Dotson and a contract

[dang]

They might be tired of carting huge amounts of dead money (via Goff and Gurley and Floyd and Miller). I'm all for "don't overpay" but sometimes you have to do that. Not for a G though. Overpay Kupp. Overpay Donald. Overpay Stafford. Don't overpay your RG. The highest paid guard is the guy from Indianapolis? When was the last time they were in a Superbowl?

So Rams have to decide if they want to pay $20m for one starter or $20m for 2 starters ($10m each). They have a lot of open positions so I’m leaning towards the latter.

 

[PARAM]

Actually, it was Allen Robinson who was signed right after Miller went to Buffalo; and Wagner was signed a couple weeks later but your thought is still the same.

And that's the kind of stuff @dieterbrock has suggested they've stopped doing. Like if somebody signs Dotson on March 14th, the Rams aren't going to give Coleman Shelton 17 mil per on March 15th. Another thing that may be changing is after seeing how well they've done the last couple of drafts, they might start using their 1st round picks instead of trading them away. Jackson Powers-Johnson, Byron Murphy, one of the top 3 WRs or top 3 Edge if they drop to #19 would do the trick.

 

[PARAM]

So Rams have to decide if they want to pay $20m for one starter or $20m for 2 starters ($10m each). They have a lot of open positions so I’m leaning towards the latter.

I appreciate what Dotson did for the OL last year but when have the Rams (under McVay) paid huge money to OL free agents? Whitworth and Noteboom are the only two I can think of....and they were both for LT. And only one of them provided what they wanted.

 

[Psycho_X]

So Rams have to decide if they want to pay $20m for one starter or $20m for 2 starters ($10m each). They have a lot of open positions so I’m leaning towards the latter.

I would mostly agree with that ideology if we only had $20 million to spend but we don't. We have enough cap space and means of making more to have several top tier free agent signings and still grab half a dozen second tier if we wanted to.

 

[Londoner]

We have enough cap space and means of making more to have several top tier free agent signings and still grab half a dozen second tier if we wanted to.

No we don't.

While I agree with you that signing Dotson should be our number one priority in free agency, once we sign him and secure our other guys already on the roster, we need to also set aside money for this year's draft class. That means we won't have much left for many more FA signings- maybe one more top tier or two second tier guys.

 

[dang]

I would mostly agree with that ideology if we only had $20 million to spend but we don't. We have enough cap space and means of making more to have several top tier free agent signings and still grab half a dozen second tier if we wanted to.

In another post I suggested there are 12 open starting positions for the Rams this year. Not going to do the breakdown again but the point is they are not 2-3 players away from filling their lineup. FA, Draft and Roster Promotions have a lot of ground to cover. Stafford being the exception- no one big signing under McVay put the Rams in contention. It was the signing of multiple players in key positions.

 

[Allen2McVay]

And that's the kind of stuff @dieterbrock has suggested they've stopped doing. Like if somebody signs Dotson on March 14th, the Rams aren't going to give Coleman Shelton 17 mil per on March 15th. Another thing that may be changing is after seeing how well they've done the last couple of drafts, they might start using their 1st round picks instead of trading them away. Jackson Powers-Johnson, Byron Murphy, one of the top 3 WRs or top 3 Edge if they drop to #19 would do the trick.

I don't know this @dieterbrock guy but he sounds Wonderful!

 

[Psycho_X]

No we don't.

While I agree with you that signing Dotson should be our number one priority in free agency, once we sign him and secure our other guys already on the roster, we need to also set aside money for this year's draft class. That means we won't have much left for many more FA signings- maybe one more top tier or two second tier guys.

Sure we do, most FA signings have significant smaller cap hits the first several years compared to overall average. There's ways to make it happen. There's always some good and cheap second tier guys out there come April/May. Rams should grab the one or two studs they want and then fill in with the second or even third tier of free agency and the draft.

In another post I suggested there are 12 open starting positions for the Rams this year. Not going to do the breakdown again but the point is they are not 2-3 players away from filling their lineup. FA, Draft and Roster Promotions have a lot of ground to cover. Stafford being the exception- no one big signing under McVay put the Rams in contention. It was the signing of multiple players in key positions.

Some of those will be in house fills but yeah we have some holes to fill. It comes down to what you're more comfortable with trusting draft picks to do. For me, I don't want to rely on draft picks to keep Stafford clean and thus the whole offense working. Yes I want a top CB, edge rusher, etc and want to do everything possible to get that done but at the end of the day having an average defense with a well protected Stafford vs. a good/great defense with a backup QB... the choice is easy for me.

 

[Merlin]

Nobody wants to "overpay" for inside olineman until their QB is getting his ass kicked or on IR. This team doesn't make the playoffs with pressure in Stafford's face all game long. Compare 2022 to 2023 and tell me what you'd pay to have one version over another. And that's not even taking into account the road grading in the run game Dotson provided. Obviously there is a limit to the possible free agent madness that might happen but come on. Stafford's protection is the #1 priority for us to win another Super Bowl. I'd rather keep a known commodity than drafting someone and praying they don't get Stafford killed.

His demands may be insane. Who knows. But I agree that getting him signed would be a big deal. I want them upgrading roster spots not re-plugging holes with these first four picks.

Feeling rather pessimistic on this happening but still hoping.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Nobody wants to "overpay" for inside olineman until their QB is getting his ass kicked or on IR. This team doesn't make the playoffs with pressure in Stafford's face all game long. Compare 2022 to 2023 and tell me what you'd pay to have one version over another. And that's not even taking into account the road grading in the run game Dotson provided. Obviously there is a limit to the possible free agent madness that might happen but come on. Stafford's protection is the #1 priority for us to win another Super Bowl. I'd rather keep a known commodity than drafting someone and praying they don't get Stafford killed.

As much as I want Dotson, if him and his agent are attempting to break the bank big time, then the Rams shouldn't give in just so keep him here. He literally had one good year. That's one hell of a risk to take. I understand he should get a pay raise, but to be amongst the highest paid guards is insane.

 

[Psycho_X]

His demands may be insane. Who knows. But I agree that getting him signed would be a big deal. I want them upgrading roster spots not re-plugging holes with these first four picks.

Feeling rather pessimistic on this happening but still hoping.

As much as I want Dotson, if him and his agent are attempting to break the bank big time, then the Rams shouldn't give in just so keep him here. He literally had one good year. That's one hell of a risk to take. I understand he should get a pay raise, but to be amongst the highest paid guards is insane.

Yeah who knows, the demands may be unacceptable. We don't know yet, I'm going off the assumption they won't be ridiculous. I'm expecting a top 10 guard salary but not resetting the market. But who knows with the crazy cap increase.

 

[PARAM]

Sure we do, most FA signings have significant smaller cap hits the first several years compared to overall average. There's ways to make it happen. There's always some good and cheap second tier guys out there come April/May. Rams should grab the one or two studs they want and then fill in with the second or even third tier of free agency and the draft.

Some of those will be in house fills but yeah we have some holes to fill. It comes down to what you're more comfortable with trusting draft picks to do. For me, I don't want to rely on draft picks to keep Stafford clean and thus the whole offense working. Yes I want a top CB, edge rusher, etc and want to do everything possible to get that done but at the end of the day having an average defense with a well protected Stafford vs. a good/great defense with a backup QB... the choice is easy for me.

I didn't see Dang's post on the list of "open starting positions" but I can't believe there are actually 11 or 12.

LT (unless Alaric is resigned), C (unless Shelton is resigned), RG (unless Dotson is resigned). We have the starting QB, RB, 3 WRs, TE (Allen until Higbee heals). That's 3 on offense, 4 if you count Allen as unproven (I don't). On defense we need a CB, Edge and S. Perhaps ILB. That leaves 7 spots and 2 of those 5 can be settled by resigning 2 or our 3 FA O lineman. So with some fair negotiations, that would mean we need to find 5 in the draft or free agency.... IOL, CB, Edge, S and ILB. They seem to find competent S in the 6th and 7th round (good scouting?). Can they hit on two of those other 4 in the draft and two in free agency? Absolutely. And that's not counting any guys presently on the roster stepping up. Now if they can't sign Alaric and Shelton or Dotson, that may be the beginning of a problem. But unless you haven't been watching the last 7 years, these guys seem to get it done. Over and over and over.

 

[Rams43]

I don't think Munchak is still with the Rams staff

I read somewhere that Munchak is onboard this year again in some kind of ‘consultant’ capacity, same as last year.

His exact involvement was vague last year and it probably will be again this year.

I only mentioned his name because I didn’t want to deny him credit due. I think the lions share of the credit should go to Wendell, anyway.

I have no link to document what I just typed. Sorry.

But my larger point stands. These OL coaches under Wendell's direction completely turned around Rams OL, that’s undeniable, and I see no reason why they can’t again this year should we lose those 2 starters to FA.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Do not disagree. However, will there be a high-end Edge or Corner available for a Big-$ deal?

Burns, Josh Allen, Sneed and Jaylon Johnson all figure to be tagged.

Hunter will be available but he will cost more than Dotson.

I'd take Hunter at 21 over Dotson at 17 though. I'd take huff at 15-16 as well.

I don't think there will be any corners worth it unfortunately since Sneed and Johnson will be tagged before they're allowed to walk.

 

[Merlin]

ROLB, CB, sCB, S, 5T, WILB, RG, X WR. Way I see it roughly 8 spots need upgrades.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Apparently the Rams are trying to figure a way to keep Noteboom. I’m guessing at a lower number.

Let's hope they don't try and make him Dotson's replacement.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Nobody wants to "overpay" for inside olineman until their QB is getting his ass kicked or on IR. This team doesn't make the playoffs with pressure in Stafford's face all game long. Compare 2022 to 2023 and tell me what you'd pay to have one version over another. And that's not even taking into account the road grading in the run game Dotson provided. Obviously there is a limit to the possible free agent madness that might happen but come on. Stafford's protection is the #1 priority for us to win another Super Bowl. I'd rather keep a known commodity than drafting someone and praying they don't get Stafford killed.

This is the kind of fear based thinking that gets teams hurt though. Do we know that Stafford being healthy was completely because of Dotson? Stafford got hurt a lot in 2021 too and that was probably one of the best lines he's ever had. If the Rams decide not to pay Dotson , but sign a guy like Robert Hunt or Kevin zeitler or Dalton Risner for much cheaper I don't think the sky would fall.

 

[Ram_Rally]

I would mostly agree with that ideology if we only had $20 million to spend but we don't. We have enough cap space and means of making more to have several top tier free agent signings and still grab half a dozen second tier if we wanted to.

They really don't though. They have about 40 million in cap right now. About 12 needs to go to the draft class so that's 28 now. If you give Dotson 20 million you're left with 8 million. And I don't think they want to keep pushing the cap down the line. They might restructure Stafford but that's likely it.

 

[Londoner]

Robert Hunt or Kevin zeitler or Dalton Risner

Hunt: injured a lot
Zeitler: age
Risner: good in pass pro, but less good in the running game.

And they're all older than Dotson as well.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Hunt: injured a lot
Zeitler: age
Risner: good in pass pro, but less good in the running game.

And they're all older than Dotson as well.

We can do that with Dotson too though : one year of elite production.

It's all a bit of a gamble, IMO. I'd rather gamble on Dotson but not at the rumored price.