Opening of FA Monday!
- Thread starter Flatlyner
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This list looks fairly realistic. The exception in my mind is NT2. A lot of fans seem to think we need a backup to Ford, but I think last year they drafted the guy who they have penciled in for that role in Ty Hamilton. The Rams don't typically give up on players after one year, so I expect he'll fill that role.
Hamilton will certainly get a chance to mature but he does not appear to be the big bodied run stopper the Rams need.
Maybe, but that's who they drafted and where they're playing him.
I certainly don't foist my standards and preferences on them.
I think of Tyler Davis as more the back-up to Poona Ford ... and I like him very much in that role.
Davis' snap count in 2025 increased from 300 to 475; and his tackles/assists saw a comparable increase.
Agree that the Rams will not move-on from Ty Hamilton. Heck the Rams traded this year's 4th and a 6th from last year to acquire a 5th round pick to draft Hamilton. Still, I could see them drafting another interior DL.
Poona Ford (I thought he was excellent this season) has a contract that carries an $11M cap hit in 2027 but the Rams would get more than $9M of cap relief if they let him go after 2026. Ford's contract was much like Darious Williams' deal ... three years but with an easy out after two years
I want Linderbaum. Fingers crossed.
Of course the Rams won't do that. We'll probably see some value signings to plug holes, with guys I could care less about who in total end up costing as much as an elite center would on the market.
Either way here's hoping one of those is a corner who can at least compete for that CB2 role as I do not like our current options. That would allow for a top draft pick corner but also take the pressure off a bit if it's not there in the early going.
Of course the Rams won't do that. We'll probably see some value signings to plug holes, with guys I could care less about who in total end up costing as much as an elite center would on the market.
Either way here's hoping one of those is a corner who can at least compete for that CB2 role as I do not like our current options. That would allow for a top draft pick corner but also take the pressure off a bit if it's not there in the early going.
This draft class has some nice options at ILB. Don't know that we'll be able to go find upside in FA, nor that the Rams will be looking for it via that venue, given that they already rushed into that Landman contract. I agree upside at ILB would be nice, but the draft is the way to get it this offseason.
What they need to do is remove some of the needs that don't line up so well in the draft. Prob of course is we only have so many draft picks, but I imagine a trade down will happen to add at least one.
Davis' snaps support my stance that they're probably not drafting a a huge snot bubbler because he actually spelled Ford and Turner.
I agree with you with caveats. When you look at the detailed snap positions, all of their interior defenders have snaps at both spots - LDT and RDT. But Hamilton's snaps mirrored Fords - more at LDT - and Davis' snaps mirrored Turners - more at RDT. And the Rams depth chart lists Hamilton after Ford, and Davis after Turner.
On the Ford contract thing, they do have an easy out after this season, but that doesn't mean they'll take it. As a parallel, they had an easy out to move on from Adams this year. They would save $14m on the cap if they cut him. But cap savings have to be balanced against performance and impact. As long as the player is highly productive they likely won't be cut. Maybe restrcutrued, but not cut.
If Ford is as productive this year as last, they likely keep him, since if they're paying $11.4 mil. this year, they can pay $11 mil. next year.
Felt like if Ford wasn't on the field we didn't have enough up front. So I think we need a DL at the least who can add flexibility to the rotation. We have guys who can penetrate on pass downs. What we lack is the anchor when Ford isn't available.
Add a guy like McDonald after a move down for example and this defensive front would be a load. Then add your edge to plug into the pipeline in round 2 or 3 and the front is complete.
But if Young leaves then Edge definitely is more important than a depth NT. Just feels to me like we need to be ready to face those bigger fronts if we run into them in the playoffs. I detest being run on and not being able to stop it.
I take Snead seriously when he says they want to "use free agency in such a way that they head into the draft with no needs."
I didn't see a lot of upside to be found at ILB, but Chanel was intriguing. He fits the pattern they've used the last two years in Landman and Parkinson - well performing depth pieces ready to start. The risk is, you're not completely sure if they can handle a starting role, but the upside is there.
As you note, our limited draft picks may make it hard to wait to fill a need. I don't think they can be rigid. If they find a need that can be scratched off in free agency with a decent deal on the money, do it.
I don't really see Left and Right DT that much but I will trust you on that one.
I don't consider the Rams' site reliable in some instances.
For example, for four years it listed Alaric Jackson's weight as 285!!!
I consider the Ourlads Depth Chart far more reliable. It has Davis behind Ford.
Agree
That's not a good parallel because the Rams would also take a huge dead-cap-hit of $14M on Adams.
Williams is a much better comparison. The Rams are taking a mere 1.16M Dead-$ hit but saving $7.5M
Similarly, for Ford (in 2027), it would be a mere $1.8M in Dead-$ but a savings of $9.3M.
Agree 100% here; and Parkinson is a good example. He is Currently entering the final year of his contract, with a healthy $9M cap hit. The Rams could cut him now and take a mere $2M Dead-$-hit, with a savings of $7M ... BUT ... Parkinson was so productive and important, he isn't going to be cut.
I would love to see Parkinson (27) get an extension this off-season that would retain him beyond 2026 ... AND ... ALSO reduce his current cap hit for 2026.
Excellent post - I guess at TE ,what to do with Davies Allen.
Then again The Rams need to figure out what to do with that 2023 Draft Group.
IMO those choices need to be discussed within on there future.
Puka,Turner,Avila, & Young have been CORE Rams & Basically the Heart. D. Allen & D. Johnson have been a part of this class as well.