Mayfield and McVay

[Loyal]

If there is concern that Stafford can't play a whole season or this may get worse for him and we have Super Bowl aspirations, can we afford NOT to?

And just dump the idea of getting OBJ! ~ Otto

 

[blackbart]

Unfortunately, signing bonuses do count against the cap.

Paid to the player day one but pro-rated by the team for cap purposes.

Say I sign you to a five year contract and give you a $10M signing bonus. You get the $10M on signing but the cap hit for that bonus is spread out over the length of the contract.
10 divided by 5 = 2. So $2M against the cap for each of the next 5 years.

If I sign you for just two years but still pay a $10M signing bonus, you still get the same $10M at the same time. However, now the the cap hit is $5M per year for the next two years (10 divided by 2).

By the way, I’m sure you would be worth every penny!

Absolutely worth it, just not sure what job I’d be doing.

 

[dieterbrock]

Personally, I was thinking if things go well the next four games 3-5 mill range.

Marcus Mariota got a 2 year 19 mill deal. That's the kind of money he's looking at worse case. If he plays really well? Higher.
Guys like Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum are making 6-7 mill

 

[Allen2McVay]

There are a ton of variables on whether Mayfield is a Ram in 2023. Many beyond the Rams' control.

In no particular order, there's Need. What's Stafford's physical status, his state of mind as to what he wants to do and the Rams level of concern? All legitimate questions with no real answers just yet.

How does Mayfield play over the next four games, assuming he is healthy. Do the Rams want to retain him; and, if so, how much? Really, REALLY want to keep him; or, "Yeah it would be nice".

The better Mayfield plays, the more he will be marketable in the off-season. Money is one factor but an opportunity to start is another. It only takes one team that might see enough to offer Mayfield a starting job. Then there's the question of whether Mayfield would (or should) take an opportunity to start. If it's a bad team, then the likelihood for success is less; and there may not be another opportunity.

Hitting a re-set-button is not out-of-the-question. Taking a short-term deal (even for just one-year) with the right team could be the smart-play. A very confident (even cocky guy) with a big ego might not do that. Someone who has truly learned from past mistakes, might do just that. Before Mayfield was waived by Carolina, I threw out Sam Darnold for just this reason.

I haven't even mentioned $. If there's no starting opportunity, does Mayfield simply look for the highest back-up-$? Maybe he takes less money (with incentives) from a good team with concerns about its QB's health.

First steps come over the next four weeks. Will Mayfield be healthy. Will the O-Line be, at least, adequate. Finally, how much does he impress the Rams on the field and in the building.

 

[Merlin]

And just dump the idea of getting OBJ! ~ Otto

But he is dying to work with Baker I am sure.

 

[BonifayRam]

They've got to invest $$ in to protecting Stafford first and foremost.

Yes dieterbrock !

Keeping the main thing the main thing!

Rams simply can not go into the 2023 season without being all in with serious reconstruction & beefing up this OL in any way it can with very few to no $$$ options available in UFA'cy.

The Rams OL fell into trouble before the 2nd preseason game. There is a real possibility the 2023 Ram OL will be much of the same personnel in 2023.

Fans remaining in the thought that the 35 yr old QB Stafford desires to return to try to resume his career after another spinal cord neck injury & try to remain healthy behind another Snead/ McVay/ Carberry 2022 OL version plan & zero running game is living in La La land IMO.

$63 million of the Rams salary dead cap funds $$$'s sitting on the injured reserve with #9.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPImdMknAO4

 

[SWAdude]

Marcus Mariota got a 2 year 19 mill deal. That's the kind of money he's looking at worse case. If he plays really well? Higher.
Guys like Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum are making 6-7 mill

Okay, sure. 6-7 mill then.

Didn't you say like 10-15 million?

 

[jrry32]

Marcus Mariota got a 2 year 19 mill deal. That's the kind of money he's looking at worse case. If he plays really well? Higher.
Guys like Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum are making 6-7 mill

Baker just got cut, and nobody wanted to trade for him before the season but Carolina. He's not getting a huge contact.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

Absolutely worth it, just not sure what job I’d be doing.

Hey!!! at $10 million dollars, who cares??

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[Merlin]

Baker just got cut, and nobody wanted to trade for him before the season but Carolina. He's not getting a huge contact.

Hope you are right. But if he keeps playing like he just did teams may decide the Browns and Panthers are idiots. That isn't exactly a reach.

 

[fearsomefour]

You named 3 DL'ers above zero OL'ers... Zero OL'ers.

Paints an ugly picture for the OL does it not...I wonder if OL coach Carberry follows the other four Ram coaches for new jobs elsewhere...

What OL players has really stepped up?
I can't think of any.
Skura has been a nice surprise to me. Hes not great and he seems to give up a terrible sack once a week. But, he is not terrible and can play all three interior OL spots and gets some movement in the run game.
I would keep Skura and Ty after this season to add some vet presence to the OL depth. Even if a guy like Ty is put on the practice squad (Im sure he would be)....he is too old for a lot of teams to want to pick him up and at a PS salary (assuming he'd be interested) he can provide emergency depth at LT.
Those are the sort of moves I expect (and I would make) this offseason. I don't expect a big splash FA signing or an early pick going to the OL.
The Rams are young on the OL. I think they make some moves to add some depth and maybe shore things up a bit but I do not expect a rebuild on the OL.

 

[dieterbrock]

Okay, sure. 6-7 mill then.

Didn't you say like 10-15 million?

Yes because he's more attractive as a starter than Mariota, who's just under 10 mill
He's leaps and bounds better than a Keenum or a Bridgewater

 

[dieterbrock]

Baker just got cut, and nobody wanted to trade for him before the season but Carolina. He's not getting a huge contact.

Cleveland painted themselves in to a corner the way they handled the Watson/Mayfield deal, let's not act like that was how a deal would go down.
The guy is a legit QB and we have him because of how stupidly he was handled the last 6 months
With a weak QB class coming out this year I could see several teams look to bring him in on a quasi-starter deal, the back loaded, voidable years kinda thing that gives him some decent $$ up front, and keeps him in play for a 2nd season
I'd love to think the Rams can make it work, just dont see how it can
There will be openings at QB and there will be some big names out there

 

[PARAM]

The idea that nobody is going to throw money at Mayfield if he plays well over the last 4 games seems odd to me. He's got issues but so does Antonio Brown and it took 3 years for teams to stop offering him money. He's not even a QB and his issues were exponentially more serious than Mayfield's!! What's Baker's biggest crime? Cocky? Arrogant? Failing in Cleveland and Carolina? Robbie Anderson got thrown off the Panthers during a game vs the Rams and was on the Cardinals 2 days later!! How many teams need an upgrade at QB? 2? 4? 6? More? Don't get me wrong, I'd love for Mayfield to say, I want to be a Ram, damn the money or the opportunity to start. But I don't like the odds that'll happen.

 

[SWAdude]

Yes because he's more attractive as a starter than Mariota, who's just under 10 mill
He's leaps and bounds better than a Keenum or a Bridgewater

If this is common knowledge, why on earth did no one but the Rams put a claim in for him at the bargain basement price of 1.3 mill?

 

[PARAM]

If this is common knowledge, why on earth did no one but the Rams put a claim in for him at the bargain basement price of 1.3 mill?

Because everybody and their brother (and Mayfield) probably knew the Rams would claim him. The three teams below the Rams on the waiver claims ladder were Houston, Denver and Chicago. All 3 have QBs in place and don't need a QB controversy. The teams above the Rams in need of a QB? Any in playoff contention (SF, Washington) probably figured it would affect the locker room if they lost on the waiver claim. Atlanta, not really a contender, was another that comes to mind but how would a claim there affect Ridder? There are plenty of reasons not to put a claim in for Mayfield and many have nothing to do with him.

 

[BonifayRam]

What OL players has really stepped up?
I can't think of any.
Skura has been a nice surprise to me. Hes not great and he seems to give up a terrible sack once a week. But, he is not terrible and can play all three interior OL spots and gets some movement in the run game.
I would keep Skura and Ty after this season to add some vet presence to the OL depth. Even if a guy like Ty is put on the practice squad (Im sure he would be)....he is too old for a lot of teams to want to pick him up and at a PS salary (assuming he'd be interested) he can provide emergency depth at LT.
Those are the sort of moves I expect (and I would make) this offseason. I don't expect a big splash FA signing or an early pick going to the OL.
The Rams are young on the OL. I think they make some moves to add some depth and maybe shore things up a bit but I do not expect a rebuild on the OL.

If I were to have answered that question I would have said that Alaric Jackson stepped up as no other Ram OL'er has in many seasons.

In the 8 regular 2022 season games started 6 but finished 7, he was grading out ahead of our best veteran OL Rob Havenstein. He began the season as a reserve LT. Started @ RG then LT.

It's obvious from all my posts I am really concerned about his blood clot health issue I do know that his condition can keep him inactive & on the shelf for a very long period of time. IMO Jackson is questionable for 2023 season.

 

[Mojo Ram]

If the Rams find a way to complete a transition from Goff to Stafford to Mayfield, it would be quite impressive.

One of the keys to McVay sticking around LA is having an Alpha type QB here. If that dries up he’s gone IMO.

 

[Merlin]

If the Rams find a way to complete a transition from Goff to Stafford to Mayfield, it would be quite impressive.

One of the keys to McVay sticking around LA is having an Alpha type QB here. If that dries up he’s gone IMO.

Yeah agreed. And judging from that game last weekend McVay looked completely rejuvenated by having Baker added. He had that look in his eye that's been missing all season.

Good thing here is that if Stafford plays next season he's got a starter nipping at his heels. As competitive as he is that will make him better. And if his heart isn't in it then the Rams will find a way through that due to having the next QB in place. Baker is looking like one hell of a windfall for us.

 

[fearsomefour]

If I were to have answered that question I would have said that Alaric Jackson stepped up as no other Ram OL'er has in many seasons.

In the 8 regular 2022 season games started 6 but finished 7, he was grading out ahead of our best veteran OL Rob Havenstein. He began the season as a reserve LT. Started @ RG then LT.

It's obvious from all my posts I am really concerned about his blood clot health issue I do know that his condition can keep him inactive & on the shelf for a very long period of time. IMO Jackson is questionable for 2023 season.

Very true.
He would likely have been projected out as the starting LT next year.
It is a bummer what has happened across the OL board this year, but, his situation in particular.
Thats a life issue not a football issue.
It would be a great surprise if he is cleared for next year.