With a cap hit of $9.67 million and underwhelming play at linebacker, it’s difficult to see Mark Barron sticking around with the Los Angeles Rams at his current financial standing. He missed the early part of the season with a lingering Achilles injury and didn’t play at a high level until the playoffs began.

While it’s unfair to pin the Rams’ struggles against the run on one player, Barron ranked 90th in that department among all linebackers, according to Pro Football Focus. Needless to say, that’s not very good, and what’s worse is he was the better of the Rams’ two starters with Cory Littleton being the other.

If Barron is released, which seems likely at this point in time, who could replace him? One guy who the Rams picked on this season might be an option. Anthony Barr is set to be a free agent in March and he fills a pressing need for L.A. as a run-stopping linebacker.

He ranked 18th among all linebackers against the run last season and would immediately step in as an upgrade over Barron in that department. Gil Brandt of NFL.com pegged the Rams as a landing spot for Barr.

He’s good against the run and would make sense in his hometown of Los Angeles, given the Rams’ difficulties stopping the run last season (they ranked 23rd in run defense). Yes, Los Angeles tightened things up in the playoffs. But consider that Barr was Pro Football Focus’ 18th-highest-graded linebacker against the run last season, while the Rams’ highest-graded linebacker was Mark Barron, who checked in at No. 90.

What makes Barr so intriguing is his skill set. He’s hardly a reliable coverage linebacker, but against the run and as a pass rusher, he can be a weapon for L.A. In five years, he has 13.5 sacks and 338 tackles, including 30 tackles for loss. He’s made the Pro Bowl in four straight years – though his selection this past season was questionable – and could play several positions in the Rams’ 3-4 defense.

He’d be an inside linebacker in base packages, but in obvious passing situations, Wade Phillips could move him to the edge and let him rush the quarterback. That wouldn’t necessarily happen every time, but his versatility makes him a unique talent and Phillips would certainly figure out the best way to use him.

Picture a nickel package with Barr and possibly Dante Fowler Jr. on the edge, Cory Littleton manning the middle and three defensive linemen on the field. That’d be quite the blitz package in passing situations.

The Rams have a solid coverage linebacker in Littleton, too. He was 11th among all players at his position in coverage last season despite being exposed by running backs a few times. What Los Angeles needs more is a run-stuffing linebacker who can roam sideline to sideline and wrap up ball carriers.

The biggest question with Barr – along with his coverage ability – is the price tag. He made $12.3 million on the fifth-year option in 2018, so he might want to use that as the starting point for a long-term contract. However, signing anything above $12.36 million per year would put him ahead of Luke Kuechly, Bobby Wagner, Telvin Smith and the top linebackers in football. Jamie Collins is currently the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL at $12.5 million, but he could be a cap casualty.

The more reasonable figure for Barr is $10 million per year. That’s about what Lavonte David, Eric Kendricks and Benardrick McKinney make annually. Barr is a step below all of those players, but with the salary cap rising and players making more money, don’t be surprised to see him earn more.

For $10 million, Barr might not be worth it. If the Rams could sign him for around $8-9 million, per year, it’d be more reasonable, especially with the savings they’d gain by releasing Barron (about $6.3 million).

Barr would fill a need at inside linebacker and provide versatility as a pass rusher, which some believe is his best position. It’ll mostly come down to price, but the Rams should at least explore signing the Vikings linebacker – especially with his connection to Southern California after going to high school in L.A. and playing college ball at UCLA.