Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Michael Brockers seemed to be heading to the Baltimore Ravens this offseason as reports indicated that he signed with them in free agency. The Ravens announced on Friday morning that the deal fell through though, allowing him to get back on the open market.
Brockers suffered a sprained ankle at the end of the 2019 season. With teams unable to give physicals to free agents right now due to coronavirus, his ankle issue is believed to have something to do with the deal falling through.
It ended up working out for Brockers and the Rams though, as according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, he will be heading back to Los Angeles on a three-year contract:
Free agent DT Michael Brockers is heading back to the #Rams, per agent @ScottCasterline. After it falls apart in Baltimore, Brockers lands back home in LA.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 27, 2020
After all this, the #Rams end up with their homegrown talent and Michael Brockers ends up with a nice deal. Per source, he’s getting a three-year deal worth up to $31.5M maximum value — similar to what Baltimore had on the table. And LA gets more firepower up front on D.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 27, 2020
Details on the deal that DL Michael Brockers will sign with the #Rams: 3 years, $24M base value with a max value of $31.5M, sources say. In the incentive package, $4.5M is based on playing time and he should earn it if he stays healthy. He hasn’t missed a game since 2017.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 27, 2020
This is some much-needed good news for the Rams as they have lost a lot of key players on defense this offseason like Dante Fowler Jr., Cory Littleton, Clay Matthews, Nickell Robey-Coleman and Eric Weddle.
Brockers took to social media to announce his excitement about heading back to the Rams:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-PM5yLlRsG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Brockers regains his position as the longest-tenured Ram after being selected in the first round in 2012 back when the team was playing in St. Louis. He is not only a big part of what the Rams do on the field, but also in the locker room as one of their most vocal veteran leaders.
In that respect, getting Brockers back is huge for the Rams. Additionally, the Rams’ defensive line is now a position of strength with Brockers, Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day and Greg Gaines on the inside and Leonard Floyd, Samsum Ebukam and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo on the edge.
That should allow them to use their draft picks to fill other needs such as offensive line and linebacker.
Oddly enough, this is not the first time that the Rams have had one of their free agents return after his contract fell through in another place as the same thing happened with Rodger Saffold and the Oakland Raiders in 2014.
