Are the Rams Talking/Negotiating with ANY Free Agents?

[PARAM]

They made 3 important, impactful moves.
Acquiring Stafford
Re-signing Floyd
Tendering DWill

and they didn't have to release anybody except for that weak trade of Brockers, which was as much his choice as theirs and understandable with the cap situation.

So now they can tweak the roster where they can.......restructure this guy, sign that guy......release this guy, sign that guy. They have 4 important draft choices to make, one of which should be a starting center. There's time and opportunity for a 10 win team that didn't lose many top level players, who's replacement isn't already on the roster.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

No cap room. This is what happens when we overpay for Gurley, Woods, and Kupp.

How much should Woods or Kupp be making?

 

[dang]

It will be a mistake to start the season with Blythe at C. It simply doesn’t play into protecting their new gunslinger. And there is little chance that a rookie C at Round 2.57 or later would be able to start at center. So I’m interested in seeing what Plan B is.

 

[FrantikRam]

I figured we would sit the first few days out while asking prices come down.

What's unfortunate is that there aren't many good center options left. David Andrews seems like the last best hope

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Like most years Snead will shore up all weaknesses or holes in free agency so that they are not obviously picking any one position in the draft.

They will likely resign Hill since he’s not garnering first round of free agency attention. Maybe they’d sign a linebacker if they identify one as an upgrade over what they have. And they will likely sign a Center, even if it’s Blythe because if they don’t, then every team will figure the Rams main target in the draft will be center.

 

[FrantikRam]

Also, seems like as good a place as any to recap so far:

Gaining - Stafford

Losing - Goff, Brown, Reynolds, Everett, Mundt, Blythe, Brockers, Fox, Ebukam, JJ, Hill

All of those guys were active on game days, so that's more than 20% of our game day roster from last year (assuming that Reynolds, Blythe and Hill leave)

Replacements:

Brown - Xavier Jones or future UDFA - Akers can do the short yardage work so don't necessarily need a power back, but I'd bet we pick up an UDFA. Level of concern - zero. RBs will be better next year.

Reynolds - Van - and then a FA or draft pick for depth. Level of concern - low.

Everett - Hopkins - and FA or draft pick for Mundt - Everett was one of the worst TEs in the league last year with his drops. Hopkins will just need to not be terrible to be an upgrade over last year. Level of concern - low.

Blythe - Corbett, then Evans to guard - or hopefully a FA and draft pick. Level of concern - high - this is the weakest position on the team right now.

Brockers/Fox - A'Shawn/PS DL - starters are good. Are the PS DL players good enough to be in the rotation? Level of concern - low. Robinson and SJD are average to above average on their own - we pay AD to level other guys up. Roll with the PS guys as depth.

Ebukam - Lewis/Hollins - Ebukam was worse than both last year, zero concerns - but do need more depth here considering Lewis's injuries.

JJ/Hill - Rapp/Burgess/Long, then backfill depth with Hughes and Deayon. Again, we pay Ramsey to bring some of these guys up and he has a stud across from him in Williams. Level of concern - low.



Needs based on my concerns:

C
ILB
WR
EDGE
DL
CB
TE

TE could be UDFA competition, do I'd focus the draft picks on those positions if we don't sign any FAs. Hopefully we get Andrews - that'd make this list much easier to handle.

 

[PARAM]

How much should Woods or Kupp be making?

What's the going rate for 1,000 yard receivers who run great routes, have great hands and are an integral part of the run game with their phenominal blocking?

 

[dieterbrock]

Also, seems like as good a place as any to recap so far:

Gaining - Stafford

Losing - Goff, Brown, Reynolds, Everett, Mundt, Blythe, Brockers, Fox, Ebukam, JJ, Hill

All of those guys were active on game days, so that's more than 20% of our game day roster from last year (assuming that Reynolds, Blythe and Hill leave)

Replacements:

Brown - Xavier Jones or future UDFA - Akers can do the short yardage work so don't necessarily need a power back, but I'd bet we pick up an UDFA. Level of concern - zero. RBs will be better next year.

Reynolds - Van - and then a FA or draft pick for depth. Level of concern - low.

Everett - Hopkins - and FA or draft pick for Mundt - Everett was one of the worst TEs in the league last year with his drops. Hopkins will just need to not be terrible to be an upgrade over last year. Level of concern - low.

Blythe - Corbett, then Evans to guard - or hopefully a FA and draft pick. Level of concern - high - this is the weakest position on the team right now.

Brockers/Fox - A'Shawn/PS DL - starters are good. Are the PS DL players good enough to be in the rotation? Level of concern - low. Robinson and SJD are average to above average on their own - we pay AD to level other guys up. Roll with the PS guys as depth.

Ebukam - Lewis/Hollins - Ebukam was worse than both last year, zero concerns - but do need more depth here considering Lewis's injuries.

JJ/Hill - Rapp/Burgess/Long, then backfill depth with Hughes and Deayon. Again, we pay Ramsey to bring some of these guys up and he has a stud across from him in Williams. Level of concern - low.



Needs based on my concerns:

C
ILB
WR
EDGE
DL
CB
TE

TE could be UDFA competition, do I'd focus the draft picks on those positions if we don't sign any FAs. Hopefully we get Andrews - that'd make this list much easier to handle.

Great post, probably should be its own thread!
I like the stock up or down by position, keeps it all in perspective as its not a static situation and can change

 

[Ramon Ram]

I'd also like to see the restructures and where is Staffords? He needs to work something out and I'm sure that was discussed in Mexico. He should be at Brady discount mindset if he really wants to win. Whats our cap number now?

I saw where Cincy's offer to Golladay was a 1 year prove it deal. Let's see what happens on his visit to Giants. We should be able to get creative with him if he doesn't get big bucks from Giants.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Also, seems like as good a place as any to recap so far:

Replacements:

Brown - Xavier Jones or future UDFA - Akers can do the short yardage work so don't necessarily need a power back, but I'd bet we pick up an UDFA. Level of concern - zero. RBs will be better next year.

Blythe - Corbett, then Evans to guard - or hopefully a FA and draft pick. Level of concern - high - this is the weakest position on the team right now.

Brockers/Fox - A'Shawn/PS DL - starters are good. Are the PS DL players good enough to be in the rotation? Level of concern - low. Robinson and SJD are average to above average on their own - we pay AD to level other guys up. Roll with the PS guys as depth.



Needs based on my concerns:

C
ILB
WR
EDGE
DL
CB
TE

Hopefully we get Andrews

Nice job, only a couple areas I might alter some :

While Akers likely can handle some short yardage work, I'd prefer to save his body from unnecessary torment and would like to see a big short yardage specialist and quality blocker added. Akers is going to be our workhorse, lets keep him healthy for the long haul.

Evans starting at RG is quite worrisome for me and we may already have better alternatives on the roster.

Aaron Donald isn't getting any younger, and while I like Robinson, SJD & Gaines for most of the interior work, a quality 5T DE with a known ability to pass rush can absorb some of those double/triple teams which Donald must endure regularly. If the Rams can upgrade on Fox, the entire defensive front 7 will become more dangerous.

My order of concern :

C
DE
CB
ILB
#4 WR
HB
TE
Edge

jmo.

 

[OldSchool]

According to this we've opened up some cap space, $7.6 million is the number cited.

View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/1372558016189452290?


The site Spotrac says our rookie class will cost us just under $6 million. As things stand no we're not negotiating with anybody.

 

[ottoman89]

According to this we've opened up some cap space, $7.6 million is the number cited.

View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/1372558016189452290?


The site Spotrac says our rookie class will cost us just under $6 million. As things stand no we're not negotiating with anybody.

Honestly, I thought we were going to be sitting way better than I thought.. and we're way worse than I thought.

 

[André]

Still the possibility of a restructure from Stafford. Should be an easy discussion:

"Hey Matt, as it stands you are looking at Brian Allen or a rookie as your center. If you restructure, we'll look at Andrews. Your call."

"What do I have to sign?"

 

[12intheBox]

Honestly, I thought we were going to be sitting way better than I thought.. and we're way worse than I thought.

Thats a lot of thinking

 

[Merlin]

Honestly, I thought we were going to be sitting way better than I thought.. and we're way worse than I thought.

They can still extend Stafford whenever they want can't they.

What is really interesting to me here too is that they have almost completely gotten out of their cap problems. These two offseasons are basically a mobile rebuild where they replaced the QB, RB, rebuilt the secondary and they may still finish what could be a retooling of the OL. Gurley comes off the books when, after this season? Cooks too if memory serves.

If this group of FAs all show well next season they might actually be in a great spot this time next year minus that first round pick.

 

[FaulkSF]

According to this we've opened up some cap space, $7.6 million is the number cited.

View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/1372558016189452290?


The site Spotrac says our rookie class will cost us just under $6 million. As things stand no we're not negotiating with anybody.

More cap room can be created through cutting Kenny Young, Demby and restructuring Donald yet again. About 3M for Young and Demby.

 

[Merlin]

Still the possibility of a restructure from Stafford. Should be an easy discussion:

"Hey Matt, as it stands you are looking at Brian Allen or a rookie as your center. If you restructure, we'll look at Andrews. Your call."

"What do I have to sign?"

As funny as this is--and I think it is because I had a good laugh when I read it--it's probably relatively close to the truth. So maybe fixing the OL last to include the redo of Stafford's contract is the plan. Or maybe they do that next offseason to get a boost in cash for the FA period.

 

[OldSchool]

More cap room can be created through cutting Kenny Young, Demby and restructuring Donald yet again. About 3M for Young and Demby.

Absolutely can by the cuts don't know about a 2nd on AD. Allen also can be cut. Point is right now we don't have cap space to sign much of anything since the vet minimum is at least the $675k it was last year.

 

[Merlin]

Needs based on my concerns:

C
ILB
WR
EDGE
DL
CB
TE

My order of concern :

C
DE
CB
ILB
#4 WR
HB
TE
Edge

I think both those lists are pretty good tbh. I'll add that IF we lose Hill then CB is elevated. From that point they might use FA to fill it too since slot corners are way cheaper than outside the hash types. Plus their picks are limited even when you add a 3rd or 4th rounder with an assumed trade-down.

I don't really care which "vet" Center they sign because I think our future is in the draft. Whoever it is will be a fallback. Rams are planning to do what Snead insinuated wasn't likely because they have a QB who can handle an inexperienced pivot. They interviewed Meinerz twice and I'm sure they've done the same with guys like Drake and Myers. I think Center will be drafted, probably not at 57 but somewhere in that round 3 or 4 range. Stafford will be tasked with helping him mature quickly on the calls. Lastly we're going to see focus change from the "cerebral" types who are low on talent to the more talented guys who are lower on the cerebral scale as part of that QB change.

5T is now a top 3 need IMO. I could be wrong here but I don't think so. Robinson did not show much last year so I think it is unlikely the Rams view him as some sort of answer. I doubt they allow him to set them up to where they enter the season with him as the guy. There are some big rangy types in this draft, not a lot of them but there's some guys who can come in and make us better over the tackle. It's a key spot in run defense and won't be overlooked.

And then I think McVay will want a "toy" for his offense. I expect it will come in the form of a wideout at some point in this draft. ILB and TE are those positions that fall by the wayside again barring a key guy they like being in their face when they're on the clock.

Lastly I'll finish with the disclaimer that I always predict wrong with the Rams in the draft. Well usually. So expect them to not do what I suggest above.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I think both those lists are pretty good tbh. I'll add that IF we lose Hill then CB is elevated. From that point they might use FA to fill it too since slot corners are way cheaper than outside the hash types. Plus their picks are limited even when you add a 3rd or 4th rounder with an assumed trade-down.

I don't really care which "vet" Center they sign because I think our future is in the draft. Whoever it is will be a fallback. Rams are planning to do what Snead insinuated wasn't likely because they have a QB who can handle an inexperienced pivot. They interviewed Meinerz twice and I'm sure they've done the same with guys like Drake and Myers. I think Center will be drafted, probably not at 57 but somewhere in that round 3 or 4 range. Stafford will be tasked with helping him mature quickly on the calls. Lastly we're going to see focus change from the "cerebral" types who are low on talent to the more talented guys who are lower on the cerebral scale as part of that QB change.

5T is now a top 3 need IMO. I could be wrong here but I don't think so. Robinson did not show much last year so I think it is unlikely the Rams view him as some sort of answer. I doubt they allow him to set them up to where they enter the season with him as the guy. There are some big rangy types in this draft, not a lot of them but there's some guys who can come in and make us better over the tackle. It's a key spot in run defense and won't be overlooked.

And then I think McVay will want a "toy" for his offense. I expect it will come in the form of a wideout at some point in this draft. ILB and TE are those positions that fall by the wayside again barring a key guy they like being in their face when they're on the clock.

Lastly I'll finish with the disclaimer that I always predict wrong with the Rams in the draft. Well usually. So expect them to not do what I suggest above.

I'm already considering Hill as a goner just because we've officially entered the new season and he's no longer on the team. Fox went cheaper than I expected and am surprised the Rams wouldn't match his salary, he'd have expanded on his previously limited snaps with Brockers now gone and his stat line would have grown because of it, now 5T is that much more critical. If they sign a vet Center, I do care who it is, and he better not be named Blythe, and now that we've remained out of the Lindsley/Hudson sweepstakes, the draft is looking more and more probable for a future Center. My question is if we remain 'in-house', who starts on opening day 2021 ? Corbett, Allen, Shelton ?