A deal that sent Rams’ defensive end Michael Brockers to the Detroit Lions was underway Tuesday night.
Brockers, 30, a first-round pick in the first round in 2012, who was dean of the Rams’ defense, had five pockets in 2020, the most since 2013.
He was one of the Rams’ team captains and a vocal leader in the NFL’s best defense.
But the Rams lost him almost a year ago when he agreed to join the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent, only to have the deal expired before a contract was signed because the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Brockers ‘s injured ankle by a Ravens team doctor.
This time, Brockers will probably leave.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that the Rams asked Brockers to adjust his contract to help the team get below the salary cap – something they did on Tuesday by restructuring the contracts of several other veterans – but the two parties could not agree.
Terms were not immediately known to the trade, which was first reported by Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. But it will probably help the Rams to get further under the cap.
Brockers would have to cost them $ 24 million, $ 9.8 million at the cost of capital in the second season of a three-year deal.
Another defensive end of Rams, Morgan Fox, is a free agent. Aside from NFL defensive player of the year Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, A’Shawn Robinson and Greg Gaines also include other defensive lines.
Free agency deals and signings can be formally announced from Wednesday, the start of the league, including the other deals the Rams and Lions agreed earlier this winter, the one bringing quarterback Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles and the quarterback Jared Goff and three steering. draft draft choices to Detroit.