3 positions Rams must address this offseason

[Riverumbbq]

The Rams appear to be showing interest in speedy deep threat WR's which works towards Stafford's arm advantage. If we move in that direction and place less emphasis on drafting a TE high, it seems McVay may be prepared to move away from 12 personnel somewhat, although that could change if he finds a quality TE in free agency. jmo.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Daniel Jeremiah names two draft prospects Rams could target at No. 57

Daniel Jeremiah highlighted two prospects he could see fitting well for the Rams at No. 57 overall.

www.yahoo.com

Both are currently projected as day 3 picks.

 

[Merlin]

It was just days ago that many on this site were clamoring for a true #1 WR, someone who can consistently stretch the field on deep routes.

I think we should accept that a true #1 WR is not in the cards for us. And probably won't be until some date in the far future when we get to pick a lot earlier with our first selection.

Rams don't have the money for a #1 WR in FA either. It's not gonna happen. It's not even a consideration in fact IMO barring a weird situation like we had with Faulk which comes up once in a blue moon.

And that's ok. If they keep Woody & Kupp and restructure then Jefferson will probably compete with a rook in the slot and that's something we can get well into every draft. IMO focus on the waterbugs this year in the draft. That's the direction the Rams will go if they want more speed in this WR corps. They don't have much choice.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I think we should accept that a true #1 WR is not in the cards for us. And probably won't be until some date in the far future when we get to pick a lot earlier with our first selection.

Rams don't have the money for a #1 WR in FA either. It's not gonna happen. It's not even a consideration in fact IMO barring a weird situation like we had with Faulk which comes up once in a blue moon.

And that's ok. If they keep Woody & Kupp and restructure then Jefferson will probably compete with a rook in the slot and that's something we can get well into every draft. IMO focus on the waterbugs this year in the draft. That's the direction the Rams will go if they want more speed in this WR corps. They don't have much choice.

What fans clamor for is often unrealistic. My mock included a free agent #4 WR as more about the direction I was expecting myself, but the Rams may decide that the draft offers something closer to what they desire.

 

[Merlin]

What fans clamor for is often unrealistic. My mock included a free agent #4 WR as more about the direction I was expecting myself, but the Rams may decide that the draft offers something closer to what they desire.

You're right and I'm often unrealistic myself. But with the classic #1 WR we could also get into the question of whether they're worth it. In today's league you're gonna pay for that QB. Does it make sense to pay big cap space for a top WR who can be doubled and removed in a big game?

I'd rather have multiple matchup probs. And the Rams have followed that approach under McVay. They do need to get more threat though in that WR group I of course agree on that.

I just think you can get speed in the slot very cheap in this draft in that round 3 or 4 range. And keep these fine team-first receivers in Kupp & Woody and you get the best of both worlds. Well you at least get more speed added on top of guys who can separate for moving the chains. Plus Akers. Plus Stafford. I think that's enough for this offense to make a big jump provided they sort the line successfully.

Keep using Rodgers as an example of what I'm talking about and he's not the only slot type we can consider after all the earlier hubbub. There are some others who would be really nice fits and make our offense more explosive. But Rodgers is a good example because he's a slot guy who will go after all these other bigger and better athletes. And he'll hopefully go to the Rams and give us a boost.


View: https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1354539701076701187

 

[Riverumbbq]

Rams had pre-draft meeting with UCLA RB/WR Demetric Felton

The Rams are looking for playmakers in the draft, and Demetric Felton certainly is one.

www.yahoo.com

Another currently being projected as a day 3 prospect.

 

[Merlin]

By the way you guys can thank my post above for ensuring we find a true #1 WR this year in the draft somehow.

 

[JonRam99]

Geez the more I look at it, we got holes ever where. But top 3?
1. OC - no brainer. If we bring Blythe back, we've paid $1 too much. Gotta get one in F/A, draft, or move AC to OC & draft a stud RG.
2. TE - another area where our blocking was lackluster. Tired of watching our TE's whiff on a guy who tackles our RB at the LOS & backfield. Gotta get a stud TE who can catch AND block, wow what a concept... fix these two holes on our OL and we're in business. GB had NO holes on their OL, and ran us over.
3. OLB - our QB pressure off the edge was sad, and our best OLB (Floyd) is leaving, presumably. Gotta get an OLB who can also run down RB's on the edge, a sideline-to-sideline guy. I like Kizer, maybe he returns & shores up our run D, but to get deeper in the playoffs we gotta get stronger/faster at edge.

 

[Merlin]

TE can be a tough position to fill as demonstrated by our history at the position lol. Maybe if Friermuth falls to us, he's the type of young TE who might help a team his rookie season because he's pretty stout on the line. Unlikely though that he gets to us.

Of the FAs it's ugly. Henry is good all around but will be the belle of FA at the position so doubt we prioritize him because we have Higs. Smith is too much like Everett in his blocking. Everett we're letting go for a reason. Gronk is too old. Cook is a turd we know well.

I do like Arnold. He's got great size at 6'6". He played for the Cards last year and I'm sure he is looking forward to having a real QB throw to him. Here's his first TD, pretty fucking good grab by him and he played well for Arizona last year and he was soundly hyped this time last year. But again it just seems like we won't prioritize it due to other needs.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Ktz6ToX8U

 

[BonifayRam]

The Zach Ertz to just about any team with a top QB rumor has persisted for near on a month as he's apparently being highly recruited around the league. The team that gets him will likely want a predetermined extension worked out since he is due for free agency following the 2021 season.

Zach Ertz’s Eagles divorce is turning nasty (nypost.com)

Both the Eagles and Zach Ertz seemed to know a divorce was imminent at the end of a career-worst season for the Pro Bowl tight end.

Despite swirling reports last week that a trade was on the horizon as multiple teams had inquired about Ertz, there is still no deal in place because of Philadelphia’s reported asking price. The 30-year-old has become frustrated, according to NFL Network.

Reporter Tom Pelissero said Ertz has become “increasingly impatient” with the franchise as he attempts to have some input in where he plays next.

With free agency set to unofficially begin on Monday with the legal tampering period, the report says the Eagles are seeking a third- or fourth-round pick for Ertz, who is due almost $9 million in 2021 and holds a cap hit of over $12 million for next season.

The NFL report also says Philadelphia maintains they will not release Ertz, who had 36 catches for 366 yards and a touchdown while missing five games with an ankle injury in 2020.

 

[FrantikRam]

A 4'th round rookie mostly sitting for a season under McVay is no surprise to me. I believe they wanted to give Everett every last shot available to prove his value, but his drops hurt and his production didn't improve from the previous year.
Higbee wasn't bad at all imo, but he received about 30 less targets from the previous season. jmo.

Yep. SJD red shorted the whole year and people wrote him off. They drafted Hopkins to be the TE2. Mundt is a good TE3 (if we tender him). Higbee is about the 10th best TE in the league IMO which is just fine.

 

[Merlin]

The NFL report also says Philadelphia maintains they will not release Ertz, who had 36 catches for 366 yards and a touchdown while missing five games with an ankle injury in 2020.

The guy has a history of injury so I have a hard time believing any team is going to give Philly crazy picks for him. I presume they're gonna take the best offer on the board right before the draft but is making the guy wait until April really gonna net you that much more value?

I'm not following this or looking deep at it but from the outside it seems like they're being dicks.

 

[dieterbrock]

Yep. SJD red shorted the whole year and people wrote him off. They drafted Hopkins to be the TE2. Mundt is a good TE3 (if we tender him). Higbee is about the 10th best TE in the league IMO which is just fine.

You forgot the blue font in using SJD as an example

 

[FrantikRam]

You forgot the blue font in using SJD as an example

?

SJD was awesome this year.

 

[dieterbrock]

?

SJD was awesome this year.

He wasn’t red shirted as a rook, because he was a rook. Comparing his sitch to Hopkins is a joke

 

[FrantikRam]

He wasn’t red shirted as a rook, because he was a rook. Comparing his sitch to Hopkins is a joke

I don't understand what you're trying to say.

As rookies neither played. Snead even referenced at one point that SJD was "red shirted" IIRC.

Clearly they did the same thing this year with Hopkins.

Both guys had established players in front of them.

 

[dieterbrock]

I don't understand what you're trying to say.

As rookies neither played. Snead even referenced at one point that SJD was "red shirted" IIRC.

Clearly they did the same thing this year with Hopkins.

Both guys had established players in front of them.

Hopkins didn’t see the field as a 4th rounder when he was expected to see the snaps as a rookie. McVay plays his rookies right away and Hopkins MIA is a red flag. SJD was a 6th round project who wasn’t going to see the light of day.
apples and oranges.

 

[FrantikRam]

Hopkins didn’t see the field as a 4th rounder when he was expected to see the snaps as a rookie. McVay plays his rookies right away and Hopkins MIA is a red flag. SJD was a 6th round project who wasn’t going to see the light of day.
apples and oranges.

With Higbee, Everett and Mundt I never expected Hopkins to see the field. Said it would be a redshirt year pretty much from day one and I don't think it's a red flag at all - every situation is different.

 

[dieterbrock]

With Higbee, Everett and Mundt I never expected Hopkins to see the field. Said it would be a redshirt year pretty much from day one and I don't think it's a red flag at all - every situation is different.

A 4th rounder who McVay was excited about didnt have 1 reception. Thats a red flag. He plays all of his rookies right away, but not this guy.

 

[FrantikRam]

A 4th rounder who McVay was excited about didnt have 1 reception. Thats a red flag. He plays all of his rookies right away, but not this guy.

Agree to disagree. I didn't expect him to catch a single pass last year.