Free Agency Primer

[Elmgrovegnome]

Humphries isn't the top rated Center in this draft. Depending on which draft service you look at, he's around the 3rd or 4th best Center.

When I look, tho, I see the kind of Center the Rams need, even as he's not the top rated Center.

And I'd be surprised if Humphries goes earlier than round 3 because SO MANY folks who had monster years in 2019 and couldn't play will be intermingled with the folks who showed out this year.

This draft is almost like a double draft in a lot of ways and the value in rounds 2-5 will be enormous for teams with solid scouting units like ours...

I think he will move up draft boards. The ranking services don’t have a good finger on this draft with shortened college seasons and now the lack of a combine. He’s too good to last that long imo.

one thing to keep in mind is that McVay wants Olinemen with good lateral agility to play in the ZBS. I have not really looked at all Center prospects. So I’m not claiming if any possess that ability.

 

[Merlin]

Last year the early mocks were all over Biadasz's nuts and some had him going in the first round. After word started filtering out that he had a shitty season (the moving up and down on the big board stuff is just media types realizing their board is out of whack with teams) things changed and he ended up going where he should which is in the midrounds.

I think the key with the Centers is two things. How quickly can they start and what's their upside. The guys who can start immediately are coveted and it's hard for us to evaluate that because a lot of that projection is the mental side where the teams get to interview them and their coaching staffs in college. Can they make the reads and all that because there's a lot of QBs who struggle to read protections in the NFL so having a smart pivot is a big advantage there if you don't have a QB who has all that figured out.

If we go forward with Goff (which is what I think will happen) the mental side is going to be important for identifying the Center because Goff will go into camp needing to make more progress in pre-snap and protection reads. So if the Center can help there that's a good thing. But if they plan on going with someone else and in particular a vet who has a handle on all that maybe the mental side isn't so crucial hard to say.

 

[dang]

Last year the early mocks were all over Biadasz's nuts and some had him going in the first round. After word started filtering out that he had a shitty season (the moving up and down on the big board stuff is just media types realizing their board is out of whack with teams) things changed and he ended up going where he should which is in the midrounds.

I think the key with the Centers is two things. How quickly can they start and what's their upside. The guys who can start immediately are coveted and it's hard for us to evaluate that because a lot of that projection is the mental side where the teams get to interview them and their coaching staffs in college. Can they make the reads and all that because there's a lot of QBs who struggle to read protections in the NFL so having a smart pivot is a big advantage there if you don't have a QB who has all that figured out.

If we go forward with Goff (which is what I think will happen) the mental side is going to be important for identifying the Center because Goff will go into camp needing to make more progress in pre-snap and protection reads. So if the Center can help there that's a good thing. But if they plan on going with someone else and in particular a vet who has a handle on all that maybe the mental side isn't so crucial hard to say.

That’s why I want a FA. someone who has proven skill in the NFL. I am biased and hard headed but IMO the Rams 2 biggest needs are OC and ILB. I can’t stand thinking they don’t improve these 2 positions next year. I’d rather see a different position struggle than the see the same struggles at OC/ILB next year. Bye Bye Blythe and Young. Reeder take a seat on the bench we may need you to fill in.

 

[PressureD41]

I'm w/ @dang on this one. Get me a mid range FA Centre that can give us 3-4 good years, & add a really tough 2 down run stuffer since we normally takeout a ILB on passing downs anyways. The chances (%) of landing a true 3 down ILB where we are drafting this draft is pretty low. And as @BonifayRam said in a different threat most of our OLmen contracts end after next season, therefore we can expect to add 2-3 OL picks this draft along w/ ILB & CB. Maybe Les doesn't move around as much and attempts to land a few guys that can "for sure" start within 1-2 years. Plays it a little more safer "this draft year". I wonder openly is all I'm saying

 

[CGI_Ram]

Get me a mid range FA Centre that can give us 3-4 good years

Cosign. If the team wants to upgrade at C... I‘d feel waaaay more comfortable with an experienced guy. Even a less proven guy could work if a few years out of college.

 

[Tano]

That’s why I want a FA. someone who has proven skill in the NFL. I am biased and hard headed but IMO the Rams 2 biggest needs are OC and ILB. I can’t stand thinking they don’t improve these 2 positions next year. I’d rather see a different position struggle than the see the same struggles at OC/ILB next year. Bye Bye Blythe and Young. Reeder take a seat on the bench we may need you to fill in.

Reeder is okay if Donald is 100% healthy. If not, Reeder is terrible. Showed that in the Green Bay game. They kept getting additional yards after first contact.