In a pre-draft mailbag column, ESPN St. Louis Rams reporter Nick Wagoner fielded a question from a reader asking which among linebacker James Laurinaitis or defensive end Chris Long would the Rams try to replace first.
Wagoner believes that the Rams will attempt to move on from Long in 2016, citing Laurinaitis’ leadership, relatively low cap number and on-field durability for reasons he should stay. Meanwhile Long, the Rams’ first-round pick in 2008, could find himself a cap casualty next year.
While Long’s durability hadn’t been an issue until 2014, having played in 97 consecutive games dating back to his rookie season, he did miss 10 games last year with an ankle injury that required surgical intervention in September. He was placed on the injured reserve list and totaled just five combined tackles, one sack and a forced fumble on the year.
Long has been a stalwart on St. Louis’ defense, totaling 227 career tackles, 51.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and five fumbles recovered since entering the NFL. However, his cap numbers for the next two years may be too high to justify paying them out to a pass-rusher over the age of 30. Long is set to make a total of $12.5 million in 2016 and $14.25 million in 2017.
There are a number of quality edge rushers in the 2015 draft class, players who would not just come cheaper than Long in the next two years but also provide the Rams with seven or eight years of quality play, just as Long has for the majority of his career. Teams love to get younger and cheaper at key positions such as edge rusher, and the Rams should be no different.
Long has been valuable to the Rams for years. But an ankle injury, a 30th birthday and an eight-figure cap hit do not mix in today’s NFL. Unless Long has a banner season in 2015, look for the Rams to move on from him in a year.
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