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.
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.
49PHOTOS
NFL players who have switched teams this offseason
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NFL players who have switched teams this offseason
Former team: Carolina Panthers
2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars
(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RB Carlos Hyde
Former team: San Francisco 49ers
2018 team: Cleveland Browns
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
CB Trumaine Johnson
Former team: Los Angeles Rams
2018 team: New York Jets
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
CB Bashaud Breeland
Former team: Washington Redskins
2018 team: Carolina Panthers
(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OT Nate Solder
Former team: New England Patriots
2018 team: New York Giants
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
QB Trevor Siemian
Former team: Denver Broncos
2018 team: Minnesota Vikings
(Photo by Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports)
WR Jordy Nelson
Former team: Green Bay Packers
2018 team: Oakland Raiders
(Photo by Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)
RB Doug Martin
Former team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2018 team: Oakland Raiders
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
CB Jason McCourty
Former team: Cleveland Browns
2018 team: New England Patriots
(Photo by: 2017 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
DT Dontari Poe
Former team: Atlanta Falcons
2018 team: Carolina Panthers
(Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
G Josh Sitton
Former team: Chicago Bears
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
C Ryan Jensen
Former team: Baltimore Ravens
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
(Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
CB Tyrann Mathieu
Former team: Arizona Cardinals
2018 team: Houston Texans
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
WR/KR/PR Cordarrelle Patterson
Former team: Oakland Raiders
2018 team: New England Patriots
(Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
G Justin Pugh
Former team: New York Giants
2018 team: Arizona Cardinals
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
C Mike Pouncey
Former team: Miami Dolphins
2018 team: Los Angeles Chargers
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CB Orlando Scandrick
Former team: Dallas Cowboys
2018 team: Washington Redskins
(Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DE Vinny Curry
Former team: Philadelphia Eagles
2018 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
WR Michael Crabtree
Former team: Oakland Raiders
2018 team: Baltimore Ravens
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
DT Sheldon Richardson
Former team: Seattle Seahawks
2018 team: Minnesota Vikings
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CB/S Morgan Burnett
Former team: Green Bay Packers
2018 team: Pittsburgh Steelers
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
WR Danny Amendola
Former team: New England Patriots
2018 team: Miami Dolphins
(Photo by Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
DT Ndamukong Suh
Former team: Miami Dolphins
2018 team: Los Angeles Rams
(Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WR Brandin Cooks
Former team: New England Patriots
2018 team: Los Angeles Rams
(Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
WR Jordan Matthews
Former team: Buffalo Bills
2018 team: New England Patriots
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
RB C.J. Anderson
Former team: Denver Broncos
2018 team: Carolina Panthers
(Photo by Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports)
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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.
