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Yep, there is a crazy trade for Goff here. Some will hate it, some will like it, some will be okay with it. I think the guy is special. I think he's a QB that can lead us to the Super Bowl in the next 5 years. I'd give up a ton to get him. As always, this is what I'd do if I were in Snead's and Fisher's shoes. Alshon Jeffery was franchised in this mock.
Hire
John DeFilippo OC
It seems like Fisher might be getting it. DeFilippo would be an awesome hire. I really hope the Rams don't interview him and then sit on their hands. They need to get this guy here. His passing schemes with the Browns were awesome and he handled their QBs so well. He's like Gregg Williams in that he adjusts his scheme to fit his personnel and makes the most out of them.
Cut
Jared Cook TE
Chris Long DE
Nick Foles QB
Rodger Saffold OG
Re-sign
Janoris Jenkins - 5 years $55 million (after being franchised)
Trumaine Johnson - 5 years $45 million
Rodney McLeod - 3 years $10.5 million
Greg Zuerlein - 1 year $1 million
Will Hayes - 3 years $9 million
Tim Barnes - 2 years $3 million
Daren Bates - RFA Tender
Benny Cunningham - RFA Tender
Cody Davis - RFA Tender
Case Keenum - RFA Tender
Cory Harkey - 2 years $3 million
I can't take any more of Nick Foles at QB. We don't save much when we cut him but he's just not worth the roster spot. Mark Barron filled in admirably for Ogletree but he doesn't really have a spot once Alec comes back. Cutting Chris Long hurts but it's time. He can't stay healthy and his skills are declining. Britt has played well enough this year to keep as a deep threat imo. We bring Case Keenum back as the backup QB. Zuerlein gets a "prove it" deal.
Free Agency
Olivier Vernon DE - 5 years $50 million
Marvin Jones WR - 4 years $24 million
I know what you guys are thinking, "Jerry, why the heck are we paying so much for a DL?" With Chris Long declining and being cut, I think it would be a smart move for the Rams to consider finding a big time talent to replace him. We have a strength...our DL...that is tough for any team to match-up with. I think we need to continue to play that up. Vernon's sack totals don't tell the entire story. He's a disruptive defender that can get after the QB and defend the run at a high level. With the talent on our DL, he'll be a threat for double digit sacks year in and year out while also being an outstanding run defender. Best part of the deal? He's only 25 years old.
I was a little iffy on Jones because he missed all of 2014 with an injury but he's come back and stayed healthy this year. I watched him against Denver and I was impressed with how he played. He got behind their talented corners a couple times on deep balls but McCarron overthrew him. He made some nice catches on the sidelines and ran good routes. He's not a superstar WR but he offers us a quality #2 WR that can get open deep and make plays on the sidelines.
Trade
Rams trade Round 1 Pick #15, Round 2 Pick #12, 2017 1st, and 2018 1st
Titans trade Round 1 Pick #1
I know that some people will object to giving up this much for one player but I think Goff is worth it. Don't think anyone will be complaining when he makes us a Super Bowl contender. I know what some people are thinking, "Why would the Titans do this?" The simple answer is look at what the Rams did when Fisher came on board. They made the RGIII trade. We desperately needed talent and thought we had our QB so we made a trade that would offer us the talent we needed to build around that QB. The Titans are in the same spot. They believe they have their QB but they need to put talent around him. This trade gives them a chance. Plus, outside of Goff, the top two players in this draft are a DE and an OT. The Titans already have a young LT (Lewan) and two DEs (Morgan and Orakpo). While I don't think they'd have an issue taking Bosa or Tunsil, both guys play positions where they don't have glaring needs. So it helps them out to drop down in the draft, pick up a bunch of premium picks, and add a talented player at a position where they need more help.
NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #1 - Jared Goff QB California
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxW_bIhc8Dc
Analysis: Yes, I did compare Jared Goff to Peyton Manning. It's impossible to know if Goff has Manning's unbelievable football IQ but in terms of tools and play style, Manning is who he is most similar to. He's the prototypical pocket passer that we're all dreaming of. His Offensive Coordinator was talking earlier this year about how he has no idea what Goff and his WRs are doing on some plays because they've designed a system of hand signals which allows them to change plays and routes...AND HE'S GOT NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM DOING THAT. That's serious trust in a young QB. What does Goff offer? What doesn't he offer is the better question. And the answer to that question is elite arm strength, 4.5 speed, and a 230+ pound frame. What he does offer is an underrated but not elite arm, awesome accuracy, active feet, outstanding pocket presence and movement, poise under pressure, an extremely high football IQ, and great mental processing speed. Basically, this kid is one of the pure best throwers I've evaluated with some of the best pocket presence/movement that I've evaluated, and is not lacking in any way mentally. The only question with him is his offensive scheme and I'm not worried.(although he does have some minor inconsistencies with his lower body mechanics...namely throwing off his back-foot...that can be improved) Last year, I pounded the table for us to trade up for Winston or Mariota. That wasn't possible. Tampa Bay and Tennessee weren't going to let it happen. This year, we have a chance because Tennessee, San Diego, and Dallas all have franchise QBs. We need to trade up and get our guy. If Goff had played in a pro style offense like Manning and Luck, he'd be getting similar hype.
NFL Comparison: Peyton Manning
Round 2 Pick #14 - Tyler Boyd WR Pittsburgh
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSh6yeGjWs8
Analysis: Boyd hasn't been in many of my recent mocks but don't think it's because I've cooled on him at all. I've liked this kid since he was a true freshman. At 6'2" 200 pounds, Boyd is not a burner and doesn't offer dominating size and strength. This leads some to doubt whether he'll separate at the next level. People said the same thing about Keenan Allen and quickly found out that Allen had no trouble separating against NFL CBs. The same will be true of Tyler Boyd. While Boyd does not have elite athleticism or size, he does have outstanding acceleration, quickness, fluidity, and body control. He's also a highly intelligent receiver and a nuanced route runner. He makes crisp cuts, he attacks zone coverage effectively, and he understands how to run his routes in order to position the corner across from him to create separation. Due to his body control and awareness, Boyd works the sideline with veteran precision and does an excellent job of getting proper depth on his routes. Boyd also possesses a great pair of hands which allow him to make tough catches in traffic, go up and get the football in jump ball situations, come down with contested catches, and make acrobatic catches on inaccurate passes. He has the occasional concentration drop but that's not out of the ordinary in young players. In addition to that, Boyd is a very dangerous player with the ball in his hands because he has good vision, isn't afraid of contact, and can cut on a dime. He's a very elusive player. Aside from Boyd lacking dominating size and speed, the biggest weaknesses I see in his game are his inconsistent effort while blocking and his attitude. On film, Boyd comes off as a bit of a diva. He's prone to sulking and visible frustration if the ball isn't coming his way or the QB is making mistakes. But that's a pretty common trait in WRs. He'll need to control his temper and show a more consistent motor in the running game at the NFL level.
NFL Comparison: Keenan Allen
Round 3 Pick #13 - Scooby Wright III ILB/OLB Arizona
View: https://youtu.be/4PUWnNxGqYE
Analysis: According to Arizona, Scooby Wright had 163 tackles, 29 TFLs, 14 sacks, and 6 FFs in 2014 ALONE. Unfortunately for him, he's missed almost this entire season thus far with injuries. This is a kid that doesn't have the NFL look. He's listed at 6'1" 246. I think he'll come in closer to 5'11" 240. But he's a guy that plays with so much passion, relentlessness, and heart that his average athleticism and underwhelming size don't limit his game. He has top tier instincts, great play strength (gym rat), and plays with reckless abandon. Sometimes, that reckless abandon will cause him to miss tackles but it's worth it with how often he's in the back-field making plays. He's Arizona's defensive leader, he is the guy that makes sure everyone is lined up properly, and he's the heart of that defense. They also will move him down to DE on certain passing downs and he's a disruptive, relentless pass rusher. This guy is James Laurinaitis's heir apparent. If Wright isn't available, Tyler Matakevich from Temple and Kentrell Brothers from Missouri are also worth considering. But right now, Wright is being considered a mid round pick due to his lack of measurables and his injury keeping him out all year.
NFL Comparison: Chris Borland
Round 4 Pick #12 - Bryce Williams TE East Carolina
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imwLMD_8MO4
Analysis: Bryce Williams is a former walk-on at East Carolina that has proven himself to be a very intriguing tight end prospect. At 6'6" 260, Williams has NFL size and a frame that still has growth potential. He'll need to get a bit stronger to be able to block in line at the NFL level. However, Williams played FB in the past at East Carolina and is a very willing blocker. His technique needs a lot of refinement but the mechanics are in place and there's no lack of want-to. He actually looked surprisingly good in pass protection when I saw him so there's definitely upside there. As a receiver, he was one of the most productive TEs in college football with 58 catches for 588 yards and 4 TDs this year. Williams displays good agility and burst with solid top-end speed. He's not going to be torching teams up the seam but he has the athleticism to get open in the short to intermediate range. He also is a sure-handed TE that is willing to make catches in traffic, will go up and get the football, and will battle defenders for the ball when it is in the air. He's willing to get physical and use his big body. After the catch, he's got some elusiveness for a big man and doesn't go down without a fight but he's not Rob Gronkowski in terms YAC. Solid overall YAC skills, though. As a rookie, he'll likely see limited snaps. Will need some time to get his blocking up to par and get the pro game down but he should be able to contribute on 3rd downs early on as a reliable target and has potential in the red-zone.
NFL Comparison: Todd Heap
Round 6 Pick #15 - Mike Matthews C Texas A&M
View: https://youtu.be/6osh3LY1VXk
Analysis: Yep, there's another Matthews. Mike isn't blessed with the size that Jake had but he's definitely got the same sort of athleticism and feet that Jake has. Body is a hindrance. Undersized at 6'2" 290ish and he appears to have short arms. My guess is around 32 inches. Wouldn't be surprised if they're shorter than 32. This does cause him some occasional problems. As a pass blocker, he's an absolute rock. He knows when to help, he's an intelligent player that handles stunts and blitzes well, and I didn't notice any issues with bad snaps. In 1-on-1 situations, he consistently shut his man down. Even when his man lands a jarring blow, Matthews is able to drop his butt and widen his base while establishing proper hand positioning and locking on which allows him to stonewall the bullrush after a step or two. When his man tries to knife past him with agility, Matthews shows great footwork and body positioning to slide with the defender, push him up-field, and position his body between the defender and QB at all times. However, Matthews will occasionally duck his head and lunge at defenders because of his arm length and he doesn't have a powerful punch. Often is catching the defender but he's strong and polished in the lower body which allows him to handle this well. As a pass protector, he looks like a quality player and a pro ready guy. As a run blocker, he needs work. Great movement skills, feet, and fluidity which allows him to reach defenders and pull or attack the second level effortlessly. However, he needs to play under control and use angles better on the second level and in the open-field. Too often misses his man because he doesn't position himself well. When blocking 1-on-1 on the LOS, he has enough sand in his pants to get push but he doesn't sustain blocks well. Again, I think the short arms hurt him here and he needs to play with better leverage. As a run blocker, he certainly has upside especially in a zone blocking scheme but will be hit and miss until his OL Coach polishes some technical aspects of his game. Frankly, I'm shocked that NFL teams don't seem to be higher on the guy as I have him as a Day 2/early Day 3 pick but then again, Center is probably my worst position when it comes to evaluations.
NFL Comparison: Jason Kelce
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Kenny Britt
ZWR: Marvin Jones
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Lance Kendricks
LT: Greg Robinson
LG: Jamon Brown
C: Tim Barnes
RG: Garrett Reynolds
RT: Rob Havenstein
LDE: Olivier Vernon
LDT: Michael Brockers
RDT: Aaron Donald
RDE: Robert Quinn
OLB: Alec Ogletree
MLB: James Laurinaitis
OLB: Akeem Ayers
LCB: Trumaine Johnson
RCB: Janoris Jenkins
SLCB: E.J. Gaines
FS: Rodney McLeod
SS: T.J. McDonald
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
My hope is that Mike Matthews, Tyler Boyd, Scooby Wright, and Bryce Williams are ready to contribute during some point in their rookie year. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Boyd pushes Britt early on for a starting job as he's a fairly polished kid coming from a pro style offense. I also wouldn't be surprised if Scooby Wright finds a way onto the field as a rookie because he's a very versatile player that Gregg Williams will likely find a way to make use of him. Mike Matthews will probably need to bulk up and improve his run blocking technique before he's ready to play so he might not be ready to start over Barnes in Year 1. Bryce Williams will need to get stronger and improve his blocking. My expectation is that he'll see the field on passing downs once he gets the offense down but probably won't be a full time starter as a rookie.
I know a lot of you are going to hate the Jared Goff trade and think it's a crazy move but I'm convinced that in 3 years, you'll all recognize that Goff would have been worth it. And in 10 years, none of you would have thought twice about giving up that much for rookie Goff. I am convinced that QB can lead us to a Super Bowl. As a rookie? Nah. That's unrealistic. But in the next 5 years? Yep. I think so. Our defense and rushing attack are there. Give us a legitimate top tier QB and we could have a run of absolute dominance like the Patriots did.
Hire
John DeFilippo OC
It seems like Fisher might be getting it. DeFilippo would be an awesome hire. I really hope the Rams don't interview him and then sit on their hands. They need to get this guy here. His passing schemes with the Browns were awesome and he handled their QBs so well. He's like Gregg Williams in that he adjusts his scheme to fit his personnel and makes the most out of them.
Cut
Jared Cook TE
Chris Long DE
Nick Foles QB
Rodger Saffold OG
Re-sign
Janoris Jenkins - 5 years $55 million (after being franchised)
Trumaine Johnson - 5 years $45 million
Rodney McLeod - 3 years $10.5 million
Greg Zuerlein - 1 year $1 million
Will Hayes - 3 years $9 million
Tim Barnes - 2 years $3 million
Daren Bates - RFA Tender
Benny Cunningham - RFA Tender
Cody Davis - RFA Tender
Case Keenum - RFA Tender
Cory Harkey - 2 years $3 million
I can't take any more of Nick Foles at QB. We don't save much when we cut him but he's just not worth the roster spot. Mark Barron filled in admirably for Ogletree but he doesn't really have a spot once Alec comes back. Cutting Chris Long hurts but it's time. He can't stay healthy and his skills are declining. Britt has played well enough this year to keep as a deep threat imo. We bring Case Keenum back as the backup QB. Zuerlein gets a "prove it" deal.
Free Agency
Olivier Vernon DE - 5 years $50 million
Marvin Jones WR - 4 years $24 million
I know what you guys are thinking, "Jerry, why the heck are we paying so much for a DL?" With Chris Long declining and being cut, I think it would be a smart move for the Rams to consider finding a big time talent to replace him. We have a strength...our DL...that is tough for any team to match-up with. I think we need to continue to play that up. Vernon's sack totals don't tell the entire story. He's a disruptive defender that can get after the QB and defend the run at a high level. With the talent on our DL, he'll be a threat for double digit sacks year in and year out while also being an outstanding run defender. Best part of the deal? He's only 25 years old.
I was a little iffy on Jones because he missed all of 2014 with an injury but he's come back and stayed healthy this year. I watched him against Denver and I was impressed with how he played. He got behind their talented corners a couple times on deep balls but McCarron overthrew him. He made some nice catches on the sidelines and ran good routes. He's not a superstar WR but he offers us a quality #2 WR that can get open deep and make plays on the sidelines.
Trade
Rams trade Round 1 Pick #15, Round 2 Pick #12, 2017 1st, and 2018 1st
Titans trade Round 1 Pick #1
I know that some people will object to giving up this much for one player but I think Goff is worth it. Don't think anyone will be complaining when he makes us a Super Bowl contender. I know what some people are thinking, "Why would the Titans do this?" The simple answer is look at what the Rams did when Fisher came on board. They made the RGIII trade. We desperately needed talent and thought we had our QB so we made a trade that would offer us the talent we needed to build around that QB. The Titans are in the same spot. They believe they have their QB but they need to put talent around him. This trade gives them a chance. Plus, outside of Goff, the top two players in this draft are a DE and an OT. The Titans already have a young LT (Lewan) and two DEs (Morgan and Orakpo). While I don't think they'd have an issue taking Bosa or Tunsil, both guys play positions where they don't have glaring needs. So it helps them out to drop down in the draft, pick up a bunch of premium picks, and add a talented player at a position where they need more help.
NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #1 - Jared Goff QB California
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxW_bIhc8Dc
Analysis: Yes, I did compare Jared Goff to Peyton Manning. It's impossible to know if Goff has Manning's unbelievable football IQ but in terms of tools and play style, Manning is who he is most similar to. He's the prototypical pocket passer that we're all dreaming of. His Offensive Coordinator was talking earlier this year about how he has no idea what Goff and his WRs are doing on some plays because they've designed a system of hand signals which allows them to change plays and routes...AND HE'S GOT NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM DOING THAT. That's serious trust in a young QB. What does Goff offer? What doesn't he offer is the better question. And the answer to that question is elite arm strength, 4.5 speed, and a 230+ pound frame. What he does offer is an underrated but not elite arm, awesome accuracy, active feet, outstanding pocket presence and movement, poise under pressure, an extremely high football IQ, and great mental processing speed. Basically, this kid is one of the pure best throwers I've evaluated with some of the best pocket presence/movement that I've evaluated, and is not lacking in any way mentally. The only question with him is his offensive scheme and I'm not worried.(although he does have some minor inconsistencies with his lower body mechanics...namely throwing off his back-foot...that can be improved) Last year, I pounded the table for us to trade up for Winston or Mariota. That wasn't possible. Tampa Bay and Tennessee weren't going to let it happen. This year, we have a chance because Tennessee, San Diego, and Dallas all have franchise QBs. We need to trade up and get our guy. If Goff had played in a pro style offense like Manning and Luck, he'd be getting similar hype.
NFL Comparison: Peyton Manning
Round 2 Pick #14 - Tyler Boyd WR Pittsburgh
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSh6yeGjWs8
Analysis: Boyd hasn't been in many of my recent mocks but don't think it's because I've cooled on him at all. I've liked this kid since he was a true freshman. At 6'2" 200 pounds, Boyd is not a burner and doesn't offer dominating size and strength. This leads some to doubt whether he'll separate at the next level. People said the same thing about Keenan Allen and quickly found out that Allen had no trouble separating against NFL CBs. The same will be true of Tyler Boyd. While Boyd does not have elite athleticism or size, he does have outstanding acceleration, quickness, fluidity, and body control. He's also a highly intelligent receiver and a nuanced route runner. He makes crisp cuts, he attacks zone coverage effectively, and he understands how to run his routes in order to position the corner across from him to create separation. Due to his body control and awareness, Boyd works the sideline with veteran precision and does an excellent job of getting proper depth on his routes. Boyd also possesses a great pair of hands which allow him to make tough catches in traffic, go up and get the football in jump ball situations, come down with contested catches, and make acrobatic catches on inaccurate passes. He has the occasional concentration drop but that's not out of the ordinary in young players. In addition to that, Boyd is a very dangerous player with the ball in his hands because he has good vision, isn't afraid of contact, and can cut on a dime. He's a very elusive player. Aside from Boyd lacking dominating size and speed, the biggest weaknesses I see in his game are his inconsistent effort while blocking and his attitude. On film, Boyd comes off as a bit of a diva. He's prone to sulking and visible frustration if the ball isn't coming his way or the QB is making mistakes. But that's a pretty common trait in WRs. He'll need to control his temper and show a more consistent motor in the running game at the NFL level.
NFL Comparison: Keenan Allen
Round 3 Pick #13 - Scooby Wright III ILB/OLB Arizona
View: https://youtu.be/4PUWnNxGqYE
Analysis: According to Arizona, Scooby Wright had 163 tackles, 29 TFLs, 14 sacks, and 6 FFs in 2014 ALONE. Unfortunately for him, he's missed almost this entire season thus far with injuries. This is a kid that doesn't have the NFL look. He's listed at 6'1" 246. I think he'll come in closer to 5'11" 240. But he's a guy that plays with so much passion, relentlessness, and heart that his average athleticism and underwhelming size don't limit his game. He has top tier instincts, great play strength (gym rat), and plays with reckless abandon. Sometimes, that reckless abandon will cause him to miss tackles but it's worth it with how often he's in the back-field making plays. He's Arizona's defensive leader, he is the guy that makes sure everyone is lined up properly, and he's the heart of that defense. They also will move him down to DE on certain passing downs and he's a disruptive, relentless pass rusher. This guy is James Laurinaitis's heir apparent. If Wright isn't available, Tyler Matakevich from Temple and Kentrell Brothers from Missouri are also worth considering. But right now, Wright is being considered a mid round pick due to his lack of measurables and his injury keeping him out all year.
NFL Comparison: Chris Borland
Round 4 Pick #12 - Bryce Williams TE East Carolina
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imwLMD_8MO4
Analysis: Bryce Williams is a former walk-on at East Carolina that has proven himself to be a very intriguing tight end prospect. At 6'6" 260, Williams has NFL size and a frame that still has growth potential. He'll need to get a bit stronger to be able to block in line at the NFL level. However, Williams played FB in the past at East Carolina and is a very willing blocker. His technique needs a lot of refinement but the mechanics are in place and there's no lack of want-to. He actually looked surprisingly good in pass protection when I saw him so there's definitely upside there. As a receiver, he was one of the most productive TEs in college football with 58 catches for 588 yards and 4 TDs this year. Williams displays good agility and burst with solid top-end speed. He's not going to be torching teams up the seam but he has the athleticism to get open in the short to intermediate range. He also is a sure-handed TE that is willing to make catches in traffic, will go up and get the football, and will battle defenders for the ball when it is in the air. He's willing to get physical and use his big body. After the catch, he's got some elusiveness for a big man and doesn't go down without a fight but he's not Rob Gronkowski in terms YAC. Solid overall YAC skills, though. As a rookie, he'll likely see limited snaps. Will need some time to get his blocking up to par and get the pro game down but he should be able to contribute on 3rd downs early on as a reliable target and has potential in the red-zone.
NFL Comparison: Todd Heap
Round 6 Pick #15 - Mike Matthews C Texas A&M
View: https://youtu.be/6osh3LY1VXk
Analysis: Yep, there's another Matthews. Mike isn't blessed with the size that Jake had but he's definitely got the same sort of athleticism and feet that Jake has. Body is a hindrance. Undersized at 6'2" 290ish and he appears to have short arms. My guess is around 32 inches. Wouldn't be surprised if they're shorter than 32. This does cause him some occasional problems. As a pass blocker, he's an absolute rock. He knows when to help, he's an intelligent player that handles stunts and blitzes well, and I didn't notice any issues with bad snaps. In 1-on-1 situations, he consistently shut his man down. Even when his man lands a jarring blow, Matthews is able to drop his butt and widen his base while establishing proper hand positioning and locking on which allows him to stonewall the bullrush after a step or two. When his man tries to knife past him with agility, Matthews shows great footwork and body positioning to slide with the defender, push him up-field, and position his body between the defender and QB at all times. However, Matthews will occasionally duck his head and lunge at defenders because of his arm length and he doesn't have a powerful punch. Often is catching the defender but he's strong and polished in the lower body which allows him to handle this well. As a pass protector, he looks like a quality player and a pro ready guy. As a run blocker, he needs work. Great movement skills, feet, and fluidity which allows him to reach defenders and pull or attack the second level effortlessly. However, he needs to play under control and use angles better on the second level and in the open-field. Too often misses his man because he doesn't position himself well. When blocking 1-on-1 on the LOS, he has enough sand in his pants to get push but he doesn't sustain blocks well. Again, I think the short arms hurt him here and he needs to play with better leverage. As a run blocker, he certainly has upside especially in a zone blocking scheme but will be hit and miss until his OL Coach polishes some technical aspects of his game. Frankly, I'm shocked that NFL teams don't seem to be higher on the guy as I have him as a Day 2/early Day 3 pick but then again, Center is probably my worst position when it comes to evaluations.
NFL Comparison: Jason Kelce
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Kenny Britt
ZWR: Marvin Jones
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Lance Kendricks
LT: Greg Robinson
LG: Jamon Brown
C: Tim Barnes
RG: Garrett Reynolds
RT: Rob Havenstein
LDE: Olivier Vernon
LDT: Michael Brockers
RDT: Aaron Donald
RDE: Robert Quinn
OLB: Alec Ogletree
MLB: James Laurinaitis
OLB: Akeem Ayers
LCB: Trumaine Johnson
RCB: Janoris Jenkins
SLCB: E.J. Gaines
FS: Rodney McLeod
SS: T.J. McDonald
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
My hope is that Mike Matthews, Tyler Boyd, Scooby Wright, and Bryce Williams are ready to contribute during some point in their rookie year. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Boyd pushes Britt early on for a starting job as he's a fairly polished kid coming from a pro style offense. I also wouldn't be surprised if Scooby Wright finds a way onto the field as a rookie because he's a very versatile player that Gregg Williams will likely find a way to make use of him. Mike Matthews will probably need to bulk up and improve his run blocking technique before he's ready to play so he might not be ready to start over Barnes in Year 1. Bryce Williams will need to get stronger and improve his blocking. My expectation is that he'll see the field on passing downs once he gets the offense down but probably won't be a full time starter as a rookie.
I know a lot of you are going to hate the Jared Goff trade and think it's a crazy move but I'm convinced that in 3 years, you'll all recognize that Goff would have been worth it. And in 10 years, none of you would have thought twice about giving up that much for rookie Goff. I am convinced that QB can lead us to a Super Bowl. As a rookie? Nah. That's unrealistic. But in the next 5 years? Yep. I think so. Our defense and rushing attack are there. Give us a legitimate top tier QB and we could have a run of absolute dominance like the Patriots did.
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