Should the Los Angeles Rams seek to retain Leonard Floyd in 2024, they must be prepared to offer the most lucrative contract.
Heading into the 2024 season, securing an Edge Rusher stands out as a top priority for the Los Angeles Rams. In the 2023 season, they ranked as the eighth-worst pass-rushing team in the league, registering an 18.9 percent pressure rate. Notably, a significant portion of this pressure (41 percent) came from their interior pass rushers.
An article titled “The Los Angeles Rams Are QB Pressure-Needy. Does A Leonard Floyd Reunion Address That?” highlights the potential return of outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who is set to become a free agent in March. Floyd, who signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Bills last year, has made it clear that he prioritizes financial gain and won’t settle for less.
Despite Floyd’s impressive performance with the Buffalo Bills last season, where he matched his career-high with 10.5 sacks and led the team in quarterback pressures, the Rams, with $27.7 million in cap space, have the financial means to pursue him. However, securing Floyd may entail engaging in a bidding war, as he is likely to attract significant attention as a talented edge rusher. While he may not command the same salary as top-tier free agents like Brian Burns or Josh Allen, a contract akin to Za’Darius Smith’s deal with Cleveland last season (around $10 million) seems feasible for the Rams.
The article raises the question of whether the Rams are willing to invest such resources in a 31-year-old player. Floyd, originally drafted ninth overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2016 NFL Draft, joined the Rams after completing his rookie contract, contributing to the team’s Super Bowl victory in 2021.
