How Does Releasing Jake Long and Scott Wells Affect the St. Louis Rams?

The St. Louis Rams emerged from under the figurative rock they had been under for the duration of the NFL’s “legal tampering period” on Monday afternoon, announcing that they were releasing veteran center Scott Wells and left tackle Jake Long. While Wells, who was signed in 2012, and Long, who was added in 2013, were marquee free agent additions who didn’t quite pan out, the Rams will realize a benefit from releasing them. Wells was scheduled to make $5.5 million in base salary plus a bonus of $1 million, so the Rams will be able to save most of the money they would’ve been paying him. Long, meanwhile, was under contract through the 2016 season and was scheduled to make a total of $18 million in base salary over the next two years. The entirety of his $5 million signing bonus was guaranteed, so the Rams will be left with $2.5 million in dead money this season and $1.25 million next year.

Wells and Long’s careers in St. Louis were largely marred by injuries. Wells suffered a broken foot in his Rams debut in 2012 and went on to play only seven games in that season. His 2013 season ended early due to a fractured fibula, and he played in just 12 games. He finally played through a full season with the Rams in 2014, but had visibly deteriorated from the form he exhibited while with the Green Bay Packers from 2004 to 2011. Long went down with a torn ACL in the 15th game of the 2013 season, then rehabbed the injury before tearing the same ligament in the seventh game of 2014.

More from St. Louis Rams

Long’s release is the more notable of the two, considering that the Rams believed the former Miami Dolphin could solidify their left tackle position in a way that it hadn’t been since Orlando Pace left in 2008. Those plans changed rather quickly, however, as the Rams decided to draft their left tackle of the future last May by selecting Auburn’s Greg Robinson with the second overall pick.

After Long regressed in 2014, suffered an injury, and was promptly replaced by Robinson, it became rather nonsensical to bring him back and plug him in after Robinson, his eventual long-term replacement, had already gotten extensive action at left tackle. It remains to be seen if Robinson can be a successful left tackle in the NFL, but the Rams are going to give him every chance to prove that he can do so going forward.

It’s still possible that Long could be brought back on a cheaper deal, especially if the Rams lose incumbent right tackle Joe Barksdale as an unrestricted free agent. It remains to be seen, however, if Long, who is financially secure and has a lot of pride at stake, wants to come back and perform at a lesser level after suffering multiple ACL tears.

Live Feed

Ravens in the race to sign Ndamukong Suh after NFC team rejection? /

Ebony Bird

Big-name 2024 free agent linebacker easily tabbed as bad fit for the Detroit LionsSideLion Report

Early look into free agency: 5 players Broncos should target this offseasonPredominantly Orange

4 upcoming free agents the Packers should let walk in 2024Lombardi Ave

Ravens moves: Baltimore signs WR, releases DB for Week 14 vs. RamsEbony Bird

Released Ravens RB has found a new (and fourth) home in Green BayEbony Bird

If the Rams lose Barksdale and don’t bring back Long, they’ll probably have to bring in someone from the outside, either through free agency or the draft, to play right tackle. The only true tackle besides Robinson under contract right now is Steven Baker, a 26-year-old who was a member of the practice squad for part of 2014. Though Baker has the size that Jeff Fisher has shown a tendency to covet in tackles at 6-foot-8 and 310 pounds, he can’t reasonably be expected to start since he’s never played in an NFL game. Brandon Washington also has played tackle in the past but is just 6-foot-2 and profiles much better as a guard. Guard Rodger Saffold, who was the Rams’ starting left tackle from 2010 to 2012 and briefly played the right side in 2013, could also kick back out to right tackle if needed.

Wells’ release was not at all unexpected, though it seemed possible that the Rams would retain him after they decided not to tender a contract to his backup of three years, Tim Barnes, late last week. Unless the Rams decide to select a center in the draft or sign one in free agency—they were reported to have talked to former Oakland Raider Stefen Wisniewski on Monday—they will head into 2015 with Barrett Jones, a 2013 fourth-rounder who has seen action from scrimmage in just one game, and Demetrius Rhaney, a 2014 seventh-rounder who spent the entire season on injured reserve, as their centers.

More from Arch Authority

Jones, a two-time former Consensus All-American who won both the Rimington and Outland trophies at Alabama, has long been considered the Rams’ center of the future, but he has been held back significantly by injuries since joining the Rams. A foot injury in his rookie year held him back, and with the lack of preparation that he received prior to the season, he was active for just three games. He had back surgery right before the start of the regular season in 2014 and missed a good chunk of time once again. He was active for seven games, even seeing time from scrimmage in the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with Barnes already hurt and Wells suffering an in-game injury. However, he wasn’t able to maintain his progress, and he became a healthy inactive again for most of the later part of the season.

With the good showing that Rhaney had in training camp last summer before suffering an injury that knocked him out of competition for a job, he may be a stronger candidate for the job than many believe. With that said, he’s a player transitioning from Tennessee State, an FCS school, and he has just one NFL offseason under his belt, so it may be asking too much to expect him to compete for a starting job this year.

Next: Reports: Rams Interested in Free Agent Guard Justin Blalock

Home/St. Louis Rams