After a Friday visit to the Rams facility in Thousand Oaks, Calif., veteran safety Eric Weddle has agreed to terms on a two-year deal and will join the 2018 NFC Champions' secondary.
A California native, the 34-year-old Weddle heads back to the southern part of the state on a two-year deal for the next chapter of his 12-year NFL career. The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Chargers, where he played the first nine seasons of his professional career, before spending the last three years in Baltimore.
The Ravens rolled out the league's top defense a season ago, with Weddle starting in all 16 games, recording 68 tackles, three passes defensed, a sack, and four quarterback hits.
He grabbed 10 interceptions over the last three seasons in Baltimore.
Check out the best photos of new Los Angeles Rams safety Eric Weddle!
San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle, right, heads to the end zone for a touchdown with teammate Stephen Cooper after intercepting a pass in the third quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle (32) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle (32) intercepts a pass in the end zone during the game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, Baltimore. The Ravens defeated the Lions 44-20. (Al Tielemans via AP)
San Diego Chargers defensive back Eric Weddle (32) returns an interception during an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, in San Diego. The Chargers won the game, 37-10. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle (32) intercepts a pass in the end zone during the game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, Baltimore. The Ravens defeated the Lions 44-20. (Al Tielemans via AP)
AFC safety Eric Weddle, of the Baltimore Ravens, watches from the sideline during the second half of the NFL Pro Bowl football game against the NFC Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
San Diego Chargers' Eric Weddle, right, intercepts a pass intended for New York Jets' Plaxico Burress (17) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle (32) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Baltimore Ravens free safety Eric Weddle (32) runs an intercepted pass back for a touchdown alongside teammate Matt Judon in the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) and New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during an NFL regular season game on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014 in San Diego. The Patriots won the game 23-14. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) is seen in action during an NFL wild card football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on January 5, 2014 in Cincinnati, Ohio. San Diego won 27-10. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
San Diego Chargers Eric Weddle (32) leaps high to block a Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) pass during second quarter action in the NFL game at Sports Authority Field in Denver,CO December 12, 2013. (AP Photo/ Eric Bakke)
Baltimore Ravens free safety Eric Weddle stands on the sideline in the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens free safety Eric Weddle celebrates after running an intercepted pass back for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Seattle Seahawks' Leonard Weaver, right, looks to pull in a pass as San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle steps in front for the interception in the second quarter of their NFL pre-season game in San Diego, Sunday Aug. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
San Diego Chargers defensive back Eric Weddle in action during a football game Monday Dec. 24, 2007 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Chris Park)
Baltimore Ravens defensive back Eric Weddle (32) in coverage during a week 2 NFL football against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 34-23. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle (32) drops into coverage in action against the Carolina Panthers Sunday Oct. 28, 2018 in Charlotte, N.C. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Baltimore Ravens defensive back Eric Weddle (32) rests during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018 in Carson, Calif. (Greg Trott via AP)
Baltimore Ravens free safety Eric Weddle, left, celebrates with teammate Tony Jefferson after running back an interception for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle (32) pumps his fist during an NFL game against the New York Giants on December 8, 2013. The Chargers defeated the Giants 37-14. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) in action during the NFL regular season game between the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers on Monday Nov. 9, 2015 in San Diego. The Bears won, 22-19. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Baltimore Ravens strong safety Eric Weddle (32) intercepts a pass attempt in the second half an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle, left, breaks up a pass play intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas, left, hauls in a pass under pressure from San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott (4) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens' Eric Weddle (32) after a short scramble in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman (23) is knocked off his feet during an NFL game by San Diego Chargers defensive back Eric Weddle (32) on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in San Diego, Calif. The Broncos won the game, 17-3. (Greg Trott via AP)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) and San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) during the NFL regular season game on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Chargers won in overtime, 38-35. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Brandon LaFell (11) breaks up a possible interception by Baltimore Ravens strong safety Eric Weddle (32) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle warms up before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle (29) drops into coverage during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, Pittsburgh. The Steelers defeated the Ravens 39-38. (Al Tielemans via AP)
San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle #32 during an NFL football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Diego Chargers Sunday September 19, 2010 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego Ca.. The San Diego Chargers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 34 - 13 in regular season week two action. (Ap Photo/ Bill Nichols)
The Rams adding Weddle ahead of the free agency window set to open next Wednesday not only addresses one of the potential position vacancies in the defense with safety Lamarcus Joyner set to become a free agent next week, it also demonstrates some long-term planning for the club.
Since the Ravens released the veteran ahead of the free agency window, the Rams adding Weddle does not go into the compensatory pick formula. That means should Los Angeles not re-sign some of its key players, Weddle's addition would not preclude the Rams from receiving higher compensatory picks — much like how the club added defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh last year.
The Rams secondary now features two veterans in Weddle and cornerback Aqib Talib, who are No. 9 and No. 2 in interceptions, respectively, among all active players.
