- Joined
- May 26, 2013
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- Name
- River
My annual gesture for an early opinion on how to build for 2015 is hereby offered :
First off, Fisher gets another season. Can't fire a guy with such a young team who also loses his star QB & LDE. As for our OC, that's another matter imo, regardless whether the team tanks with a 3 - 13 or a 7 - 9 record.
I may be in the minority here, but I cut and attempt to re-sign Sam Bradford to a two year, $10.mil. fully guaranteed contact ( $5.mil.per). Should Sam get & stay healthy, prove to turn his career around in 2015, not only do we benefit from his veteran abilities immediately ( I realize this is arguable among many ), but we substantially increase his 2016 trade value.
For many years now I have advocated moving James Laurinaitis outside, 2015 finally gets it done.
Cuts : Center Wells as well as either Jones or Barnes go. OLB JoLonn Dunbar, OG Davin Joseph, QB Hill are all history. Trade or cut outright DT Langford.
Re-sign : TE's Kendricks & Harkey, WR's Britt & Pettis, P Hekker, QB Davis as our # 3. Attempt to re-sign RT Barksdale, although wouldn't be surprised if he out prices his value to the rams.
Based on previously mentioned cuts and re-signing Bradford, i've roughly estimated 2015 CAP savings at approximately $24.mil., give or take, including dead money and depending on guys like Barksdale/Pead and a few others not yet mentioned being let go or brought back. Additional costs will result in those already mentioned Rams free agents who will be returning. Besides this, the 2015 league-wide total CAP allowance should rise as the new NFL/TV rights contracts kicks in next year, probably growing at a pace at least as large as last seasons $10.mil. raise in the CAP. The Rams 2015 CAP space should be larger than anytime in the teams recent past, ... this is a testimony to our excellent front office team management. So, imagine our Rams with as much young talent as we shall be returning, and possibly as much as $35mil. in additional spendable dollars to be applied to the 2015 draft class, and improving depth with some solid veteran free agents. Fishers reluctance in previous years to rely on highly rated free agents may take a back seat to his going into his 4'th year with several consecutive losing seasons.
Outside 2015 free agents :
I have 4 key positions, but mention 6 choices listed as areas for primary immediate improvement :
MLB - Brandon Spikes, Buf.
CENTER - Brian de la Puente, Chi. or Stefen Wisniewski, Cin.
DT - Terrance Knighton, Den. or (Yes, I would pay big for these next 2) Nick Fairly, Det./ Gerald McCoy, TB.
FS - Rahim Moore, Den. or Stevie Brown, NYG. or Louis Delmas, Mia. or Devin McCourty, NE.
LG - Mike Iupati, SF.
CB - Bryan Maxwell, Sea. or Chris Harris, Den.
2015 NFL Draft :
1) QB - Marcus Mariota, Or.
2) C - Reese Dismukes, Aub.
3) OG - Arie Kouandjio, Ala
4) FS - Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss.
5 thru 7 for depth or applied to move up in draft. ( including any possible pick from trading Langford).
Should Barksdale not return, I would not hesitate filling RT with Greg Robinson. Its also past time to move Saffold to the position where he has looked best, RG.
Hopefully Mariota would get a year on the bench behind Bradford, but should Bradford go down again, at least we have his permanent replacement ready to go. Settling our Center position must be near the top of our priority list if the O-Line is going to make strides in the future. Improvement on the D-Line, LB corps & secondary all addressed, while the youngsters continue to gather experience. JMO
First off, Fisher gets another season. Can't fire a guy with such a young team who also loses his star QB & LDE. As for our OC, that's another matter imo, regardless whether the team tanks with a 3 - 13 or a 7 - 9 record.
I may be in the minority here, but I cut and attempt to re-sign Sam Bradford to a two year, $10.mil. fully guaranteed contact ( $5.mil.per). Should Sam get & stay healthy, prove to turn his career around in 2015, not only do we benefit from his veteran abilities immediately ( I realize this is arguable among many ), but we substantially increase his 2016 trade value.
For many years now I have advocated moving James Laurinaitis outside, 2015 finally gets it done.
Cuts : Center Wells as well as either Jones or Barnes go. OLB JoLonn Dunbar, OG Davin Joseph, QB Hill are all history. Trade or cut outright DT Langford.
Re-sign : TE's Kendricks & Harkey, WR's Britt & Pettis, P Hekker, QB Davis as our # 3. Attempt to re-sign RT Barksdale, although wouldn't be surprised if he out prices his value to the rams.
Based on previously mentioned cuts and re-signing Bradford, i've roughly estimated 2015 CAP savings at approximately $24.mil., give or take, including dead money and depending on guys like Barksdale/Pead and a few others not yet mentioned being let go or brought back. Additional costs will result in those already mentioned Rams free agents who will be returning. Besides this, the 2015 league-wide total CAP allowance should rise as the new NFL/TV rights contracts kicks in next year, probably growing at a pace at least as large as last seasons $10.mil. raise in the CAP. The Rams 2015 CAP space should be larger than anytime in the teams recent past, ... this is a testimony to our excellent front office team management. So, imagine our Rams with as much young talent as we shall be returning, and possibly as much as $35mil. in additional spendable dollars to be applied to the 2015 draft class, and improving depth with some solid veteran free agents. Fishers reluctance in previous years to rely on highly rated free agents may take a back seat to his going into his 4'th year with several consecutive losing seasons.
Outside 2015 free agents :
I have 4 key positions, but mention 6 choices listed as areas for primary immediate improvement :
MLB - Brandon Spikes, Buf.
CENTER - Brian de la Puente, Chi. or Stefen Wisniewski, Cin.
DT - Terrance Knighton, Den. or (Yes, I would pay big for these next 2) Nick Fairly, Det./ Gerald McCoy, TB.
FS - Rahim Moore, Den. or Stevie Brown, NYG. or Louis Delmas, Mia. or Devin McCourty, NE.
LG - Mike Iupati, SF.
CB - Bryan Maxwell, Sea. or Chris Harris, Den.
2015 NFL Draft :
1) QB - Marcus Mariota, Or.
2) C - Reese Dismukes, Aub.
3) OG - Arie Kouandjio, Ala
4) FS - Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss.
5 thru 7 for depth or applied to move up in draft. ( including any possible pick from trading Langford).
Should Barksdale not return, I would not hesitate filling RT with Greg Robinson. Its also past time to move Saffold to the position where he has looked best, RG.
Hopefully Mariota would get a year on the bench behind Bradford, but should Bradford go down again, at least we have his permanent replacement ready to go. Settling our Center position must be near the top of our priority list if the O-Line is going to make strides in the future. Improvement on the D-Line, LB corps & secondary all addressed, while the youngsters continue to gather experience. JMO
