St. Louis
Rams

Rams Team Report

Updated: May 25, 2012 04:27 EST

Prior to this year's draft, Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead were asked about the importance of free-agent signings that quickly takes place after the final pick in the draft is made.

Said Fisher, "It's a very, very important process. There's recruiting that goes on and it's very, very competitive and it happens very fast. You take into consideration that 31 other teams are doing the same thing, so you have to have a lot of phones open and a lot of stuff going on. And you have to have a plan. We've already discussed it and we'll be prepared. We get into much more detail probably in the middle part of the sixth round on."

Added Snead, "Following up on that, we need to take that important piece because I know I've always done a study at the end of the season of where starters are, where you get starters from. And you can get the same percentage of starters from college free agency as you can the second and third rounds. Now realize, in the second round you only have 32 picks, in college free agency, you usually have about 600 picks, so it's a bigger pool.

"But the same amount of starters in the NFL, usually at the end of the season come from, I think it's around 16 or 17 percent come from the second and probably 16 to 17 percent come from college free agency, depending on the year. It will fluctuate yearly, but they're pretty close. So that's a very important process and we're going to take it seriously."

It's one thing to take it seriously; it's another to compete with signing bonuses for those players pursued by multiple teams.

Comparatively speaking, bonuses are significantly lower for free agents. Last season, the final pick in the draft received a signing bonus of $45,900. Even the top undrafted players usually don't get more than $10,000 to sign. At most, one or two players each year might receive bonuses of $20-25,000. However, when a team signs 24 players like the Rams did this year, they add up, especially when the odds are long for making the team. However, those odds aren't that much longer than late-round picks.

It is clear from contract numbers seen by The Sports Xchange that the Rams indeed were serious in their player pursuits this season. In fact, Last year, the highest signing bonus received by a Rams undrafted free agent was $5,000, which was paid to four players, including tackle/guard Kevin Hughes, who ended the season on the active roster and is with the Rams now in OTAs.

Five players received no signing bonus, and the 19 players signed by the Rams received a total of $42,500, an average of $2,236.84.

This year, the 24 players signed were paid a total of $76,500 in bonuses, an average of $3,187.50.

Most notably, five players received bonuses of $6,000 or more for a total of $39,000: Safety Matt Daniels and punter Johnny Hekker, $10,000; linebacker Sammy Brown, $7,000; and defensive tackle Matthew Conrath and tight end Deangelo Peterson, $6,000. Another four players -- defensive ends Jamaar Jarrett and Scott Smith, linebacker Noah Keller and safety Rodney McLeod -- each received $4,000 bonuses. Only two players -- long snapper Travis Tripucka and tight end Jamie Childers -- didn't receive a bonus.

Former NFL personnel executive Gil Brandt, now with nfl.com, ranked the Rams first in his evaluation of undrafted free-agent signings.

Brandt singled out Daniels and McLeod, Smith and linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis, who got a bonus of $3,000.

Brandt wrote, "I especially like Daniels because of his intelligence and production as a four-year starter at Duke. He displays NFL-caliber speed and reaction skills as a safety. Although Duke isn't much of an NFL factory, Daniels showcased special talent in his collegiate career. McLeod played safety at Virginia, but can transition to corner due to his speed and quickness. Hoffman-Ellis has the unrelenting competitiveness to be a great special teamer in the pros."

While one important reason Daniels signed with the Rams was the low numbers at safety on the roster, he benefited by being pursued by numerous teams. "I probably had about 15 teams calling," he told the team website. "My phone, my mom's phone, the house phone, my agent's cell phone all blowing up. So I was talking to the Broncos on one line and then hold on, I got St. Louis on the other line. It was all very hectic but it happened so fast I probably had a decision made within five minutes after the draft was all over."

Fisher likes what he has seen from the undrafted players in the first five OTA sessions of the spring.

"Good group, smart group," Fisher said. "They're learning. They're starting to get themselves into shape. We can sub in with a lot of them. Usually there's a guy on the ground or a guy going the wrong direction. These guys are doing the right thing, so overall, really good group."

The reason why is obvious.

--Linebacker Mario Haggan said he is willing to help younger players, but that he signed with the Rams to earn the job as a starter.

"I'm always going to compete and try to earn a starting job," Haggan told the Post-Dispatch after signing a ione-year contract recently. "That's first and foremost. But along the way, I'm going to help some of the guys that need help. Because the better they are, the better we are as a team, the better I am as a player."

He also knew the Rams' depth chart wasn't very deep at linebacker.

Haggan said, "Fresh start for me. Fresh opportunity. This is a young team with an established quarterback. I've heard so many good things about coach Fisher; you talk to guys across the league and they all wish they could play for him. And it's close to home. Maybe my family can come see me play more in St. Louis."

His family is from an area in Mississippi (Claksdale), not far from Memphis.

Said Fisher, "Mario's played very well in that system. In addition to that, he's a very talented special teamer. A great guy for the locker room and gives us some experience at the position."

--Rookie wide receivers Brian Quick and Chris Givens have been back on the field this week after missing two OTAs last week because of the Rookie Premiere event in Los Angeles.

Said coach Jeff Fisher, "They're up to speed. We have to watch their legs, but they both were in the (play)book and coaches spoke with them at night, so they're fine. By the end of the week, it will be almost as if they never left, but still when they're gone, you miss them. You miss some valuable opportunity."

Added quarterback Sam Bradford, "Obviously we would have loved to have had them here last week for the two OTAs that they missed, but at the same time, I don't think missing those two OTAs is going to kill them. Obviously they came into the film room on Monday when a lot of the guys weren't here and saw what we did during those practices. They were caught up. They know what we were doing. Everything we installed they should be fine with. As much as it would have been nice to have them on the field, I think they'll be fine."

Quick said he and Givens "quiz each other" on the offense. "We got back on schedule right away," Quick said. "I'm learning fast."

--Fisher on picking up tight end Brody Eldridge on waivers from the Colts: "He was hurt a little bit at Indy, missed some games there, but really very athletic and is just big, strong, big target and is a very good blocking tight end. That's one of the things we're going to do. We're going to continue to watch the waiver wire and if we feel like somebody can come in and help us, we're going to give them a look."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We got a lot done, a lot of different situations and scenarios, end of the game scenarios. Backed up, we wanted to make sure that sometimes it gets loud. You need to be able to communicate and execute in the huddle, so we had a fairly good rookie class voice-wise. I could have got some more out of them." -- Coach Jeff Fisher on the team's rookies that provided the crowd noise during a segment of practice when the offense was deep in their own territory.

MEDICAL WATCH

--WR Danario Alexander remains a bystander during OTA practices because of a sore hamstring.

--QB Sam Bradford is still not 100-percent recovered from his 2011 ankle injury. Asked how he feels, Bradford said, "Good. (My ankle) is getting there. It seems to feel better every week. Less soreness, more things I can do, so think it's definitely on track."

--DT Michael Brockers was on the sideline for Wednesday's OTA because of soreness. Said coach Jeff Fisher, "We just backed him down a little bit. There's a number of the younger players that I mentioned to you that are sore. We just don't want to risk anything with him."

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--TE Billy Bajema has been a solid blocker in the past, but his play fell off in 2011. The addition of Mike Mulligan means he won't be re-signed.

--S James Butler was one of former coach Steve Spagnuolo's first signings in 2009, but he never played to the level expected. He can be a role player, but it will be somewhere else in 2012.

--WR Mark Clayton wasn't able to come back in 2012 from a serious knee injury the season before and ended up on IR again after playing sparingly. His career might be over.

--QB A.J. Feeley injured his thumb after taking over for an injured Sam Bradford last season and wasn't able to play again. He won't be re-signed after the Rams re-signed Kellen Clemens.

--OL Adam Goldberg has filled in at four positions on the line in recent seasons and has contributed needed depth. With the addition of other backup linemen, Goldberg won't return.

--CB Rod Hood was signed when injuries hit the cornerback position and was solid by the end of the season. There is no interest in re-signing him.

--CB Justin King played through injuries last season, but is nothing more than a nickel back. He was pressed into a starter's role because of injuries.

--T Mark LeVoir is still looking for a team, and the Rams have shown little interest.

--RB Jerious Norwood was never able to show the speed he has and didn't contribute much to the running game or special teams. He won't be re-signed.

--LB Brady Poppinga started on the strong side, and improved as he became comfortable with the defense. However, he won't be re-signed.

--TE Stephen Spach is a blocking tight end that didn't play much during the 2012 season after being signed following his release by Arizona in the cutdown to 53 players.

--WR Cadillac Williams had some productive moments, but not many. He will look for another teams.

--C Tony Wragge replaced Jason Brown during the season and was solid. The addition of Scott Wells and Robert Turner makes his return unlikely.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

--DE C.J. Ah You (not tendered as RFA) was a favorite of the previous coaching staff, and he remains unsigned.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

--S Darian Stewart (tendered at $540,000) has come a long way since being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Likes to mix it up, but has to improve on taking better angles in run support.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--WR Danny Amendola: RFA tendered at $1.927M with second-round pick as compensation); $1.927M/1 yr.

--QB Tom Brandstater: Not tendered as ERFA; $540,000/1 yr.

--QB Kellen Clemens: UFA; $710,000/1 yr, $10,000 SB.

--DT Jermelle Cudjo: ERFA; $465,000/1 yr.

--WR Dominique Curry: ERFA; $465,000/1 yr (subsequently released).

--G Bryan Mattison: ERFA; $465,000/1 yr.

--FB Brit Miller: Not tendered as ERFA; $615,000/1 yr.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar: UFA Saints; $3.05M/2 yrs, $1M SB.

--TE Brody Eldridge (waivers Colts).

--CB Cortland Finnegan: UFA Titans; $50M/5 yrs, $5M SB/$24M guaranteed.

--LB Mario Haggan: UFA Broncos; $890,000/1 yr, $65,000 SB (counts $605,000 against salary cap).

--DE William Hayes: UFA Titans; $900,000/1 yr, $100,000 SB.

--DT Kendall Langford: UFA Dolphins; $22M/4 yrs, $4M SB/$6M fully guaranteed/$5M '13 base guaranteed against injury.

--DT Trevor Laws: UFA Eagles: $700,000/1 yr.

--TE Matthew Mulligan: Not tendered as RFA by Jets; $1.6M/2 yrs, $200,000 SB.

--T/G Quinn Ojinnaka: UFA Colts; $700,000/1 yr.

--OT Barry Richardson: UFA Chiefs; $1.02M/1 yr, $100,000 SB.

--WR Steve Smith: UFA Eagles; $2.5M/1 yr, $625,000 base guarantee/$1.5M RB.

--C/G Robert Turner: UFA Jets; $700,000/1 yr.

--C Scott Wells: UFA Packers; $24M/4 yrs, $4M SB/$13M guaranteed.

PLAYERS LOST

--DT Justin Bannan (released).

--CB Ron Bartell (released).

--OG Jacob Bell: UFA Bengals; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--C Jason Brown (released).

--PK Josh Brown (released).

--LB Chris Chamberlain: UFA Saints; $4.05M/3 yrs, $1.2M SB.

--WR Dominique Curry (released).

--DT Gary Gibson: UFA Buccaneers; $2M/2 yrs, $400,000 guaranteed).

--DE James Hall (released).

--CB Al Harris (UFA; retired).

--CB Brian Jackson (released).

--CB Marquis Johnson (released).

--P Donnie Jones: UFA Texans; $890,000/1 yr, $65,000 SB.

--LB Bryan Kehl: UFA Redskins; terms unknown.

--WR Brandon Lloyd: UFA Patriots; $12M/3 yrs, $3M SB.

--WR Nick Miller (released).

--CB Nate Ness (released).

--LB David Nixon (released).

--DT Fred Robbins (released).

--OT Thomas Welch (released).