On Friday, March 16, the St. Louis Rams agreed to terms with former Green Bay Packers center Scott Wells on a four-year deal worth $24 million, with $13 million guaranteed. The following morning, former Miami Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford agreed to a similar four-year deal.
I’m excited about both signings. The Rams added a Pro Bowl center who has been in trenches for one of the best franchises in the NFL. His experience will be valuable for a team that is expected to be one of the youngest in the league in 2012. More importantly, Wells brings a winning attitude to the Rams. His leadership in Green Bay helped take a lot of pressure off of Aaron Rodgers, and I expect him do the same with Sam Bradford.
Langford gives the Rams some versatility on the defensive line. His unique height and size enables him to play both defensive end and tackle. Most importantly, Langford is an outstanding run stopper. Opposing teams ran the ball all over the Rams in 2011, but I doubt that will happen again this season with Langford in the lineup.
Both Wells and Langford are key signings for the Rams. They have a certain grit and toughness to them that the team has lacked in recent years. I think putting Wells in the starting lineup next to Harvey Dahl will make a huge difference in how the offensive line performs next season. Langford will likely play inside most of the time, which will allow Robert Quinn and Chris Long to focus on getting to the quarterback or the ball carrier.
The Rams aren’t done in free agency yet. It will be interesting to see what they do with their remaining cap space, but the Rams are on the right path. General manager Les Snead made two great decisions by signing both Wells and Langford. Hopefully, that trend continues throughout the rest of free agency and the draft.
Derek Ciapala has been a Rams fan since he was a child and the team was in Los Angeles. His favorite Rams moments include Flipper Anderson’s 336-yard receiving night against the Saints in 1989, and their miracle 1999 run to their first Super Bowl victory. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.
