The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to terms with free-agent defensive end Connor Barwin.
Myles Simmons of the Rams official website, therams.com, originally reported the signing of the former Philadelphia Eagle (h/t Bleacher Report).
ESPN’s Adam Caplan reported that terms of the deal:
Barwin agreed to a 1-year deal with maximum of $6.5m, source said.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 16, 2017
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Barwin reunites with Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Phillips served as the Houston Texans’ defensive coordinator, where Barwin started his career. The two were together in 2010 and 2011, the latter of which Barwin finished with 49 tackles and 11.5 sacks.
Barwin played his first four seasons in Houston before spending the last four in Philadelphia.
He was one of the Eagles’ salary-cap casualties this offseason. The Rams likely will use him at outside linebacker, according to ESPN.com.
Barwin had his lowest stat totals in 2016 since his rookie year (not counting his second season that was limited to one game due to a season-ending ankle injury) as the Eagles switched from a 3-4 to a four-man front, Philly Sports Network reported. He finished last season with 34 tackles and five sacks as Philadelphia moved him from OLB to defensive end.
But the 30-year-old Barwin had career highs of 64 tackles and 14.5 sacks in 2014.
One NFL executive told NJ.com that the Eagles should have tried to trade Barwin, whom he felt still had ample value with $7.75 million that the Eagles would have owed him for 2017.
“If they cut him, teams will be lining up for him,” the pro personnel man with another NFC team said. “He wouldn’t be out of a job for long. I would think they could trade him and get something back. He has value. His deal this year isn’t that bad.”
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