Pick 2 Free Agents to Sign

[Sum1]

Wisniewski, C Oakland
Carpenter, OG Seattle

I have to agree with the take about aging FA 9er Vets...no one ever says how they play better at their next stop.

Ehh...except maybe this guy.

 

[StevenG-BR]

Here's the list of available free agents in 2015. The Rams reportedly have/will have a good deal of cap space, so pick 2. Any 2, although I'd try to stay away from likely-to-be-retained (via franchise, etc.).

My choices:

Stefan Wiesniewski, C, Raiders
James Carpenter, G, Seahawks

Who do you take?

I was gonna say Wise and Iupati, but you got the right idea too.

People will whine about addressing o-line via FA again, but that's ridiculous IMO. What does Long/Brown failing have to do with Wise and Iupati/Carpenter? They're different people entirely. We've had some FA o-line work out too, ya know... S.Smith, C.Williams, Barksdale (he might have been a trade, can't remember. Same thing though), H.Dahl, A.Timmerman, etc.

Should we not have drafted Robinson because Barron and Smith were busts? Should we not have drafted Brockers and Donald because Kennedy, Lewis and Pickett weren't home runs?

Long's injury history was well known before we signed him. We took the risk and didn't win. And Wells was 30 when we signed him... there's always a chance a 30-year-old NFL player will decline immediately.

If we can get a good o-lineman in free agency, we need to jump all over that. It's stupid to hold off because FA's from the past, completely separate human beings, happened to fail. We've had quite a few o-linemen from the draft fail as well.

 

[Fatbot]

Without knowing what we may or may not do with Sam's contract, anyone know how much salary cap money we'll have?

According to overthecap.com the Rams are $5.3mil under the 2015 cap as it stands. In addition to dealing with SB's $16.580 number ($3.595 dead money), there's also these other big cap numbers they might cut/restructure/etc (and the dead money if they decide to cut):
-J.Long $10.5 ($2.5 dead money)
-K.Langford $7.0 ($1.0 dead money)
-S.Wells $4.75 ($1.0 dead money)

So could be $15-$20mil to play with, not even including SB, money for draft picks, or any new contract extensions to prevent 2016 free agents from leaving next year (Brockers, JJ, Tru...)

 

[Fatbot]

Ehh...except maybe this guy.

Good example of the rare 49er that's not overrated and of exactly the type of underrated FA to get. But I think signing Iupati would be more like signing Vermin Davis than Walker, it's more name than substance. Although I guess the media has stopped calling Davis the greatest TE in NFL history by now?

 

[Sum1]

Good example of the rare 49er that's not overrated and of exactly the type of underrated FA to get. But I think signing Iupati would be more like signing Vermin Davis than Walker, it's more name than substance. Although I guess the media has stopped calling Davis the greatest TE in NFL history by now?

You can say that about free agents no matter what team they came from. Some work out, some don't...and you almost always over pay in both situations.

 

[tahoe]

Iupati and Wiesniewski

 

[bwdenverram]

According to overthecap.com the Rams are $5.3mil under the 2015 cap as it stands. In addition to dealing with SB's $16.580 number ($3.595 dead money), there's also these other big cap numbers they might cut/restructure/etc (and the dead money if they decide to cut):
-J.Long $10.5 ($2.5 dead money)
-K.Langford $7.0 ($1.0 dead money)
-S.Wells $4.75 ($1.0 dead money)

So could be $15-$20mil to play with, not even including SB, money for draft picks, or any new contract extensions to prevent 2016 free agents from leaving next year (Brockers, JJ, Tru...)

Thank you!.. Depending on what we do we could have a little or a lot of available money. This is such a key off season if we want to make a big leap next year.

 

[A55VA6]

Mike Iupati would be great.

 

[TheDYVKX]

I don't want Iupati because he makes Davin Joseph look good in pass protection.

 

[Jorgeh0605]

Thank you!.. Depending on what we do we could have a little or a lot of available money. This is such a key off season if we want to make a big leap next year.

Don't forget that the cap is expected to increase as it did last year. I am going to prefer signing Britt and Barksdale. I think both offer value, and I wouldn't overpay either of them should the market demand either of them. Ideally (Especially with Britt) they shouldn't even sniff the open market as we should sign them before FA begins.

My gut tells me we don't keep Kendricks (I like Kendricks) so maybe Gresham? I know they aren't exactly the same player, and we have Cook. But his past relationship with Bradford is something to atleast investigate.

Obviously we need linemen in the worse way, but I'm not a fan of Iupati personally. I don't think he is worth it. But if that is our big FA signing then I'd be fine with it.

I also want a center and I wish I new more about the centers in this FA but I don't. People are saying Wisniewski's name, but that is about all I know.

 

[jrry32]

Yep, lets overpay on the FA market for an injury prone LG who is an average pass blocker(but is a great run blocker). I don't want Iupati. I realize he's played a lot of games but he's always dealing with some injury. And it seems to me when we take a chance on guys like that with big money, they always fall apart on us.

I'll pass on Iupati. Those are the type of moves that get us in trouble. My choices(discounting our OWN players) are:
OG Clint Boling
C Stefen Wisniewski

Boling would be an elite 6th OL for us that could start if the rookies aren't ready. Wisniewski is young, talented, and about to head into his prime.

Personally, I'd rather we not be a big spender. Sign a guy like Boling at a moderate price($4.5 million a year) and then sign some other quality depth players while retaining our key players...that's my plan.

The big splash FA method rarely works out.

 

[Corbin]

Does anybody with PFF access want to post what C and G free agent rankings are out there by chance?

 

[tavian]

Carpenter, OG Seattle and a
Competent Offensive Coordinator preferably one with slightly more creativity than a rock.

 

[PowayRamFan]

Not sold on Iupati. He's gonna get huge money and he is one-dimensional. The people on a couple of niners boards I check seem to think it was a complete joke that he made the pro bowl, he was that bad at pass-pro. Makes me awful nervous considering our OL FA failures of the past.

 

[Fatbot]

Does anybody with PFF access want to post what C and G free agent rankings are out there by chance?

I don't do PFF but I read they are pretty high on C R.Hudson, KC (4th overall C?). Perhaps an alternative choice to Wisniewski?
Surprised no mentions of Rolando McClain? He and Josh Gordon would make for an interesting offseason..!

 

[fearsomefour]

No idea what this is supposed to mean.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Not sold on Iupati anymore either. Dude was always banged up this season, has missed time two seasons in a row and his play has seemingly tailed off. He could be an old 27 and he will be very expensive. Buyer beware.

I think everyone wants the Center from Oakland in Horns. I concur.

I'd rather draft a Guard and use FA on a Center for experience purposes. Let D.Rhaney learn and compete first. I wonder about the competition level going from Tennessee St to this level...and this division in particular.

 

[BatteringRambo]

Ndamakong Suh and Orlando Franklin

Realistically: Orlando Franklin and Brian De La Puente

On De La Puente. We had a chance last off season, the Saints let him walk and off memory he served as backup to Garza of the Bears. I think the Saints "replaced" DLP with Goodwin formerly of the Whiners.

Again that's just my stoner NFL memory.

I was surprised DLP floated around late in the off season to finally sign with the Bears.

 

[BatteringRambo]

Back to the topic. Right now, I have no clue on 2 potential free agents. Like some to most I am gun shy to even eek out anyone given our "success rate".

 

[jrry32]

On De La Puente. We had a chance last off season, the Saints let him walk and off memory he served as backup to Garza of the Bears. I think the Saints "replaced" DLP with Goodwin formerly of the Whiners.

Again that's just my stoner NFL memory.

I was surprised DLP floated around late in the off season to finally sign with the Bears.

Because he hasn't been good. Didn't play well with Chicago and struggled his final year in NO.