A Gaggle of WRs

[Checkmate]

I could envision a trade up package with P. Cooper and our 3rd to move into the mid 2nd round (especially if an OLB/edge with a day 1 grade falls). Otherwise, I assume Thomas won't make the 53.

Why would we trade our probowl kick returner?

 

[HellRam]

I could envision a trade up package with P. Cooper and our 3rd to move into the mid 2nd round (especially if an OLB/edge with a day 1 grade falls). Otherwise, I assume Thomas won't make the 53.

Yeah I think Thomas is the odd man out. I see it like this...

Cooks, Woods, Kupp, Reynolds, Cooper. They could put Austin as the 3rd RB/WR. So there's a chance Thomas make the cut. However I can see them using the roster spot on extra depth on the oline or possibly anouther TE.

 

[Turducken]

Why would we trade our probowl kick returner?

Because he has the highest trade value (2yrs left on rookie contract) of anyone on the team that isn't integral to success. Tavon is a decent returner and he has little trade value. In the big scheme of things drafting a starting edge rusher might rank higher than having the best kick returner. Not arguing for it. It just seems like one of the only ways we could move up in the draft.

 

[dieterbrock]

Because he has the highest trade value (2yrs left on rookie contract) of anyone on the team that isn't integral to success. Tavon is a decent returner and he has little trade value. In the big scheme of things drafting a starting edge rusher might rank higher than having the best kick returner. Not arguing for it. It just seems like one of the only ways we could move up in the draft.

He’s a pro bowl punt returner. How is that not integral to the Rams success???

 

[RamBall]

What I like about our WR group is the depth of options for the QB.

I have always liked Cooks, but that said he's not as good obviously as your elite wideouts at making contested catches and dealing with elite physical press corners. But that aside he's a really nice fit for this offense, because he runs precise routes in spite of his size and isn't going to be the only option out there. Which means double the dude at your own risk.

This offense might still struggle a bit come the playoffs again. But I think they are actually better off with this group in terms of "fits" than they were with last year's group. Cooks will get a full camp too, which cannot be overemphasized irt the how and why Watkins struggled. IMO whether they take the next step in the playoffs is a combination of Goff's evolution, OL health, and whether Everett can emerge as another matchup problem in the passing game.

Cooks should get plenty of practice against physical press corners in TC. And if Cooks can get open against the Rams D 1s regularly that should give Goff lots of confidence to let it rip in games.

 

[Karate61]

Rams carried 7 last year:

Watkins, Woods, Kupp, Cooper, Austin, Thomas and Reynolds.

This would be the 7 for 2018:

Cooks, Woods, Kupp, Cooper, Austin, Thomas and Reynolds.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

Thomas is a special teams demon. He's not going anywhere.

.

 

[A.J. Hicks]

Rams carried 7 last year:

Watkins, Woods, Kupp, Cooper, Austin, Thomas and Reynolds.

This would be the 7 for 2018:

Cooks, Woods, Kupp, Cooper, Austin, Thomas and Reynolds.

I don't doubt that competition will be brought in however I think this is a good look at the WR group for the upcoming season. Cooper, Austin, and Thomas can be seen as having larger roles than just receiver.

 

[fanotodd]

Besides the goaline stretch vs the Niners which ones of Watkins other 7 TD’s required strength or height?

Most were quick slants or free running TD’s, when you analyze them.

Point is- Watkins TD’s could easily be replaced by any of our WR’s.

I'm hoping it's that easy, but there are situations where I think Watkins will be missed. There's a reason he led the team in TDs. He has hands like a vise and it was obvious to me on those quick slants into the end zone.
Sure, some might not have been that tough for a good receiver, but go back and look at them all. Some he just made look easy.

The Rams weren't gonna pay him $16mil. NOBODY should have after last year, but averaging a TD for every 4 or 5 catches isn't anything to sneeze at, either.
...I think the Rams are STILL gonna score a bunch of points!

I'm counting on Reynolds and Everett to make a big leap next year. If they do, this offense will again be unstoppable.

 

[fanotodd]

Because he has the highest trade value (2yrs left on rookie contract) of anyone on the team that isn't integral to success. Tavon is a decent returner and he has little trade value. In the big scheme of things drafting a starting edge rusher might rank higher than having the best kick returner. Not arguing for it. It just seems like one of the only ways we could move up in the draft.

I see where you're going with this and I have been thinking along those lines, "who can the Rams package in a deal to move up?"

With all due respect, I just think you have the wrong guy.

After all of the moves the Rams have made, it looks like the draft road can be paved with OL. Given that Saffold, Brown, and Havs are all FAs next year along with Cooks, Joyner, Suh, and a few other big contracts looming...

I could see either Brown or Havs being traded to move up. Naturally, their replacement would have to be found in this draft for that to be possible.

 

[Akrasian]

I see where you're going with this and I have been thinking along those lines, "who can the Rams package in a deal to move up?"

With all due respect, I just think you have the wrong guy.

After all of the moves the Rams have made, it looks like the draft road can be paved with OL. Given that Saffold, Brown, and Havs are all FAs next year along with Cooks, Joyner, Suh, and a few other big contracts looming...

I could see either Brown or Havs being traded to move up. Naturally, their replacement would have to be found in this draft for that to be possible.

Create a huge hole in order to move up in the draft and get somebody who might fill that hole? I don't see that as a good move for a team that has gambled to assemble a championship caliber team.

While I don't like the idea of trading Cooper, the OP presumably believes that in Austin the Rams already have a good replacement for him, so getting a higher draft pick to fill another hole makes sense. Unfortunately, Austin fumbles far too often - especially as a returner - to be as good an option as he superficially seems. There are reasons why Cooper replaced him, after all.

 

[dieterbrock]

Rams carried 7 last year:

Watkins, Woods, Kupp, Cooper, Austin, Thomas and Reynolds.

This would be the 7 for 2018:

Cooks, Woods, Kupp, Cooper, Austin, Thomas and Reynolds.

I’d be shocked if they don’t draft a WR with one of the 4 or 6’s

 

[Flint]

Besides the goaline stretch vs the Niners which ones of Watkins other 7 TD’s required strength or height?

Most were quick slants or free running TD’s, when you analyze them.

Point is- Watkins TD’s could easily be replaced by any of our WR’s.

Those slants do take strength, it’s only a 5 yd pass but it has to be thrown pretty hard, the qb has to have confidence that it’s not going to go off the wr’s hands and get picked and once Sammy got his hands on it it wasn’t going anywhere. Remember Malcolm Butler in the SB? He out physicaled the wr at the goal line and got the pick, that doesn’t happen to Sammy.
Sammy also was a hands catcher, if you can catch the ball before it gets into your body it’s harder to defend.
Db’s Know if they can dominate a guy, I remember when TA was actually running routes, seeing a db just move him off his line and make a play on the ball, I don’t think Sammy gets pushed around like that, it’ll be interesting to see what he does in KC.

 

[Prime Time]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/fantasy-football-metrics-that-matter-wr-rating

Metrics that Matter: The best and worst receivers by WR Rating
BY SCOTT BARRETT

Last offseason, I ran a study measuring the predictability of various wide receiver efficiency statistics. One of the statistics we covered was WR Rating (available to Elite subscribers here), which measures a team’s passer rating when targeting a particular wide receiver.

Predictability and future year correlation to volume was fairly low, but far more significant at the extremes. For instance, over the prior decade, on average, wide receivers totaling at least 50 targets and ranking in the top 20 in WR Rating averaged 32.7 more targets in the following season than wide receivers who ranked in the bottom 20.

So, let’s look at the leaders in WR Rating last season (min. 50 targets):

You’ll notice three different Rams wide receivers all ranked top-10 in WR Rating, on the back of their quarterback ranking first in adjusted net yards per attempt. In the case of Sammy Watkins, he may have been a good bit better than we had realized.

Though his production was underwhelming, he was far more efficient on a per-target basis, which is encouraging for his prospects in Kansas City, though the Chiefs don’t really have a history of supporting multiple fantasy-viable wide receivers.

Now, on the opposite end of the spectrum, here’s who ranked bottom-10 in WR Rating last season.

 

[Merlin]

Cooks should get plenty of practice against physical press corners in TC. And if Cooks can get open against the Rams D 1s regularly that should give Goff lots of confidence to let it rip in games.

No doubt. Just pointing out that he's a much different receiver than, say, Watkins. Probably a better fit for the scheme tbh, in the route running dept. But not nearly as skilled at having his way with top press CBs.

I'm hoping it's that easy, but there are situations where I think Watkins will be missed. There's a reason he led the team in TDs. He has hands like a vise and it was obvious to me on those quick slants into the end zone.
Sure, some might not have been that tough for a good receiver, but go back and look at them all. Some he just made look easy.

The Rams weren't gonna pay him $16mil. NOBODY should have after last year, but averaging a TD for every 4 or 5 catches isn't anything to sneeze at, either.
...I think the Rams are STILL gonna score a bunch of points!

I'm counting on Reynolds and Everett to make a big leap next year. If they do, this offense will again be unstoppable.

Yes development is going to be important for the redzone. Kupp factors in there too, with his size and hands. I expect his redzone production to go up in year two but we could really use another element in the passing game with size/hands/physicality and Everett developing is precisely my hope.

 

[LesBaker]

One of two things are in Tavon’s future.

1) He will be traded, probably before the draft, but maybe during it.

2) Or he will be released on or before final cutdown day.

The End

I think he either stays and becomes a FA after this year or he gets traded in a package deal for a draft pick.

247 6th rounders and Austin for a 2nd rounder.

 

[Karate61]

I’d be shocked if they don’t draft a WR with one of the 4 or 6’s

Why shocked? Rams have great depth at receiver. I'm not saying they won't draft a receiver, but wouldn't be shocked if that happened.

 

[dieterbrock]

Why shocked? Rams have great depth at receiver. I'm not saying they won't draft a receiver, but wouldn't be shocked if that happened.

Competition makes everyone better

 

[InnovatedMind]

What I like about our WR group is the depth of options for the QB.

I have always liked Cooks, but that said he's not as good obviously as your elite wideouts at making contested catches and dealing with elite physical press corners. But that aside he's a really nice fit for this offense, because he runs precise routes in spite of his size and isn't going to be the only option out there. Which means double the dude at your own risk.

This offense might still struggle a bit come the playoffs again. But I think they are actually better off with this group in terms of "fits" than they were with last year's group. Cooks will get a full camp too, which cannot be overemphasized irt the how and why Watkins struggled. IMO whether they take the next step in the playoffs is a combination of Goff's evolution, OL health, and whether Everett can emerge as another matchup problem in the passing game.

Cooks was the #1 for NO & NE... He REGULARLY saw the other teams top corners. Sometimes, they would triple team him. (see last year).

I don't buy into the notion that he's not good against elite physical press corners.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

I think we're set at receiver.

I don't see why Woods cannot run the same slants at the goal line. McVay called them for Watkins but Woods can run that route.

Maybe a larger role as a WR is carved into the game plan for Austin. We like to note that Watkins missed camp but let's not forget that TA had surgery and didn't get many reps in the offseason as well. However, he regress last year, to a point where I can defend a need for him in our roster anymore. He helped with Gurley with runs in the beginning of the season but I think teams caught on to the bluff as the season progressed and Gurley emerged as the obvious #1 threat.

I'm interested in seeing how Higbee and Everett progress in year two and want to wait until next year before deciding to start over at the TE position again.