Three defensive starters for the Rams will hit free agency next month when the new league year begins on March 18. Two of those players are candidates for the franchise tag, which would allow Los Angeles to prevent one of them from hitting the market.

Those players are, of course, Dante Fowler Jr. and Cory Littleton. It’s the second year in a row that both players will be free agents after the Rams signed Fowler to a one-year extension last offseason and Littleton was retained on a restricted free agent tender.

It’s almost impossible to see the Rams keeping both this offseason, given the seasons they each had in 2019 and the price tags that will come with them. However, the franchise tag is an option, and the Rams have never been reluctant to use it; they used the tag three years in a row from 2016-2018.

ESPN’s beat reporters predicted whether their teams will use the franchise tag this offseason, and Lindsey Thiry thinks the Rams will apply it to Fowler.

Fowler and Littleton each played critical roles in the Rams’ defense last season and both will be unrestricted free agents. The Rams have limited space under the salary cap, so using the franchise tag (which is expected to be more than $15.4 million) might not be within their means. But Fowler, who produced a career-best 11.5 sacks last season, and Littleton, the Rams’ leading tackler the past two seasons, are tag candidates if the team decides to use it.

Because the Rams run a 3-4 defense, the franchise tag for Fowler will actually be cheaper than it probably should be. His designation as a linebacker means the tag for him would cost an estimated $16.27 million instead of $19.3 million if he were a defensive end.

Considering the contract Fowler is expected to seek – probably somewhere around $16-17 million per year – the franchise tag actually wouldn’t be a terrible option. And by tagging him, it would also open the door for another move by the Rams: a trade.

They could tag Fowler and trade him the way Jadeveon Clowney, Dee Ford and Frank Clark all were last year. Dealing Fowler could land the Rams a Day 2 pick in the upcoming draft, which they could use considering they don’t have a first-rounder.

The Rams have from February 27-March 12 to apply the tag to one of their free agents, two days later than originally planned after the NFL pushed back the window due to CBA negotiations.

Gallery Ranking Rams' pending free agents by importance View 13 photos

newsletter Get 10 hot stories each day Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation. Thanks for signing up.

Please check your email for a confirmation.