Nick Fairley has signed for the St Louis Rams on a one-year , prove yourself deal . When fit and focused , Fairley is one of the NFL 's better defensive linemen , but his career has been plagued with concerns about injuries , attitude and his weight . Worth $ 5million , but with the incentive to make up to $ 7.5m according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport , the defensive tackle joins arguably the most fearsome front four in football . The 27-year-old will likely slot in alongside either Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald or Michael Brockers to aid the Rams ' frightening pass rush . Rams coach Jeff Fisher poses with Nick Fairley during his unveiling in St Louis . With defensive ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn , quarterbacks facing the Rams next season - who include Matthew Stafford - will seldom get a moment 's peace . Fairley , the 13th overall pick of the 2011 draft , spent the first four years of his career in Detroit , playing 46 games.which yielded 98 tackles , 13.5 sacks , four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries . But the Lions declined to take up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract and did not exactly bend over backwards to retain his services . A history of inconsistency , injuries and off-field concerns led the Lions to allow him enter free agency . Coach Jeff Fisher made the announcement at a press conference to unveil new quarterback Nick Foles . Fairley injured his knee in the 22-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley last year , which ended his season . Following the departure of fellow defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh , the Lions have brought in Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker .
Fairley heads to the NFC West and should play a key part in Jeff Fisher and Gregg Williams ' rotating defensive line . The Detroit Lions did not take up his 13th year deal , and Fairley penned a one-year contract worth $ 5m with incentives to make $ 2.5m more . The 27-year-old joins one of the most feared front fours in the NFL . When fit and focused he is a disruptive force in the middle . But fears about injuries , attitude and off-field concerns remain .