Steelers Free Agency: Rams to Cut LB Leonard Floyd If No Trade Found
The Los Angeles Rams will reportedly cut veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd if they can’t find a trade partner. If released, Floyd would be another addition to a free-agent market that the Pittsburgh Steelers might look at.
Floyd spent his last three seasons with the Rams after being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He’s totaled 47.5 sacks in 104 career contests. With Los Angeles, he’s notched at least nine sacks per season.
The Steelers have talented bookends in three-time All-Pro T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, who had a breakout year with 14.5 sacks. Only five players — San Francisco’s Nick Bosa (18.5), Philadelphia’s Haason Reddick and Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (16.0), and Kansas City’s Chris Jones and New England’s Matthew Judon (15.5) — had more in the last go-round.
Behind those two, however, Pittsburgh doesn’t have much depth. Defensive ends Larry Ogunjobi and Chris Wormley are set to be unrestricted free agents, with the latter recovering from a torn ACL.
DeMarvin Leal flashed athleticism that both general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin liked in his time on the field as a rookie. Leal can play inside, as well, but where he ends up will depend on what the team does behind Watt and Highsmith this off-season.
As of right now, the Steelers don’t have a wealth of salary cap space, and being that Floyd likely wouldn’t come cheap, Khan would have to find a way to make it work. Of course, playing time would likely be a big factor in any hypothetical situation for Leonard Floyd.
Former Steeler Bud Dupree was cut by the Tennessee Titans Monday, joining Eric Kendricks, who was let go off by Minnesota, in the pool.