Los Angeles Rams hire former Philadelphia Eagles coordinator Sean Desai

The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly hiring former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai this week, according to NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler. Desai is joining Sean McVay’s staff in a “senior defensive role,” per the report.

Desai was hired by the Eagles last February to replace Jonathan Gannon, who became the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. However, Nick Sirianni demoted Desai in favor of Matt Patricia following blowout losses to the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys in early December.

The switch to Patricia had little effect. Their defense gave up 30 points per game in their last four games, including 32 points in their Wild Card loss against Tampa Bay. The Philadelphia defense allowed the third-most points per game during the regular season (25.2). The unit also ranked 30th in both red zone and third-down defense. The Eagles allowed 35 passing touchdowns, ranking them second most in the league in that category.

The stop in Philadelphia was Desai’s second job as a defensive coordinator in the NFL. He was also coordinator for the Chicago Bears defense in 2021. He was with the Bears from 2013-2021, starting as a quality control coach, and then moving up to safety coach. In 2022, Desai served as associate head coach and defensive assistant to Pete Carroll in Seattle.

Rams ink Demarcus Robinson to new one-year deal

Former Florida Gators star Demarcus Robinson has agreed to a new one-year deal that will keep him with the L.A. Rams next season. According to Mike Florio, the deal will pay Robinson $4 million and includes $1 million in incentives. Plus, the contract stipulates a $1.5 million signing bonus, which pays out at the end of April. It’s a significant increase for the seventh-year veteran after he signed a one-year deal for $1.165 million last offseason.

Prior to his move to the Rams, Robinson caught 48 passes for 458 yards and two touchdowns in 2022 for the Ravens. This season, he played 16 games for the Rams, finishing fifth on the team in receiving yards. He ended the season with 26 catches, 371 yards and four touchdowns, which tied his career high. Robinson also contributed three catches for 44 yards in the Rams’ playoff loss to the Lions.

Robinson was originally drafted in 2016 by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played there for six seasons before signing with the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the 2022 season. Robinson won a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs to cap the 2019 season.

He played in 97 games for the Chiefs, starting 42. He caught 145 passes for 1679 yards and 14 scores. His single season in Baltimore was less prolific, as Robinson played in the more run-centric offense — and then quarterback Lamar Jackson got hurt.