Leonard Floyd staying with Rams on four-year, $64-million deal

Rams linebacker Leonard Floyd follows a play during a playoff game against the Seahawks.

Staff Writer

March 15, 2021 Updated 4:05 PM PT

Edge rusher Leonard Floyd, who amassed a career-best 10½ sacks for the Rams last season, has agreed to terms on a new contract with the team, a person with knowledge of the situation said Monday.

The person requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the deal until it becomes official. The contract is a four-year deal that could be worth as much as $64 million.

Floyd, 28, was due to become an unrestricted free agent when the NFL’s new league year begins Wednesday.

“Let’s run it back L.A.” Floyd posted on Twitter.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Floyd was the ninth pick in the 2016 draft by the Chicago Bears. After the Bears cut him last March, he signed what was essentially a one-year, $10-million deal with the Rams but earned $13.25 million by reaching all incentives.

Floyd was signed before last season at the behest of former defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who is now the Chargers’ coach. Coach Sean McVay hired Raheem Morris to replace Staley.

Floyd’s decision to stay means he will continue to play alongside tackle Aaron Donald, a three-time NFL defensive player of the year.

Long snapper Jake McQuaide agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys, a person with knowledge of the situation said. The person requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the situation.

Former Rams safety John Johnson joining Browns; Samson Ebukam leaving for 49ers

Rams safety John Johnson walks off the field after a win over the Buccaneers.

Safety John Johnson, the defensive signal-caller for the Rams last season, agreed to terms Monday on a free-agent contract with the Cleveland Browns, according to multiple reports.

Johnson, 25, was in line for a huge payday after helping to lead a Rams defense that ranked among the NFL’s best under former coordinator Brandon Staley, now the coach of the Chargers. Johnson had a salary-cap number of $2.3 million last season, according to overthecap.com.

Linebacker Samson Ebukam agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers, a person with knowledge of the situation said. The person requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly.

Monday marked the start of the so-called legal tampering period for representatives of unrestricted free agents to negotiate with teams. Contracts cannot be signed until Wednesday, the start of the NFL’s new league year.

Johnson, who has eight career interceptions, was a third-round draft pick in 2017 but ascended into a starting role early in his rookie season. In 2018, his interception of a Drew Brees pass in overtime of the NFC championship game set up a game-winning field goal that defeated the New Orleans Saints and sent the Rams to the Super Bowl.

Johnson sat out the final 12 games of the 2019 season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery, but reestablished himself as a key player last season for a team that advanced to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.

Ebukam, 25, was a fourth-round pick in 2017. He has 14 sacks.

Edge rusher Leonard Floyd, cornerback Troy Hill, defensive linemen Morgan Fox and Derek Rivers, running back Malcolm Brown, tight end Gerald Everett, receiver Josh Reynolds, offensive lineman Austin Blythe and long-snapper Jake McQuaide also are pending unrestricted free agents.

Rams place first-round tender on restricted free-agent cornerback Darious Williams

The Rams made an expected move Monday to keep a key member of the secondary, putting a first-round tender on restricted free-agent cornerback Darious Williams.

Williams, who turned 28 on Monday, signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He played in three games before the Rams claimed him off waivers. Last season, Williams had a team-best four interceptions while playing opposite star cornerback Jalen Ramsey in one of the NFL’s top defenses.

A first-round tender is worth nearly $4.8 million. Last season, Williams earned $750,000, according to overthecap.com.

Players are regarded as restricted free agents if they have three accrued seasons and an expiring contract. They can negotiate with and receive offer sheets from other teams, but the team that tendered them has a right of first refusal to match.

A first-round tender almost guarantees the player will remain with his team. If the Rams declined to match an offer for Williams, the new team would owe the Rams a first-round draft pick as compensation.