It’s no secret that St. Louis Rams tackle Rodger Saffold isn’t happy about his potential move to right tackle after the team signed Jake Long in free agency.
The Rams’ offseason workouts are scheduled to begin on Monday and Saffold could elect to skip “voluntary” workouts as a way of vocalizing his displeasure to the organization. However, Safford apparently has no plans of holding out. According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Saffold fully intends on participating in the team’s offseason conditioning program, mini-camps, OTAs and training camp despite his displeasure with the impending position shift.
Saffold is about to enter the final year of his rookie contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Any lengthy holdout wouldn’t benefit Saffold as he needs to earn an accrued season in order to reach free agency. The one thing that could change the situation in Saffold’s favor is if the Rams elected to select a tackle during the NFL draft. Taking a tackle in the draft could allow the Rams to explore a trade for Saffold instead of keeping an unhappy player on the roster.
But all the leverage is with the Rams and if they don’t move him, Saffold will be all but forced to play out the final year of his contract with the team.