Defensive end William Hayes will re-sign with the Los Angeles Rams. The deal is worth a maximum of $21 million over three years. Hayes spent the last four seasons with the Rams after spending four seasons with the Tennessee Titans.
For #Rams DE William Hayes, it's 3 years with a max value of $21M, source said
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2016
William Hayes Re-Signs With Los Angeles Rams
William Hayes played in all 16 games last season, moving from a backup to a starter after Chris Long’s injury. During these games, he recorded 5.5 sacks and 36 tackles. He was a contributing member on one of the best defensive lines in the league.
Hayes has proven himself to be one of the best backup defensive ends in the NFL. He is a player that can be counted on to start if needed. He probably got overpaid a little, but free agent pass rushers tend to cash in. He turns 31 in May.
Hayes has been a valuable role player on a very good defense for the past four seasons. He signed a one-year deal with St. Louis as a free agent in 2012 partly because of his admiration for head coach Jeff Fisher. After racking up seven sacks as a backup during his first season with the Rams, he re-signed with the team on a three-year, $10.5 million contract.
During his four seasons with the Titans, he compiled eight sacks and 76 tackles. He started for the majority of the 2009 season, but he was a reserve player for the other three years. During his four seasons with the Rams, his production increased significantly, as he posted 21.5 sacks and 119 tackles.
The North Carolina native played college football for Winston-Salem State University. During his final year as a Ram (a Winston-Salem State Ram, that is), Hayes recorded a team-high 8.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and 78 total tackles. He participated in the Wake Forest pro day, elevating his draft stock after an impressive 4.59 40-yard dash. Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans selected him in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
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