Mark Barron‘s career resurgence will continue with the organization that triggered it, albeit in a new city. The Rams have reached an agreement to keep Barron, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Heading to Los Angeles on a contract worth approximately $9MM per year, ESPN.com’s Mark Domenik (Twitter link) reports, Barron will stay the course that helped him bounce back. Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter) shines more light on the lucrative deal for Barron; it’s reportedly a five-year, $45MM accord.
The Rams are planning to keep Barron at weakside linebacker, Nick Waggoner of ESPN.com tweets. Alec Ogletree will slide to middle linebacker as a result of this mammoth contract.
Multiple teams wanted to sign the former first-round pick to play safety, but the Rams prefer him at linebacker after relocating the 26-year-old talent there last October.
Barron ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 20 overall linebacker last season, and the former No. 7 overall selection of the Buccaneers’ resided as one of the position’s top UFAs.
Barron’s deal, as of now, resides third among outside linebackers in 4-3 defenses, behind just Lavonte David and Bruce Irvin. The market for this position has intensified considerably over the past year, with K.J. Wright‘s $6.75MM-per-season pact representing the spot’s high-water mark late last summer.
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