Michael Brockers has played 123 career games with the Rams, only missing five games in his eight-year career since being a first-round pick out of LSU in 2012. As the longest-tenured position player on the team, he’s been as reliable as anyone over the course of his career, even if he hasn’t put up huge numbers.

Since the Rams switched to a 3-4 scheme in 2017, he’s had at least 54 tackles in each of the last three seasons, totaling 8.5 sacks and 21 QB hits in that span. He originally started as the nose tackle when Wade Phillips took over, but for the better of the team, he moved to defensive end without issue.

Now a free agent once again, the Rams have a decision to make: keep Brockers around for a few more years or move on and let him walk? That’s not an easy call to make, of course, for several reasons.

Analysis

: 63 tackles (3 for a loss), 3.0 sacks, 9 QB hits: 74.6 overall

Brockers has been steady for the Rams since they switched to the 3-4 front – and really, throughout his entire career. Never a Pro Bowler or star in the NFL, Brockers simply does his job as a run stopper and provides a little bit as a pass rusher at times.

2019 was one of his best seasons, posting a career-high 63 tackles with nine QB hits – second-most he’s ever had, only trailing his 2013 campaign (10). His three sacks are nothing to write home about, but his impact comes more as a run defender than pass rusher.

Aaron Donald called Brockers “one of the best run stoppers in the National Football League,” saying he’s “been that way since I’ve been in the league.”

“He’s one of the main reasons we’re able to do what we can in the run game and do a lot of things just with moving him and putting him in positions to help us,” Donald added.

Fans and casual observers may not recognize the impact Brockers has on a weekly basis, but the Rams clearly know the value he brings to the defense against the run.

Positional need: Medium

The 3-4 defensive end position isn’t necessarily one of the most important on the defense. It can be filled with relatively inexpensive players, but the best ones in the NFL have a huge impact on their teams – guys like Cam Heyward, J.J. Watt and Akiem Hicks.

Brockers isn’t on that level, but he certainly is the best option for the Rams. They don’t have a viable replacement on the roster right now, with Morgan Fox being the only other candidate to replace Brockers – and even he’s a free agent, albeit a restricted one.

The Rams shouldn’t have immense trouble finding someone to take Brockers’ place, but replacing his leadership and ability as a run stopper could be a challenge. There will be options available who offer more as pass rushers, particularly in the draft, but Brockers’ impact comes against the run, which is a weakness of the Rams.

Prediction: Signs two-year, $13 million deal with Rams

In the end, the Rams will see the value Brockers brings and prefer to keep him in the mix rather than spending a draft pick on a defensive end when their assets are so limited as it is. Brockers has expressed a strong desire to come back and said in an interview last year that he believes he will stay with the Rams.

While he’s been in the NFL for eight years, Brockers is still on the right side of 30, so he has additional productive seasons still ahead of him. The Rams should try to lock him up with a short-term deal, hoping he’ll take a slight hometown discount to remain with the team that drafted him.

But if they can’t get him for around $7 million per year after his last contract paid him more than $11 million annually, they should consider looking elsewhere for his replacement.