Jalen Ramsey's next contract will keep Rams spiraling downward in NFC

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kurtfaulk

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Jalen Ramsey's next contract will keep Rams spiraling downward in NFC


Brian (Fuck)Witt
August 5, 2020, 12:55 PM


The Seattle Seahawks gave up a ton to acquire safety Jamal Adams, and they better win soon. Because before long, they'll likely find themselves in the same situation the Los Angeles Rams are in now, which is bad and about to get worse.

Like the Seahawks, the Rams sold the farm to acquire cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, and the full price isn't even close to being paid. Los Angeles gave up its 2020 first-round pick, 2021 first-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick to get him -- and the full bill is about to become due.

Ramsey -- who is entering the final year of his current contract -- wants a record-breaking extension, and after what the Rams gave up to acquire him, they're far too pot committed not to back up the Brinks trucks.

The big problem for the Rams is not paying Ramsey, though. It's what paying him will do to the rest of the roster -- on top of the assets that already have been depleted.

The Rams currently have just over $5 million in available cap space according to Over The Cap -- only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have less. Due to poor roster planning and certain high-priced players not living up to their contracts, Los Angeles is paying Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks a combined $33.5 million to play for other teams this coming season. Cooks comes off the books next year, but Gurley still will count for $8.4 million in dead money in 2021.

As such, the Rams don't have much wiggle room, and they'll be largely incapable of adding any significant salaries in the immediate future -- beyond Ramsey, that is. In fact, based on what NFL Network's Steve Wyche reported Tuesday, Rams general manager Les Snead knows they'll likely have to cut costs elsewhere just to pay the star cornerback.

"[Snead] said, 'Remember, we did trade two first-round picks for him,'" Wyche reported on "Inside Training Camp Live," "and he said that to 'sign players you want to keep, you may have to feel pain elsewhere.' Complicating a massive deal, which is what it would take to keep Ramsey, is the fact that the salary cap could do down next year."

While it remains to be seen how the NFL will address the inevitable loss of league revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic, teams must factor in the possibility that the salary cap will be significantly reduced. If it is, the Rams will be impacted just as much as every other team in the league, but few if any will have their hands tied like Los Angeles will.

The Rams arguably have the worst roster in the NFC West as things currently stand, and that's with Ramsey included. Once they pay him what they'll have to, however, they'll likely have to further deplete that roster, and won't be able to fill those spots with talented, cheap replacements via the top draft picks they've already traded away.

It wasn't that long ago that the Rams sat atop the NFC and fell just short of winning the Super Bowl. They've fallen off precipitously since then, and though they're headed for the bottom, they haven't hit it yet.

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OC--LeftCoast

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Great middle name :ROFLMAO: ...now if only his last name was Wadd?

Another hit piece

Jalen is a run supporting (willing tackler) shut down CB, perhaps thee very rarest of talents

end of story
 
Last edited:

Reddog99

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This guy makes it sound like good teams can't pay/have talented and proven players on the team or they are spiraling into mediocrity. I guess we need to get rid of Ramsey, AD, Goff, Kupp, Woods etc. and stock up on draft picks so that we can be back in the mix with the good teams like Miami that had all those draft picks. The logic in this article is a tad off. I'd prefer to lock down good players than to stock up on draft picks that may or may not work out.

How did he come to the conclusion that the Rams have the least talented roster in the division? You can't say shit like that and have AD and Ramsey on the team and still have credibility. Add in Goff, Woods, Kupp, JJ, Rapp, Brockers, Whitworth, Robinson, Floyd, Higbee and Everett and I don't think any team in the division can match us player for player talent wise.
 

RamFan503

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These pinheads fail to understand that players like Ramsey and AD take options away from opposing offenses and allow for role players to do their jobs. Add in that we have JJ, Rapp, a beefed up middle, and it appears that we have a better defense than last year.

Our offense lost star power but not all that much production. We picked up what some are suggesting could be the OROY this season and that is a severe drop off? I'll believe it when defenses consistently stop our offense. They couldn't do it toward the end of last season and I suspect our offense starts faster this season.
 

CGI_Ram

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We do have 3 players who are nearly top paid at their position in the league. Talking about Donald, Goff, and Hekker.

So Donald, Goff, Hekker, and maybe Ramsey. What about Kupp?

How many premium contracts can a roster hold, like this?

The topic is a fair one. My starting point is like @OC--LeftCoast ... he's among the best, no question... seems like we'd be idiots not to extend him... But that puts 4 premium contracts on the roster. Is that a good thing? And we still need to decide about Kupp.

It feels like something has to give, IMO.
 

OldSchool

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ROFL! Signing good players is bad got it.
 

Merlin

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Having elite players locked up is not a bad thing. Having elite players locked up who have quit, or put their feet up, or can't stay healthy, or whatever other reason that stands in the way of high-end production on the field is however.

Donald is never going to be a guy you worry about in that regard. Goff works his ass off too and loves the game, he should continue to ascend with a good line (goodness of line is in question not Goff IMO).

Ramsey is the question. IF the Rams pay him and he puts his feet up they're gonna have a harder time fielding a winning team than others. IF they let him go in FA they will have lost big value on a very expensive rental. So the only good route ahead for them is to pay him and he plays elite ball. Do you do that? Would you?

I admit he gives me pause. I don't like the dude. But I do think he's an elite player who has enough ego not to quit. So yeah I would lock his ass up and cross my fingers, pray, etc if I'm Demoff.
 

RamDino

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Due to poor roster planning and certain high-priced players not living up to their contracts

Really? Don't you mean injuries? We lost the best running back in football and one of the best wide receivers to PERMANENT injuries. Has NOTHING to do with roster planning or "not living up to their contracts"!!!
The Rams arguably have the worst roster in the NFC West as things currently stand, and that's with Ramsey included

His opinion is stated as fact - LOL!
They've fallen off precipitously since then, and though they're headed for the bottom, they haven't hit it yet.

His article, however, has hit rock bottom.

I can't wait for football to start so these guys have something to write about, and can stop making shit up.
 

HE WITH HORNS

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I pretty much agree with the article. I mean it's great to have high end players, but it will cost us having many mid-level players. The best teams in the NFL are the ones that draft well, and can replace players that go elsewhere. Our defense will basically be Ramsey and Donald, and a bunch of scrubs and rookies when we are done.
 

RamDino

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The best teams in the NFL are the ones that draft well, and can replace players that go elsewhere.

True. But the very best teams go to super bowls and the playoffs, and the Rams have done that for the last 3 years. I'm including last year because it went right down to the wire. And I'm not talking about a missed field goal... they should have beaten the 69ers in the second game. What are the percentages of getting first downs on TWO 3rd and 16's on that last drive!!!! Ouch... that still hurts!
 

thirteen28

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Yeah, it's really gonna suck having Aaron Donald on the front end of our defense and Jalen Ramsey on the back end for all those years. Damn, we're just totally fucked, because it's pretty clear that there are 31 other teams in the NFL that would just hate being in that predicament. Sorry, guys ...
 

Ram65

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It's fine to question the Ramsey move. I have and still think it's hard to keep paying top dollar to a lot of players

All is not lost yet. We have to see how the Rams replace players. It wouldn't surprise me if the Rams let Kupp go to free agency. They could resign Woods cheaper and add another player with the savings.

This season the Rams will still be contenders. It's unfortunate that the Rams had injuries to Gurley and Cooks. Even though they had to replace them with early draft picks they get out from under injured players with big contracts. Both contracts had some doubters concerning money and timing at the signing time

The financial consequences of the pandemic lowering the cap in 2021 will effect the Rams and many other teams. It was going to be a challenge to keep paying top dollar deals to Goff, AD, Ramsey and Kupp while remaining in contention. A Lower cap number in 2021 could make it impossible. Let's see how they can replace players they can't afford to resign before throwing in the towel.
 

Mackeyser

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I think the Rams will have enough faith in their ability to draft that we'll keep Kupp and Ramsey.

Only way Kupp doesn't stay a Ram is if he has a Julio Jones or Michael Thomas season with 140+ catches for at least 1800 yards.

That would make retention difficult.

I still think they'd find every way to keep both...
 

MauiRam

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I think the Rams will have enough faith in their ability to draft that we'll keep Kupp and Ramsey.

This seems to get lost in the shuffle. What really set us back IMO was Gurley's injury. The Rams have consistently been able to find good players in the later rounds of the draft. We may have found a few gems in this year's draft as well.
 

MauiRam

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I pretty much agree with the article. I mean it's great to have high end players, but it will cost us having many mid-level players. The best teams in the NFL are the ones that draft well, and can replace players that go elsewhere. Our defense will basically be Ramsey and Donald, and a bunch of scrubs and rookies when we are done.

Let's see what we have secured in this year's draft. A bunch of scrubs and rookies? Every team in the league has to deal with rookies. Kupp played pretty well in his rookie year. This year Van Jefferson could contribute along the lines Cooper Kupp did in his first year. There are defensive rookies that could surprise as well. Up until now, Snead has drafted pretty well - no Greg Robinsons so far. I won't be astonished if Cam Akers has a good rookie season as well.
 

WarnerToBruce

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Yeah we paid a lot. I felt (and still feel) the gamble was worth it, and am looking forward to years of quality play from our #20.

The biggest issue I see (from the strategic plan perspective) is what COVID-19 has done to the assumption that the salary cap would increase. Oops. Not only will the increase not be what they were hoping for, it may actually DECREASE, and perhaps substantially.

That blows.

We're not the only ones dealing with this, but given our cap was in a tricky state to start, it has removed what little wiggle room there was. Basically, it's like we've set sail into uncharted seas and just discovered all of our food spoiled.
 

oldnotdead

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Just remember what my dad told me as a kid. The only thing you get from Aholes is crap, only he was more graphic in his choice of words. But it certainly applies here. He must be a fan of Florio because he writes the same ignorant stuff. He doesn't understand how the cap works so he spouts crap like this. Yawn more kid stuff.

As far as Jalen is concerned I don't think he's the type to put his feet up. Right now he told his agent not to talk to him about the contract as he focused on the season. He's one of those who strive to be the best at his position, and that's what drives him. The accolades that come with that and he understands that money will follow. He understands that with the Rams he's on the "Hollywood" stage he's not in some backwater market anymore. It's his opportunity to shine on the world stage and he knows it. He also understands with being the best in a major media market comes the endorsement money that will continue to pay him long after he's retired. No I'd be surprised in the extreme if he slacks off once he gets a contract.