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Rams 'definitely planning to be active' in free agency
The Rams will be looking to add a veteran receiver and DeSean Jackson could fit their bill. Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire
By Alden Gonzalez
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Los Angeles Rams are "definitely planning to be active" in free agency this offseason, their sixth-year general manager, Les Snead, said from the scouting combine on Thursday.
To what extent remains to be seen.
"You have to wait to see how the process goes and see who goes off the board, what they get paid, and do they factor into your big picture," Snead said. "But I definitely think we need to use free agency to supplement our roster."
The Rams built primarily through the draft in Snead's previous five years as GM, which came with Jeff Fisher as the head coach. They consistently rolled out the NFL's youngest roster throughout that time, allocating minimal dollars to veteran players from the outside. The Rams spent just over $131 million on free agents over the last three years, ranked 23rd in the NFL, and a lot of that was a product of extending their own.
But now they're entering a draft with only one pick within the first 68 selections and have a desire to inject their roster with veteran players. They were scheduled to have just shy of $40 million in salary cap space, but unless an extension is reached by the middle of July, nearly half of that will be spent on a second franchise tag for cornerback Trumaine Johnson. Johnson, linebacker Mark Barron, receiver Tavon Austin and defensive tackle Michael Brockers are set to cost nearly $54 million towards the salary cap in 2017, making up about 32 percent of it all.
The Rams are expected to be heavily involved in the market for receivers, though Kenny Britt probably won't be back and Alshon Jeffery isn't expected to be pursued.
Snead said the Rams are "open to multiple positions" through free agency.
"Offensive side of the ball, even defense," Snead said. "We're moving to a 3-4. There's some positions we're adding to our defense we didn't have before. It's not just one position. It's multiple."
The Rams will need more help at linebacker, a position where only Alec Ogletree and Barron are solidified. They need to replenish some depth in their secondary, where strong safety T.J. McDonald is set to become an unrestricted free agent. They probably need a couple of receivers, and they need to figure out what to do with their offensive line. Snead said the Rams are "talking through" whether former No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson will remain at left tackle, though Snead added that Robinson's body type -- 6-foot-5, 332 pounds and athletic -- is a natural fit for the position.
New offensive line coach Aaron Kromer recently talked about how excited he was to take the job because the group he inherits is so young.
The Rams are still evaluating whether that means they'll stay in-house.
"It’s a puzzle that we’re trying to figure out now," Snead said. "But there’s definitely going to be some guys in-house that are in our lineup next year."
In free agency, the Rams will steer most of their focus towards a receiver group that includes DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Terrelle Pryor, Kenny Stills and Robert Woods. Two of the most prominent names on that list, Jackson and Garcon, played under new head coach Sean McVay with the Redskins and would certainly be open to reuniting with their former offensive coordinator. Garcon, a physical receiver with great route-running ability, could be particularly intriguing to the Rams.
But the Rams can't fix it all through free agency or the draft. Their funds are limited, as is their allotment of draft picks. Most of the improvements on offense -- a unit that gained the NFL's fewest yards each of the last two years -- will have to come from the scheme implemented by McVay and his new coaches.
"What we’re looking at is that daily improvement," McVay said. "We're not going to make any promises, but we are going to focus on getting better every single day, focusing on our process, developing our standard of performance. And if we do that, then I think you’ll see those incremental improvements that will lead to big things over time."
The Rams have gone two years without agreeing on an extension with Johnson. Snead indicated that his price might have been too high last offseason, because he was coming off a seven-interception season, and he spoke Thursday about how it may make more sense to see if Johnson is a fit for Wade Phillips' system before committing long term.
The two sides have until July 15 to agree on a long-term deal. It may still happen, but those talks probably won't pick up until after OTAs, when the Rams at least have a chance to see Johnson on the field.
For now, their attention is turned elsewhere.
"It's very important for us to acquire great players," McVay said, "and the thing you feel great about with Les, being where it’s a new staff coming in, is he’s got a jump on what the draft has available, where there’s depth at certain positions that we need to address. And that’s going to dictate what we do in free agency. Maybe we’re able to address a certain need in the draft because there is a little more depth at a certain spot."
[www.espn.com]
The Rams will be looking to add a veteran receiver and DeSean Jackson could fit their bill. Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire
By Alden Gonzalez
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Los Angeles Rams are "definitely planning to be active" in free agency this offseason, their sixth-year general manager, Les Snead, said from the scouting combine on Thursday.
To what extent remains to be seen.
"You have to wait to see how the process goes and see who goes off the board, what they get paid, and do they factor into your big picture," Snead said. "But I definitely think we need to use free agency to supplement our roster."
The Rams built primarily through the draft in Snead's previous five years as GM, which came with Jeff Fisher as the head coach. They consistently rolled out the NFL's youngest roster throughout that time, allocating minimal dollars to veteran players from the outside. The Rams spent just over $131 million on free agents over the last three years, ranked 23rd in the NFL, and a lot of that was a product of extending their own.
But now they're entering a draft with only one pick within the first 68 selections and have a desire to inject their roster with veteran players. They were scheduled to have just shy of $40 million in salary cap space, but unless an extension is reached by the middle of July, nearly half of that will be spent on a second franchise tag for cornerback Trumaine Johnson. Johnson, linebacker Mark Barron, receiver Tavon Austin and defensive tackle Michael Brockers are set to cost nearly $54 million towards the salary cap in 2017, making up about 32 percent of it all.
The Rams are expected to be heavily involved in the market for receivers, though Kenny Britt probably won't be back and Alshon Jeffery isn't expected to be pursued.
Snead said the Rams are "open to multiple positions" through free agency.
"Offensive side of the ball, even defense," Snead said. "We're moving to a 3-4. There's some positions we're adding to our defense we didn't have before. It's not just one position. It's multiple."
The Rams will need more help at linebacker, a position where only Alec Ogletree and Barron are solidified. They need to replenish some depth in their secondary, where strong safety T.J. McDonald is set to become an unrestricted free agent. They probably need a couple of receivers, and they need to figure out what to do with their offensive line. Snead said the Rams are "talking through" whether former No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson will remain at left tackle, though Snead added that Robinson's body type -- 6-foot-5, 332 pounds and athletic -- is a natural fit for the position.
New offensive line coach Aaron Kromer recently talked about how excited he was to take the job because the group he inherits is so young.
The Rams are still evaluating whether that means they'll stay in-house.
"It’s a puzzle that we’re trying to figure out now," Snead said. "But there’s definitely going to be some guys in-house that are in our lineup next year."
In free agency, the Rams will steer most of their focus towards a receiver group that includes DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Terrelle Pryor, Kenny Stills and Robert Woods. Two of the most prominent names on that list, Jackson and Garcon, played under new head coach Sean McVay with the Redskins and would certainly be open to reuniting with their former offensive coordinator. Garcon, a physical receiver with great route-running ability, could be particularly intriguing to the Rams.
But the Rams can't fix it all through free agency or the draft. Their funds are limited, as is their allotment of draft picks. Most of the improvements on offense -- a unit that gained the NFL's fewest yards each of the last two years -- will have to come from the scheme implemented by McVay and his new coaches.
"What we’re looking at is that daily improvement," McVay said. "We're not going to make any promises, but we are going to focus on getting better every single day, focusing on our process, developing our standard of performance. And if we do that, then I think you’ll see those incremental improvements that will lead to big things over time."
The Rams have gone two years without agreeing on an extension with Johnson. Snead indicated that his price might have been too high last offseason, because he was coming off a seven-interception season, and he spoke Thursday about how it may make more sense to see if Johnson is a fit for Wade Phillips' system before committing long term.
The two sides have until July 15 to agree on a long-term deal. It may still happen, but those talks probably won't pick up until after OTAs, when the Rams at least have a chance to see Johnson on the field.
For now, their attention is turned elsewhere.
"It's very important for us to acquire great players," McVay said, "and the thing you feel great about with Les, being where it’s a new staff coming in, is he’s got a jump on what the draft has available, where there’s depth at certain positions that we need to address. And that’s going to dictate what we do in free agency. Maybe we’re able to address a certain need in the draft because there is a little more depth at a certain spot."
[www.espn.com]
