Which ten “big name” free agents are still available? Would the Rams be interested in any of them?
Which of these “big name” free agents, who aren’t as valuable as they once were, will the Los Angeles Rams sign?
A month and a half before training camp begins, a few well-known NFL players are still unsigned free agents without a team for 2024. The Los Angeles Rams have $8.5 million in salary cap space, which is not much but enough to make a move if Les Snead and Sean McVay think it’s necessary. The majority of this space must be kept for in-season moves and may even roll over into 2025.
Which of these “big name” free agents would the Rams be interested in signing?
EDGE Ngakoue Yannick
Ngakoue is only 29 years old, but it feels like he has been in the game for several decades. The third-round pick from 2016 has spent the last five years playing for six different teams. In 2021, he had 10 sacks with the Raiders; in 2022, he had 9.6 sacks with the Colts; and in 2023, he had 4 sacks in 13 games with the Bears. If nothing else, he ought to be able to fill in for Chris Shula.
EDGE Jerry Hughes
Hughes, on the other hand, is among the league’s oldest defensive players and may still be useful. With the Texans in 2022, the 35-year-old veteran (who turns 36 in August) had nine sacks. Hughes had three sacks in 475 snaps in 2023, but his playing time decreased. Despite this, Hughes might still be useful in a rotation. Charles Harris, Carl Lawson, and Emmanuel Ogbah are some other edge rushers.
Dalvin Cook, RB
Cook, who turns 29 in August, has had a career-ending season in which he went from 1,173 yards in 2022 to 214 yards and zero touchdowns in 15 games with the Jets in 2023.
S The Justin Simmons
We’ve already talked about Simmons and the Rams for a considerable amount of time. It is still possible. I’d even venture to guess that within the next four weeks, Simmons will sign with at least one of the top three teams, which would be the Rams. 
Hunter Renfrow, WR
Michael Thomas and Julio Jones are the two most accomplished receivers available, but will either player be able to contribute in the NFL going forward? With the Raiders in 2021, Hunter Renfrow, a 28-year-old slot receiver, caught 103 passes for 1,038 yards and qualified for the Pro Bowl. Is he prevented from playing a slot role in Los Angeles, though? Most likely. Sure, if the Rams needed a slot receiver more, Cooper Kupp appears to be settling into that role, so perhaps what Los Angeles needs is more of an X. Thomas and Julio may have been a useful X in the past, but most likely not now.
Joseph DL Linval
Calais Campbell, who recently signed with the Dolphins, proves that a 37-year-old is not to be written off, but I was going to write about him here. Joseph is “only” 35 years old. Although the 14-year veteran defensive tackle is no longer able to play many snaps, few players have played as many snaps at the position as Joseph, should the Rams need a veteran mentor figure for Braden Fiske and company. Before that, he played for former Rams DC Brandon Staley on the Los Angeles Chargers. He was a member of the Eagles in 2022 and the Bills in 2023.
Shaq Leonard, LB
It’s incredible to think that the Defensive Rookie of the Year for 2018—who was also named to the first team of the All-Pro team in three of his first four seasons—also completely collapsed at the age of 27. After being cut by the Colts in the middle of 2023 and finishing the season with the Eagles as they were in the midst of a collapse, Leonard missed nearly all of 2022 and appears to be done. Leonard is currently unattached and a free agent. Does he surpass Christian Rozeboom in any way?
After signing Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams, CB Stephon Gilmore Corner doesn’t seem to be necessary. How long until another need arises? Despite turning 34 in September, the Cowboys’ 2019 Defensive Player of the Year was still a reliable starter the previous campaign.
LT Bakhtiari David
Before injuries ended his streak of All-Pro selections in 2021, the former Packers great was on his way to becoming a Hall of Famer. He is currently a free agent after missing two of the previous three seasons. A.J. Jackson has received a one-year commitment from the Rams; if things don’t work out there, Bakhtiari will remain unsigned for the time being.
Ryan Tannehill, quarterback
Even though the Rams are set at quarterback barring an injury, Ryan Tannehill is the “Carson Wentz” of the year and one noteworthy quarterback still available. And yes, the Rams did sign Carson Wentz in the end. Thus, there is a seasoned player with a ton of experience available on the market if Jimmy Garoppolo misses any action and Stetson Bennett doesn’t establish himself.
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