB season overall, though it will be hard to shake the memory of his flat finish.
But quarterbacks these days play well into their mid-30’s even conservatively. Darnold is just 27 years old. There will be a team not well-positioned to land a top signal caller in the draft that sees Darnold as their only option. Someone like the Las Vegas Raiders or Pittsburgh Steelers come to mind.
This is as high-risk as free agent signings tend to get.
Charvarius Ward, CB; San Francisco 49ers
Ward is still a top player at his position and has played good football for both the 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. However, he’ll be age 29 when he inks his new deal and the dropoff for corners comes quickly. Because Ward is still playing at a high level, he’ll fairly want to get paid towards the top of his position. That might be OK for a team built to compete now and who has some salary cap flexibility in the coming years, think someone like the Washington Commanders or New England Patriots.
In all other circumstances, given the idea that Ward is likely to decline, he’s probably someone to stay away from if you don’t have money to burn.
Dre Greenlaw, MLB; San Francisco 49ers
Sticking with another San Francisco free agent.
The 49ers missed Greenlaw and noticed his absence immediately in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs after he tore his Achilles. The veteran returned late into the 2024 season when San Francisco was all but out of contention for a playoff spot.
Achilles injuries are infamous and usually bad news. Greenlaw is an enforcer over the middle and was a hell of a running mate next to Fred Warner. He could easily pick up where he left off, but chances are that the veteran will be a diminished form of his former self.
That’s not the kind of investment you want to smartly make in free agency.
Josh Sweat, EDGE; Philadelphia Eagles
Josh Sweat will hit free agency at age 28 with a new Super Bowl ring.
Some team will likely pay the former fourth round pick top dollar and see him as the missing piece in their pass rush; however, Sweat’s production to-date suggests he is more of a “good” EDGE defender than “great” or “elite”.
Of the 64 pass rushers with at least 322 pass rushing snaps last season, Sweat ranked just 36th according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). While he recorded 11 sacks, his per snap productively in terms of pressures was 29th amongst his peers.
If you already have a dominant EDGE and are looking for a running mate that can win one-on-one’s and round out your pass rush, Sweat makes sense. It’s ill-advised to view him as a building block on his own.
