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Well, the season is officially over. I almost have put a mock out a couple times, but I have changed my mind on it a few times. As always, I'm not trying to guess what the Rams will do. That would be futile. Based on my knowledge of our schemes, tendencies, and philosophy, I'm going to say what I'd do if I were in the Rams' shoes.
Coaching
Replace DC Wade Phillips (retirement) with DC Jim Leonhard
This one might be a little bit out of left field, but I think it makes sense if Leonhard is willing to leave Wisconsin. Leonhard spent a decade in the NFL as an undersized safety who played with a high football IQ and a lot of effort. Since retiring, he's learned under Dave Aranda and Justin Wilcox (two of the best defensive minds in CFB) as an assistant. He's been Wisconsin's DC for the past three years after Wilcox took the HC job at Cal. He's produced strong results. Leonhard runs an aggressive 3-4 scheme that brings a lot of pressure from all angles. Wade might even be willing to stay on as a defensive consultant to work with Leonhard (who, like McVay, is a pretty young coach).
Cut
S Eric Weddle
I wish I could cut him more than once. I'm so fed up with his performance.
Re-sign
K Greg Zuerlein
OT Andrew Whitworth
OLB Dante Fowler Jr. (Franchise Tag)
DL Michael Brockers
DL Morgan Fox
All Practice Squad Players
All ERFAs
Yes, we're letting Littleton walk. I don't take pleasure in that, but we have to make hard decisions. Littleton's price tag is too high for me. He's a good but not elite ILB. We bring back Brockers on a relatively cheap, short-term deal. He's still a solid starting DL. Whitworth has announced that he wants to return. It makes logical sense to bring him back. It'll give Noteboom additional time to recover from his injury. We franchise Fowler with the plan to extend him. (I've gone back and forth on this one. Originally, I had us franchising Fowler and trading him to the Dolphins for a late second and a future fifth, but I think he's worth keeping around. He has really impressed me over the second half of the year.)
Trades
Rams trade CB Nickell Robey-Coleman and Round 7 Pick #20
Bengals trade Round 6 Pick #1
The Bengals' slot CB, Darqueze Dennard, is a FA. NRC is still a quality slot CB who fits Cincy's scheme. With Ramsey, Hill, Long, and Darious Williams, we have enough depth and talent at CB to trade NRC and save a few bucks on his salary.
Rams trade WR Robert Woods
Raiders trade Round 3 Pick #14 and 2021 5th Round Pick
If we make Woods available, I guarantee you that Gruden will call. He's the exact sort of WR that Oakland needs and the exact sort of WR that Gruden has loved throughout his career. Oakland has three third round picks. This trade just makes perfect sense. With Higbee emerging and Reynolds and Everett flashing this year, I think Woods might be made available this off-season. I love Robert, but we have a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game and some holes that need to be filled elsewhere.
Rams trade Round 6 Pick #20
Chargers trade OL Forrest Lamp
Lamp was a favorite of mine from a few years ago who has barely seen the field due to injuries. We need to rescue him from the cursed Chargers. I thought the kid would be a star interior OL because he was a dominant college LT who lacked length. Coming out of college, he had very quick feet, elite grip strength, a strong core, and great hand usage. I think he can still be a player at OG or C if he ever stays healthy.
Rams trade Round 2 Pick #20, Round 3 Pick #14, and Round 4 Pick #20
Ravens trade Round 1 Pick #32 and Round 4 Pick #32
Snead is an aggressive man. I, too, am an aggressive man when I like a player. You'll understand why I made the deal when you see who is available here. Plus, trading up to pick #32 gets us that fifth year option.
Rams trade Round 3 Pick #41
Patriots trade Round 4 Pick #19, Round 6 Pick #16, and Round 6 Pick #33
Trader Les loves his 6th Round Picks.
Rams trade Round 4 Pick #32 and Round 6 Pick #1
Dolphins trade Round 5 Pick #7 and Round 5 Pick #16
We trade down on Day 3 because our target will still be available.
Free Agency
Jatavis Brown ILB
I think Brown is an interesting reclamation project who fits Leonhard's scheme well. As a senior in college, Brown posted 11.5 sacks (among other gaudy numbers) as an ILB in a scheme that blitzed him a lot (by comparison, Leonhard's undersized ILB, Chris Orr, also has 11.5 sacks this year due to the pressure packages Leonhard uses). His speed, quickness, and contact balance made him very difficult to handle on A-Gap pressures. Brown had a good start to his career with the Chargers, but Gus Bradley was not a fan of his when he took over as DC. Brown saw his playing time drop, and due to that, he should be a bargain. He's undersized at 5'11" 220, but he has 4.4 wheels, can cover, and can be disruptive as a blitzer. I think he's worth a flier.
NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #32 - Tyler Biadasz C/OG Wisconsin
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqP4rxCTQmc
Analysis: I've seen recent mocks with Biadasz dropping out of the first round. He's all over the map in terms of projections (I've seen mid first down to the early third). It seems that Creed Humphrey from OU has passed him as the top C prospect and there's a ton of talent at the OT position in this draft. That all said, if Biadasz drops to pick #32, I'm going to get him. People are overthinking it on this kid. Yeah, he's not an elite athlete, but he just consistently wins. He's a country strong technician of an interior OL who wins with power, angles, footwork, instincts, etc. I can't point to a weakness in his game. His length and athleticism are both not elite, but they're also not true weaknesses. He's a plug and play starter at OG or C.
Round 3 Pick #20 - Evan Weaver ILB California
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8_v-8buMgk
Analysis: Weaver is a tackling machine who led the NCAA with 181 tackles in 13 games this year (he posted 155 tackles last year). He's been compared to James Laurinaitis, and I think it's a fair comparison. Weaver possesses tremendous instincts and smarts. He's rarely fooled or out of position. He's a big LB who is effective at playing through and beating blocks. He's also an adept zone coverage defender and blitzer. His weaknesses are that he's an average athlete who produces by being a step ahead of everybody else mentally and his man coverage skills. He could hold his own with most TEs, but athletic TEs and quick HBs will give him fits in man coverage. How he runs at the Combine will determine a lot with regard to his stock. I think he's very similar to James Laurinaitis.
Round 4 Pick #19 - Quintez Cephus WR Wisconsin
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIxO_vP6xG4
Analysis: Cephus is a WR who fits perfectly into what we do on offense. He's quick with enough speed to get vertical, sure-handed, and blocks well. He can play in the slot and outside. He shows a good release against press coverage, runs routes well, and fights for yards after the catch. While he's not dominant in any one thing, he does everything well.
Round 5 Pick #7 - Ke'Shawn Vaughn HB Vanderbilt
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWO7eF7vJtw
Analysis: Vaughn is an explosive runner who was basically Vanderbilt's entire offense this year. He is also a willing blocker who has the hands and quickness to contribute in the passing game. I did notice a tendency to bounce runs and him missing some cutback lanes this year, but I think that's at least partially due to how bad his blocking was. Vaughn is a very underrated HB.
Round 5 Pick #16 - Levonta Taylor CB Florida State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp6n2VoHJyc
Analysis: Taylor is an interesting CB because of how natural his man coverage skills are. He has quick feet, fluid hips, and adequate speed. The problem for Taylor is that he's small. He's listed at 5'10", and I think he's at least an inch shorter. Bigger WRs give him problems with their length and physicality. But he has the quickness to be an effective slot CB. My one concern there is that he is a pile-watcher who only tackles when he is forced.
Round 6 Pick #16 - Shyheim Carter S Alabama
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lnRvblaVNw
Analysis: Carter is interesting because he's kind of a hybrid CB/S. I like him to fill the Marqui Christian role. Carter's problem is that he's not big and physical enough to be a box safety, fast enough to be an outside CB, or loose enough in the hips to handle quick slot WRs. But he's a textbook tackler who covers longer WRs and athletic TEs well out of the slot. I think he'd fit well here as a nickel safety against teams who use a flex TE or big slot WRs.
Round 6 Pick #33 - Tyler Huntley QB Utah
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDRPvOscVLE
Analysis: Good athlete with a NFL caliber arm who played quite well in a scheme with a lot of pro style components. Has had some injury issues in college and is a bit undersized, but he makes sound decisions, takes care of the ball, and possesses good accuracy. I think he'd be a great developmental backup behind Goff. Athleticism adds a new dimension, he doesn't throw many INTs, and he thrived in college in a play-action heavy scheme.
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
WR: Brandin Cooks
WR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Tyler Higbee
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Tyler Biadasz or Competition
C: Tyler Biadasz or Competition
RG: David Edwards
RT: Rob Havenstein
SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Greg Gaines
UT: Aaron Donald
OLB: Clay Matthews
ILB: Competition
ILB: Evan Weaver
OLB: Dante Fowler Jr.
LCB: Jalen Ramsey
RCB: Troy Hill
SLCB: David Long Jr.
FS: John Johnson III
SS: Taylor Rapp
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
Coaching
Replace DC Wade Phillips (retirement) with DC Jim Leonhard
This one might be a little bit out of left field, but I think it makes sense if Leonhard is willing to leave Wisconsin. Leonhard spent a decade in the NFL as an undersized safety who played with a high football IQ and a lot of effort. Since retiring, he's learned under Dave Aranda and Justin Wilcox (two of the best defensive minds in CFB) as an assistant. He's been Wisconsin's DC for the past three years after Wilcox took the HC job at Cal. He's produced strong results. Leonhard runs an aggressive 3-4 scheme that brings a lot of pressure from all angles. Wade might even be willing to stay on as a defensive consultant to work with Leonhard (who, like McVay, is a pretty young coach).
Cut
S Eric Weddle
I wish I could cut him more than once. I'm so fed up with his performance.
Re-sign
K Greg Zuerlein
OT Andrew Whitworth
OLB Dante Fowler Jr. (Franchise Tag)
DL Michael Brockers
DL Morgan Fox
All Practice Squad Players
All ERFAs
Yes, we're letting Littleton walk. I don't take pleasure in that, but we have to make hard decisions. Littleton's price tag is too high for me. He's a good but not elite ILB. We bring back Brockers on a relatively cheap, short-term deal. He's still a solid starting DL. Whitworth has announced that he wants to return. It makes logical sense to bring him back. It'll give Noteboom additional time to recover from his injury. We franchise Fowler with the plan to extend him. (I've gone back and forth on this one. Originally, I had us franchising Fowler and trading him to the Dolphins for a late second and a future fifth, but I think he's worth keeping around. He has really impressed me over the second half of the year.)
Trades
Rams trade CB Nickell Robey-Coleman and Round 7 Pick #20
Bengals trade Round 6 Pick #1
The Bengals' slot CB, Darqueze Dennard, is a FA. NRC is still a quality slot CB who fits Cincy's scheme. With Ramsey, Hill, Long, and Darious Williams, we have enough depth and talent at CB to trade NRC and save a few bucks on his salary.
Rams trade WR Robert Woods
Raiders trade Round 3 Pick #14 and 2021 5th Round Pick
If we make Woods available, I guarantee you that Gruden will call. He's the exact sort of WR that Oakland needs and the exact sort of WR that Gruden has loved throughout his career. Oakland has three third round picks. This trade just makes perfect sense. With Higbee emerging and Reynolds and Everett flashing this year, I think Woods might be made available this off-season. I love Robert, but we have a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game and some holes that need to be filled elsewhere.
Rams trade Round 6 Pick #20
Chargers trade OL Forrest Lamp
Lamp was a favorite of mine from a few years ago who has barely seen the field due to injuries. We need to rescue him from the cursed Chargers. I thought the kid would be a star interior OL because he was a dominant college LT who lacked length. Coming out of college, he had very quick feet, elite grip strength, a strong core, and great hand usage. I think he can still be a player at OG or C if he ever stays healthy.
Rams trade Round 2 Pick #20, Round 3 Pick #14, and Round 4 Pick #20
Ravens trade Round 1 Pick #32 and Round 4 Pick #32
Snead is an aggressive man. I, too, am an aggressive man when I like a player. You'll understand why I made the deal when you see who is available here. Plus, trading up to pick #32 gets us that fifth year option.
Rams trade Round 3 Pick #41
Patriots trade Round 4 Pick #19, Round 6 Pick #16, and Round 6 Pick #33
Trader Les loves his 6th Round Picks.
Rams trade Round 4 Pick #32 and Round 6 Pick #1
Dolphins trade Round 5 Pick #7 and Round 5 Pick #16
We trade down on Day 3 because our target will still be available.
Free Agency
Jatavis Brown ILB
I think Brown is an interesting reclamation project who fits Leonhard's scheme well. As a senior in college, Brown posted 11.5 sacks (among other gaudy numbers) as an ILB in a scheme that blitzed him a lot (by comparison, Leonhard's undersized ILB, Chris Orr, also has 11.5 sacks this year due to the pressure packages Leonhard uses). His speed, quickness, and contact balance made him very difficult to handle on A-Gap pressures. Brown had a good start to his career with the Chargers, but Gus Bradley was not a fan of his when he took over as DC. Brown saw his playing time drop, and due to that, he should be a bargain. He's undersized at 5'11" 220, but he has 4.4 wheels, can cover, and can be disruptive as a blitzer. I think he's worth a flier.
NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #32 - Tyler Biadasz C/OG Wisconsin
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqP4rxCTQmc
Analysis: I've seen recent mocks with Biadasz dropping out of the first round. He's all over the map in terms of projections (I've seen mid first down to the early third). It seems that Creed Humphrey from OU has passed him as the top C prospect and there's a ton of talent at the OT position in this draft. That all said, if Biadasz drops to pick #32, I'm going to get him. People are overthinking it on this kid. Yeah, he's not an elite athlete, but he just consistently wins. He's a country strong technician of an interior OL who wins with power, angles, footwork, instincts, etc. I can't point to a weakness in his game. His length and athleticism are both not elite, but they're also not true weaknesses. He's a plug and play starter at OG or C.
Round 3 Pick #20 - Evan Weaver ILB California
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8_v-8buMgk
Analysis: Weaver is a tackling machine who led the NCAA with 181 tackles in 13 games this year (he posted 155 tackles last year). He's been compared to James Laurinaitis, and I think it's a fair comparison. Weaver possesses tremendous instincts and smarts. He's rarely fooled or out of position. He's a big LB who is effective at playing through and beating blocks. He's also an adept zone coverage defender and blitzer. His weaknesses are that he's an average athlete who produces by being a step ahead of everybody else mentally and his man coverage skills. He could hold his own with most TEs, but athletic TEs and quick HBs will give him fits in man coverage. How he runs at the Combine will determine a lot with regard to his stock. I think he's very similar to James Laurinaitis.
Round 4 Pick #19 - Quintez Cephus WR Wisconsin
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIxO_vP6xG4
Analysis: Cephus is a WR who fits perfectly into what we do on offense. He's quick with enough speed to get vertical, sure-handed, and blocks well. He can play in the slot and outside. He shows a good release against press coverage, runs routes well, and fights for yards after the catch. While he's not dominant in any one thing, he does everything well.
Round 5 Pick #7 - Ke'Shawn Vaughn HB Vanderbilt
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWO7eF7vJtw
Analysis: Vaughn is an explosive runner who was basically Vanderbilt's entire offense this year. He is also a willing blocker who has the hands and quickness to contribute in the passing game. I did notice a tendency to bounce runs and him missing some cutback lanes this year, but I think that's at least partially due to how bad his blocking was. Vaughn is a very underrated HB.
Round 5 Pick #16 - Levonta Taylor CB Florida State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp6n2VoHJyc
Analysis: Taylor is an interesting CB because of how natural his man coverage skills are. He has quick feet, fluid hips, and adequate speed. The problem for Taylor is that he's small. He's listed at 5'10", and I think he's at least an inch shorter. Bigger WRs give him problems with their length and physicality. But he has the quickness to be an effective slot CB. My one concern there is that he is a pile-watcher who only tackles when he is forced.
Round 6 Pick #16 - Shyheim Carter S Alabama
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lnRvblaVNw
Analysis: Carter is interesting because he's kind of a hybrid CB/S. I like him to fill the Marqui Christian role. Carter's problem is that he's not big and physical enough to be a box safety, fast enough to be an outside CB, or loose enough in the hips to handle quick slot WRs. But he's a textbook tackler who covers longer WRs and athletic TEs well out of the slot. I think he'd fit well here as a nickel safety against teams who use a flex TE or big slot WRs.
Round 6 Pick #33 - Tyler Huntley QB Utah
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDRPvOscVLE
Analysis: Good athlete with a NFL caliber arm who played quite well in a scheme with a lot of pro style components. Has had some injury issues in college and is a bit undersized, but he makes sound decisions, takes care of the ball, and possesses good accuracy. I think he'd be a great developmental backup behind Goff. Athleticism adds a new dimension, he doesn't throw many INTs, and he thrived in college in a play-action heavy scheme.
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
WR: Brandin Cooks
WR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Tyler Higbee
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Tyler Biadasz or Competition
C: Tyler Biadasz or Competition
RG: David Edwards
RT: Rob Havenstein
SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Greg Gaines
UT: Aaron Donald
OLB: Clay Matthews
ILB: Competition
ILB: Evan Weaver
OLB: Dante Fowler Jr.
LCB: Jalen Ramsey
RCB: Troy Hill
SLCB: David Long Jr.
FS: John Johnson III
SS: Taylor Rapp
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
