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- Jan 14, 2013
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I held off until after the Super Bowl. Now, it's time to jump into the off-season as SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS! Let's repeat!
Retire
LT Andrew Whitworth
Extend
QB Matthew Stafford
Restructure
OLB Leonard Floyd
CB Jalen Ramsey
WR Cooper Kupp
Resign
LT Joe Noteboom
OLB Von Miller
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
C Brian Allen
ILB Travin Howard
K Matt Gay
ILB Troy Reeder
QB John Wolford (ERFA)
WR/RS Brandon Powell
Darious Williams and Austin Corbett get offers we can't match. Sony Michel, SJD, and Okoronkwo are also rewarded with solid FA offers that we choose not to match. We bring back Von Miller and OBJ for another go. We should be able to get OBJ on an incentive-heavy one-year deal because of his injury.
Free Agency
OG Rodger Saffold
If the Titans cut him, Rodger might be willing to take a discount to return to the Rams and compete for a Super Bowl. He's nearing the end of his career and doesn't have a ring. He would make up for Corbett leaving. Another name to watch is ILB Jordan Hicks. The Cardinals seem likely to release him to clear a path for first round ILB Zaven Collins to start.
Trades
Rams trade Round 6 Pick #35
Raiders trade CB Amik Robertson and 2023 Round 7 Pick
Robertson fell out of favor in Oakland. With Mayock and Gruden now gone, I'm thinking the Raiders will be even more willing to part ways with him. I liked him a lot as a prospect. He's undersized, but he's physical and sticky in coverage. I'd give him a shot here.
Rams trade Round 3 Pick #40
Ravens trade Round 4 Pick #14 and Round 4 Pick #38
Rams trade out of the last pick on Day 2 to add an extra pick in the 4th round.
Rams trade Round 4 Pick #39 and 6 Pick #32
Falcons trade Round 5 Pick #8 and 6 Pick #11
Rams trade down with the Falcons.
NFL Draft
Round 4 Pick #14 - Brian Asamoah ILB Oklahoma
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwxxiknfflI
Analysis: Our biggest weakness over the past couple years on defense has been a lack of range and cover skills at ILB. Brian Asamoah is an immediate solution to that problem. At 6'0" 222, Asamoah is a tad undersized, but he fits well with where the modern game is going. He's a speedy, twitched-up athlete who excels in both zone and man coverage. He also possesses the range to play sideline to sideline. He's a violent hitter who will bring the boom. On the negative side, he is quite bad at getting off blocks and can flow too hard, opening up to him being burned by misdirection.
Round 4 Pick #38 - Jelani Woods TE Virginia
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsBN2se6mag
Analysis: At 6'7" 260, Jelani Woods is an absolutely massive man. He spent most of his career as a blocking TE at Oklahoma State, transferring to UVA in his final year. UVA unleashed him as a weapon, and he responded with 44 catches for 598 yards and 8 TDs. Possessing surprising speed and fluidity for such a big man and a punishing running style, Woods proved to be a major threat in the intermediate and deep ranges. But he was especially effective in the red zone due to his massive frame and impressive body control. He's a leggy athlete, which limits his suddenness, and he needs a lot of technical refinement, but he has the size, physicality, and strength to block in line with the athleticism to be a legitimate threat in the passing game.
Round 5 Pick #8 - Luke Fortner OL Kentucky
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTqU1SQ1tgk
Analysis: Fortner was Mr. Reliable for Kentucky. He started at Guard for two years there before sliding inside to Center in his final year. At the NFL level, his game translates best to Center, but he's a great fit for what the Rams like in their OLs. He's intelligent, mobile, and very savvy. At 6'4" 302, he's not an overpowering guy in the running game. He wins with angles, agility, and technically sound play. His anchor in pass pro is decent, but he can get pushed back by extremely strong NTs. Fortner also needs to be more consistent with his hand placement, as he tends to catch instead of punch and fires too wide with his hands. All in all, he's an experienced, smart OL who can play all three interior positions and spent the 2021 season playing for McVay protégé Liam Coen.
Round 5 Pick #32 - E.J. Perry QB Brown
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcP9mTsb2Q8
Analysis: Perry is a very intriguing developmental QB who popped onto my radar with a great performance at the East-West Shrine Game. He won Offensive Player of the Game despite playing on the losing squad, falling just short after rallying his team from down 20+. What makes Perry so intriguing is his physical talent. At 6'2" 212, Perry has a good arm and very good mobility. He's quick and elusive in the pocket with what appears to be 4.6ish wheels. He also has the arm strength to make all the necessary throws and the accuracy to thread the needle. His biggest weakness is decision making. He is too courageous when it comes to challenging tight windows and sometimes misses LBs dropping under routes. That all said, this Ivy League QB offers a lot of upside.
Round 6 Pick #11 - Jack Jones CB Arizona State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJWBcw7JEtY
Analysis: In terms of pure talent, Jack Jones is arguably a 3rd round pick. He's undersized at 5'10" 175, but he is an outstanding athlete who has put a lot of great football on film. The problem with him is that he's an older prospect (already 24) who has character concerns (booted from USC back in 2018 due to academic issues and a burglary arrest). Jones started early in his career at USC and flashed major cover skills. At Arizona State, he only built on that over the past two years. He has quick feet, the speed to run with WRs deep, loose hips, and good ball skills. Jones is a natural at mirroring WRs. He's also a willing tackler, despite his lack of size and strength. He offers a skillset that's a lot like Darious Williams's. He's a sticky cover man who might struggle with big, strong WRs. But he's a great value in the 6th round if he stays out of trouble.
Round 6 Pick #33 - Trestan Ebner HB/RS Baylor
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzsXKFUuIHM
Analysis: Ebner is a very intriguing HB prospect. He feels like the sort of guy who will produce out of nowhere after being drafted by Kyle Shanahan. Ebner was the 1B HB to Abram Smith at Baylor this year. But where Ebner really shines is his versatility. He's dynamic in the return game (3 KR TDs over the past 2 years), he's an outstanding pass catcher at all levels of the defense, and he has burner speed. As a runner, Ebner isn't a guy who will grind out yardage between the tackles. He looks most comfortable in the outside zone, using his speed and quick cuts to threaten defenses. His versatility would serve him well here. He offers explosiveness in the return game, and I have no doubt McVay can find ways to use his receiving skills and explosiveness on offense.
Round 7 Pick #17 - Clint Ratkovich FB/TE/HB Northern Illinois
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqPfesUtMmE
Analysis: This is one McVay should consider if he wants to embrace some of what Kyle Shanahan is doing. Ratkovich has some similarities to Kyle Juszcyzk. He's a guy who can operate as a HB, FB, or TE. At 6'1" 231, he's a physical lead blocker, but he's also a solid runner and a gifted receiver. He's capable of playing a H-Back role as a move TE of sorts. He's capable of lead blocking. He's also capable of lining up at HB and grinding out yardage (or playing on 3rd downs as a blocker and reliable receiver). He's basically an offensive weapon. In addition to his versatility on offense, Ratkovich is a guy who will contribute a lot on special teams.
Round 7 Pick #32 - Juanyeh Thomas S Georgia Tech
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8CDgG4ElOs
Analysis: Juanyeh Thomas is another guy who popped onto my radar at the East-West Shrine Game. He impressed me with his physicality in the box and reliable tackling on defense. He also looked good on special teams. Georgia Tech used him mostly as a single-high safety, and that's not where he fits in the NFL. He doesn't have the range to play that position, and his angles were poor. He looks much more comfortable in the box and playing as a split safety. He is going to need to improve his angles in the NFL, as he tends to overestimate his speed (he's a good but not great athlete). But he's a physical guy who tackles well on defense and has the athleticism to play in this scheme. But like all late round picks, he should contribute well on special teams.
Project Starters
QB: Matthew Stafford
HB: Cam Akers
WR: Cooper Kupp
WR: Robert Woods
WR: Odell Beckham Jr.
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Joe Noteboom
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: Brian Allen
RG: David Edwards
RT: Rob Havenstein
DE: A'Shawn Robinson
NT: Greg Gaines
DE: Aaron Donald
OLB: Leonard Floyd
ILB: Ernest Jones
ILB: Travin Howard
OLB: Von Miller
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: Robert Rochell
CB: David Long Jr.
S: Jordan Fuller
S: Nick Scott
K: Matt Gay
P: Johnny Hekker (but he'll have competition)
LS: Matt Orzech
RS: Brandon Powell vs. Trestan Ebner
Retire
LT Andrew Whitworth
Extend
QB Matthew Stafford
Restructure
OLB Leonard Floyd
CB Jalen Ramsey
WR Cooper Kupp
Resign
LT Joe Noteboom
OLB Von Miller
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
C Brian Allen
ILB Travin Howard
K Matt Gay
ILB Troy Reeder
QB John Wolford (ERFA)
WR/RS Brandon Powell
Darious Williams and Austin Corbett get offers we can't match. Sony Michel, SJD, and Okoronkwo are also rewarded with solid FA offers that we choose not to match. We bring back Von Miller and OBJ for another go. We should be able to get OBJ on an incentive-heavy one-year deal because of his injury.
Free Agency
OG Rodger Saffold
If the Titans cut him, Rodger might be willing to take a discount to return to the Rams and compete for a Super Bowl. He's nearing the end of his career and doesn't have a ring. He would make up for Corbett leaving. Another name to watch is ILB Jordan Hicks. The Cardinals seem likely to release him to clear a path for first round ILB Zaven Collins to start.
Trades
Rams trade Round 6 Pick #35
Raiders trade CB Amik Robertson and 2023 Round 7 Pick
Robertson fell out of favor in Oakland. With Mayock and Gruden now gone, I'm thinking the Raiders will be even more willing to part ways with him. I liked him a lot as a prospect. He's undersized, but he's physical and sticky in coverage. I'd give him a shot here.
Rams trade Round 3 Pick #40
Ravens trade Round 4 Pick #14 and Round 4 Pick #38
Rams trade out of the last pick on Day 2 to add an extra pick in the 4th round.
Rams trade Round 4 Pick #39 and 6 Pick #32
Falcons trade Round 5 Pick #8 and 6 Pick #11
Rams trade down with the Falcons.
NFL Draft
Round 4 Pick #14 - Brian Asamoah ILB Oklahoma
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwxxiknfflI
Analysis: Our biggest weakness over the past couple years on defense has been a lack of range and cover skills at ILB. Brian Asamoah is an immediate solution to that problem. At 6'0" 222, Asamoah is a tad undersized, but he fits well with where the modern game is going. He's a speedy, twitched-up athlete who excels in both zone and man coverage. He also possesses the range to play sideline to sideline. He's a violent hitter who will bring the boom. On the negative side, he is quite bad at getting off blocks and can flow too hard, opening up to him being burned by misdirection.
Round 4 Pick #38 - Jelani Woods TE Virginia
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsBN2se6mag
Analysis: At 6'7" 260, Jelani Woods is an absolutely massive man. He spent most of his career as a blocking TE at Oklahoma State, transferring to UVA in his final year. UVA unleashed him as a weapon, and he responded with 44 catches for 598 yards and 8 TDs. Possessing surprising speed and fluidity for such a big man and a punishing running style, Woods proved to be a major threat in the intermediate and deep ranges. But he was especially effective in the red zone due to his massive frame and impressive body control. He's a leggy athlete, which limits his suddenness, and he needs a lot of technical refinement, but he has the size, physicality, and strength to block in line with the athleticism to be a legitimate threat in the passing game.
Round 5 Pick #8 - Luke Fortner OL Kentucky
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTqU1SQ1tgk
Analysis: Fortner was Mr. Reliable for Kentucky. He started at Guard for two years there before sliding inside to Center in his final year. At the NFL level, his game translates best to Center, but he's a great fit for what the Rams like in their OLs. He's intelligent, mobile, and very savvy. At 6'4" 302, he's not an overpowering guy in the running game. He wins with angles, agility, and technically sound play. His anchor in pass pro is decent, but he can get pushed back by extremely strong NTs. Fortner also needs to be more consistent with his hand placement, as he tends to catch instead of punch and fires too wide with his hands. All in all, he's an experienced, smart OL who can play all three interior positions and spent the 2021 season playing for McVay protégé Liam Coen.
Round 5 Pick #32 - E.J. Perry QB Brown
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcP9mTsb2Q8
Analysis: Perry is a very intriguing developmental QB who popped onto my radar with a great performance at the East-West Shrine Game. He won Offensive Player of the Game despite playing on the losing squad, falling just short after rallying his team from down 20+. What makes Perry so intriguing is his physical talent. At 6'2" 212, Perry has a good arm and very good mobility. He's quick and elusive in the pocket with what appears to be 4.6ish wheels. He also has the arm strength to make all the necessary throws and the accuracy to thread the needle. His biggest weakness is decision making. He is too courageous when it comes to challenging tight windows and sometimes misses LBs dropping under routes. That all said, this Ivy League QB offers a lot of upside.
Round 6 Pick #11 - Jack Jones CB Arizona State
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJWBcw7JEtY
Analysis: In terms of pure talent, Jack Jones is arguably a 3rd round pick. He's undersized at 5'10" 175, but he is an outstanding athlete who has put a lot of great football on film. The problem with him is that he's an older prospect (already 24) who has character concerns (booted from USC back in 2018 due to academic issues and a burglary arrest). Jones started early in his career at USC and flashed major cover skills. At Arizona State, he only built on that over the past two years. He has quick feet, the speed to run with WRs deep, loose hips, and good ball skills. Jones is a natural at mirroring WRs. He's also a willing tackler, despite his lack of size and strength. He offers a skillset that's a lot like Darious Williams's. He's a sticky cover man who might struggle with big, strong WRs. But he's a great value in the 6th round if he stays out of trouble.
Round 6 Pick #33 - Trestan Ebner HB/RS Baylor
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzsXKFUuIHM
Analysis: Ebner is a very intriguing HB prospect. He feels like the sort of guy who will produce out of nowhere after being drafted by Kyle Shanahan. Ebner was the 1B HB to Abram Smith at Baylor this year. But where Ebner really shines is his versatility. He's dynamic in the return game (3 KR TDs over the past 2 years), he's an outstanding pass catcher at all levels of the defense, and he has burner speed. As a runner, Ebner isn't a guy who will grind out yardage between the tackles. He looks most comfortable in the outside zone, using his speed and quick cuts to threaten defenses. His versatility would serve him well here. He offers explosiveness in the return game, and I have no doubt McVay can find ways to use his receiving skills and explosiveness on offense.
Round 7 Pick #17 - Clint Ratkovich FB/TE/HB Northern Illinois
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqPfesUtMmE
Analysis: This is one McVay should consider if he wants to embrace some of what Kyle Shanahan is doing. Ratkovich has some similarities to Kyle Juszcyzk. He's a guy who can operate as a HB, FB, or TE. At 6'1" 231, he's a physical lead blocker, but he's also a solid runner and a gifted receiver. He's capable of playing a H-Back role as a move TE of sorts. He's capable of lead blocking. He's also capable of lining up at HB and grinding out yardage (or playing on 3rd downs as a blocker and reliable receiver). He's basically an offensive weapon. In addition to his versatility on offense, Ratkovich is a guy who will contribute a lot on special teams.
Round 7 Pick #32 - Juanyeh Thomas S Georgia Tech
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8CDgG4ElOs
Analysis: Juanyeh Thomas is another guy who popped onto my radar at the East-West Shrine Game. He impressed me with his physicality in the box and reliable tackling on defense. He also looked good on special teams. Georgia Tech used him mostly as a single-high safety, and that's not where he fits in the NFL. He doesn't have the range to play that position, and his angles were poor. He looks much more comfortable in the box and playing as a split safety. He is going to need to improve his angles in the NFL, as he tends to overestimate his speed (he's a good but not great athlete). But he's a physical guy who tackles well on defense and has the athleticism to play in this scheme. But like all late round picks, he should contribute well on special teams.
Project Starters
QB: Matthew Stafford
HB: Cam Akers
WR: Cooper Kupp
WR: Robert Woods
WR: Odell Beckham Jr.
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Joe Noteboom
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: Brian Allen
RG: David Edwards
RT: Rob Havenstein
DE: A'Shawn Robinson
NT: Greg Gaines
DE: Aaron Donald
OLB: Leonard Floyd
ILB: Ernest Jones
ILB: Travin Howard
OLB: Von Miller
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: Robert Rochell
CB: David Long Jr.
S: Jordan Fuller
S: Nick Scott
K: Matt Gay
P: Johnny Hekker (but he'll have competition)
LS: Matt Orzech
RS: Brandon Powell vs. Trestan Ebner
