March 23, 2026, 11:57 a.m. PT

The Los Angeles Rams are likely turning the bulk of their attention to the NFL draft after making a couple of big moves in free agency. The talent on the free-agent market is thinning and they often prefer to build their roster in the draft rather than overpaying for free agents.

Still, there are players to be had who remain available, even two weeks after free agency began. If the Rams are looking to address some of their needs before the draft, these seven players could do the trick at reasonable costs.

LB Germaine Pratt

After already signing Nate Landman to a three-year extension last season, the Rams are unlikely to invest much more heavily into the linebacker position. However, Pratt will be a cheap enough option for Los Angeles, assuming it wants to provide some competition for Omar Speights next to Landman.

Pratt finished last season as the 41st-ranked linebacker based on PFF’s grading, allowing a career-low 66.2% completion rate in coverage with a career-best five pass breakups. The former Bengals third-round pick could give the Rams a better option at the No. 2 linebacker spot.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.QB Jimmy Garoppolo

It initially seemed like Garoppolo would have plenty of suitors, with Sean McVay expecting the Cardinals to even be in the mix after cutting Kyler Murray. But here we are two weeks later and Garoppolo is still on the market.

It’s hard to find a better option at backup quarterback than Jimmy G, especially given his knowledge of the Rams’ system and the coaching staff’s appreciation for him. Returning on another incentive-laden one-year deal would make sense for both parties.

DL Calais Campbell

Jared Verse’s comments about the Rams’ young defense panicking after struggling to stop the Seahawks in the NFC title game raised some red flags, signifying a potential need for some veteran leadership in the locker room. Campbell could check that box as a 39-year-old leader on defense who has still managed to produce this late in his career.

Last season, he had 33 total pressures and a 72.2 overall grade at Pro Football Focus, showing he can still get after the quarterback and impact the game on the interior. Having him as a rotational piece behind Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and even Poona Ford would solidify the Rams’ defensive line.

LB Bobby Okereke

Okereke was a surprise release by the Giants, cutting the former team captain and starting inside linebacker. He struggled last season but prior to 2025, he was a highly productive player for the Giants when healthy.

He could help the Rams in coverage as their No. 2 linebacker next to Nate Landman after earning a coverage grade of 65.2 or better in each of the last four seasons. He won’t break the bank either.

OT Yosh Nijman

Although Warren McClendon Jr. looks like a good bet to start at right tackle, the Rams still need a swing tackle behind him and Alaric Jackson. Nijman has experience playing both sides of the line and though he shouldn’t be counted on to be a starter, he could hold up in spot duty if Jackson or McClendon were to go down.

WR DeAndre Hopkins

There are better receivers available, like Jauan Jennings, Deebo Samuel and Stefon Diggs, but they’ll all be much more expensive than Hopkins. The veteran is coming off a disappointing year with the Ravens but in an offense like the Rams’, which could use a downfield threat like Hopkins, he’d have a better chance to produce – and win a ring.

He had an average depth of target of 14.5 yards, which was the third-highest of his career. His 15.0 yards per catch was his highest since 2014, so he made the most of his limited opportunities in Baltimore. As a situational player in Los Angeles, where he’d be called upon for deep shots down the sideline or in the red zone, he could have a meaningful impact for a low cost.

OLB Derek Barnett

Barnett will be on the wrong side of 30 when the season begins but even as a rotational pass rusher for the Texans the last two years, he helped the defense – and specifically, the pass rush. He had five sacks in 2024 and five in 2025, totaling 47 tackles and 17 quarterback hits.

He turned his 14 pressures into five sacks, which is an incredibly high conversion rate, even for a backup. The Rams could deploy him as a backup behind Jared Verse and Byron Young, while also adding a veteran presence to the locker room.