The Los Angeles Rams seem prepared for the possibility of a pair of key defensive contributors leaving the team this offseason.
Speaking with reporters from the NFL combine in Indianapolis on Thursday, Rams general manager Les Snead indicated safety Lamarcus Joyner and linebacker Dante Fowler are likely to reach the free agent market rather than sign new contracts with the team before March 13th.
Rams GM Les Snead said “there’s a good possibility” that soon-to-be FAs like Dante Fowler and Lemarcus Joyner will reach the market in March 13.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) February 28, 2019
Joyner has been a linchpin of Los Angeles' defensive backfield dating back to the franchise's days in St. Louis. A second-round pick in 2014, he's played at least 10 games in every season of his career, first emerging as a full-time starter in 2017.
Last season, Joyner had a career-high 78 tackles to go along with three tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception. The 28-year-old played on the franchise tag in 2018 after failing to reach an agreement on a new long-term deal with the Rams last summer.
Fowler was acquired by Los Angeles from the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 30th in exchange for a third-round pick in April's draft and a fifth-round selection next year. Playing outside linebacker for the first time in his career, the 24-year-old acquitted himself well, starting six games for the Rams and finishing the season with 21 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, and five quarterback hits. Fowler disappointed during his tenure with the Jaguars after being taken with the third overall pick of the 2015 draft.
The Rams, despite advancing to the Super Bowl, didn't fare as well on defense last season as many anticipated, ranking 19th in total yards allowed and 20th in opponents' points per game.
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