Free agent linebacker and special teams ace Grant Stuard is signing with the Los Angeles Rams on a two-year deal worth $5.05M.
Stuard met with the Rams before the 2021 NFL Draft. He was ultimately selected with the final pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he remained for one season. Since then he’s spent three years with the Indianapolis Colts and one year with the Detroit Lions. Stuard has appeared in 83 games across five seasons and notched five defensive starts with the Colts in 2024.
This seems to be a move intended to sure up special teams for Los Angeles. The Rams already signed free agent long snapper Joe Cardona. The snapping operation gave LA fits last season and contributed to issues across the chain of specialists. Los Angeles moved on from Josh Karty around the same time they reunited with Jake MacQuide. They also made adjustments in field goal protection. The end result was a much cleaner operation at year’s end with Harrison Mevis, who was retained as an exclusive rights free agent and could compete for his job in 2026.
But the money Stuard is making tells us this could be about more than special teams. Just a year ago Nate Landman signed on a one-year, veteran minimum deal before earning an extension from the Rams. Stuard is making roughly five times Landman’s initial salary.
It’s not like the Rams have a wealth of depth ahead of Stuard on the linebacker depth chart. Landman will return as the starter. Omar Speights can be upgraded at the second off-ball spot, even though this isn’t a full-time position because the team often deploys additional defensive backs. It’s at least possible that Stuard is able to leapfrog both Shaun Dolac and Speights to become a defensive regular, although his primary role will likely be as a special teams contributor.
Missed opportunity for Rams?
The kick and punt return jobs are still open for the Rams. Xavier Smith was the primary punt returner last season, though he made a major mistake in the NFC Championship game and muffed a punt that gave the Seahawks the ball deep in LA territory. This is a position that could have been upgraded in free agency.
The Green Bay Packers just signed Skyy Moore from the San Francisco 49ers to a one-year deal. Moore is an elite return man. He probably was the best available option this offseason. It’s surprising that the Rams didn’t seriously contemplate this signing given their other investments on special teams.
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