St. Louis Rams will likely keep Scott Wells
St. Louis Rams quarterback (8) Sam Bradford prepares to take the snap from center Scott Wells (63) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The St. Louis Rams biggest priority in free agency is keeping starting guard Rodger Saffold, who previously started at tackle before Joe Barksdale’s emergence last season while replacing Saffold during his injury. Both sides will talk more as the week rolls on, with free agency set to start on the 11th and the legal tampering period beginning on the 8th. Saffold is willing to sign as either a guard, but it’s going take a significant amount of money for Les Snead and the Rams to keep him around. He’s a very good, versatile player, though, and the Rams would like to re-sign him and cut ties with Harvey Dahl. Shelley Smith is also an impending free agent.
Dahl isn’t the only potential cap casualty on the interior of the Rams offensive line, as starting center Scott Wells has also been involved in those kinds of rumors. However, ESPN’s Adam Caplan reports that “indications are” that the Rams won’t release Wells this offseason and will keep the 33-year-old around.
Releasing Wells would save the Rams $4.5 million, as he is set to count $6.5 million against the cap next season with $5.5 million in base salary. He is signed through the 2015 season, and he makes too much money. However, the Rams have too many needs on the interior as it is, so releasing Wells wouldn’t make much sense, as he is quality starter in this league and does a very good job of opening up holes in the running game.