Rams make yet another offseason splash, add Ndamukong Suh to loaded roster
The Los Angeles Rams aren’t messing around in 2018.
The Rams could have decided to comfortably ride the wave of a surprising 2017 NFC West title into 2018, but they’re clearly trying to make a run at a Super Bowl this season. The Rams landed one of the best free agents to change teams this offseason when they signed defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, one of their many high-profile moves since last season ended. Suh was free after he was cut by the Miami Dolphins, and the Rams beat out other teams to land him. The Rams announced Monday evening that Suh had agreed to terms. Suh’s deal was one year for $14 million according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
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The Rams are taking advantage of the biggest edge any NFL team can have, which is having a good starting quarterback on a rookie deal. Jared Goff counts just $7.6 million against the salary cap this season, a fraction of what many top quarterbacks cost. The Rams can invest the extra cap space into players like Suh, and also cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, two other big-time offseason additions. Having Suh on a one-year deal allows the Rams to continue to have cap flexibility in the future. Suh also “took less” to go to Los Angeles according to Schefter, a sign that he believes they’re ready to push for a Super Bowl.
QB Kirk Cousins
Former team: Washington Redskins
2018 team: Minnesota Vikings
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CB Malcolm Butler
Former team: New England Patriots
2018 team: Tennessee Titans
CB Richard Sherman
Former team: Seattle Seahawks
2018 team: San Francisco 49ers
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WR Sammy Watkins
Former team: Los Angeles Rams
2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs
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TE Jimmy Graham
Former team: Seattle Seahawks
2018 team: Green Bay Packers
QB Case Keenum
Former team: Minnesota Vikings
2018 team: Denver Broncos
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DE Michael Bennett
Former team: Seattle Seahawks
2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles
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QB Tyrod Taylor
Former team: Buffalo Bills
2018 team: Cleveland Browns
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QB Sam Bradford
Former team: Minnesota Vikings
2018 team: Arizona Cardinals
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WR Danny Amendola
Former team: New England Patriots
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
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WR Jarvis Landry
Former team: Miami Dolphins
2018 team: Cleveland Browns
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WR Torrey Smith
Former team: Philadelphia Eagles
2018 team: Carolina Panthers
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WR Paul Richardson
Former team: Seattle Seahawks
2018 team: Washington Redskins
(Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FS Kurt Coleman
Former team: Carolina Panthers
2018 team: New Orleans Saints
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DT Haloti Ngata
Former team: Detroit Lions
2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles
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LB Anthony Hitchens
Former team: Dallas Cowboys
2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
DT Star Lotulelei
Former team: Carolina Panthers
2018 team: Buffalo Bills
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RB Jonathan Stewart
Former team: Carolina Panthers
2018 team: New York Giants
RB Isaiah Crowell
Former team: Cleveland Browns
2018 team: New York Jets
QB Teddy Bridgewater
Former team: Minnesota Vikings
2018 team: New York Jets
DT Muhammad Wilkerson
Former team: New York Jets
2018 team: Green Bay Packers
RB Dion Lewis
Former team: New England Patriots
2018 team: Tennessee Titans
G Andrew Norwell
Former team: Carolina Panthers
2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars
RB Carlos Hyde
Former team: San Francisco 49ers
2018 team: Cleveland Browns
CB Trumaine Johnson
Former team: Los Angeles Rams
2018 team: New York Jets
CB Bashaud Breeland
Former team: Washington Redskins
2018 team: Carolina Panthers
OT Nate Solder
Former team: New England Patriots
2018 team: New York Giants
QB Trevor Siemian
Former team: Denver Broncos
2018 team: Minnesota Vikings
WR Jordy Nelson
Former team: Green Bay Packers
2018 team: Oakland Raiders
RB Doug Martin
Former team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2018 team: Oakland Raiders
CB Jason McCourty
Former team: Cleveland Browns
2018 team: New England Patriots
DT Dontari Poe
Former team: Atlanta Falcons
2018 team: Carolina Panthers
G Josh Sitton
Former team: Chicago Bears
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
C Ryan Jensen
Former team: Baltimore Ravens
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
CB Tyrann Mathieu
Former team: Arizona Cardinals
2018 team: Houston Texans
WR/KR/PR Cordarrelle Patterson
Former team: Oakland Raiders
2018 team: New England Patriots
G Justin Pugh
Former team: New York Giants
2018 team: Arizona Cardinals
C Mike Pouncey
Former team: Miami Dolphins
2018 team: Los Angeles Chargers
CB Orlando Scandrick
Former team: Dallas Cowboys
2018 team: Washington Redskins
DE Vinny Curry
Former team: Philadelphia Eagles
2018 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Michael Crabtree
Former team: Oakland Raiders
2018 team: Baltimore Ravens
DT Sheldon Richardson
Former team: Seattle Seahawks
2018 team: Minnesota Vikings
CB/S Morgan Burnett
Former team: Green Bay Packers
2018 team: Pittsburgh Steelers
WR Danny Amendola
Former team: New England Patriots
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
DT Ndamukong Suh
Former team: Miami Dolphins
2018 team: Los Angeles Rams
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WR Brandin Cooks
Former team: New England Patriots
2018 team: Los Angeles Rams
WR Jordan Matthews
Former team: Buffalo Bills
2018 team: New England Patriots
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It’s possible the Rams now have the best defensive tackle duo in NFL history. Perhaps Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers or a couple other tandems would argue, but at very least Donald and Suh are in the conversation. Donald is the reigning NFL defensive player of the year. Suh is a three-time first-team All-Pro. They’re going to be impossible to block.
Suh has been a force in the middle since the Detroit Lions made him the second pick of the 2010 NFL draft. He is great against the run and able to get a pass rush up the middle. He should be even better in Los Angeles. In Detroit and Miami he was the focus of opponents’ blocking schemes on the interior. That won’t be the case playing next to Donald. Both great tackles will benefit from the presence of the other.
The Rams surprised everyone last season when they went 11-5. Their offseason has been eye-opening as well.
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Frank Schwabis a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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