The Los Angeles Rams are going to look a lot different in 2023 than they have the last few seasons. With the organization not being in a great place when it comes to the NFL’s salary cap, they have to make some tough decisions regarding some of their veterans.
The first move was releasing Bobby Wagner, who was one of the team’s lone bright spots in 2022. Additionally, various reports have indicated that they are looking to trade Jalen Ramsey, Allen Robinson and Leonard Floyd to clear up some more money.
Outside of Ramsey, the others would be tough to trade given how much money they are owed in 2023 and beyond. So it comes as no surprise that Floyd, who signed a four-year, $64 million contract with the Rams in 2020, was unable to be dealt.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Rams will be releasing Floyd:
Rams are planning to release OLB Leonard Floyd today, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2023
It’s unfortunate to see Floyd’s time with the Rams come to an end considering he has been a key piece of their recent success.
After being drafted ninth overall by the Chicago Bears in 2016, Floyd looked like a bust as he did not record more than seven sacks in any of his first four seasons.
Floyd figured things out after coming to the Rams though, posting at least nine sacks a year and 29 total in his three seasons with the team.
By releasing him though, the Rams will free up significant money in the coming years. Because he was released before June 1 though, a lot of those savings will come down the road as opposed to in 2023.
The Rams will only save $3 million in cap space in 2023 by releasing Floyd now, taking on a $19 million dead cap hit. They would have saved $15.2 million against the cap if they waited until after June 1, although that would have spread the rest of the money across the next few seasons.
With Floyd no longer on the team though, the Rams will be losing their best and only experienced pass-rusher. Young guys like Michael Hoecht and Daniel Hardy will need to step up in his absence, although the Rams will also likely address the outside linebacker position in the draft and/or free agency.
