NFC West offseason tracker: Brockers back to Rams after deal falls apart
Mar 27, 2020, 1:15 PM | Updated: Mar 30, 2020, 2:27 pm
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The Arizona Cardinals aren’t the only team in the NFC West keeping busy during the NFL offseason.
Each team in the NFC West has either lost a major name, brought one back or is waiting to see what its big free agent is doing.
Here’s a look at what the Cardinals’ three division rivals have been up to.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams made one of the biggest moves of the offseason when they released 25-year-old running back and two-time First Team All-Pro Todd Gurley to save $10.5 million. They also parted with veteran linebacker Clay Matthews.
Gurley rushed for 857 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2019, averaging 3.8 yards per carry.
Los Angeles had two of NFL.com’s top 15 free agents depart.
Linebacker Cory Littleton, seventh in those rankings, signed a three-year deal worth up to $36 million with the Las Vegas Raiders. They also lost pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to the Atlanta Falcons. The No. 14 ranked free agent agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $48 million.
Defensive lineman Michael Brockers got $21 million guaranteed over three years from the Baltimore Ravens, only for that deal to later fall apart. Now, Brockers is going back to the Rams on a three-year deal.
Recently waived pass rusher Leonard Floyd was added for a one-year contract, who appears to be the replacement for Fowler. Ditto for former Lions defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson on a two-year deal to take the spot of Brockers, only to now be extra depth with Brockers’ unexpected return.
They did retain team captain and reliable veteran offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth to the tune of a three-year deal.
San Francisco 49ers
The defending NFC champions made one of the most notable moves of the offseason thus far.
With the most fearsome defense in the league last season, and one of the best defensive lines in recent years, the 49ers had some decisions to make.
Arik Armstead was becoming a free agent and DeForest Buckner had one year left on his deal before being the same. Would they commit to one or the other? Pay Armstead and keep Buckner for a year before being unable to pay him? Sign both and cut money elsewhere?
They showed their cards. San Francisco signed Armstead to a five-year deal worth $85 million and traded Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the 13th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 49ers also solidified their secondary by bringing back defensive back Jimmie Ward on a three-year deal worth up to nearly $29 million.
That’s the major business San Francisco has done thus far. They still need to either re-sign free agent Emmanuel Sanders at wideout or bring in another one but got their two biggest free agents returning.
Sanders wound up signing with the Saints.
Seattle Seahawks
NFL.com’s highest-ranked defensive free agent still available as of Friday is Seattle pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney.
The Seahawks traded linebacker Jacob Martin and a 2020 third-round pick for Clowney at the start of September.
Seattle lost left tackle George Fant to a three-year deal from the New York Jets, leaving them with their own free agent Germain Ifedi, other free agents and the NFL Draft as options to replace him.
They went the free agent route, adding Jets offensive tackle Brandon Shell for a two-year contract. Ifedi signed with the Bears, while the Seahawks brought on depth for the offensive line via former top-10 pick Chance Warmack.
They did retain one of their bigger names in defensive tackle Jarran Reed. Reed was ranked the No. 34 free agent by NFL.com and comes back on a two-year deal worth up to $23 million.
One name to keep an eye on is safety Tedric Thompson, who is reportedly asking for a trade, per the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
At wideout, Seattle signed former Patriots wide receiver Phillip Dorsett.
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