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http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...nic-thursday-rams-do-a-lot-leave-a-lot-undone
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Rams burned the candle at both ends Thursday, the first day free agents could sign contracts with other teams. It began with them addressing two of their most pressing needs through free agency a couple of hours after sunrise, and it ended with them cutting ties with four key veteran players a couple of hours before midnight. The Rams did a lot, but they also left a lot undone.
What was done
Jared Goff upright, and the Rams took a major step toward that objective by signing veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who will be tasked with protecting the franchise quarterback's blind side. Whitworth is 35, but he remains among the NFL's best pass-blockers. He was first-team All-Pro in 2015, and Pro Football Focus graded him second among tackles in 2016. His three-year deal, worth $36 million, guarantees him $15 million. But $12.5 million of that will be given to him in the first year.
A new primary target: Kenny Britt left for the Browns and the Rams replaced him with Robert Woods, the former USC receiver who signed a five-year deal that maxes out at $39 million. Woods' numbers since being a second-round pick by the Bills in 2013 -- 203 catches, 2,451 yards, 12 touchdowns -- don't jump off the page. He isn't necessarily a game-changer, and he probably won't stretch the field vertically all that much. But he's a good route-runner, an elite blocker and has reliable hands. It's a nice complement for the speedy, 5-foot-8 Tavon Austin. Most important: Woods is still a month away from his 25th birthday.
A lot more cap space: The Rams were awfully close to their salary-cap ceiling after these two signings, so they cleared up some space. They dealt starting defensive end William Hayes to the Dolphins, swapping a seventh-round pick for a sixth-round pick, and released three key veterans: center Tim Barnes, tight end Lance Kendricks and defensive lineman Eugene Sims. All told, those four departures freed up $15.6 million in 2017 salary-cap space, roughly two-thirds of which the Rams can use on other free agents. But it also left an assortment of holes throughout the roster.
A fresh arm: Quarterback Aaron Murray, who teamed with Rams running back Todd Gurley at Georgia, was also added. He enters as a depth piece, with the Rams still leaning toward Sean Mannion as backup for Goff in 2017. Murray was a fifth-round pick in 2014. He has since played for the Chiefs, Cardinals and Eagles, but has yet to receive a regular-season snap. His older brother, Josh, was a contestant on "The Bachelorette" a couple years ago. So there's that, too.
What remains
Get a new center: The addition of Whitworth means Rodger Saffoldwill probably be the left guard, with Rob Havenstein, coming off a rough sophomore season, likely staying at right tackle and Greg Robinson, the former No. 2 overall pick who has struggled at left tackle, potentially moving to right guard. That could play well, with young players like Jamon Brown, Cody Wichmann and Andrew Donnal as backups. But the Rams need a center. The only one on the roster is Demetrius Rhaney, a seventh-round pick from 2014. The best one remaining is Nick Mangold, who is coming off a serious foot injury.
Beef up at WR, TE: Woods and Austin is a nice start, but the Rams still don't have a lot of depth at receiver. The rest of the group includes Bradley Marquez, who has been used predominantly on special teams, and a collection of guys who barely played as rookies, headlined by Pharoh Cooper. The Rams could really use some size here. None of those expected to get snaps are taller than 6-foot-1. They also need help at tight end, a position that is crucial to Sean McVay's offense. Tyler Higbee, a talented fourth-round pick last year, could see a lot more targets next season. But they need more here, as well.
Add depth on defense: The Hayes trade could mean veteran defensive end Robert Quinn continues to operate out of a three-point stance, rather than shift to outside linebacker as the Rams transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Still, the Rams are in need of more depth for their defensive line. They also need to add a linebacker or two and might still look to tradecornerback Trumaine Johnson, who is to make nearly $17 million under his second straight franchise tag. Lots of moving parts here.
Figure out other FAs: T.J. McDonald isn't expected back, with the Rams expecting to move Maurice Alexander to strong safety and ideally draft a free safety. But what about kicker Greg Zuerlein, coming off a nice bounce-back season? Or Benny Cunningham, a solid kick returner and important change-of-pace running back? Or Chase Reynolds, a key contributor on special teams over the past four years?
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Rams burned the candle at both ends Thursday, the first day free agents could sign contracts with other teams. It began with them addressing two of their most pressing needs through free agency a couple of hours after sunrise, and it ended with them cutting ties with four key veteran players a couple of hours before midnight. The Rams did a lot, but they also left a lot undone.
What was done
Jared Goff upright, and the Rams took a major step toward that objective by signing veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who will be tasked with protecting the franchise quarterback's blind side. Whitworth is 35, but he remains among the NFL's best pass-blockers. He was first-team All-Pro in 2015, and Pro Football Focus graded him second among tackles in 2016. His three-year deal, worth $36 million, guarantees him $15 million. But $12.5 million of that will be given to him in the first year.
A new primary target: Kenny Britt left for the Browns and the Rams replaced him with Robert Woods, the former USC receiver who signed a five-year deal that maxes out at $39 million. Woods' numbers since being a second-round pick by the Bills in 2013 -- 203 catches, 2,451 yards, 12 touchdowns -- don't jump off the page. He isn't necessarily a game-changer, and he probably won't stretch the field vertically all that much. But he's a good route-runner, an elite blocker and has reliable hands. It's a nice complement for the speedy, 5-foot-8 Tavon Austin. Most important: Woods is still a month away from his 25th birthday.
A lot more cap space: The Rams were awfully close to their salary-cap ceiling after these two signings, so they cleared up some space. They dealt starting defensive end William Hayes to the Dolphins, swapping a seventh-round pick for a sixth-round pick, and released three key veterans: center Tim Barnes, tight end Lance Kendricks and defensive lineman Eugene Sims. All told, those four departures freed up $15.6 million in 2017 salary-cap space, roughly two-thirds of which the Rams can use on other free agents. But it also left an assortment of holes throughout the roster.
A fresh arm: Quarterback Aaron Murray, who teamed with Rams running back Todd Gurley at Georgia, was also added. He enters as a depth piece, with the Rams still leaning toward Sean Mannion as backup for Goff in 2017. Murray was a fifth-round pick in 2014. He has since played for the Chiefs, Cardinals and Eagles, but has yet to receive a regular-season snap. His older brother, Josh, was a contestant on "The Bachelorette" a couple years ago. So there's that, too.
What remains
Get a new center: The addition of Whitworth means Rodger Saffoldwill probably be the left guard, with Rob Havenstein, coming off a rough sophomore season, likely staying at right tackle and Greg Robinson, the former No. 2 overall pick who has struggled at left tackle, potentially moving to right guard. That could play well, with young players like Jamon Brown, Cody Wichmann and Andrew Donnal as backups. But the Rams need a center. The only one on the roster is Demetrius Rhaney, a seventh-round pick from 2014. The best one remaining is Nick Mangold, who is coming off a serious foot injury.
Beef up at WR, TE: Woods and Austin is a nice start, but the Rams still don't have a lot of depth at receiver. The rest of the group includes Bradley Marquez, who has been used predominantly on special teams, and a collection of guys who barely played as rookies, headlined by Pharoh Cooper. The Rams could really use some size here. None of those expected to get snaps are taller than 6-foot-1. They also need help at tight end, a position that is crucial to Sean McVay's offense. Tyler Higbee, a talented fourth-round pick last year, could see a lot more targets next season. But they need more here, as well.
Add depth on defense: The Hayes trade could mean veteran defensive end Robert Quinn continues to operate out of a three-point stance, rather than shift to outside linebacker as the Rams transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Still, the Rams are in need of more depth for their defensive line. They also need to add a linebacker or two and might still look to tradecornerback Trumaine Johnson, who is to make nearly $17 million under his second straight franchise tag. Lots of moving parts here.
Figure out other FAs: T.J. McDonald isn't expected back, with the Rams expecting to move Maurice Alexander to strong safety and ideally draft a free safety. But what about kicker Greg Zuerlein, coming off a nice bounce-back season? Or Benny Cunningham, a solid kick returner and important change-of-pace running back? Or Chase Reynolds, a key contributor on special teams over the past four years?
