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Well, we're close to free agency, and the Rams are at a crossroads with their star quarterback and their number two receiver. Fortunately, I have a plan! ...And I hope McSnead does as well. But, anyway, here we go with the offseason:
Cut:
Tyler Higbee
Colby Parkinson
Darious Williams
Derion Kendrick
(I know it's going to be controversial to cut Higbee, but he saves money necessary for the dead cap we're incurring trading Stafford and Kupp, free agent signings next year, and re-signings of key players (Avila, Nacua, and Turner) at the end. He's also had had real injury issues, and I'm planning on a youth movement after Stafford and Kupp leave. Kendrick and D-Will save money, and Parkinson did nothing with us.)
Re-sign:
Akhello Witherspoon - two years, ten million.
Jimmy Garoppolo - two years, seven million
Jake Hummel (RFA)
Dylan McMahon (ERFA)
(Not a surprise, except for A-Jax; I don't think he's going to be re-signed at this rate. Garoppolo is the bridge quarterback for whom we pick. Witherspoon knows the system and is a solid corner, so we re-sign him. Jake Hummel is a RFA, so we pay a bit to keep him. McMahon is an ERFA, so he signs. Everyone else can go.)
Free Agency:
None.
(Overall, I don't see much activity in free agency other than trades (nothing to affect the compensatory pick category), and I'm assuming we don't shell out a lot of money for an inside linebacker, like Jourdan said. Besides, the dead cap from the trades and eventual new contracts precludes signing a lot. Speaking of trades, here we go; they're a doozy: )
Trades:
Matthew Stafford to the Las Vegas Raiders for #6 overall and #37 overall.
(Let's not make this more complicated than it has to be. First and a second for Stafford.)
Cooper Kupp and 2026 fourth round pick to the New England Cheatriots for #77 overall and #219 overall.
(Kupp gives the Cheatriots veteran leadership and a competent slot receiver. We get a third-round pick and a seventh-round pick in return.)
Kyren Williams to the Denver Broncos for #85 overall.
(The Broncos are desperate for a running back and are trying to compete. We give them K-Will for a third.)
Jonah Jackson and #192 to the New York Giants for #155 overall.)
(Giants get a starting guard, and we cut more salary and get a fifth.)
#6 overall to the Chicago Bears for #10 overall, #39 overall, and #41 overall.
(YOU CAN'T OUT-CRAZYMOCK THE OG CRAZY MOCKER, @Corbin !! Bears pay for Will Campbell, we trade down to #10.)
#10 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals for #17 overall and #49 overall.
(Yes, another crazy ass trade, work with me here. Cinci jumps up for Jeanty, while we secure another pick.)
DRAFT:
#17 overall - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan.
(Loveland is an ascending tight end with rare physical ability; he runs more like a giant receiver than a 6'5" tight end. I've heard comparisons to everyone from a more athletic Higbee to Greg Olsen-lite. He's not going to turn twenty-one until April, people! He's going to be a great one, and I think he'll be dominant from day one.)
#26 overall - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State.
(Egbuka fits this system like a glove, and we'd be lucky to get him here, frankly, but it's a possibility with the defensive and offensive lines taking priority amongst teams. Talented route-runner with breakaway speed. What's not to love?)
#37 overall - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri.
(Let's be frank: LB3 is a steal at this point. He can do everything, and if attitude is the only reason he falls into the second round, we should pick him up, get him in a few packages to show off his skills. I've been his biggest fan, and I have no idea why he's falling so far. You pick that guy up and watch him dominate for us. Plain and simple.)
#39 overall - Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College.
(Why am I taking an edge rusher instead of a quarterback or running back or cornerback at this juncture? Because I feel that Ezeiruaku is a steal at this point, and his talent is too much to pass on him. He's one of the most explosive, most technical, and most high-motor edge rushers in this class with 16.5 sacks, 20.5 tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles. He's not just a pass-rusher; he's also dominant in the run game. Put on the tape, and I dare you to tell me that you don't see Quinn in Ezeiruaku bending the edge with AD's pass rushing technique and moves. Honestly, he should be a first round pick because I think he's better than all but two or three edge rushers in this class, but his size will scare people away. I hope it doesn't scare us away.)
#41 overall - Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina.
(Hampton could very well be an elite running back. I think he's arguably a late-first, but I love his contact balance, vision, breakaway speed, punishing running, and his soft hands. He could stand to learn a few more routes, but that's a dominant rushing attack with him, Corum, and Schrader.)
#49 overall - Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College.
(Trapilo is the replacement for A-Jax. Dominant 6'7" tackle who has the frame to pack on more weight without it adversely affecting his quality of play. Not exactly mean, but a dominant pass protector, and moves people.)
#77 overall - Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green.
(Fannin is slipping in some mocks I see. I don't know why, but I'll gladly add him to go along with Loveland to form a dominant tight end corps.)
#85 overall - Will Howard, QB, Ohio State.
(Here's the quarterback! Yes, it would be a bit awkward for him to throw to a Michigan tight end, but Howard is a big, athletic quarterback who showed more passing ability at Ohio State than he ever did at Kansas State. Is he a risk? Sure, but if he hits, you have your inexpensive quarterback of the future.)
#90 overall - Anthony Belton, OT, North Carolina.
(Belton is so fucking nasty in the running game; he looks to punish people, and he's a big (6'6", 335 lbs.) athletic tackle whom I could look at replacing Havenstein when he eventually leaves, in case he gets injured, or maybe even be Dotson's eventual successor at guard if he can't handle tackle.)
#100 overall - Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers.
(Just an enormous kid (6'7", 342 lbs.) with uber-long arms (36.5 inches) who worked his ass off to get on the field and busted his ass in the classroom as well. He's a mauler in the running game, needs a little work as a pass-protector, and is raw, but he's only a redshirt sophomore who could easily outperform his draft position at right tackle.)
#126 overall - Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State.
(Parrish immediately caught my eye when I looked at his tape. He's not the biggest corner out there, but he's a heat-seeking missile in the run game, has outstanding football IQ, and is amazing in zone coverage with the potential for man. I think he'd be a steal here.)
#155 overall - Andrew Armstrong, WR, Arkansas.
(Don't know what's up with Armstrong. I have to assume character. But he's a top fifty talent in this class without the character concerns; a 6'4", 215 lbs. monster that could dominate the NFL like he did the SEC.)
#203 overall - Simeon Barrow Jr., DT, Miami (Florida).
(Barrow is an incredible pass-rusher, and honestly, I think we need a pass-rushing option instead of another nose tackle - and if we do need one, we could get one in UDFA; it's loaded with D-line. But Barrow isn't just a pass-rusher; he was one of the top run-stuffing tackles in the nation. Perfect in case Fiske goes out with injury again; we had no answers once he did.)
#204 overall - Antwane "Juice" Wells, WR/RB/KR/PR, Ole Miss.
(Wells didn't have a great year at Ole Miss, but he was absolutely dominant at South Carolina and Jacksonville State, so I'll chalk this as an off year. Wells, at his best, is a YAC monster, deep threat, and a Deebo-lite who could have a real role in this offense and on special teams. At this point, I'm looking at value, not just position, and I really want to remake the wide receiver room.)
#219 overall - Teddye Buchanan, ILB, California.
(Buchanan could really be an elite coverage linebacker. He has elite range and was trusted at Cal to defend the run and pass. His tackling is amazing, eight career interceptions, fourteen pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, etc. showing that he's a playmaker. With a seventh-round pick, I think he could be a steal here, even if it doesn't seem like it.)
Roster:
QB - Jimmy Garoppolo, Will Howard.
(It's a risky quarterback room, but it's one that also could pay huge dividends in the end. Howard could really be a starter in this league, I truly feel that Howard could be like what Will Levis was supposed to be when he came out, except with more football IQ.)
RB - Omarion Hampton, Blake Corum, Cody Schrader.
(Hampton takes over the running back role. Corum is going to improve, and I have high hopes for Schrader - and honestly, with Hampton and Corum, hopefully we won't need Schrader for much.)
WR - Puka Nacua, Emeka Egbuka, Jordan Whittington, Luther Burden III (PR), Andrew Armstrong, Juice Wells (KR).
(Nacua (with a brand-new contract keeping him here) and Whittington are the veterans who set the tone. Egbuka takes over the X role, Burden comes in on various packages, Armstrong gets a learning year, and Wells is our returner of the future. Both Nacua and Whittington have had injury concerns, so I expect all of our receivers to play a lot.)
TE - Colston Loveland, Harold Fannin Jr., Davis Allen.
(Remaking the tight end room is difficult, but necessary for this offense to thrive. Loveland will be a starter from day one, Fannin could be an elite compliment, and Allen is still in his third year and could be solid on subpackages and teams.)
OL - Ozzy Trapilo, Steve Avila, Beaux Limmer, Kevin Dotson, Rob Havenstein, Warren McClendon, Justin Dedich, K.T. Leveston, Dylan McMahon, Anthony Belton, Hollin Pierce.
(A rookie at left tackle? Yeah, but I trust Trapilo more than most, and he has Avila by his side (whom I expect to get a big contract from us after this year). McClendon's still the swing tackle until someone can take it from him, Dedich and McMahon could solidify center, Leveston is the swing guard, and Belton and Pierce are having redshirt years, but other than that, I'm ecstatic for this group.)
DL - Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis, David Olajiga, Desjuan Johnson, Simeon Barrow Jr.
(Assuming Turner gets a huge contract that keeps him here a while. Davis and Olajiga compete for nose tackle snaps.)
LB - Jared Verse, Byron Young, Omar Speights, Jake Hummel, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Brennan Jackson, Nick Hampton, Jaylen McCollough, Teddye Buchanan.
(Ezeiruaku, I feel, is going to compete for snaps from Byron Young (whom I love, but he will be thirty at the end of his four-year rookie deal, and he's in his third year this year) from the first day. Brennan Jackson will be ready to compete for snaps, Hampton is a key special teams players, McCollough is moved to be our linebacker for passing downs (although he's still a safety), and Buchanan is our special teams linebacker and Hummel's replacement.)
DB - Akhello Witherspoon, Emmanuel Forbes, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Kamren Curl, Cobie Durant, Josh Wallace, Charles Woods, Cam Lampkin, Jacob Parrish.
(Witherspoon leads an otherwise really young defensive backs group (and yes, I see Forbes starting this year.). I actually have really high hopes for our UDFA corners in Wallace, Woods, and Lampkin; every single one of them flashed positively last year. Parrish could be a solid replacement for Durant when he leaves in free agency. If we really need to, we could add someone like Kamren Fabiculanan as an UDFA to fortify our safety room in case Lake or Curl leave).
ST - Joshua Karty, Ethan Evans, Alex Ward
(Same as usual, thank fucking fate.)
Feel free to tell me what you think.
Cut:
Tyler Higbee
Colby Parkinson
Darious Williams
Derion Kendrick
(I know it's going to be controversial to cut Higbee, but he saves money necessary for the dead cap we're incurring trading Stafford and Kupp, free agent signings next year, and re-signings of key players (Avila, Nacua, and Turner) at the end. He's also had had real injury issues, and I'm planning on a youth movement after Stafford and Kupp leave. Kendrick and D-Will save money, and Parkinson did nothing with us.)
Re-sign:
Akhello Witherspoon - two years, ten million.
Jimmy Garoppolo - two years, seven million
Jake Hummel (RFA)
Dylan McMahon (ERFA)
(Not a surprise, except for A-Jax; I don't think he's going to be re-signed at this rate. Garoppolo is the bridge quarterback for whom we pick. Witherspoon knows the system and is a solid corner, so we re-sign him. Jake Hummel is a RFA, so we pay a bit to keep him. McMahon is an ERFA, so he signs. Everyone else can go.)
Free Agency:
None.
(Overall, I don't see much activity in free agency other than trades (nothing to affect the compensatory pick category), and I'm assuming we don't shell out a lot of money for an inside linebacker, like Jourdan said. Besides, the dead cap from the trades and eventual new contracts precludes signing a lot. Speaking of trades, here we go; they're a doozy: )
Trades:
Matthew Stafford to the Las Vegas Raiders for #6 overall and #37 overall.
(Let's not make this more complicated than it has to be. First and a second for Stafford.)
Cooper Kupp and 2026 fourth round pick to the New England Cheatriots for #77 overall and #219 overall.
(Kupp gives the Cheatriots veteran leadership and a competent slot receiver. We get a third-round pick and a seventh-round pick in return.)
Kyren Williams to the Denver Broncos for #85 overall.
(The Broncos are desperate for a running back and are trying to compete. We give them K-Will for a third.)
Jonah Jackson and #192 to the New York Giants for #155 overall.)
(Giants get a starting guard, and we cut more salary and get a fifth.)
#6 overall to the Chicago Bears for #10 overall, #39 overall, and #41 overall.
(YOU CAN'T OUT-CRAZYMOCK THE OG CRAZY MOCKER, @Corbin !! Bears pay for Will Campbell, we trade down to #10.)
#10 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals for #17 overall and #49 overall.
(Yes, another crazy ass trade, work with me here. Cinci jumps up for Jeanty, while we secure another pick.)
DRAFT:
#17 overall - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan.
(Loveland is an ascending tight end with rare physical ability; he runs more like a giant receiver than a 6'5" tight end. I've heard comparisons to everyone from a more athletic Higbee to Greg Olsen-lite. He's not going to turn twenty-one until April, people! He's going to be a great one, and I think he'll be dominant from day one.)
#26 overall - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State.
(Egbuka fits this system like a glove, and we'd be lucky to get him here, frankly, but it's a possibility with the defensive and offensive lines taking priority amongst teams. Talented route-runner with breakaway speed. What's not to love?)
#37 overall - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri.
(Let's be frank: LB3 is a steal at this point. He can do everything, and if attitude is the only reason he falls into the second round, we should pick him up, get him in a few packages to show off his skills. I've been his biggest fan, and I have no idea why he's falling so far. You pick that guy up and watch him dominate for us. Plain and simple.)
#39 overall - Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College.
(Why am I taking an edge rusher instead of a quarterback or running back or cornerback at this juncture? Because I feel that Ezeiruaku is a steal at this point, and his talent is too much to pass on him. He's one of the most explosive, most technical, and most high-motor edge rushers in this class with 16.5 sacks, 20.5 tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles. He's not just a pass-rusher; he's also dominant in the run game. Put on the tape, and I dare you to tell me that you don't see Quinn in Ezeiruaku bending the edge with AD's pass rushing technique and moves. Honestly, he should be a first round pick because I think he's better than all but two or three edge rushers in this class, but his size will scare people away. I hope it doesn't scare us away.)
#41 overall - Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina.
(Hampton could very well be an elite running back. I think he's arguably a late-first, but I love his contact balance, vision, breakaway speed, punishing running, and his soft hands. He could stand to learn a few more routes, but that's a dominant rushing attack with him, Corum, and Schrader.)
#49 overall - Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College.
(Trapilo is the replacement for A-Jax. Dominant 6'7" tackle who has the frame to pack on more weight without it adversely affecting his quality of play. Not exactly mean, but a dominant pass protector, and moves people.)
#77 overall - Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green.
(Fannin is slipping in some mocks I see. I don't know why, but I'll gladly add him to go along with Loveland to form a dominant tight end corps.)
#85 overall - Will Howard, QB, Ohio State.
(Here's the quarterback! Yes, it would be a bit awkward for him to throw to a Michigan tight end, but Howard is a big, athletic quarterback who showed more passing ability at Ohio State than he ever did at Kansas State. Is he a risk? Sure, but if he hits, you have your inexpensive quarterback of the future.)
#90 overall - Anthony Belton, OT, North Carolina.
(Belton is so fucking nasty in the running game; he looks to punish people, and he's a big (6'6", 335 lbs.) athletic tackle whom I could look at replacing Havenstein when he eventually leaves, in case he gets injured, or maybe even be Dotson's eventual successor at guard if he can't handle tackle.)
#100 overall - Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers.
(Just an enormous kid (6'7", 342 lbs.) with uber-long arms (36.5 inches) who worked his ass off to get on the field and busted his ass in the classroom as well. He's a mauler in the running game, needs a little work as a pass-protector, and is raw, but he's only a redshirt sophomore who could easily outperform his draft position at right tackle.)
#126 overall - Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State.
(Parrish immediately caught my eye when I looked at his tape. He's not the biggest corner out there, but he's a heat-seeking missile in the run game, has outstanding football IQ, and is amazing in zone coverage with the potential for man. I think he'd be a steal here.)
#155 overall - Andrew Armstrong, WR, Arkansas.
(Don't know what's up with Armstrong. I have to assume character. But he's a top fifty talent in this class without the character concerns; a 6'4", 215 lbs. monster that could dominate the NFL like he did the SEC.)
#203 overall - Simeon Barrow Jr., DT, Miami (Florida).
(Barrow is an incredible pass-rusher, and honestly, I think we need a pass-rushing option instead of another nose tackle - and if we do need one, we could get one in UDFA; it's loaded with D-line. But Barrow isn't just a pass-rusher; he was one of the top run-stuffing tackles in the nation. Perfect in case Fiske goes out with injury again; we had no answers once he did.)
#204 overall - Antwane "Juice" Wells, WR/RB/KR/PR, Ole Miss.
(Wells didn't have a great year at Ole Miss, but he was absolutely dominant at South Carolina and Jacksonville State, so I'll chalk this as an off year. Wells, at his best, is a YAC monster, deep threat, and a Deebo-lite who could have a real role in this offense and on special teams. At this point, I'm looking at value, not just position, and I really want to remake the wide receiver room.)
#219 overall - Teddye Buchanan, ILB, California.
(Buchanan could really be an elite coverage linebacker. He has elite range and was trusted at Cal to defend the run and pass. His tackling is amazing, eight career interceptions, fourteen pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, etc. showing that he's a playmaker. With a seventh-round pick, I think he could be a steal here, even if it doesn't seem like it.)
Roster:
QB - Jimmy Garoppolo, Will Howard.
(It's a risky quarterback room, but it's one that also could pay huge dividends in the end. Howard could really be a starter in this league, I truly feel that Howard could be like what Will Levis was supposed to be when he came out, except with more football IQ.)
RB - Omarion Hampton, Blake Corum, Cody Schrader.
(Hampton takes over the running back role. Corum is going to improve, and I have high hopes for Schrader - and honestly, with Hampton and Corum, hopefully we won't need Schrader for much.)
WR - Puka Nacua, Emeka Egbuka, Jordan Whittington, Luther Burden III (PR), Andrew Armstrong, Juice Wells (KR).
(Nacua (with a brand-new contract keeping him here) and Whittington are the veterans who set the tone. Egbuka takes over the X role, Burden comes in on various packages, Armstrong gets a learning year, and Wells is our returner of the future. Both Nacua and Whittington have had injury concerns, so I expect all of our receivers to play a lot.)
TE - Colston Loveland, Harold Fannin Jr., Davis Allen.
(Remaking the tight end room is difficult, but necessary for this offense to thrive. Loveland will be a starter from day one, Fannin could be an elite compliment, and Allen is still in his third year and could be solid on subpackages and teams.)
OL - Ozzy Trapilo, Steve Avila, Beaux Limmer, Kevin Dotson, Rob Havenstein, Warren McClendon, Justin Dedich, K.T. Leveston, Dylan McMahon, Anthony Belton, Hollin Pierce.
(A rookie at left tackle? Yeah, but I trust Trapilo more than most, and he has Avila by his side (whom I expect to get a big contract from us after this year). McClendon's still the swing tackle until someone can take it from him, Dedich and McMahon could solidify center, Leveston is the swing guard, and Belton and Pierce are having redshirt years, but other than that, I'm ecstatic for this group.)
DL - Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis, David Olajiga, Desjuan Johnson, Simeon Barrow Jr.
(Assuming Turner gets a huge contract that keeps him here a while. Davis and Olajiga compete for nose tackle snaps.)
LB - Jared Verse, Byron Young, Omar Speights, Jake Hummel, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Brennan Jackson, Nick Hampton, Jaylen McCollough, Teddye Buchanan.
(Ezeiruaku, I feel, is going to compete for snaps from Byron Young (whom I love, but he will be thirty at the end of his four-year rookie deal, and he's in his third year this year) from the first day. Brennan Jackson will be ready to compete for snaps, Hampton is a key special teams players, McCollough is moved to be our linebacker for passing downs (although he's still a safety), and Buchanan is our special teams linebacker and Hummel's replacement.)
DB - Akhello Witherspoon, Emmanuel Forbes, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Kamren Curl, Cobie Durant, Josh Wallace, Charles Woods, Cam Lampkin, Jacob Parrish.
(Witherspoon leads an otherwise really young defensive backs group (and yes, I see Forbes starting this year.). I actually have really high hopes for our UDFA corners in Wallace, Woods, and Lampkin; every single one of them flashed positively last year. Parrish could be a solid replacement for Durant when he leaves in free agency. If we really need to, we could add someone like Kamren Fabiculanan as an UDFA to fortify our safety room in case Lake or Curl leave).
ST - Joshua Karty, Ethan Evans, Alex Ward
(Same as usual, thank fucking fate.)
Feel free to tell me what you think.
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