Tre’quan Smith is an underrated free agent target for the LA Rams

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams bravely defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI. Cooper Kupp shined in the Rams victory with two touchdowns and 92 yards. Kupp clearly deserved the MVP award as he nicely received it on the podium following the big win.

Sean McVay has finally won a Super Bowl and he proved to be the youngest coach ever to win a SB (36 years old). McVay, Kupp, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and Odell Beckham Jr. notably boosted their legacy with their victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Rams will enter the offseason with euphoria and goals to win more championships. With that said, they will face serious obstacles to repeat similar heights of success. The Rams are 28th in cap space with roughly -14 million, according to “Over The Cap”. Nonetheless, trust in Les Snead and McVay to get creative to acquire some players on a cheaper contract. Here are three free agents that the Rams should take a close look at this offseason.

Tre’Quan Smith

The New Orleans Saints third-string WR took a step back in 2021, but it didn’t help that he was playing on the 32nd ranked passing offense. It feels like yesterday Taysom Hill missed Smith for a wide-open touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. Tre’Quan Smith will likely seek more sound opportunities in 2022. The 26-year-old who recorded 377 yards and 3 touchdowns in 11 games last season could look to go to LA on a one-year prove-it deal. Smith could be seen as the great value version of OBJ, but he is still an ascending wideout looking for his best season.

Jared Cook

The Rams will most likely not retain Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason. The Pro Bowl WR isn’t only on a team getting Robert Woods back, but he also unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in the Super Bowl. So, the “cap-strapped Rams would be making a high-risk deal” with OBJ. I’d like to see the Rams bring in a cheaper weapon and a big body target for Matthew Stafford. They could have their guy with Jared Cook, who reeled in 564 yards and four touchdowns. Cook would be a nice complement to Tyler Higbee and McVay would be able to dream up matchups with the tight ends in the play-action game.

Cordarrelle Patterson

The Atlanta Falcons WR/RB ousted a career year in receiving yards (548), rushing touchdowns (6), receiving touchdowns (5), and rushing yards (618). Patterson, who is also a two-time All-Pro returner, is the ultimate swiss army knife-free agent target. It would only be fitting if the most versatile free agent joined the most creative offensive coach in the NFL. Patterson would cost more than Tre’Quan Smith and less than OBJ. His money figure is worth 6-7 million per season, which would be about half of Odell’s contract number per season. Nonetheless, everybody should expect McVay to get more out of Patterson than any other team with his unique presence.