Rams fail to make impact in first week of Free Agency

Rams GM Les Snead promised to be active and aggressive during free agency. The Rams got off to a fast start by signing coveted cornerback Cortland Finnegan (previously of the Titans). But that's where the aggressiveness ended. The Rams have fared poorly thus far in free agency apart from the Finnegan signing.
They signed former Packers center Scott Wells to fill in for the departed Jason Brown. Wells is a formidable player; not too good but not too terrible. He is a good addition. The Rams also made a slightly odd signing in former Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford. Langford is a good defensive end, but as of now the Rams require no defensive ends in their scheme (Chris Long and Robert Quinn will presumably be the starters). Defensive tackle is a more immediate need, and Langford may be asked to play such a position. After releasing Fred Robbins (along with a slew of other players) last week, the Rams have failed to address this need thus far.

On the other end of the spectrum, the players the Rams failed to sign is just as damning. The Rams failed to pull in defensive end/tackle Jason Jones (previously of the Titans), who instead signed with the rival Seahawks. The Rams failed to grab a top tier o-lineman like former Texan Eric Winston, who signed with the crosstown rival Kansas City Chiefs. The Rams failed to sign a reliable backup quarterback in Shaun Hill, who returned to the Lions. The Rams failed to grab a receiver like Pierre Garcon (signed with Redskins) or Mario Manningham (signed with 49ers), and failed to retain their top receiver from last year in Brandon Lloyd (signed with Patriots). The Rams almost lost Danny Amendola to New England as well, but Amendola figures to stay in St. Louis after the Pats signed both Lloyd and ex-Colt Anthony Gonzalez. If all these failed signings are no consolation, the hated 49ers are also in the running for top free agent quarterback Peyton Manning. With Manning, the 49ers will easily rule the NFC West for the next half-decade. The Rams must focus on being able to defeat other teams out of their division if they wish to at least get a wild-card berth.

The Rams still have a chance to sign a few notable players that are still in the free agency pool. If the Rams do not plan to draft Justin Blackmon, they must focus their efforts on grabbing a wide receiver. Mike Wallace would make a lot of sense if that's the case, considering the first round picks the Rams have stockpiled from the Redskins trade, which is required to grab the restricted free agent Wallace. Otherwise, the Rams have a lot to do in the draft. They have only addressed two areas of need thus far, and need to improve their team rapidly to compete with the steadily improving NFC West foes.
Rams Free Agency Grade thus far: C+