In advance of the new league year, the Rams have submitted a few transactions for some of their depth pieces.
First, the club has placed an original-round tender on restricted free agent outside linebacker Matt Longacre. Because Longacre initially signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State in 2015, Los Angeles would not be entitled to any draft pick compensation should Longacre sign an offer sheet with another team in free agency. However, the Rams would still have the right of first refusal to match any contract offer Longacre receives to keep him in the fold.
Longacre was an important rotational piece for L.A. in 2017, finishing third on the team with 5.5 sacks and tied for second with 12 quarterback hits. Longacre played in 14 games — starting one — before suffering a season-ending back injury that had him placed on IR in Week 16.
The Rams have another two restricted free agents: linebacker Cam Lynch and offensive tackle Darrell Williams.
Los Angeles has also submitted a minimum salary tender for exclusive rights free agent kicker Sam Ficken, who stepped in for the injured Greg Zuerlein at the end of the 2017 season. Ficken connected on two of his three regular-season field goal attempts, before converting two field goals and an extra point in the Rams' playoff game against the Falcons.
Finally, the Rams have re-signed exclusive rights free agent outside linebacker Garrett Sickels to a renegotiated contract. Los Angeles signed Sickles to its practice squad in October, before promoting the undrafted free agent out of Penn State to its active roster before the Week 17 matchup against the 49ers.
L.A. previously tendered exclusive rights free agents and Troy Hill. The club has two other exclusive rights free agents: fullback Zach Laskey and outside linebacker Carlos Thompson.
