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I don't know about the rest of you, but I am beyond excited about us getting McVay and Wade. It looks like we're going to pull a hell of a staff. The new era of Rams football has begun.
Cut
HB Tre Mason
OG Rodger Saffold
TE Lance Kendricks
DE Eugene Sims
Re-sign
CB Trumaine Johnson - 5 years $55 million
K Greg Zuerlein - 3 years $9 million
HB Benny Cunningham - 3 years $4.5 million
DT Dominique Easley - RFA Tender
Let Walk
S T.J. McDonald (I like T.J., but Mo is a more natural fit at SS. Let's use the money we have elsewhere.)
WR Kenny Britt (I know that Britt has had a nice year, but I feel done with this group of WRs. They take plays off. They run lazy routes. They drop passes. And Britt had major friction with the coaching staff once Fisher left Tennessee. I'm letting someone else take the risk on him.)
QB Case Keenum (Mannion is the backup of the future.)
Trades
Rams trade DE William Hayes and Round 7 Pick #5
Browns trade Round 6 Pick #1
With us moving to the 3-4, Hayes just isn't a great fit. He is reunited with Gregg Williams in Cleveland. The Browns don't have to give up a lot to get him.
Rams trade Round 3 Pick #5 and Round 4 Pick #5
Dolphins trade Round 2 Pick #22
We traded up in the draft to get a player we covet.
Position Changes
Mark Barron - WLB -> SS
Phillips's scheme needs a bigger backer to pair with Ogletree. Phillips has always used safeties like Barron well.(see T.J. Ward) He'll be able to use Barron's abilities in the box. Unfortunately, it means that Mo Alexander stays at FS and LaMarcus Joyner at SLCB for now.
Free Agency
Larry Warford RG - 5 years $35 million
The Redskins run a PBS under Jay Gruden. It is my hope that McVay brings that with him. If he does, Warford is a great signing for our team. Warford is a rock in pass pro and a people mover in the run game. He's been a steady player for the Lions over the years. At his worst, he is a solid OG. At his best, he's been a top tier OG. He gives us a rock on the interior.
Pierre Garcon WR - 3 years $24 million
Garcon steps in as the WR we pair with Kenny Stills. He's a veteran WR who has consistently produced for nearly a decade. He ended this year with over 1000 receiving yards. He knows McVay's scheme and performed well in it. He's a nice complement to what we have. We need a veteran leader at WR. Garcon can be that guy.
Johnathan Joseph CB - 2 years $12 million
The Texans are likely to cut Joseph, so they can retain A.J. Bouye. Joseph is still playing at a fairly high level despite him being 32 years old next year. Joseph has experience playing for Wade Phillips in Houston. He'll step in as our #2 CB behind Trumaine. He'll provide veteran leadership for the defense and hopefully help change the culture in the locker room.
DeMarcus Ware OLB - 1 year $5 million
Ware has spent pretty much his entire career with Wade Phillips and really loves playing for him (he called him a "father figure"). Ware says that he plans to play another year, so it makes sense for Wade's destination to be Ware's. Ware is no longer an every down player, but he's still capable of being a disruptive pass rusher in a part-time role. He'll platoon with another OLB to hold down the OLB spot opposite Robert Quinn.
Vernon Davis TE - 2 years $5 million
We bring in Davis to be our #2 TE and take over Kendricks's role. Davis had a very nice bounce-back year with Washington this year in McVay's offense. He's another veteran target who knows the scheme. Davis is also a quality inline blocker.
Markus Wheaton WR - 1 year $3 million
We take a shot on Wheaton coming off a shoulder injury that caused him to miss almost the entire year. We offer Wheaton a "prove it" deal along with a clear path to the #2 WR job in our offense. Wheaton has breakout potential in a bigger role than he has gotten thus far on Pittsburgh.
Chance Warmack LG - 1 year $3 million
Warmack is another guy who gets a "prove it" deal. Warmack was considered the best OG prospect in a long time only a few years ago. He flopped in Tennessee. However, with the Rams running a PBS, he'll be back in a scheme that favors his skill-set. He'll have an opportunity to win the starting LG job.
Dekoda Watson ILB/OLB - 2 years $3 million
Dekoda Watson joined the Broncos this year and had an incredible preseason. He's spent the year backing up Von Miller but does have 1 sack in limited time. He's a versatile player who can play the SOLB or SILB role in our defense.
Glenn Dorsey NT - 1 year $2 million
Dorsey has had a few injury-plagued years, but he fits what Phillips often looks for in his NT. Dorsey will compete for the starting NT job. He's put together good play in San Francisco when healthy. Let's hope that continues here.
Vance Walker NT/DE - 1 year $1 million
Walker has played for Phillips in Denver the past couple years. He missed most of the 2016 season after tearing his ACL. He played well in 2015 as a rotational DE. He can compete with Dorsey at NT and provide depth behind Brockers and Donald at DE.
NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #5 - T.J. Watt OLB Wisconsin
Summary: The brother of J.J. is also a very talented kid in his own right. Watt possesses a NFL frame with growth potential at 6'5" 245 and long arms. He has the strength and punch power to push tackles around along with the speed to threaten the edge. Watt uses a variety of moves to keep OLs off guard and does a nice job of finding the ball. Watt has an extremely high ceiling despite not being an overly raw player. The comparison that springs to mind while watching him is Clay Matthews.
Round 2 Pick #22 - Forrest Lamp OT/OG/C Western Kentucky
Summary: Lamp reminds me of a guy I really liked last year, Cody Whitehair. Like Whitehair, I think Lamp likely kicks inside at the NFL level and develops into a Pro Bowl or All Pro level Guard or Center. Once he gets his hands on a defender, the battle is over. His grip strength, hand placement, and anchor are absurdly good for a college OL.
Round 4 Comp Pick - Ryan Glasgow NT/DE Michigan
Summary: Glasgow is your typical "blue collar" guy. He's strong at the POA with active hands and gives great effort. Has a nice push/pull move to generate pass rush. Uses his hands well. He's not a dynamic enough athlete to go much higher, but he has the sort of strength, technical skill, and motor to be a very good rotational DL.
Round 5 Pick #5 - Ahkello Witherspoon CB Colorado
Summary: Ahkello is one of my favorite under the radar prospects in this draft. He was one of the national leaders in passes defensed in 2016, and his coverage metrics when targeted were off the charts good. Ahkello is 6'2" 195 with outstanding ball-skills, impressive quickness and hip flexion for his size, and the long speed needed to play outside the numbers in the NFL. He's a tad raw in terms of technique, but he has gobs of upside at CB.
Round 6 Pick #5 - Obi Melifonwu SS Connecticut
Summary: Melifonwu checks in at 6'3" 220. While you'd expect him to be a bigger hitter with that size, he's not. However, he's a reliable tackler who is a versatile player on the back-end of the defense. He can play deep zone coverage, he can man up in coverage and hold his own, and he can play zone-under. He's a solid all-around player.
Round 6 Pick #23 - Joey Ivie DE Florida
Summary: Ivie is an underrated player in this class. He's an underrated athlete with a relentless motor who has the ability to be a productive rotational interior DL at the NFL level. Ivie uses his hands well and does a nice job of stacking and shedding blocks in the run game. He's athletic enough to disrupt plays in the back-field and pressure QBs in the passing game. I think there's a strong chance that Joey Ivie's best football is ahead of him.
Round 7 Pick #5 - Mack Hollins WR North Carolina
Summary: Hollins was the best deep threat in college football in 2015. He averaged 25 yards per catch. At 6'4" 210 with explosive deep speed and underrated movement skills, Hollins has starting WR potential if he develops well. If not, the guy has already shown at the college level that he'll play special teams and play it well (has been a special teams captain at UNC since his freshman year). His size/speed combination is a huge asset on special teams. Hollins is a former walk-on who ended up becoming North Carolina's #1 WR. Don't count him out.
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Pierre Garcon
ZWR: Markus Wheaton
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Tyler Higbee vs. Vernon Davis
LT: Greg Robinson
LG: Chance Warmack vs. Jamon Brown vs. Cody Wichmann
C: Forrest Lamp
RG: Larry Warford
RT: Rob Havenstein
LDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Glenn Dorsey
RDE: Aaron Donald
SOLB: T.J. Watt
SILB: Dekoda Watson
WILB: Alec Ogletree
WOLB: Robert Quinn
LCB: Trumaine Johnson
RCB: Johnathan Joseph
SLCB: LaMarcus Joyner
FS: Maurice Alexander
SS: Mark Barron
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham
PR: Tavon Austin
Cut
HB Tre Mason
OG Rodger Saffold
TE Lance Kendricks
DE Eugene Sims
Re-sign
CB Trumaine Johnson - 5 years $55 million
K Greg Zuerlein - 3 years $9 million
HB Benny Cunningham - 3 years $4.5 million
DT Dominique Easley - RFA Tender
Let Walk
S T.J. McDonald (I like T.J., but Mo is a more natural fit at SS. Let's use the money we have elsewhere.)
WR Kenny Britt (I know that Britt has had a nice year, but I feel done with this group of WRs. They take plays off. They run lazy routes. They drop passes. And Britt had major friction with the coaching staff once Fisher left Tennessee. I'm letting someone else take the risk on him.)
QB Case Keenum (Mannion is the backup of the future.)
Trades
Rams trade DE William Hayes and Round 7 Pick #5
Browns trade Round 6 Pick #1
With us moving to the 3-4, Hayes just isn't a great fit. He is reunited with Gregg Williams in Cleveland. The Browns don't have to give up a lot to get him.
Rams trade Round 3 Pick #5 and Round 4 Pick #5
Dolphins trade Round 2 Pick #22
We traded up in the draft to get a player we covet.
Position Changes
Mark Barron - WLB -> SS
Phillips's scheme needs a bigger backer to pair with Ogletree. Phillips has always used safeties like Barron well.(see T.J. Ward) He'll be able to use Barron's abilities in the box. Unfortunately, it means that Mo Alexander stays at FS and LaMarcus Joyner at SLCB for now.
Free Agency
Larry Warford RG - 5 years $35 million
The Redskins run a PBS under Jay Gruden. It is my hope that McVay brings that with him. If he does, Warford is a great signing for our team. Warford is a rock in pass pro and a people mover in the run game. He's been a steady player for the Lions over the years. At his worst, he is a solid OG. At his best, he's been a top tier OG. He gives us a rock on the interior.
Pierre Garcon WR - 3 years $24 million
Garcon steps in as the WR we pair with Kenny Stills. He's a veteran WR who has consistently produced for nearly a decade. He ended this year with over 1000 receiving yards. He knows McVay's scheme and performed well in it. He's a nice complement to what we have. We need a veteran leader at WR. Garcon can be that guy.
Johnathan Joseph CB - 2 years $12 million
The Texans are likely to cut Joseph, so they can retain A.J. Bouye. Joseph is still playing at a fairly high level despite him being 32 years old next year. Joseph has experience playing for Wade Phillips in Houston. He'll step in as our #2 CB behind Trumaine. He'll provide veteran leadership for the defense and hopefully help change the culture in the locker room.
DeMarcus Ware OLB - 1 year $5 million
Ware has spent pretty much his entire career with Wade Phillips and really loves playing for him (he called him a "father figure"). Ware says that he plans to play another year, so it makes sense for Wade's destination to be Ware's. Ware is no longer an every down player, but he's still capable of being a disruptive pass rusher in a part-time role. He'll platoon with another OLB to hold down the OLB spot opposite Robert Quinn.
Vernon Davis TE - 2 years $5 million
We bring in Davis to be our #2 TE and take over Kendricks's role. Davis had a very nice bounce-back year with Washington this year in McVay's offense. He's another veteran target who knows the scheme. Davis is also a quality inline blocker.
Markus Wheaton WR - 1 year $3 million
We take a shot on Wheaton coming off a shoulder injury that caused him to miss almost the entire year. We offer Wheaton a "prove it" deal along with a clear path to the #2 WR job in our offense. Wheaton has breakout potential in a bigger role than he has gotten thus far on Pittsburgh.
Chance Warmack LG - 1 year $3 million
Warmack is another guy who gets a "prove it" deal. Warmack was considered the best OG prospect in a long time only a few years ago. He flopped in Tennessee. However, with the Rams running a PBS, he'll be back in a scheme that favors his skill-set. He'll have an opportunity to win the starting LG job.
Dekoda Watson ILB/OLB - 2 years $3 million
Dekoda Watson joined the Broncos this year and had an incredible preseason. He's spent the year backing up Von Miller but does have 1 sack in limited time. He's a versatile player who can play the SOLB or SILB role in our defense.
Glenn Dorsey NT - 1 year $2 million
Dorsey has had a few injury-plagued years, but he fits what Phillips often looks for in his NT. Dorsey will compete for the starting NT job. He's put together good play in San Francisco when healthy. Let's hope that continues here.
Vance Walker NT/DE - 1 year $1 million
Walker has played for Phillips in Denver the past couple years. He missed most of the 2016 season after tearing his ACL. He played well in 2015 as a rotational DE. He can compete with Dorsey at NT and provide depth behind Brockers and Donald at DE.
NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #5 - T.J. Watt OLB Wisconsin
Summary: The brother of J.J. is also a very talented kid in his own right. Watt possesses a NFL frame with growth potential at 6'5" 245 and long arms. He has the strength and punch power to push tackles around along with the speed to threaten the edge. Watt uses a variety of moves to keep OLs off guard and does a nice job of finding the ball. Watt has an extremely high ceiling despite not being an overly raw player. The comparison that springs to mind while watching him is Clay Matthews.
Round 2 Pick #22 - Forrest Lamp OT/OG/C Western Kentucky
Summary: Lamp reminds me of a guy I really liked last year, Cody Whitehair. Like Whitehair, I think Lamp likely kicks inside at the NFL level and develops into a Pro Bowl or All Pro level Guard or Center. Once he gets his hands on a defender, the battle is over. His grip strength, hand placement, and anchor are absurdly good for a college OL.
Round 4 Comp Pick - Ryan Glasgow NT/DE Michigan
Summary: Glasgow is your typical "blue collar" guy. He's strong at the POA with active hands and gives great effort. Has a nice push/pull move to generate pass rush. Uses his hands well. He's not a dynamic enough athlete to go much higher, but he has the sort of strength, technical skill, and motor to be a very good rotational DL.
Round 5 Pick #5 - Ahkello Witherspoon CB Colorado
Summary: Ahkello is one of my favorite under the radar prospects in this draft. He was one of the national leaders in passes defensed in 2016, and his coverage metrics when targeted were off the charts good. Ahkello is 6'2" 195 with outstanding ball-skills, impressive quickness and hip flexion for his size, and the long speed needed to play outside the numbers in the NFL. He's a tad raw in terms of technique, but he has gobs of upside at CB.
Round 6 Pick #5 - Obi Melifonwu SS Connecticut
Summary: Melifonwu checks in at 6'3" 220. While you'd expect him to be a bigger hitter with that size, he's not. However, he's a reliable tackler who is a versatile player on the back-end of the defense. He can play deep zone coverage, he can man up in coverage and hold his own, and he can play zone-under. He's a solid all-around player.
Round 6 Pick #23 - Joey Ivie DE Florida
Summary: Ivie is an underrated player in this class. He's an underrated athlete with a relentless motor who has the ability to be a productive rotational interior DL at the NFL level. Ivie uses his hands well and does a nice job of stacking and shedding blocks in the run game. He's athletic enough to disrupt plays in the back-field and pressure QBs in the passing game. I think there's a strong chance that Joey Ivie's best football is ahead of him.
Round 7 Pick #5 - Mack Hollins WR North Carolina
Summary: Hollins was the best deep threat in college football in 2015. He averaged 25 yards per catch. At 6'4" 210 with explosive deep speed and underrated movement skills, Hollins has starting WR potential if he develops well. If not, the guy has already shown at the college level that he'll play special teams and play it well (has been a special teams captain at UNC since his freshman year). His size/speed combination is a huge asset on special teams. Hollins is a former walk-on who ended up becoming North Carolina's #1 WR. Don't count him out.
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Pierre Garcon
ZWR: Markus Wheaton
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Tyler Higbee vs. Vernon Davis
LT: Greg Robinson
LG: Chance Warmack vs. Jamon Brown vs. Cody Wichmann
C: Forrest Lamp
RG: Larry Warford
RT: Rob Havenstein
LDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Glenn Dorsey
RDE: Aaron Donald
SOLB: T.J. Watt
SILB: Dekoda Watson
WILB: Alec Ogletree
WOLB: Robert Quinn
LCB: Trumaine Johnson
RCB: Johnathan Joseph
SLCB: LaMarcus Joyner
FS: Maurice Alexander
SS: Mark Barron
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham
PR: Tavon Austin
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