The Rams 2023 Offseason Strategy - Load Up the Offense

[Riverumbbq]

I don’t particularly like the idea of RB early, for reasons you mention, and that they CAN be found later in the draft.

BUT… an instant weapon at RB changes the offense significantly. And, we need that. Taking one early ups the odds of finding a stud.

I will continue to root for Akers… But here’s a question; “what does he do great?”. Not good, GREAT. I struggle to answer that, and I want more at RB.

Running backs…

Akers wasn't tradable last year, they tried. We can waste his talent by sitting him on the bench this season or we give him a big boost by bringing in some real talent for the OL. Akers is entering his contract year in 2023, so use him now and draft his RB1 replacement next season when he's lost to free agency. IMO the Rams will draft a bigger mid to later round RB3 to replace Malcolm Brown, who is entering free agency in two weeks, and hopefully use free agency to bring in a cheap, young and much better RB4 to replace Jake Funk. Ronnie Rivers goes back to the Practice Squad. jmo.

 

[WestCoastRam]

The Cowherd report seems to make a lot of sense: offensive coach coming back for perhaps a last hurrah, want's weapons on that side of the ball (may include Oline in that discussion) but I'm not sure it negates Jourdan's continued reporting going back to last offseason.

She has said that the Rams will explore all options for an edge rusher via FA/trade/draft. She often pointed to the Rams trying to swing a trade for an edge as they didn't really have the ammo for one in the draft and FA didn't work out with Miller. We swung for Burns at the trade deadline and didn't get him.

I suspect that the Rams are looking at needs this offseason as:

1) Edge
2a) Corner (if they trade Ramsey)
2b) offensive help
3) depth everywhere else

How this all plays out won't be linear which seems to be how so many of us argue on these message boards. It's more like a rubic's cube with every move they make changing the nature and order of the above list. I'm sure they'll be an exploration of edge in FA but Rams prob won't have many opportunities there with our cap situation. That leaves the draft and trade (a trade more likely midseason with future draft capital ala like they tried last year). My guess is that if an edge is there with their highest pick and they like them they'll go after them. That could be with our 2nd, that could be with a higher pick that comes from Ramsey. Seems like everything else will cascade from there. Of course, I could be wrong with what and who they go after but I think it's helpful to look at their moves through a matrix which changes with every move.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Akers is entering his contract year in 2023

If he’s the starter, his motivation should be off the charts.

I just come back to needing weapons “that the other team must account for” like they do Kupp. I just don’t think Akers is that type, but finding it would be a difference maker in 2023.

 

[So Ram]

Well , this is saying defense will be a problem. I’m waiting to have any kind of negative.

Are Rams on the brink of collapse?

LA’s roster revolves around its stars, but Bobby Wagner and Jalen Ramsey seem on their way out

www.turfshowtimes.com

 

[FarNorth]

That's easy to say "what if Gurley was Gurley" or "if only Kupp were available"... "we would have won". But who really knows? Gurley had been shut down by good defensive game plans and 2017-20 Kupp was not 2021 Kupp. And more than likely wouldn't have been had he played all year. A 90 catch guy with Goff (in 2019-20) just like Woods, he was on pace for 80 in 2018.

As far as "if only's" or "what ifs"......Woods missed half the year in 2021, Akers missed all of 2021, returned for the postseason. OBJ missed half of the SB, Higbee missed most of the CCG and all of the SB. We were down to our #2 TE, then #3 when Blanton went down and our #4 or 5 WR was our #2 in SB56. We didn't lose SB53 because we were missing Kupp or because Goff was only in his 3rd season, though they were both factors to a small degree. We lost SB53 because McVay was outcoached by Belichick. And we won SB56 because Stafford overcame every obstacle and AD made huge, timely plays.

On a side note ... Goff-Kupp vs. Stafford-Kupp. In just SF games with Goff, Kupp had 15 catches for 117 yds, 1 TD (5 g, avg 3 for 25). In SF games with Stafford, Kupp had 43 rec for 507 yds, 3 TD (4 g, avg 11 rec for 126 yds). It was obvious Kupp was their #1 target but he's produced so much more with Stafford against the team that gives us the most fits.

That’s also because Stafford didn’t really distribute the ball much. Didn’t throw to Woods or Robinson.

 

[Malibu]

Well look at it this way.

1. They had 5 contracts ballooning all at the same time in 23, 24, 25...Ramsey, Floyd, Donald, Stafford, and Kupp.

2. They are over the 23' and 24' projected cap already.

3. Donald really isn't tradeable without a massive dead cap hit and Stafford can't go anywhere without a complete rebuild.

4. Floyd is an easy June 1st cut to clear $15M this yr and abt $10M next yr.

5. Ramsey clears $5M this yr, $28M next yr, and $23M in 25'. Oh and he gets you back 2 -4 premium draft picks (could be trade downs) who are cheap labor for 4 or 5 yrs.

6. All of that gained 23', 24' & 25' cap allows for FA spending & further restructures into 24 & 25 to free up more 23' cap room.

7. Contracts for any new FAs can be cheap for 23' & 24' and their larger cap hits will hit when Donald and Stafford are done in 25' and beyond.

So as painful as it is, it's an easy decision for me. Plus this is a strong CB FA class and a good CB draft class.

It always sounds good but no Ramsey and who is behind him say we use a top 20 pick for maybe a cb which effectively in '23 is a high #2 level cb but not a replacement that's for sure.

No Floyd well like Ramsey who is behind him there is no one again and it's worse we are also looking for one olb on the other side as well Maybe our #36 pick effectively is a #2 type olb but not a #1 olb these are assuming both aren't busts and as we all know 50% of first/2nd rounders are.

Ok so we got some help 2 holes have been filled we still have another cb, we need. This excludes a LT and LG or C maybe we get lucky with a G or C in the draft to me we are very deficient still unless we can find a LT and star OLB.

I get the $ savings and if right this is a retooling year. If you are going this far trade Stafford and focus on Caleb Williams sweepstakes in '24 and be set for a huge long-term Mahomes type run for the next 10 years. Trade for #1s next year not this year. The Ramsey trade needs to be with a team that with their makeup is going to suck say Houston or Tampa Bay, Tenn, AZ, whoever has marginal new HCs, Coord and no QB or a rookie QB. We should send Ramsey there if we are long term game planning for their next year 1 and hope they suck.

Overall I think getting rid of Wagner, Ramsey and Floyd is 3 of the 4 best players on your defense. Sometimes too many new faces isn't good.

 

[CGI_Ram]

DOTS = Playoff Qualifiers

It’s an offense driven league.

 

[Stl2La]

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