I think the Rams had a pretty good off season even if they did not sign any big name free agents.

[Ramstien]

First, I loved their draft, which could lead to nine players getting significant playing time. Next, I really like the trade for OLman Kevin Dotson; liked the under the radar pickups of FAs Duker Shelly and Brett Maher; and finally, UDFAs Mike McAllister, DeAndre Square, Ryan Smenda, and Quindell Johnson. Also don't let me forget John Johnson.

 

[André]

Agreed!

Free agents Ahkello Witherspoon, John Johnson III, Brett Maher, Demarcus Robinson, Duke Shelley, Tyler Johnson, Troy Reeder ... Kevin Dotson via trade, the best long snapper in the college ranks, Alex Ward, a new stud punter in Ethan Evans ...

There is no doubt to me that this is a transition year, but I definitely like what they've been doing with very limited resources.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I'd still like one more guy, to see the Rams find a quality NT who can stuff the run.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I wouldn't call it a great off-season as we lost a lot. It's meh to ok so far with a chance to be better if the rookies develop. I get why the Rams took the route they did, but curious to see it actually develop.

 

[RamFanWA]

If the Rams can be this creative in 2023 - just thinking of '24 with another $50M in cap space, ought to be a thrilling ride!!

 

[RamDino]

Agree with the OP, but I think McSnead blew it by not signing Matt Gay and Greg Gaines. They could have easily signed those guys while pushing some money into the next few years. I do not believe they would have cost a lot and the Rams needed both of those guys this year. They paid a punter 6 mil a year.. why not Gay? And Greg Gaines seemed like a tough, high-motor, stand-up guy who got results. Again, back to the original post, I like "most" of what the team accomplished this year.

 

[Allen2McVay]

First, I loved their draft, which could lead to nine players getting significant playing time. Next, I really like the trade for OLman Kevin Dotson; liked the under the radar pickups of FAs Duker Shelly and Brett Maher; and finally, UDFAs Mike McAllister, DeAndre Square, Ryan Smenda, and Quindell Johnson. Also don't let me forget John Johnson.

OK but Square, Smenda and Johnson are all already gone.

 

[OnceARam]

Agree with the OP, but I think McSnead blew it by not signing Matt Gay and Greg Gaines. They could have easily signed those guys while pushing some money into the next few years. I do not believe they would have cost a lot and the Rams needed both of those guys this year. They paid a punter 6 mil a year.. why not Gay? And Greg Gaines seemed like a tough, high-motor, stand-up guy who got results. Again, back to the original post, I like "most" of what the team accomplished this year.

I could care less about a kicker, but Gaines hurt. He's only on a one year deal though, so we'll have a shot at getting him back.

 

[dang]

If the Rams can be this creative in 2023 - just thinking of '24 with another $50M in cap space, ought to be a thrilling ride!!

And relatively full inventory of draft picks.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

I could care less about a kicker, but Gaines hurt. He's only on a one year deal though, so we'll have a shot at getting him back.

Both hurt, but Gaines was affordable. Ashawn as well I think? Those kinds of guys don't grow on trees.

 

[ReekofRams]

Agree with the OP, but I think McSnead blew it by not signing Matt Gay and Greg Gaines. They could have easily signed those guys while pushing some money into the next few years. I do not believe they would have cost a lot and the Rams needed both of those guys this year. They paid a punter 6 mil a year.. why not Gay? And Greg Gaines seemed like a tough, high-motor, stand-up guy who got results. Again, back to the original post, I like "most" of what the team accomplished this year.

Why do we always blame just those two when Demoff and Pastoors also plays a big role in who we sign and release?

 

[oldnotdead]

I'd still like one more guy, to see the Rams find a quality NT who can stuff the run.

The problem is not who they have on the roster it's how they are used. Morris is foolish to ignore he simply doesn't have a Suh type of 0T NT to play a two gap style. That also, requires 2 good ILBs to fill the A gaps. Morris compounds the problem with expecting Jones to cover both A gaps as he frequently plays only one ILB. It's like he simply doesn't know what he's doing.

Morris has Murchison and Brown who are 1T NTs exactly like Gaines who he didn't want. Murchison and Brown aren't NFL 0T NTs, even I know that. Play either in a 1T with Jones covering the other A gap. IMO Wagner up and left to go back to Seattle because he could see the inept style that Morris plays his front 7. He played Wagner as an OLB for God's sake. That is why the vast majority of DCs don't use the split Fangio style DL. It works only if you have a dominating 0T NT and 2 ILBs. Why do you think that suddenly the Rams can't disrupt plays on the offensive side of the LOS on early downs? Morris is all about bend and break not actually contesting every yard.

The Ram D is ranked in the bottom half of the NFL and there is a reason for it. Both Phillips and Staley had the Rams with a top 10 D. Now under Morris no one worries about facing the soft Morris "don't hurt me" style of defense. Outside of LA the Ram defense under Morris is joke material. I'm hoping that Pleasant and Lake can turn things around by coaching an aggressive style of play in the secondary. But as long as Morris plays a split one and two gap DL the Rams will be soft against the run. I know people on this board didn't believe me, but even observers at the practices who know what they are seeing could see it.

Why do you think the Rams offered the same money to Gaines but he left just like Wagner and Ramsey wanted out. It's no coincidence that Miller refused to return just like the other guys. Morris is chasing away players and that is a really bad sign. It's why I would be shocked if he gets a HC gig. He's not even a good DC.

 

[Memphis Ram]

IMO, there are two ways at looking at the Ashawn Robinson and Greg Gaines situation.

On one hand, some believe the Rams should have paid both whatever needed and kicked the salary cap can down the road another year.

On the other hand, while anything is possible, it's really hard to believe that having those two players would significantly improve the 2023 team's chances for a Super Bowl. Besides, the Rams paid Robinson a lot of money to play one full season in 3 years. And for all the love we give for Gaines (whom the Rams tried to sign), while the amount of funds he was able to get appears affordable, it also says a lot about his market and/or league view of him.

Matt Gay? When that decision was made, the organization was still fighting just to get under the salary cap.

 

[Allen2McVay]

IMO, there are two ways at looking at the ... Greg Gaines situation.

On one hand, some believe the Rams should have paid both whatever needed and kicked the salary cap can down the road another year.

On the other hand, while anything is possible, it's really hard to believe that having those two players would significantly improve the 2023 team's chances for a Super Bowl.

I think there's another way of looking at the 'Gaines situation.'

Some of us wish he had been re-signed because he would be the 2nd best DL on the Rams right now, he was one of the Rams' few really good mid-round picks, he is entering what should be his prime years and ... most significantly ... he did not sign a big contract.

Gaines signed a one-year / $3.5M deal but, because of voidable years, his 2023 cap hit to Tampa is a mere $1.6M (that's more than $1M less than the cap hit the Rams will take for Kevin Dotson).

And, it has nothing to do with 'chances of winning a Super Bowl in 2023'. Even the most optimistic of posters don't see that happening. It's about losing a good D-Lineman that WILL have to be replaced. Maybe Bobby Brown of Kobie Turner is the guy. Let's hope so.

 

[I like Rams]

So far it seems that Puka, Ethan Evans, Tomlinson and Avila can all be counted on to be starters now or in the future and help us build a championship team going forward. If Young and Turner turn out to be good as well, that's an awesome draft imo. That's 6 players that you hit on. I can't complain about that. Thinking we were gonna be back to being a playoff team in one offseason after what we lost is not reasonable.

 

[Memento]

So far it seems that Puka, Ethan Evans, Tomlinson and Avila can all be counted on to be starters now or in the future and help us build a championship team going forward. If Young and Turner turn out to be good as well, that's an awesome draft imo. That's 6 players that you hit on. I can't complain about that. Thinking we were gonna be back to being a playoff team in one offseason after what we lost is not reasonable.

Desjuan Johnson and Davis Allen could also be useful players. Desjuan could provide solid pass-rush, and Allen is a solid and reliable target. If Hampton, Mathis, Zach Evans, or Bennett improve, that's more useful players. This could end up being a game-changing draft.

 

[I like Rams]

Desjuan Johnson and Davis Allen could also be useful players. Desjuan could provide solid pass-rush, and Allen is a solid and reliable target. If Hampton, Mathis, Zach Evans, or Bennett improve, that's more useful players. This could end up being a game-changing draft.

Very true, good point.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I think there's another way of looking at the 'Gaines situation.'

Some of us wish he had been re-signed because he would be the 2nd best DL on the Rams right now, he was one of the Rams' few really good mid-round picks, he is entering what should be his prime years and ... most significantly ... he did not sign a big contract.

Gaines signed a one-year / $3.5M deal but, because of voidable years, his 2023 cap hit to Tampa is a mere $1.6M (that's more than $1M less than the cap hit the Rams will take for Kevin Dotson).

And, it has nothing to do with 'chances of winning a Super Bowl in 2023'. Even the most optimistic of posters don't see that happening. It's about losing a good D-Lineman that WILL have to be replaced. Maybe Bobby Brown of Kobie Turner is the guy. Let's hope so.

One could argue the 'nothing to do with chances of winning a Super Bowl in 2023' is a flaw in that argument, as it's the ultimate goal. And the voidable years have dead cap implications (while not major) in 2024 when the team plans to go all out to reach that ultimate goal again.

Either way, as previously stated, the Rams tried to sign Gaines. He chose tax-free Florida instead. And again, the market didn't appear to be as high on the player entering his prime years. Of course, it's possible that the market is wrong. Perhaps there were concerns that they don't have an Aaron Donald to play next to him.

 

[Tano]

One could argue the 'nothing to do with chances of winning a Super Bowl in 2023' is a flaw in that argument, as it's the ultimate goal. And the voidable years have dead cap implications (while not major) in 2024 when the team plans to go all out to reach that ultimate goal again.

Either way, as previously stated, the Rams tried to sign Gaines. He chose tax-free Florida instead. And again, the market didn't appear to be as high on the player entering his prime years. Of course, it's possible that the market is wrong. Perhaps there were concerns that they don't have an Aaron Donald to play next to him.

Maybe but TB is now saying really good things about Gaines. They got a really good player for cheap and know it.

 

[PARAM]

First I should say, I think Gaines was a 'good' player. Does anybody know what Gaines was asking for from the Rams? Does anybody know if the Rams offered Gaines anything? Tampa 'now' saying good things about Gaines is irrelevant. They knew he was a decent player when they signed him. But he is a player who contributed very little his first two seasons with the Rams. He came on the last 2 years, as many do when playing next to AD. We'll have to wait to see if we replaced him adequately. Is that really difficult? He's not a pro bowl player. Every team loses guys every year. Unless they are a shit team like Houston where the top money maker is pulling in $26 mil and #2 is pulling in less than $10 mil.

IMO, there are two ways at looking at the Ashawn Robinson and Greg Gaines situation.

On one hand, some believe the Rams should have paid both whatever needed and kicked the salary cap can down the road another year.

On the other hand, while anything is possible, it's really hard to believe that having those two players would significantly improve the 2023 team's chances for a Super Bowl. Besides, the Rams paid Robinson a lot of money to play one full season in 3 years. And for all the love we give for Gaines (whom the Rams tried to sign), while the amount of funds he was able to get appears affordable, it also says a lot about his market and/or league view of him.

Matt Gay? When that decision was made, the organization was still fighting just to get under the salary cap.

This ^^^^^ is dead on. Losing Ramsey or Floyd is significant. Losing Greg Gaines, David Long, Taylor Rapp, etc? Not nearly as much. Hell, wasn't Nick Scott the 2nd biggest money maker (on D) leaving the Rams? 3 years 11 mil. It could be said, there wasn't a big market for any of our free agent losses.

Here's the money those guys hauled in:

Floyd 7 mil (1 yr; with multiple voidable years)
Wagner 7 mil (1 yr; with multiple voidable years)
A'Shawn 4.5 mil (1 yr; with multiple voidable years)
Gaines 3.5 mil (1 yr; with multiple voidable years)
Rapp 1.7 mil (1 yr)
Long 1.5 mil (1 yr)
Hill 1.0 mil (1 yr)
Scott 11 mil (3 yrs)

That is not a ringing endorsement of top flight talent lost.