This is the first mock I've put together on here(I think). I ran the salary cap numbers and did my best with the draft. Don't promise everyone will love it but it's just the way I'm leaning right now.
Restructure
Sam Bradford - 2 years $16 million($13 million guaranteed...Full $8 million first year base and $5 million of the second year base)
Total Cap Savings: $4.9 million
Total Cap Room: $9.4 million
Released
Jake Long - $8 million in cap savings
Kendall Langford - $6 million in cap savings
Scott Wells - $3.8 million in cap savings
Eugene Sims - $1.9 million in cap savings
Isaiah Pead - $900,000 in cap savings
Total Cap Savings: $20.6 million
Total Cap Room: $30 million
Re-signed Players
Joe Barksdale - 5 years $30 million($5 million first year)
Kenny Britt - 1 year $2 million
Lance Kendricks - 2 years $6 million($3 million first year)
Alex Carrington - 1 year $1.5 million
Cory Harkey - ERFA($645,000)
Austin Davis - RFA($1.4 million - Original Round)
Tim Barnes - RFA($1.4 million - Original round)
Johnny Hekker - RFA($1.4 million - Original Round)
Rodney McLeod - RFA($1.4 million - Original Round)
Total Cap Spent: $17.7 million
Total Cap Room: $13.3 million
The Bradford deal takes the near $13 million base and guarantees it but spreads it out over two seasons with the addition of $3 million. I think it's a win-win. It's about what Bradford's market value would be, he gets the guarantees in order to accept a pay cut, and the Rams keep their QB. We all want to win next year and Bradford gives us our best chance. He knows the system and is a veteran QB. We know he's a solid starter at worst that plays well in clutch moments and doesn't turn the ball over a lot. But Bradford is only Plan A, trust me, there's a Plan B in case of injury.
The other re-signings are pretty standard. I want to keep Britt for another year but I'm not willing to give him a longer term deal. Kendricks is a valuable role player for us. Barksdale is a solid starter at RT. And the rest all have important roles on the team.
Free Agency
Marcus Cannon OT/OG New England Patriots
2 years $5 million($2 million first year)
Rams need depth on the OL. Cannon isn't a quality starter but he's not a major liability as depth. With Saffold's injury history, we need to be prepared for the worst. That is one major issue we've had, we just haven't had quality depth behind our starters on the OL.
Leger Douzable DT New York Jets
2 years $4 million($2 million first year)
I think that the DT rotation is extremely important. Douzable is a solid rotational DT that has done well for himself in New York. With Kendall Langford departing, the Rams need to replace him in the rotation. Will Hayes can still contribute some at DT but having Douzable and Carrington will take some of the pressure off of Hayes.
NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #10 -
TRADE - Cleveland trades #22, 2nd, 4th, and 6th
Analysis: Cleveland moves up due to them having the extra first and fourth from Buffalo which gives them flexibility. The Rams get back the picks they gave up for Barron. With Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota off the board, the Rams decide that they'd rather grab the extra picks.
Round 1 Pick #22 -
Brett Hundley QB UCLA
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pIRtnLOnU8
Analysis: I have been hard on Hundley but I want to backtrack a bit from my stance on him. With Bradford coming back, I'm willing to take a shot on Hundley in the late 1st or early 2nd. Hundley has all the tools at 6'3" 230 with a strong arm and great mobility. He has shown improved pocket movement and awareness this year. He plays in an offense that asks him to go through progressions, utilizes a pro style route tree, and asks him to throw timing patterns. Hundley has a tendency to drop his eyes when pressured and holds the ball too long. However, I think these are fixable issues if he gets time on the bench. Having Sam buys us time to develop the immensely talented Hundley and if Sam does get injured, Hundley gives us a legitimate option off the bench.
Round 2 Pick #10 -
A.J. Cann OG South Carolina
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkUVV9lv_dg
Analysis: If you think the big boys on the OL are as important as I do, this is a pick that'll knock your socks off. The only reason why Cann slips out of the first round is that he's a pure OG that lacks great athleticism. Cann's doesn't have outstanding feet or lateral movement. However, that does not hinder him because he's so adept at identifying targets on the move, reading the defense, and getting a hat on his man. He's extremely technically sound with the strength and leg drive to move defenders off the LOS and put them on their back. Cann also is one of the best I've seen at maintaining leverage as an OL despite his 6'3"/6'4" size. He shoots off the ball low and gets underneath defenders. When pass blocking, he sits back in his stance comfortably with easy bend at the knees and hips. He's very difficult to move with a bull-rush and is very active and aggressive with his hands. He needs to get quicker off the LOS and has some issues with quick DTs that get skinny when pass blocking. He also needs to keep his head up as he gets a tad over-aggressive as a pass blocker. Still, this guy is a plug and play NFL LG and a great overall prospect. He demolishes people in the running game.
Round 2 Pick #22 -
Duke Johnson HB Miami
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I8vr-MLtB0
Analysis: I know what people are thinking...why are we drafting a HB? I like Bennie, Tre, and Stacy. However, I also think that you have to take talent when it's available. I recall hearing during the Arizona game that the Rams are the most run heavy team in the NFL in the first half of games. It's clear we want to establish a running game. Duke Johnson would be a first round HB in a lot of classes. It just so happens that this year might be the most stacked HB class in a LONG time. HBs tend to fall on draft day and Johnson is a tad undersized at 5'9" 205. There are also some questions about his durability. Johnson seems like the perfect guy to pair up with Mason to keep both of them fresh and healthy. Johnson is an explosive runner with breakaway speed, surprising power for his size(rarely goes down on first contact), and the wiggle to make defenders miss in the open field. He also has good hands out of the back-field. This guy is a threat to take it to the house any time he touches it. Plus, the guy is an explosive and dangerous kick returner.
Round 3 Pick #10 -
Andy Gallik C Boston College
Analysis: Tough Center and a tenacious run blocker with active, powerful hands. Gallik isn't the type to blow people off the ball but he does a good job of getting enough push and using his angles to open up running lanes in the middle. He shows the lateral agility and burst to be dangerous as a pulling blocker but needs to improve his angles in space as well as his ability to locate targets as he has a tendency to overrun his angles when pulling which makes it difficult for him to get that crushing block on the second level. As a pass protector, he's still a work in progress. He needs improve his punch timing and mechanics. Has a tendency to not fully extend and let defenders into his body but he has a wide base, a strong lower body, and good balance. Needs to improve his upper body strength which should also help him as a run blocker. There's some development here but I really like his attitude and ability in the run game as well as his lateral agility.
Round 4 Pick #22 -
Vince Mayle WR Washington State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELVbbH8r0-Q
Analysis: Some of you might not like us taking another developmental WR but as I said with the Duke Johnson pick, it's all about collecting talent. Here's the story on Vince Mayle...he played HB in high school but decided to play basketball at the JUCO level instead of football. Returned to football in 2012 at the JUCO level before transferring to WSU before the 2013 season. In 2013, the 6'3" 240 pound Mayle played TE for WSU and caught 7 TDs in his first year out of JUCO. This year, WSU asked him to drop 20 pounds and play WR for them. He did and has responded with 86 catches, 1152 yards, and 9 TDs on the year. Mayle is just starting to come into his own and I want to see what he can develop into. I think like with Quick, Kenny Britt can help teach this big WR how to impose his will on the field physically. Typically, I stay away from players who have had some drop issues like Mayle has this year but I'm willing to take the chance here. I think his athletic upside makes him well worth the pick in the 3rd/4th round. We're talking about a 6'3" 220 pound WR that looks like he glides on the field due to his light, quick feet(basketball) and his impressive top-end speed. I want to remember that THIS GUY was playing TE last year:
View: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:11644153
Round 5 Pick #10 -
Jordan Hicks OLB Texas
Round 6 Pick #22 -
Owamagbe Odighizuwa DE UCLA
Round 7 Pick #10 -
Kenny Williams HB/LB/ST Texas Tech
Starting Line-up
QB: Sam Bradford
HB: Tre Mason
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Brian Quick
ZWR: Kenny Britt
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Jared Cook
LT: Greg Robinson
LG:
A.J. Cann
C: Barrett Jones
RG: Rodger Saffold
RT: Joe Barksdale
LDE: Chris Long
LDT: Aaron Donald
RDT: Michael Brockers
RDE: Robert Quinn
WLB: Alec Ogletree
MLB: James Laurinaitis
SPUR: Mark Barron
LCB: Trumaine Johnson
RCB: Janoris Jenkins
SLCB: E.J. Gaines
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: T.J. McDonald
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
