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- Aug 5, 2021
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- Kupped
I think the roster is in really good shape in many ways going into next season and the Rams can easily answer most of the big questions by re-signing their own guys.
We've seen the rams CAN open up $100 million in CAP space.. the question is will they? Les Snead has indicated there will not be many restructures, but do we really know what that means to him? And was he even factoring in extensions for Stafford and Donald in that calculus? Remains to be seen. We also know the Rams have basically planned to lose some players this offseason based on recent drafts, which is why many of us on here plan on saying goodbye to the much-loved Darious Williams and Sebastian Joseph-Day. Robert Rochell and Bobby Brown will be counted on to make real steps next season, especially RR.
I'm not sure I feel as great about the in-house options for Guard and Center right now, so we'll see what happens with Brian Allen and Austin Corbett. I think we all assume Noteboom is coming back, unless he gets some RIDICULOUS offer from outside.
So.. where we at?
(I'm considering guys who are RFAs or ERFAs to be part of the roster at this point, because the Rams control them)
QB
Matt Stafford.. exceptional and a legit MVP candidate. Wolford may or may not be around and Perkins has stuck around for a couple of seasons. I'm very interested if a young vet who has failed shakes loose who may be considered.. or if the Rams take a swing at a prospect in the draft.
RB
Akers, Henderson and Funk are the only "for sure" guys returning, imo. There are so many injury questions between the three of them that I think drafting an RB is probably a fairly high priority. The upside is nice, but the floor is scary.
WR
The Golden God Cooper Kupp leads this unit. Bobby Woods will be back for the start of the season.. Van Jefferson is a very good #3 WR, but a questionable #3 target. Tutu had nice moments in preseason as a WR but the size question remains, especially after a year-ending injury. Skow is an excellent special teamer who needs to spend every waking moment with a juggs machine this offseason if he wants to make an impact as a WR. Jacob Harris a raw, raw prospect with interesting skills. Odell remains an option, but there's no way he's ready for the start of the season and I think mid-November is more likely.
LT
Noteboom is the presumed starter so I'm putting him here even if he's a FA. David Edwards was the #3 LT this season and has all the physical tools for the position. He may be the dark horse here. Alaric Jackson has fantastic size and put up a good performance against Vikings backup edge rushers. The best case scenario is decent, but I'm not afraid of the floor after seeing Edwards take a few snaps there.
LG
Edwards is the starter and Shelton was a backup there this season. I think they need to bring in an IOL with their 3rd or 4th round pick.. this could be a converted tackle.
Center
Right now? It's Coleman Shelton. Either you bring Allen back, or bring in another Center in the draft.
RG
Right now it would probably be Shelton or Evans.. and maybe Anchrum and Brewer are fighting for a spot. Not sure if there's any chance Jackson can compete here. As I said, they need to bring in some bodies in the draft.
RT
Hav... a beast this year. Fantastic. Noteboom was #2 and Evans #3.. Maybe Jackson moves up to the Swing spot.
TE
Higbee, Blanton, Hopkins.
Higs is a beast.. Blanton wasn't terrible and Hopkins showed a pulse in the SB. Would love to see them draft a size/speed prospect in the mid-late rounds to compete for the true #2 spot.. since Hopkins is more of a pure "move" TE.
Far fewer questions for the D.
DL
Aaron Fucking Donald, Greg Gaines, A'Shawn Robinson, Marquise Copeland, Bobby Brown & Michael Hoecht. Just a HELL of a group. Might want to take a flyer on a late round guy because Gaines is going into FA year, but you could stand pat.
Edge
Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins, Terrell Lewis, Chris Garrett.. I think that's it? MUST bring back Miller.. and maybe draft a developmental guy.
ILB
Jones, Reeder, Howard, Rozeboom. You would be just fine bringing this group back, imo.. because Jones would be starting from game one. But you'd probably like to draft a guy to see if he could beat out Reeder.
Safety
Scott, Rapp, Fuller, Burgess. Burgess just hasn't shown anything.. you'll need to draft one.
Corner
Jalen Ramsey, Rochell, David Long Jr.
Need to draft at least one corner fairly high to fight RR and long for playing time. I'd probably draft 2.
KR
Brando Powell is a UFA.. but I'd love to keep him.
The Rams are in a pretty damn good spot to make another run at the Super Bowl.
Good news on the coaching front is that Morris gets a second year and they kept Henderson.
Also.. had to hire a new OC, but its' someone who they're very familiar with and excited to bring back in Coen. All good things.
If the Rams get some growth from young players and hit on one draft pick as well as they hit on Jones last year or Fuller the year before, they'll be in really, really good shape, imo.
We've seen the rams CAN open up $100 million in CAP space.. the question is will they? Les Snead has indicated there will not be many restructures, but do we really know what that means to him? And was he even factoring in extensions for Stafford and Donald in that calculus? Remains to be seen. We also know the Rams have basically planned to lose some players this offseason based on recent drafts, which is why many of us on here plan on saying goodbye to the much-loved Darious Williams and Sebastian Joseph-Day. Robert Rochell and Bobby Brown will be counted on to make real steps next season, especially RR.
I'm not sure I feel as great about the in-house options for Guard and Center right now, so we'll see what happens with Brian Allen and Austin Corbett. I think we all assume Noteboom is coming back, unless he gets some RIDICULOUS offer from outside.
So.. where we at?
(I'm considering guys who are RFAs or ERFAs to be part of the roster at this point, because the Rams control them)
QB
Matt Stafford.. exceptional and a legit MVP candidate. Wolford may or may not be around and Perkins has stuck around for a couple of seasons. I'm very interested if a young vet who has failed shakes loose who may be considered.. or if the Rams take a swing at a prospect in the draft.
RB
Akers, Henderson and Funk are the only "for sure" guys returning, imo. There are so many injury questions between the three of them that I think drafting an RB is probably a fairly high priority. The upside is nice, but the floor is scary.
WR
The Golden God Cooper Kupp leads this unit. Bobby Woods will be back for the start of the season.. Van Jefferson is a very good #3 WR, but a questionable #3 target. Tutu had nice moments in preseason as a WR but the size question remains, especially after a year-ending injury. Skow is an excellent special teamer who needs to spend every waking moment with a juggs machine this offseason if he wants to make an impact as a WR. Jacob Harris a raw, raw prospect with interesting skills. Odell remains an option, but there's no way he's ready for the start of the season and I think mid-November is more likely.
LT
Noteboom is the presumed starter so I'm putting him here even if he's a FA. David Edwards was the #3 LT this season and has all the physical tools for the position. He may be the dark horse here. Alaric Jackson has fantastic size and put up a good performance against Vikings backup edge rushers. The best case scenario is decent, but I'm not afraid of the floor after seeing Edwards take a few snaps there.
LG
Edwards is the starter and Shelton was a backup there this season. I think they need to bring in an IOL with their 3rd or 4th round pick.. this could be a converted tackle.
Center
Right now? It's Coleman Shelton. Either you bring Allen back, or bring in another Center in the draft.
RG
Right now it would probably be Shelton or Evans.. and maybe Anchrum and Brewer are fighting for a spot. Not sure if there's any chance Jackson can compete here. As I said, they need to bring in some bodies in the draft.
RT
Hav... a beast this year. Fantastic. Noteboom was #2 and Evans #3.. Maybe Jackson moves up to the Swing spot.
TE
Higbee, Blanton, Hopkins.
Higs is a beast.. Blanton wasn't terrible and Hopkins showed a pulse in the SB. Would love to see them draft a size/speed prospect in the mid-late rounds to compete for the true #2 spot.. since Hopkins is more of a pure "move" TE.
Far fewer questions for the D.
DL
Aaron Fucking Donald, Greg Gaines, A'Shawn Robinson, Marquise Copeland, Bobby Brown & Michael Hoecht. Just a HELL of a group. Might want to take a flyer on a late round guy because Gaines is going into FA year, but you could stand pat.
Edge
Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins, Terrell Lewis, Chris Garrett.. I think that's it? MUST bring back Miller.. and maybe draft a developmental guy.
ILB
Jones, Reeder, Howard, Rozeboom. You would be just fine bringing this group back, imo.. because Jones would be starting from game one. But you'd probably like to draft a guy to see if he could beat out Reeder.
Safety
Scott, Rapp, Fuller, Burgess. Burgess just hasn't shown anything.. you'll need to draft one.
Corner
Jalen Ramsey, Rochell, David Long Jr.
Need to draft at least one corner fairly high to fight RR and long for playing time. I'd probably draft 2.
KR
Brando Powell is a UFA.. but I'd love to keep him.
The Rams are in a pretty damn good spot to make another run at the Super Bowl.
Good news on the coaching front is that Morris gets a second year and they kept Henderson.
Also.. had to hire a new OC, but its' someone who they're very familiar with and excited to bring back in Coen. All good things.
If the Rams get some growth from young players and hit on one draft pick as well as they hit on Jones last year or Fuller the year before, they'll be in really, really good shape, imo.
