Rams reserve running back Malcolm Brown agreed to the terms of an offer sheet with the Lions, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The Rams have until Monday to match it and retain Brown.
The Lions’ offer sheet is worth $3.25MM over two years, with $1MM guaranteed and a $100K signing bonus, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets.
A 2015 UDFA, Brown has been with the Rams his entire career. However, the restricted free agent visited the Lions last week. Since Los Angeles placed an original-round tender on the back, Detroit will not need to surrender any draft compensation in order to pry Brown away.
Brown suffered a clavicle injury that prevented him from playing in the team’s three playoff games. The Rams then signed C.J. Anderson, and the well-traveled-in-2018 back thrived behind Todd Gurley. Anderson remains a free agent, but given his quick assimilation in Sean McVay‘s offense, he would be a candidate to return and back up Gurley — especially given the injury-related uncertainty surrounding the starter. The Rams also have 2018 sixth-round pick John Kelly on their roster, so this process may end up with Brown in Detroit.
The Lions re-signed Zach Zenner and still have Theo Riddick, but Brown may profile as a better run-downs backup for Kerryon Johnson.
Brown, 25, averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season. He received 63 and 43 carries, respectively, the past two seasons, playing behind a first-team All-Pro. With Johnson coming off a rookie season limited to 10 games, it would stand to reason Brown would receive more work in Detroit.