A negotiation to send Michael Brockers to defend Rams from Detroit Lions was underway Tuesday night.
Brockers, 30, a choice from the first round of 2012 who was the dean of the Rams’ defense, had five bags in 2020, his highest since 2013.
He was one of the captains of the Rams team and a vocal leader of the NFL’s highest-ranked defense.
But the Rams almost lost him a year ago when he agreed to join the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent, only to see the deal fail before a contract was signed because the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Brockers’ injured ankle from being examined by a Doctor on the Ravens team.
This time, Brockers’ departure is likely to happen.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that the Rams asked Brockers to adjust his contract to help the team stay below the salary cap – something they did on Tuesday by restructuring the contracts of several other veterans – but both sides have not reached an agreement.
The terms were not immediately known for the trade, first reported by Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. But it is likely to help the Rams go further.
Brockers was expected to cost $ 9.8 million against the ceiling in the second season of a three-year, $ 24 million deal.
Another defensive side of Rams, Morgan Fox, is a free agent. In addition to NFL Defender of the Year Player Aaron Donald, other defensive players in the squad include Sebastian Joseph-Day, A’Shawn Robinson and Greg Gaines.
Negotiations and hiring of free agents can be formally announced starting Wednesday, the start of the league, including the other negotiation agreed by the Rams and Lions earlier this winter, which brought quarterback Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles and sent the quarterback Jared Goff and three choices for Detroit.