The St. Louis Rams released defensive lineman Kendall Langford on Thursday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Langford was scheduled to make $6 million in the final year of a four-year, $22 million contract, and the Rams need to create room under the salary cap before the league year begins March 10 — they were projected to have just $1.3 million in space before releasing the 29-year-old.

Langford became expendable because rookie Aaron Donald became a star after displacing him from the starting defense after four games last season.

Langford, a third-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2008, signed with the Rams in 2012. He started every game in 2012 and 2013, tallying 49 tackles and five sacks in 2013.