After finishing the 2019 NFL season with a 9-7 record and missing the postseason, the Los Angeles Rams went into the offseason with several tough questions they needed to answer.
The Rams had plenty of players headed to free agency and have already seen Cory Littleton and Michael Brockers leave for the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens, respectively. Eric Weddle also decided to retire, leaving the defense with a few voids to fill.
However, the biggest bombshell came when the team announced they released Todd Gurley after they reportedly could not find a trade partner.
Rams head Sean McVay released a statement regarding the move, thanking Gurley for what he gave to the organization, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“I would like to thank Todd for his many contributions to the Rams, on and off the field, since I have been here,” McVay said. “He has meant a lot to my growth as a coach and leader and he will always be remembered as one of the all-time great Rams. I wish him nothing but the best.”
General manager Les Snead also thanked Gurley for his service as a Ram:
“When we drafted Todd in 2015, we knew he was going to be a one-of-a-kind talent that would create special moments on the football field for us,” Snead said. “Todd did this by becoming one of the greatest competitors in this league, but more than that, he served as a great teammate to his fellow players and ambassador for our organization, and those traits speak volumes to who he is as a human being.”
Gurley’s future with Los Angeles was immediately called into question following his disappointing season where he was given less work on the field. His knee issue, which the Rams had always been unclear about, coupled with his massive contract extension led the team to release him as they were strapped by the salary cap and needed the extra money to retool the roster.
Although the move makes sense on paper, this is still a blow as Gurley had become the face of the franchise since moving back to Los Angeles and became one of the league’s most exciting players. During his career with the Rams, he made the Pro Bowl on three occasions, and was named the 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Going forward, it appears that Darrell Henderson will finally get his shot to lead the backfield although the team may look to bolster the running back position through the 2020 NFL Draft. Whatever the case may be, the team will look vastly different next season without Gurley in the fold.
Meanwhile, Gurley did not waste any time finding a new home as he will be returning to Georgia after signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
