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

[wolfdogg]

Whit, Brockers and Fowler already don't count against next year's cap, since they aren't under contract. Weddle is off the team, but the cap might not have been updated yet, if the paperwork hasn't been done yet. The limited cap space for next season will be reduced most likely by Whit signing a short contract for a lot of money, but also a big paycut from 2019.

It's not a cap apocalypse, but there will be significant cap casualties which are going to be difficult to replace given the many picks which have been traded. They are walking on a tight rope if they want to avoid having a ton of holes in their roster. But if they restructure too much, they just push the problem forward. where it could be even worse. Keep in mind that pushing money to future years might make it impossible to pay Ramsey and Kupp after this season. As I say, it's a tightrope, especially without many high picks. There are no easy answers, but doing a lot of restructuring to allow short term help would likely make it worse.

Well no one said alot of restructures. That is just one tool of many to be used together. But even one would be helpful.

What im saying about the others is the rams spent about 28 million on players last year that likely wont be here this year so money that would have been needed to pay them were they still here can be spent elsewhere.

 

[Akrasian]

Well no one said alot of restructures. That is just one tool of many to be used together. But even one would be helpful.

What im saying about the others is the rams spent about 28 million on players last year that likely wont be here this year so money that would have been needed to pay them were they still here can be spent elsewhere.

Well, first, there's a long thread discussing potentially a lot of restructures.

Secondly, even without Whit, Brockers, fowler, and Weddle Spotrac has the Rams at about $23 million in cap space. Last year's salaries have already been partially spent on payraises for others. That figure does NOT include signing draftees, or the practice squad. Also, that does not figure the reputed resigning of Whit at a discount from 2019 (but still a lot of money). Factor in the need to keep a couple of million in cap space in order to sign in season injury replacements.

IOW, much of the "$28 million" is either non-existent, already spent, or needs to be reserved for required salaries.

It boils down to either the Rams sign mostly league minimum types to fill out the roster, restructure to create issues for 2021 (remember, they need to pay Ramsey and Kupp in 2021). Some sort of compromise is likely - but the compromise will be at the expense of the future, and I don't know how much they want to do that. I really am hoping that they can keep this going long term, but some gambles haven't paid off.

 

[TheTackle]

Well, first, there's a long thread discussing potentially a lot of restructures.

Secondly, even without Whit, Brockers, fowler, and Weddle Spotrac has the Rams at about $23 million in cap space. Last year's salaries have already been partially spent on payraises for others. That figure does NOT include signing draftees, or the practice squad. Also, that does not figure the reputed resigning of Whit at a discount from 2019 (but still a lot of money). Factor in the need to keep a couple of million in cap space in order to sign in season injury replacements.

IOW, much of the "$28 million" is either non-existent, already spent, or needs to be reserved for required salaries.

It boils down to either the Rams sign mostly league minimum types to fill out the roster, restructure to create issues for 2021 (remember, they need to pay Ramsey and Kupp in 2021). Some sort of compromise is likely - but the compromise will be at the expense of the future, and I don't know how much they want to do that. I really am hoping that they can keep this going long term, but some gambles haven't paid off.

Great post. The answer is to strike rich on an ascending FA (s) signing their second contract after working their way to starting (but with a smaller track record and hence a smaller contract) - hit our first two picks out of the ground on draft day(s) by filling two starting spots with + play from two rookies - sign a FA starter on a vet minimum who is cut after his team take a high draft pick at his position (e.g. Sullivan)

If we fill three starting positions with some mix of the above we are back in a very strong position going forward

 

[wolfdogg]

Well, first, there's a long thread discussing potentially a lot of restructures.

Secondly, even without Whit, Brockers, fowler, and Weddle Spotrac has the Rams at about $23 million in cap space. Last year's salaries have already been partially spent on payraises for others. That figure does NOT include signing draftees, or the practice squad. Also, that does not figure the reputed resigning of Whit at a discount from 2019 (but still a lot of money). Factor in the need to keep a couple of million in cap space in order to sign in season injury replacements.

IOW, much of the "$28 million" is either non-existent, already spent, or needs to be reserved for required salaries.

It boils down to either the Rams sign mostly league minimum types to fill out the roster, restructure to create issues for 2021 (remember, they need to pay Ramsey and Kupp in 2021). Some sort of compromise is likely - but the compromise will be at the expense of the future, and I don't know how much they want to do that. I really am hoping that they can keep this going long term, but some gambles haven't paid off.

Several potential restructures yes but that doesnt mean all at the same time. I will be suprised if they dont restructure at least one.

As for the other money i get that some will be for ramsey and some for whit and hookers and whatever. What i keep saying is that because we probably wont have brockers, fowler, and already wedddle, on the roster, we dont have to worry about paying that 28 million which would actually be more due to fowlers increase from 12 million. If i remember correctly brockers was 10 and weddle was 5 or 6.

28 mil went to those guys last year and probably will not be paid to them this season. Where that money ends up is irrelevent to my initial point which was at least money that would have been spent to keep them can now be spent elsewhere....like McGovern.

 

[Riverumbbq]

RG is the least important position on an OL - not JMO - we would be mad to tie up so much money in that position. Does he play there to cover his pass blocking deficiencies? I would much prefer we draft Ruiz, who has pro bowler in his future IMO

I find the above rather laughable. Scherff is a 3 time Pro-Bowler in his 5 seasons in the NFL, Ruiz is yet to take a snap and you have already declared his future.

I happen to like Ruiz quite a bit, in fact, I was the first person to mention his name on this forum back in mid November when placing him on an early mock. He may one day become a Pro-Bowl player, but it's not likely to be in 2020, just getting on the field will be tough enough as a rookie Center. The Rams have two potential starters at Center already on the roster in Corbett and Allen, drafting another Center with our top pick in a year where we have a very limited amount of draft picks available can easily hurt our team when we are losing a starting DE, OLB, ILB and possibly an OT to free agency.

Your OL rankings is also unproven.

 

[baconandbread]

I find the above rather laughable. Scherff is a 3 time Pro-Bowler in his 5 seasons in the NFL, Ruiz is yet to take a snap and you have already declared his future.

I happen to like Ruiz quite a bit, in fact, I was the first person to mention his name on this forum back in mid November when placing him on an early mock. He may one day become a Pro-Bowl player, but it's not likely to be in 2020, just getting on the field will be tough enough as a rookie Center. The Rams have two potential starters at Center already on the roster in Corbett and Allen, drafting another Center with our top pick in a year where we have a very limited amount of draft picks available can easily hurt our team when we are losing a starting DE, OLB, ILB and possibly an OT to free agency.

Your OL rankings is also unproven.

Not sure I can agree with much of the above.
Scherff is good, not one of the highest paid guards good, which he'll likely get paid just because there isn't anyone else available.
Pro-bowls are fairly meaningless awards, especially since he was put on IR immediately after one of the selections. You could make an argument if he was all pro.
If Ruiz has difficulty being a starting center first year (I think he'd be more than serviceable) we would have two players that either would be great back ups or replacements that could also play guard if necessary.
I'd rather take my chances with a rookie center from a pro offense than an injury prone guard that we'd likely need to replace by mid season.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Not sure I can agree with much of the above.
Scherff is good, not one of the highest paid guards good, which he'll likely get paid just because there isn't anyone else available.
Pro-bowls are fairly meaningless awards, especially since he was put on IR immediately after one of the selections. You could make an argument if he was all pro.
If Ruiz has difficulty being a starting center first year (I think he'd be more than serviceable) we would have two players that either would be great back ups or replacements that could also play guard if necessary.
I'd rather take my chances with a rookie center from a pro offense than an injury prone guard that we'd likely need to replace by mid season.

It was the previous poster of which I quoted who made Ruiz the Pro-Bowler, I just answered him back by stating Scherff actually has been.
Since we are now in the business of predicting future injuries, apparently we should also have dismissed Saffold several years before we did.

 

[baconandbread]

It was the previous poster of which I quoted who made Ruiz the Pro-Bowler, I just answered him back by stating Scherff actually has been.
Since we are now in the business of predicting future injuries, apparently we should also have dismissed Saffold several years before we did.

Saw that...I just happened to agree with the other poster and didn't think it was "laughable". Also, I wasn't predicting any injuries, just stating it's more likely. Saffold was injury prone as well and that was the reason we got him back for the discount we did when he failed the Raider physical. We got pretty lucky.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Saw that...I just happened to agree with the other poster and didn't think it was "laughable". Also, I wasn't predicting any injuries, just stating it's more likely.

"I'd rather take my chances with a rookie center from a pro offense than an injury prone guard that we'd likely need to replace by mid season."

The above quote sounds an awful lot like an injury prediction to me.

 

[baconandbread]

"I'd rather take my chances with a rookie center from a pro offense than an injury prone guard that we'd likely need to replace by mid season."

The above quote sounds an awful lot like an injury prediction to me.

A prediction would be something along the lines of " Scherff WILL be injured by mid season." A definitive statement of events. I used terms "likely" and "chances" which are just my opinion based on the odds and his track record of injuries.

 

[Riverumbbq]

A prediction would be something along the lines of " Scherff WILL be injured by mid season." A definitive statement of events. I used terms "likely" and "chances" which are just my opinion based on the odds and his track record of injuries.

Thanks for the English lesson.

 

[TheTackle]

Thanks for the English lesson.

None of this changes the fact that we shouldn’t (and I believe will not) sign a RG on a huge contract

 

[Riverumbbq]

None of this changes the fact that we shouldn’t (and I believe will not) sign a RG on a huge contract

Your opinion is noted. Some will agree and others won't.
I can't claim any knowledge of what Snead will do, I can only offer a competing method which may produce a positive outcome.
Thing is though, we lost Saffold due to the same thinking you have presented in your argument.

 

[TheTackle]

Your opinion is noted. Some will agree and others won't.
I can't claim any knowledge of what Snead will do, I can only offer a competing method which may produce a positive outcome.
Thing is though, we lost Saffold due to the same thinking you have presented in your argument.

Let’s see just how’s much Scherff signs for before we compare him to our former LG (who for me, at least, is the better player)

How signing a RG on a huge contract helps our cap situation I.e. would lead to positive outcome escapes me, but like you said, you are welcome to your opinion

 

[Riverumbbq]

How signing a RG on a huge contract helps our cap situation I.e. would lead to positive outcome escapes me, but like you said, you are welcome to your opinion

The point is to improve our team, not our CAP, which is what we work within. The CAP dictates those available choices which allow the Rams to compete with the better teams in the league when good decisions are made.
The Rams lack a quality rush blocker and our run game is suffering for it. Scherff is the best available choice for making an immediate OL impact to improve that situation and help Gurley & Henderson be more effective, and when that occurs, our passing game benefits as well.
Snead, Demoff & McVay made the important decisions in 2018 to spend heavily for Suh and Cooks as well as trade for Fowler, a year after spending on Whitworth & Sullivan, ... and we fans were rewarded with an appearance in the Super Bowl. If management believes we are a few free agents and a good draft from another deep run into the play-offs, then i'll back their play.
On the other hand, should the Rams decide that 2020 is better utilized as a developmental year for our young roster and new rookies, then i'll support any decision that foregoes spending big on free agents. Scherff helps us today, Ruiz may help us tomorrow if he becomes the top draft pick several here are hoping for, whatever happens though, I will support the final decision for our chosen direction.
jmo.

 

[TheTackle]

The point is to improve our team, not our CAP, which is what we work within. The CAP dictates those available choices which allow the Rams to compete with the better teams in the league when good decisions are made.
The Rams lack a quality rush blocker and our run game is suffering for it. Scherff is the best available choice for making an immediate OL impact to improve that situation and help Gurley & Henderson be more effective, and when that occurs, our passing game benefits as well.
Snead, Demoff & McVay made the important decisions in 2018 to spend heavily for Suh and Cooks as well as trade for Fowler, a year after spending on Whitworth & Sullivan, ... and we fans were rewarded with an appearance in the Super Bowl. If management believes we are a few free agents and a good draft from another deep run into the play-offs, then i'll back their play.
On the other hand, should the Rams decide that 2020 is better utilized as a developmental year for our young roster and new rookies, then i'll support any decision that foregoes spending big on free agents. Scherff helps us today, Ruiz may help us tomorrow if he becomes the top draft pick several here are hoping for, whatever happens though, I will support the final decision for our chosen direction.
jmo.

I would prefer that we compete this upcoming season, through key additions that don’t kill the cap going forward and improved play from one or two players already on the roster

I hear you on last year. It was exciting (they tried to sign Mack as well) but Goff was on his 1st contract and Gurley (for most of the season) was dominating. We are in a different place, but the SB window is open and we were not far away from competing in the playoffs