Some fascinating (and agonizing) final cuts coming up, huh?

[Rams43]

Gets harder every danged year as Snead continues to load this roster, frankly.

Some doozies that I’m not sure which way they’ll go:

Will Perkins be waived in an attempt to stash him on the PS? I think so, but I’m not absolutely certain.

I’m wondering if Evans can make the 53 now. What a comedown for this guy. He now seems only capable of playing RT at an NFL level and even that’s iffy. Major disappointment for me but I’ve gotta say he could be among the cuts, IMO. I suspect that Carberry has higher standards for his OL.

Will Rams keep Blanton over Hopkins at TE? Assuming that they still are calling Harris a TE, that is? I’m leaning Blanton over Hopkins because Hopkins’ early apathy kinda ticked me off. Hopkins’ late surge was a little too late to suit me.

OMG, how many WR’s can the Rams keep given the talent at other positions that they want to protect? I’m guessing Trishton Jackson as the 6th and everybody else has to slip through waivers. What a loaded WR room they have, one that we would have killed for during those Fisher years. Heck, is it actually possible that they roll with only 5 WR’s to save a slot for another hot prospect?

Does Lewis make the 53? I’m serious. Rams now have many legit (and healthy) options at OLB. Wouldn’t stun me if Rams cut bait because Lewis’ knee has reduced him to such a tease. An unthinkable possibility until very recently.

Same thing with Obo. Can’t stay healthy and has never fulfilled his promise. And I’m a Sooner honk. Might be a law-of-the-jungle thing.

Turns out that ILB was a stronger position group than certainly I thought. Kiser being cut is not only possible but apparently quite likely.

Handicapping the final cuts at CB and Safety is gonna be agonizing for these coaches. Multiple players with both talent and heart will have to be released and many will not make it to the Ram PS. Nice ‘problem’ to have, I suppose. I’ve never seen a better synergy of scouting and coaching for Ram secondary players. Ever. The good news is that they can probably keep filling the pipeline every year which means that they can avoid those hyper-expensive extensions every year. Impossible to overstate the importance of that.

Last, but certainly not least, will Hekker be traded or released? This is another proposition that was unthinkable just 8 months ago. And yet, I’ve gotta say that it looks not only possible but quite likely.

The winds of change are blowing strongly through Ramsville this summer, indeed.

 

[Faceplant]

Yeah, the Rams are going to cut some good players. Life these days is good bro. There were so many years when the players we released (and some we kept) were fry cooks a week later...

 

[bluecoconuts]

If Hekker is released or traded for peanuts I would be incredibly disappointed.

 

[FrantikRam]

If Hekker is released or traded for peanuts I would be incredibly disappointed.

The argument to keep him is fine - but with his contract, he's a negative for any team right now.

It's funny hearing some fans thinking we will actually get something for him - a trade would likely be a swap of 7th rounders

 

[Ramstien]

I have always liked Hekker but the fact is this other guy is cheaper and has a stronger leg. Hekker's contract makes him expendable.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I have always liked Hekker but the fact is this other guy is cheaper and has a stronger leg. Hekker's contract makes him expendable.

And is 7 years younger ...

 

[Memento]

I have always liked Hekker but the fact is this other guy is cheaper and has a stronger leg.

I agree with @jrry32 that Hekker tried to punt with the shit coverage we had. I’m sorry, but Bonamego was a horrible ST coach. I’d love to see what Hekker can do with a better coach. Unfortunately, it looks like the other punter will win the job. I still want at least a fifth for Hekker.

 

[PhillyRam]

I agree with @jrry32 that Hekker tried to punt with the shit coverage we had. I’m sorry, but Bonamego was a horrible ST coach. I’d love to see what Hekker can do with a better coach. Unfortunately, it looks like the other punter will win the job. I still want at least a fifth for Hekker.

Best might be Hekker and one our 7th's for a 5th or a 6th

 

[jrry32]

The argument to keep him is fine - but with his contract, he's a negative for any team right now.

It's funny hearing some fans thinking we will actually get something for him - a trade would likely be a swap of 7th rounders

One of the best Punters in the NFL is definitely not a negative for any team.

 

[FrantikRam]

I agree with @jrry32 that Hekker tried to punt with the shit coverage we had. I’m sorry, but Bonamego was a horrible ST coach. I’d love to see what Hekker can do with a better coach. Unfortunately, it looks like the other punter will win the job. I still want at least a fifth for Hekker.

I've seen this from several different people - why would Hekker kick line drives? I can understand compensating by kicking shorter and higher - which would have resulted in a lot more fair catches - but that's not what I recall happening last year.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I agree with @jrry32 that Hekker tried to punt with the shit coverage we had. I’m sorry, but Bonamego was a horrible ST coach. I’d love to see what Hekker can do with a better coach. Unfortunately, it looks like the other punter will win the job. I still want at least a fifth for Hekker.

Anything may still happen, and getting good compensation would be great, but if Hekker is indeed gone, then I see this as more of a salary CAP dump to improve our 2022 financial structure. I'm really not expecting much else in return, although anything extra would be nice. jmo.

 

[XXXIVwin]

Agree with Frantik and Riverrumbq that the compensation Rams would get for Hekker would probably be minimal, perhaps virtually nothing.

I'm no salary cap guru. But a quick glance at his contract shows Hekker has a cap number of 4.9M in 21, 4.7 M in 22, and 4.7 M in 23.

If Johnny had another Pro Bowl year in '20, this conversation wouldn't be happening.

But given that he had a down year last year--for whatever reason-- IMHO other teams are going to be wary of taking on that big contract.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Agree with Frantik and Riverrumbq that the compensation Rams would get for Hekker would probably be minimal, perhaps virtually nothing.

I'm no salary cap guru. But a quick glance at his contract shows Hekker has a cap number of 4.9M in 21, 4.7 M in 22, and 4.7 M in 23.

If Johnny had another Pro Bowl year in '20, this conversation wouldn't be happening.

But given that he had a down year last year--for whatever reason-- IMHO other teams are going to be wary of taking on that big contract.

Hekker could still be a difference maker for an established play-off bound team, but I agree with you here, who else would take on that contract ?

 

[RAMSinLA]

I have always liked Hekker but the fact is this other guy is cheaper and has a stronger leg. Hekker's contract makes him expendable.

This is true.

 

[RAMSinLA]

Hekker could still be a difference maker for an established play-off bound team, but I agree with you here, who else would take on that contract ?

Hopefully no one we have to play.

 

[oldnotdead]

I think a whole lot of Rams on that waiver wire are going to get claimed. If Morris is going to play his front 7 like Staley then he only needs 3 ILBs, Reeder, Young & Jones. If they are going to keep Perkins that slot will have to come from somewhere. I think they would be foolish to release Perkins because he won't clear waivers and with Covid protocols QB is where they absolutely need to be deep. If they only keep 2 QBs IMO they might release Wolford and resign him on the PS which allows some vets. I think he qualifies and he won't have to clear waivers. He can be a protected player subject to recall if needed.

I think Evans can make the roster as he looked better yesterday. Also, I think Meredith will be re-signed on the PS. If there is an OL in jeopardy it's Brewer, as I think A. Jackson looks like a keeper. He's not as raw as everyone thought he would be. I think they will keep 9 on the OL as they can probably get Meredith through waivers. I was actually surprised at Kolone who played surprisingly better than as a raw rookie. I can see him on the PS as well. Testament to Carberry's coaching.

At DB it's all about what scheme Morris will run and how many CBs will they keep.

I anticipate the cuts coming out tomorrow. It's going to be a long night for a whole lot of Rams. But it's really a good thing for the cuts to be so hard. It means you got a quality roster with the bar set high. I see Benny Sko on IR so it's going to be interesting if they keep Akers, Koski or as most assume T. Jack.

I agree with the announcers that Xavier Jones playing most of the last game isn't a good sign for him. He simply didn't stand out in TC or preseason so they might hope he clears waivers to be re-signed to the PS. The #4 RB rarely if ever plays and is simply a contingency player for a catastrophic injury. With the new flexibility of the PS allowing for temporary recalls it's a good place to stash #4 RB and free up a roster spot.

No question this roster will be an interesting build and IMO it's been pretty much built since Friday.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Shout out to all the Rams fans who have been on this journey for a long long time. We've come a long way from dumpster diving other teams waiver wire cuts to dreading cut day because we know we're going to lose some talent.

 

[thirteen28]

I see Benny Sko on IR so it's going to be interesting if they keep Akers, Koski or as most assume T. Jack.

I really wish they would just go ahead and put Benny Skow on IR. I realize that means he won't play this year, but that room will still be loaded, and we could still hang onto a prospect that we should keep. The guy can play and if he hadn't gotten hurt in a useless preseason game, he's probably be making the final 53. Just keep him and let's try again next year.

 

[FrantikRam]

One of the best Punters in the NFL is definitely not a negative for any team.

It's about the contract. If Mahomes was making $150 million per year he would be a negative for any team.

But Hekker was an average punter last year - AND it's a position that is easy to replace - so it's actually more like the Gurley situation. Position that's easy to replace, down year, cut him.

Gurley had the injury, sure - but punters are also a lot less valuable than RBs. Can't keep someone paid that much (relative to their position) when they turn in an average year unless you're confident they will rebound. Given that McVay has seen Hekker all camp, and you can reproduce game situations for a punter very easily in camp, I'd wager that whatever decision he makes will be the right one.

But if we do trade him - there was no market at all for Gurley and he still turned in a somewhat productive season with the Falcons, so he still had something left - I don't see us getting much for him.

 

[jrry32]

It's about the contract. If Mahomes was making $150 million per year he would be a negative for any team.

A team acquiring Hekker would be paying him $3.75M in 2021. That's high for a Punter, but it's not exorbitant. Multiple other punters have contracts worth $3+ million per year.

But Hekker was an average punter last year - AND it's a position that is easy to replace - so it's actually more like the Gurley situation. Position that's easy to replace, down year, cut him.

Except Gurley was toast due to injuries. Gurley's bad year didn't come because the unit around him and the coach sucked ass. It would be more comparable to Gurley's struggles in 2016 than anything. Hekker didn't become a mediocre punter over night.

Gurley had the injury, sure - but punters are also a lot less valuable than RBs. Can't keep someone paid that much (relative to their position) when they turn in an average year unless you're confident they will rebound. Given that McVay has seen Hekker all camp, and you can reproduce game situations for a punter very easily in camp, I'd wager that whatever decision he makes will be the right one.

I'll wager that if we let Hekker go, he has a great year elsewhere.