The rams should trade up to pick twice in the in the 2nd Round

[TheTackle]

Quality offensive linemen can be found later in the draft and inexpensively through free agency.

The Chiefs and 49ers both drafted a left tackle in the first round (Staley and Fisher), San Francisco's right tackle (McGlinchey) is also a first rounder. The rest of their super bowl starting O-lines were acquired through a trade (Tomlinson), waivers, (Reiter), three UDFAs (Garland, Schwartz and Person), a street free agent (Wisniewski) and a sixth-round pick (Duveney-Tardif).

Good point, but did they all start year one and elevate their team?

I don’t see too many FAs who could be signed cheaply to start. Which, considering our cap situation, leaves those in our current squad (which underperformed, but might improve) or the draft

I don’t see much need for more depth on our OL if we were to pick up some new starters

If we traded down and took 8 or 9 players, realistically, how many would even make the squad?

 

[TheTackle]

I'm not sure about Murray at this point.

I know, his tape is far from perfect, but he does jump out as an impact player who could be a better pro than college player in our scheme

What are your reservations? Who do you like? Or is there a chance we keep CL?

 

[Kevin]

Did they all start year one and elevate their team? I don’t see too many FAs who could be signed cheaply to start. Which leaves our current squad (which underperformed, but might improve) or they draft

I don’t see much need for more depth on our OL if we do pick up two additional starters

If we traded down and took 8 or 9 players, realistically, how many would even make the squad?

The list I shared included only one player, Duveney-Tardif, who was drafted late. I don't know if he won a starting job out of camp but he was re-signed by the Chiefs to a second contract, so he was good enough for that.

Many others on the list were picked up as free agents, two of them earning less than a million dollars in 2019. My point was good scouts and GMs can find quality offensive linemen later in the draft or though other means besides pursuing a Ricky Williams type trade of draft picks to find one sure-fire starter. Which isn't a sure thing anyway.

Depth is what you use when your starters are injured,. Depth is what you always have on hand to develop, groom, train, etc. to hopefully, eventually take the place of your current starters. Right now, Evans and Edwards might be better players than anyone available at their positions in the second round of April's draft. Quality depth is what makes teams perennial winners.

 

[WestCoastRam]

How free agency shakes out will most likely determine whether we focus on guys who can start in the draft vs depth. These needs will be majorly affected by signings. I could see us go either way.

We've got significant depth now on the oline but could do with an upgrade at starter if possible.

We're light on depth at safety unless we resign Christian.

We may need to build depth or seek a starter on the Dline depending on resigns.

A little early to have this convo... but fun regardless.

If we let Zuerline go, we're gonna need a late pick avail to at least have some legit competition with a cheap vet we pick up in camp.

 

[Riverumbbq]

So does Everet.

As I mentioned at the top of the previous page ...

2020 NFL Draft: Dolphins team needs, draft picks, prospects to watch for Miami

With their 2019 season over, it's time for Dolphins fans to turn their attention to the draft

www.cbssports.com

 

[Merlin]

I agree with not over reaching. I am usually in favour of picking up more picks but we need to think about both the cap and the holes in our starting line ups. I named two players that we could potentially tartget without giving up the world

Who do you like to start straight away?

In FA the Rams need to find some help on the line/s.

Center is thin in FA (only guy I like as an add is McGovern) but options are there in the draft.

5T options are there in FA (I would be all over Armstead but don't think we can afford him) and the draft although the rangy type I would be after will require careful positioning in the draft.

Guard has quality and depth in FA and in the draft. Could be either or both tbh. FAs options are Scherff, Glasgow, Thuney and Vaitai, I think any of those would upgrade us.

OLB is gonna be too pricey in FA for us, that's a draft position IMO.

ILB will have good options in FA and the draft. Fits in FA are Kwiatkoski (underrated IMO) and Correa. I also like Matakevich as a depth/teams/competition addition if they go cheap but want to add to the room.

 

[Merlin]

As I mentioned at the top of this page ...

2020 NFL Draft: Dolphins team needs, draft picks, prospects to watch for Miami

With their 2019 season over, it's time for Dolphins fans to turn their attention to the draft

www.cbssports.com

I would kill to have all those picks in this particular draft.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I would kill to have all those picks in this particular draft.

That and having the most CAP space in the league is certainly going to transform this team if they do it right. Considering all the criticism they took when they traded away so many players, this is one rebuild which should be pretty interesting to watch as it comes together. Besides the 13 picks for 2020, something like 11 more for 2021 ...

 

[Memento]

It's an interesting discussion, but I'd rather not sacrifice later picks; we lack quality depth, especially among the offensive and defensive lines. I'd rather trade players for picks because we lack the latter in 2021 as well as this year.

 

[Riverumbbq]

It's an interesting discussion, but I'd rather not sacrifice later picks; we lack quality depth, especially among the offensive and defensive lines. I'd rather trade players for picks because we lack the latter in 2021 as well as this year.

I also prefer we trade players where present and future CAP savings is likely to benefit the team in the long run, but I disagree that we lack depth on the OL. I see us far more in need of starter grade material, whether it be at LT or the interior. I still believe the Rams should take a run at Scherff if he becomes available and isn't Franchise Tagged, and I'd use our first pick in the draft for another OT to train under Whitworth since Noteboom's immediate value remains somewhat questionable, that and last seasons rather rapid decline in Havenstein's play.
The DL definitely needs a depth upgrade as well as a starting 5T, ... we are in complete agreement here.
jmo.

 

[Memento]

I also prefer we trade players where present and future CAP savings is likely to benefit the team in the long run, but I disagree that we lack depth on the OL. I see us far more in need of starter grade material, whether it be at LT or the interior. I still believe the Rams should take a run at Scherff if he becomes available and isn't Franchise Tagged, and I'd use our first pick in the draft for another OT to train under Whitworth since Noteboom's immediate value remains somewhat questionable, that and last seasons rather rapid decline in Havenstein's play.
The DL definitely needs a depth upgrade as well as a starting 5T, ... we are in complete agreement here.
jmo.

I've made my feelings known about Scherff during the 2015 draft, and I'm even less inclined to give him a big contract with his injury history now.

And we do lack depth. What if one of our starters, particularly at center (assuming Corbett gets the job), gets hurt? Would you trust Allen to fill in? I don't. What if Whitworth and/or Havenstein are hurt and/or ineffective? Behind them, we have Evans, an unproven Brewer...and an injured Noteboom. That's it.

And what do we do for guard? Blythe is terrible, and I'm hoping we don't re-sign him, but without him, we have very little quality depth. You say Scherff, but who gets traded to make room for him? Kupp? JJ3? And how do we re-sign Ramsey with Scherff in the picture?

We're going to have to make hard decisions with our players, and we won't like them. But it's for the good of our team, and I trust McSnead in that regard, more than any other front office we've had in a long time.

 

[Riverumbbq]

And we do lack depth. What if one of our starters, particularly at center (assuming Corbett gets the job), gets hurt? Would you trust Allen to fill in? I don't. What if Whitworth and/or Havenstein are hurt and/or ineffective? Behind them, we have Evans, an unproven Brewer...and an injured Noteboom. That's it.
And what do we do for guard? Blythe is terrible, and I'm hoping we don't re-sign him, but without him, we have very little quality depth. You say Scherff, but who gets traded to make room for him? Kupp? JJ3? And how do we re-sign Ramsey with Scherff in the picture?

First, I believe we can afford Scherff, Whitworth and a couple less expensive free agents on defense without sacrificing any of the players you mention. If the Rams decide to go for it in 2020, previous cuts or trades with guys like Robey-Coleman, Matthews & Brown along with a small Goff restructure should be more than enough. Whitworth will be off the books for 2021.

Blythe is gone as a free agent, I don't consider him as an active Rams player any longer. I like Evans as RT/OG depth and Edwards as a starting LG, I also like Corbett starting at Center with Allen as his back-up, but I still suspect the Rams will draft another C/OG in the later rounds. Trewyn is depth at C/OG, possibly on the regular roster or remaining on the practice squad. Even with all the problems displayed by Demby in 2019, I expect him to return as a depth player again, whether on the roster or the practice squad. Management put a lot of faith in Demby for some unknown reason, so I can't completely dismiss him. Brewer will become solid depth at OG & OT. Noteboom is likely to be a 2020 depth/swing player once he returns from his injury.
As mentioned several times previously, I believe the Rams will draft another OT rather high, a C/OG later, and acquire a free agent for the OL if they mean to make a real run at the 2020 play-offs.
jmo.

 

[Memento]

First, I believe we can afford Scherff, Whitworth and a couple less expensive free agents on defense without sacrificing any of the players you mention. If the Rams decide to go for it in 2020, previous cuts or trades with guys like Robey-Coleman, Matthews & Brown along with a small Goff restructure should be more than enough. Whitworth will be off the books for 2021.

Blythe is gone as a free agent, I don't consider him as an active Rams player any longer. I like Evans as RT/OG depth and Edwards as a starting LG, I also like Corbett starting at Center with Allen as his back-up, but I still suspect the Rams will draft another C/OG in the later rounds. Trewyn is depth at C/OG, possibly on the regular roster or remaining on the practice squad. Even with all the problems displayed by Demby in 2019, I expect him to return as a depth player again, whether on the roster or the practice squad. Management put a lot of faith in Demby for some unknown reason, so I can't completely dismiss him. Brewer will become solid depth at OG & OT. Noteboom is likely to be a 2020 depth/swing player once he returns from his injury.
As mentioned several times previously, I believe the Rams will draft another OT rather high, a C/OG later, and acquire a free agent for the OL if they mean to make a real run at the 2020 play-offs.
jmo.

Scherff is likely going into the fourteen/fifteen million-per-year, and I hesitate to pay him that. A lot of people loved him in the 2015 draft; I was the lone dissenter, it seemed like. He has been good, not great, and has legitimate injury concerns. I don't pay him that; I don't pay any offensive lineman that from this free agency. Those closest I come is Lamp, if the Chargers cut him - and I'd still only sign him if he took a team friendly deal for three years, not the five or six year deal Scherff will command.

Fair enough with Blythe. Again, I don't trust Allen or (especially) Demby or Trewyn or Shelton with depth, and while I like Brewer, he's even more unproven than Noteboom was. We do draft an O-lineman high, I agree with that. I expect us to also use a mid round pick and a late round pick as well, maybe sign a Forrest Lamp in free agency to compete.

I simply refuse to go into this next season with our O-line as unproven as it is...but I also refuse to count on a highly-paid free agency signing as the end-be-all for fixing this problem.

Just my honest opinion.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Those closest I come is Lamp, if the Chargers cut him - and I'd still only sign him if he took a team friendly deal for three years, not the five or six year deal Scherff will command.
I simply refuse to go into this next season with our O-line as unproven as it is...but I also refuse to count on a highly-paid free agency signing as the end-be-all for fixing this problem.
Just my honest opinion.

You are welcome to your opinion, but Lamp and his 2 starts in 2 years have done nothing in this league. You complain about Scherff as an injury risk and then expect Lamp to take the Rams OL to the next level ?
Predicting injuries is about as accurate as predicting earthquakes, so i'll go with the player with a resume. Saffold had 65 strarts in his first 6 seasons, Scherff has had 63 starts in his first 5 seasons, ... had we paid Roger we wouldn't be having this conversation. If the Rams want to turn the worst unit on the team into something resembling an asset for a play-off run, then you make the tough decision.
jmo.

 

[Memento]

You are welcome to your opinion, but Lamp and his 2 starts in 2 years have done nothing in this league. You complain about Scherff as an injury risk and then expect Lamp to take the Rams OL to the next level ?
Predicting injuries is about as accurate as predicting earthquakes, so i'll go with the player with a resume. Saffold had 65 strarts in his first 6 seasons, Scherff has had 63 starts in his first 5 seasons, ... had we paid Roger we wouldn't be having this conversation. If the Rams want to turn the worst unit on the team into something resembling an asset for a play-off run, then you make the tough decision.
jmo.

I don't expect him to be the one to take them to the next level; I clearly said for him to compete with our players as depth. I said that he would receive a team friendly contract that we could get out of, if we had to.

I complain about Scherff as not only an injury risk, but as a merely-good player receiving a contract that only elite players should receive. He still struggles with pass protection, which is something I noted in his draft year. He has injury problems - not as extensive as Lamp's, but clearly there. And if Scherff continues to have injuries, continues to be merely good, you're stuck with him, and we will lose players - great players - that we have to keep.

I'm looking at a consistently-competitive dynasty. Signing Scherff and having him not live up to his contract screws with that entirely, especially if someone steps up and we have to let them go because of that contract.

Just my honest opinion.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I don't expect him to be the one to take them to the next level; I clearly said for him to compete with our players as depth. I said that he would receive a team friendly contract that we could get out of, if we had to.

I complain about Scherff as not only an injury risk, but as a merely-good player receiving a contract that only elite players should receive. He still struggles with pass protection, which is something I noted in his draft year. He has injury problems - not as extensive as Lamp's, but clearly there. And if Scherff continues to have injuries, continues to be merely good, you're stuck with him, and we will lose players - great players - that we have to keep.

OK then, based off your first paragraph, who does step up on our OL to get us back to a 2018 production level ?

However you feel about him, Scherff is regarded as one of the top players at his position in the league. I might also mention that Sean McVay likely thought the same as he was the Washington OC partially responsible for drafting him #5 overall in 2015. Scherff missed 5 starts this season and still managed to be picked for the Pro-Bowl, ... that says something to me.
Few players are perfect, but Scherff is the strongest run blocking RG asset the Rams could possibly add to our current struggling RB corp. He can bring back one element of what was lost when we let Saffold go.
Let the center-left side of the OL be our primary blind side pass protectors and allow RG and RT to become the primary run blockers, it's what Scherff does and what Havenstein was also once known for. If you don't want to waste the talents of Gurley and Henderson, then make it so they might thrive.
jmo.

 

[Memento]

OK then, based off your first paragraph, who does step up on our OL to get us back to a 2018 production level ?

One of our younger players, like Evans, Edwards, Corbett, Noteboom (when he comes back) or a highly-drafted pick. Is it perfect? No, but I'm looking towards the future. We can't rely on free agents that might struggle.

Like it or not, we have to let our younger players give us significant reps eventually. Why not now? Why not Evans or Edwards, who showed plenty of promise last year? Why not Noteboom at tackle, where he thrived in 2017? Why not Corbett, who was a high pick who ended up starting this year? Why not a high draft pick at center or tackle?

However you feel about him, Scherff is regarded as one of the top players at his position in the league. I might also mention that Sean McVay likely thought the same as he was the Washington OC partially responsible for drafting him #5 overall in 2015.
Few players are perfect, but Scherff is the strongest run blocking RG asset the Rams could possibly add to our current struggling RB corp. He can bring back one element of what was lost when we let Saffold go.

Scherff is a great run-blocking guard, I will give you that, but he's simply that: a great run-blocking guard. His pass-protection is something he has struggled with, which makes him only a good player. He's had injuries in the past. And just because McVay and O'Connell were coaches with Washington doesn't mean that we're going with Friends of Sean McVay. That's not always the best route, as proved by FOJF and FOSS.

And I agree that he's not perfect, that he might be the strongest asset. My problem with it is giving him a huge six-year deal and have him merely be good. Could he add to our running back's production? Sure, if everything works out as you say it will. Could he also get hurt and/or underperform? Could said contract cost us a great younger player not signing with us because of that contract? Yes, if everything plays out as I fear it will.

I am not denying that Scherff is a talented player, but he simply isn't going to be the complete fix for our ailing O-line - and you can slam me if I'm wrong. I'll own up to it, like I did for Corbin and Edwards or everyone and Blythe.

EDIT: Also, the Pro Bowl means nothing to me. All Pros are what I count when it comes to players.

Let the center-left side of the OL be our primary blind side pass protectors and allow RG and RT to become the primary run blockers, it's what Scherff does and what Havenstein was also once known for. If you don't want to waste the talents of Gurley and Henderson, then make it so they might thrive.
jmo.

The scary thing about that is that almost every top pass-rusher lines up on not the left tackle but the right. They scheme to get people headed straight for Goff, and it happened a ton with Havenstein. Imagine a team who has a great DE and DT. There's all sorts of stunts that would happen on the right side. Teams have to be versatile at O-line. You can't be one or the other.

And wasting the talents of Gurley and Henderson is a legitimate fear, I do get it. But I don't entirely trust Havenstein to bounce back, and I don't entirely trust Scherff to be the solution.

As always, it's just my honest opinion.

 

[MadGoat]

Gesecki also becomes eligible for free agency in 2021 ...

He should be a year after Everett since he was from the next draft.

 

[Ram65]

I know, his tape is far from perfect, but he does jump out as an impact player who could be a better pro than college player in our scheme

What are your reservations? Who do you like? Or is there a chance we keep CL?

I really hadn't looked at him much as I mainly watch Notre Dame football. I'm catching up on the draft. Reading and looking at highlights he seems to be a very possible 1st round pick. One of the problems estimating projecting players for the Rams is that generally speaking, we underestimate when they will be picked. There is a good chance that both Ruiz and Murray will be gone by pick #52. Seems like Murray has a high ceiling but also has some growing to do. Sure he would be a good pick at #52.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Like it or not, we have to let our younger players give us significant reps eventually. Why not now? Why not Evans or Edwards, who showed plenty of promise last year? Why not Noteboom at tackle, where he thrived in 2017? Why not Corbett, who was a high pick who ended up starting this year? Why not a high draft pick at center or tackle?
I am not denying that Scherff is a talented player, but he simply isn't going to be the complete fix for our ailing O-line - and you can slam me if I'm wrong.
And wasting the talents of Gurley and Henderson is a legitimate fear, I do get it.

Thing with this is that it's likely the only reason we saw Evans, Edwards & Corbett this season is because of injuries, McVay tends to shy off starting his rookies unless there is an emergency. So those new 2020 draftees you think will have an impact are just as likely to never see the field next season.
The Rams might choose to use 2020 as more of a developmental year than to go for it with a few key free agents as was done in 2018, if so, we should just call it that, but if they believe they are only a few players from going deep into the play-offs again, then I would suspect they may look more towards free agency to turn things around in a quicker manner. jmo.