The Los Angeles Rams were hoping to avoid too much turnover on the defensive side of the ball with so many key players set to hit the market as free agents this offseason.
Unfortunately, there has been little talk about the front office making any headway so far. Among those with perhaps the most uncertain future was defensive tackle Michael Brockers.
Brockers has long played an integral role as one of the anchors of the Rams defense. It appears his time in Los Angeles has come to an end.
According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Baltimore Ravens are set to sign Brockers to a three-year, $30 million deal:
The #Ravens are giving former #Rams DT Michael Brockers a 3-year, $30M deal, source said. His versatility had several teams interested.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
The fact that Brockers had been generating plenty of interest from teams hardly comes as a surprise. There are few players of his caliber on the market that bring the type of leadership and experience that he does to the table.
Brockers has never been one to put up eye-popping numbers after finishing the 2019 NFL season with 63 tackles, 3.0 sacks, and nine quarterback hits. Regardless, his skill set as a stalwart against the run that is also capable of providing pressure on the quarterback should help to pay huge dividends for Baltimore.
The veteran will now be joining cornerback Marcus Peters as part of a defense that helped turn the Ravens into the hottest team in the regular season. He will have an opportunity to become just the piece they need to help put this group over the top once the playoffs roll around.
Meanwhile, the Rams are left with a rather notable void to fill alongside defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Brockers was initially selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft back when the team was in St. Louis and was a major part of the team’s resurgence following their relocation.
Finding an upgrade at his position this offseason will certainly be no easy task. The onus will likely fall on defensive tackles Sebastian Joseph-Day and Greg Gaines to emerge as bonafide replacements in his stead.
Although head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead may be confident about their depth up front with Joseph-Day and Gaines, it is safe to say that the same cannot be said for their linebacker corps should Cory Littleton and Dante Fowler Jr. also leave in free agency. Now that the first domino has fallen, it will be interesting to see if any more follow.
