Rodger Saffold unlikely to return with Rams in 2019

The Los Angeles Rams are unlikely to re-sign Rodger Saffold due to a tight salary cap. Now, Saffold will hit the market looking for another payday.

Rodger Saffold has played the first nine seasons of his career with the Rams. His 10th is likely to be elsewhere.

FanSided has learned that Los Angeles is going to let Saffold hit the open market. Saffold, 30, has bee a stalwart for the Rams since being drafted in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of  Indiana, but the team has tough decisions to make.

With Dante Fowler Jr., C.J. Anderson, Ndamukong Suh and LaMarcus Joyner about to enter free agency, general manager Les Snead has choices to make. Additionally, Jared Goff is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal, and the Rams only have a projected $24.37 million to go around in 2019.

Saffold is going to have a market for his services. The rare player getting a significant sum on his third deal, Saffold is the best available guard in a year that is also light in the draft at that position. With good offensive linemen at more of a premium than ever, it’s likely Saffold will be paid more than $10 million per year. Currently, there are nine guards being paid an average of that rate or higher.

Next: Best NFL player from each state

Last offseason, Andrew Norwell was the best available guard and received a five-year, $66.5 million pact with $30 million guaranteed. While Norwell was four years younger than Saffold when hitting the market, the rate could be similar with a shorter term.