The Los Angeles Rams have continued to spend their free agency money on in-house acquisitions. After locking up players such as Tim Barnes, Brian Quick, and William Hayes, another key defensive piece has been brought back in.
The Rams defense line was outstanding during the 2015 season, the third best according to Pro Football Focus, and will attempt to replicate their success heading into the new era of Los Angeles football.
While the line faces a lot of questions heading into free agency, it seems as though the Rams have addressed the issue one piece at a time, via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:
The LA #Rams re-signed DE Eugene Sims on a 3-year deal worth $10M, source said. He gets $3.75M in guarantees, #Rams get solid depth.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2016
While veteran Chris Long is no longer with the Rams, the shuffling line has found a starting replacement.
Sims, who was a part of the strong eight-man rotation of the Rams, will seamlessly transition into more prominent role during the 2016 season.
The three-year deal for Sims capped off a strong 2015 season, where he collected 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception in 13 games played (nine starts).
Sims took to Instagram to announce the new deal, giving an unofficial sign he was returning:
The return of the 30-year-old linebacker not only provides a strong defensive presence, but also comes on a team friendly deal.
The defensive end has spent all six of his pro seasons with the Rams and can wreak havoc with more playing time. Although Sims played in over 50 percent of the defensive snaps last season, the departure of Long will surely provide more opportunities.
In five seasons, Sims has collected 83 tackles, 9.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and one interception in 83 games played.
