The Rams only had one pick in the first round of the 2012 draft, but they have a pair of decisions to make about 2016 options on first rounders.
They selected defensive tackle Michael Brockers and traded for safety Mark Barron last year after the Buccaneers decided to part ways with the seventh overall pick. Reports on Monday indicate that they will exercise their option on Brockers’s deal, but Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that they won’t do the same with Barron.
Neither move is much of a surprise. As illustrated by Tampa’s willingness to deal Barron for fourth- and sixth-round picks in this year’s draft, the safety hasn’t lived up to the expectations that came with his draft position. Since that draft position called for him to be paid the equivalent of the top 10 best-paid safeties in the league in 2016, the Rams will see what develops this season before deciding whether to pursue another deal with Barron.
Barron played all 16 games last year, starting seven for the Bucs before the trade and then mostly playing off the bench in St. Louis for the rest of the year. He has 248 tackles and three interceptions over his three seasons.