Free agency arrives Wednesday, March 12 at 1 p.m. pacific time, and is preceded by the negotiating window that opens at 9 a.m. pacific time on Monday, March 10. This means the new league year – and one of the busiest weeks of the NFL calendar – will be getting underway soon.
As a refresher, here is what the Rams' current list of pending free agents looks like:
**Unrestricted free agents:**
* RB Ronnie Rivers
* ILB Jake Hummel
Here are three things for Rams fans to watch for leading into it:
### **1) Who could be next among internal talent to re-sign?**
After agree to terms with Matthew Stafford on a contract adjustment, the Rams have spent the days since taking care of their own who were pending free agents. They re-signed Alaric Jackson to a three-year deal on Thursday and also reportedly agreed to terms with wide receiver Tutu Atwell on a one-year deal that same day.
Asked specifically about cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson – both pending unrestricted free agents – general manager Les Snead said they will "definitely" keep an open mind to re-signing Witherspoon, while Robinson's situation is one they're "still working through," noting "he does have some things that he has to work through legally in the offseason that could prevent some play time in the future."
### 2) Cooper Kupp watch
Snead last week didn't rule out the possibility of wide receiver Cooper Kupp returning, but said it is "the least likely" scenario and that they're looking for a trade partner for him.
"If there is a deadline in this situation, that roster date does weigh a good bit in the algorithm of the formula that we're working through," Snead said when asked whether he expects a resolution by the date Kupp has a roster bonus due next week.
### 3) What will Jimmy Garoppolo do?
Garoppolo being the team's number one choice as the backup to Stafford "has been the case since we left," according to Snead, but he also acknowledged needing to sit down with Garoppolo to figure out what he wants to do next, "whether he wants to come back in a more traditional backup and not necessarily compete for the starting job, or is there maybe an opportunity out there somewhere in the league where he could compete or go in as a bridge guy."