The real reason Jefferson was drafted

[Ram65]

The reasons and benefits why the Rams picked Van Jefferson IMO are:

1. Fit and Finish. He is ready to produce early in his career. Football smart and very good route runner.
2. Availability in the draft with the Rams having two draft picks in round two this year.
3. Options with the future of Kupp, Woods and Everett while replacing Cooks.


Woods just turned 28 has two years remaining on his contract. So he is signed through 2021. He will be a free agent in 2022 and will be 30.
Kupp will turn 27 in June. They are only a year apart in age. He will be a free agent in 2021. He will be 28.


Woods will make $7Mil this year and $9Mil next year with signing bonus increasing cap hits by $1.175Mil. An extension can be easily be worked into his deal. His estimated market value is $13.371Mil per year.

Robert Woods Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money, and Contract History | Over The Cap

Robert Woods contract and salary cap details, including signing bonus, guaranteed salary, dead money, roster bonuses, and contract history

overthecap.com

Kupp's estimated market value which seems high is at $19.4Mil per year as @BonifayRam stated.


Jefferson gives the Rams options in the near future and gets playing experience right away. I stated earlier this week that it's not a foregone conclusion that the Rams resign Kupp. At least we can't assume they will and we don't know what they are thinking. The cap hits/terms could be too high for the Rams liking. They may feel they can get better value by extending Woods a few more years with a lesser cap hit. That brings in possibly keeping Everett with the savings of resigning Woods. Everett can play the slot if Kupp walks. The Rams strength has been the WR/TE/RB group so keep rotating in new players is a good idea. Rams drafted players at all three positions. Too bad they can't keep them all.

 

[jjab360]

Why would you think the Rams are thinking of releasing Woods before his contract is up? That makes no sense, we have him on a pretty major discount right now because of how he was underutilized in Buffalo.

If anything, the Rams FO is probably thinking of ways of talking him out of demanding a pay raise if that ever comes up lol

 

[Rams43]

I am stunned to read that any projection of Kupp’s ‘21 salary is around $19M.

That changes everything. It would kill me to lose him, but I can’t imagine the Rams being able to afford anything like that.

 

[payote75]

To early but if I had to bet money I say woods goes nowhere. He did right by rams rams did right by him I think he will want to stay home where he belongs barring any major breakdown of the organisation. I do think he will be rewarded for everything he has done.

Let's also not forget he has been one of the main if not the main reason for the rams turn around yes big whit helped this team turn it around but woods has been just as key. He has done everything above average given his all played on the cheap and I don't think he will be going anywhere. O feel very strongly about that one of be shocked.

 

[PressureD41]

I agee w/ @payote75 . Woods will end up finishing his career in horns, errrrrr banana horns

 

[Ram Ts]

I love me some Cooper Kupp - but ain’t no way he’s worth $19M/yr or even close to that. I’d say his ceiling (for me) is $15m and that’s pushing it a bit with his past injuries. 13-14M seems about right if he has a healthy full & productive 2020.

 

[dieterbrock]

I'm going out on a limb here and guessing that the Rams believe in the next man up theory, and after seeing Cooks depart they needed to backfill the WR rotation.
260 targets over last 3 seasons between Cooks and Watkins need to be replaced, and even with Reynolds potentially stepping up, he had an additional 120 targets in the same time frame.

 

[Squidhead]

I agree with the theme that VJ was drafted because he's a solid prospect that fits the scheme and that he will be a weapon to utilize in the relative near term. If he develops as expected, he gives the Rams front office some options down road with needed flexibility and leverage related to future contract decisions.

I love the guys we have now and hope VJ develops into another key threat ... a very high-quality 'problem' for the future. Football is still a business and tough decisions are a key part of success. Like I often say to my team ... it's important to be decisive, but (sorry for the Yogi-ism) it's equally important to focus on the decisions that actually need to be made ... and not the ones that don't.

 

[So Ram]

You didn't pay attention to any mocks then? It was a pretty common idea around here.

Mocks are a joke then really. Makes no sense. Just like The Rams drafting an offensive lineman.

Trading Todd Gurley made sense to me if they could have got something for him.

Cutting Clay & Robey Coleman caught me off guard, but after that you should figure they need to be replaced.

I don’t know how many had The Rams taking a safety,but losing Weedle & Christian made it even more so. Now The Rams have a possible starter in Terell Burgees.

The Rams drafting a RB with there first pick was pretty obvious. That was just imo , I guess. I also know what Robert Woods means & has meant as a Ram.

Mcvay also talks about players as people. He respects Gurley & appreciates what he did as a Ram. He also knew it was time for him to go for the betterment of the team.

Cheers!! To really answer your question though is no I never saw a Mock to trade Robert Woods.

 

[So Ram]

I'm going out on a limb here and guessing that the Rams believe in the next man up theory, and after seeing Cooks depart they needed to backfill the WR rotation.
260 targets over last 3 seasons between Cooks and Watkins need to be replaced, and even with Reynolds potentially stepping up, he had an additional 120 targets in the same time frame.

At some point the last 3 years Woods,Sammy,Kupp, & Cooks were all hurt . Everett as well last season.

Kupp & Reynolds are both unsigned & from an interview with Reynolds. The Rams might to resign or extend his contract?? Was asked in the video.

Sean McVay anticipates WR Josh Reynolds "being a big-time part" of Rams offense

 

[Memphis Ram]

I love me some Cooper Kupp - but ain’t no way he’s worth $19M/yr or even close to that. I’d say his ceiling (for me) is $15m and that’s pushing it a bit with his past injuries. 13-14M seems about right if he has a healthy full & productive 2020.

Gee. I really hope the Rams would give Kupp an opportunity to prove that he can win as consistently outside of the slot vs. #1 & #2 CBs before paying him like a #1 WR.

And if they pay him more than Robert Woods, who is only about 10 months older and who has already proven that he can win in the slot AND outside, then that would be a HUGE mistake, IMO.

 

[Kevin]

Woods is 14 months older but I get your point.

 

[jjab360]

I am stunned to read that any projection of Kupp’s ‘21 salary is around $19M.

That changes everything. It would kill me to lose him, but I can’t imagine the Rams being able to afford anything like that.

We should be able to, that's why we got rid of Gurley and Cooks because Kupp is very valuable to this team and we wouldn't be able to afford him otherwise

 

[majrleaged]

I think the “real reason” they drafted Jefferson is to serve as a replacement for ANY of the current top 3 WR.

Snead often talks about roster building as “a complicated puzzle with many moving parts.” They make drafting decisions in part to maximize their flexibility.

Will Kupp resign with us, or will he play hardball and leave for the highest bidder? Will Reynolds walk in 2021, or will he resign with the Rams for a reasonable deal? And later on, will Woods give us another home team discount, or will he go elsewhere?

Nobody can predict with certainty what will happen. Jefferson seems versatile enough that he could fill the role for any of the WR positions.

This. A good GM is always restalking the shelves. Then as things happen you deal with it. This is what they have been doing. Mcvay's 1st 2 years worked out great. Last year not so much. This year we will see. Next year depends on this year.

 

[dieterbrock]

Kupp & Reynolds are both unsigned & from an interview with Reynolds. The Rams might to resign or extend his contract?? Was asked in the video.

They're both signed for 2020, that's all that matters. Work on extending Kupp, could always transition tag him. Reynolds? He needs to earn a contract in 2020 not be looking for an extension. (Unless its on the way cheap)

 

[Loyal]

They're both signed for 2020, that's all that matters. Work on extending Kupp, could always transition tag him. Reynolds? He needs to earn a contract in 2020 not be looking for an extension. (Unless its on the way cheap)

Yes. All I care about is this season. We have all of the assets available, so lets have great season.

 

[So Ram]

They're both signed for 2020, that's all that matters. Work on extending Kupp, could always transition tag him. Reynolds? He needs to earn a contract in 2020 not be looking for an extension. (Unless its on the way cheap)

Well I think that was what I was saying??
Woods is singed until 2021,so I think The Rams don’t want to get caught with there pants down by Everett,Kupp,&Reynolds walk next season?
Reynolds from the interview was asked about an extension & he said he was not really thinking about an
extension. That he needed to talk to his agent. I think he could have a real solid breakout type of season.He might be signed to a team friendly deal ???
Jefferson also fills that void created by Sammy Watkins which was then filled by Cooks.

 

[RamsFanCK]

.

The bills screwed Woods badly. They cost him millions of dollars because of how they used him for 4 years. Making him a blocker for their rbs.

Remember when Everyone laughed at the rams when they signed him to that "exorbitant" contract?

He deserves $15m+per year but not sure he'll still get it when his current deal ends.

.

one could argue that those blocking skills are part of the reason he is so valuable now though.

His attitude and willingness to do whatever has made him one of my favorite Rams. Not to mention he is sneaky fast!

pay the man!

 

[Jacobarch]

Has woods outplayed his contract? Yes, is woods unhappy with it? We don't know because he's not the type of guy to put it out there. So by all accounts it's total speculation

 

[Jacobarch]

And we made it to the SB without Kupp. Imagine that