The Los Angeles Rams have decided to tender tight end Johnny Mundt and offensive lineman Coleman Shelton as exclusive rights free agents.
Exclusive rights free agents are players who have played less than three years in the league on a one or two-year minimum deal. Unlike restricted free agents, they cannot negotiate with any other team outside of the team that originally signed them. Although neither player has officially re-signed with the Rams yet, this does give the team something in their back pocket.
Mundt has been with the Rams for three seasons, originally coming on board as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon. He spent most of his first season on the practice squad but was finally added to the regular roster for his second year. He played 10 games as a backup, but last year really had some time to prove his worth.
Mundt appeared in 13 games, started in two and was able to play in 19% of all offensive snaps. Although he only accumulated 26 receiving yards last season, Mundt was able to help with his pass blocking abilities. Mundt has been behind Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett on the depth chart, making it hard for him to receive time as a pass option.
Shelton entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Washington. He was originally signed by the Tennesee Titans before being waived and picked up by the Arizona Cardinals. He was cut just before the start of last season, when the Rams picked him up.
With the Rams, Shelton was finally able to make his NFL debut, largely thanks to the Rams’ injury ridden offensive line. He appeared in 11 games as a reserve, playing in just 2% of offensive snaps. The Rams likely want to have an option to bring Shelton back as their offensive line was the biggest source of inconsistency last season.
