NFL rumors: Rams trying to re-sign Leonard Floyd before free agency

The Los Angeles Rams have yet to show their math on how to get below the 2021 NFL salary cap, but NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that the team would like to re-sign linebacker Leonard Floyd regardless of how that turns out. Pelissero reported that the Green Bay Packers were attempting to do the same with running back Aaron Jones, and then shortly later, Jones re-signed for four years.

Is Floyd’s announcement coming next?

The Rams signed Floyd in free agency in 2020 on a one-year, $10 million contract that had voidable years, which allowed his cap hit to only be $6.6 million. Because of that, LA is forced to pay dead money to Floyd in 2021 and 2022, but re-signing him would at least guarantee that he’ll be playing those seasons with the Rams.

If Los Angeles does come to an agreement with Floyd, this would all but assure that safety John Johnson is gone, and the rumors here imply that their top priority is at linebacker.

Floyd had a career-high 10.5 sacks last season, though five of those came in two games against the Seattle Seahawks; Floyd had another two sacks in LA’s wild card win over the Seahawks in Seattle. He’s been considered one of the top run-stopping linebackers in the NFL since going as the eighth overall pick to the Chicago Bears in 2016, but it’s the number of times he got to the quarterback last season — usually Russell Wilson — that could get him paid a greater sum on his next contract.

What that sum will be should be known soon, whether it’s with the Rams or someone else.