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Although the Rams didn’t use the franchise tag or the resurrected transition tag on offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, the Rams continue to make keeping him a top priority.

Per a league source, talks between the team and Saffold are expected to intensify as the week unfolds. To date, productive discussions have occurred.

The Rams retain the exclusive ability to negotiate with Saffold until Saturday. At that point, a three-day legal tampering window opens.

That said, plenty of impermissible tampering is and has been happening. And it will continue to happen.

A second-round pick in 2010, Saffold started all 16 games as a rookie. Since then, he has missed 17 of 48 games due to injury. Saffold nevertheless has proven to be a versatile component of the offensive line when healthy, and with left tackle Jake Long still recovering from a torn ACL, the Rams hope to keep Saffold around.