The Chicago Bears gave Leonard Floyd four years to become what they hoped he would be. His talent was never in question. A long and supremely athletic player, he had all the upside in the world to become a top 3-4 outside linebacker. Sadly, as is often the case in the NFL athleticism is only half the answer. Sacking quarterbacks is an art. One that not everybody can master.
Nobody can say the Bears didn’t try to make it work. They paired him with Akiem Hicks his first year in 2016. Two years later they added Khalil Mack to basically guarantee he gets nothing but single blocks. None of that worked. Floyd’s sack numbers dwindled each year from 7.5 as a rookie to 4.5 in 2017, four in 2018, and finally three in 2019. That last number proved the final straw. Chicago cut him in March, paving the way for them to sign Robert Quinn to take his place.
Floyd wasn’t on the market long though.
The Los Angeles Rams signed him to a deal to help replace the departed Dante Fowler and Clay Matthews. A move that Pro Football Focus was decidedly unimpressed by.
“Worst move: Signing Leonard Floyd for one-year, $10 million fully guaranteed
Leonard Floyd never blossomed into the pass-rusher we all thought he’d turn out to be as a top-10 prospect just a few seasons ago. Since he entered the league in 2016, Floyd ranks 67th of 76 qualifying edge defenders in PFF pass-rush grade and owns the fifth-highest percentage of pressures that were either a cleanup or unblocked. As said, the offensive line needs a lot of work, and that money could have gone there as opposed to risking it in Floyd, hoping he just needs a change of scenery.”
Leonard Floyd still faces an uncertain future
The crazy part of all this is there is still speculation out there that the Rams might end up backing out of the deal with Floyd. He hasn’t officially signed yet and there is a possibility it might not happen. This due to serious salary cap issues the Rams are saddled with due to dead money hits from Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks. Both of whom are no longer on the team. Spotrac still has L.A. at over $6 million in the red.
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This could mean their designs on bringing Floyd in will have to be scrapped. It’s not set in stone but that would be an ultimate kick in the gut for a guy who watched his hopes of NFL success fizzle out in Chicago. Another reminder of just how brutal this business can be.
