MILWAUKEE — Free agent center Scott Wells is on his way out of Green Bay after agreeing to a contract with the St. Louis Rams.
Agent Brian Parker confirmed earlier reports that the longtime Packers starter agreed to terms with the Rams after he visited the team on Friday, and the Rams confirmed the deal Saturday night. Parker did not disclose terms of the deal.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the deal was for four years and $24 million with $13 million guaranteed. Incentives could drive the worth of the deal up to $25.5 million.
The Rams also agreed to terms Saturday with defensive lineman Kendall Langford, a four-year starter at end in the Dolphins’ 3-4 alignment who’ll play tackle with St. Louis. The Rams released tackles Fred Robbins and Justin Bannan prior to free agency.
Wells will give the Rams a veteran leader on their offensive line, continuing their offseason makeover under new coach Jeff Fisher. Wells’ departure leaves the Packers searching for a replacement, which would likely come through free agency or the draft with no obvious candidate to replace Wells currently on the team’s roster.
“Scott has played at a high level for a long time and we feel fortunate that we were able to add him to our team,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “He’s been a part of a program that has won a lot of football games. He’s a leader, and we’re excited about what he brings both on and off the field.”
Wells has been the Packers’ most consistent offensive lineman the past two seasons, and has played a critical role in dictating protections for Aaron Rodgers in one of the league’s most productive offenses. Rodgers and Packers coach Mike McCarthy have routinely praised Wells’ play in recent years.
He turned 31 in January.
Wells also visited the Tennessee Titans and drew interest from several other teams.
It’s the continuation of a busy offseason for the Rams, who hired Fisher, made a mega-deal to trade the No. 2 overall pick in the draft to the Washington Redskins and signed cornerback Cortland Finnegan to a five-year, $50 million deal.
Wells, a seventh-round draft pick by the Packers out of Tennessee in 2004, has started 100 regular-season games.
The 6-6, 296-pound Langford, 26, made 54 starts in four seasons at Miami and has 7.5 career sacks and four forced fumbles. He was a third-round pick of the Dolphins in 2008.
“Kendall is a big, physical player who will be a great addition to our defensive line,” Fisher said. “He’s tough and he always plays hard. We’re excited about what he’ll bring to the rotation up front.”
With Wells leaving, the only two centers on the Packers’ roster are Evan Dietrich-Smith, an interior lineman who is best known for being on the receiving end of Ndamukong Suh’s infamous stomp on Thanksgiving, and inexperienced backup Sampson Genus.
Free agent options who may draw interest from the Packers include Indianapolis Colts veteran Jeff Saturday; New England Patriots center Dan Koppen, who is returning from an injury; and Oakland Raiders free agent Samson Satele.
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