The St. Louis Rams signed former Tennessee Titans defensive end William Hayes to a one-year contract on Friday, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Haynes joins a list of recent Rams free agent moves designed to shore up the team's depth chart.
Hayes shores up a defensive end rotation depleted by the release of veteran James Hall. St. Louis also lost depth guy C.J. Ah You when they opted not to tender the restricted free agent an offer. Ah You occupied the fourth defensive end spot on the depth chart under head coach Steve Spagnuolo.
Hayes, 27, is primarily a run stopper, which should help the team do a better job containing the outside of the field. Of course, adding some outside linebackers would also be an important step in that process.
Here is what Turf Show Times, SB Nation's Rams site, had to say about Hayes when the Rams' interest was first reported:
Hayes' grades were also better when Fisher was the head coach, part of which may be due to the system changes in Fisher's absence. According to Pro Football Focus, Hayes graded out with 9.5 mark in 2010, before finishing with a negative grade last season. He had positive marks against the pass and the run. Hayes had two sacks, five hits and 23 quarterback pressures in 2010. He was more of a neutral grade in 2009, when he started 11 games, but he did record five sacks, five hits and 26 pressures, per PFF.
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