The trade deadline gamble!

[Allen2McVay]

The Rams will stand pat because they are playing the long game. This season is now about developing this year's draft, and seasoning the OL. Their record will be what it will be. If they end up in the top half of the draft next year all it does is position them better for the QB they absolutely will be taking. If there was any doubt in anyone's mind, Stafford's injury and standing pat with Rypien should have dispelled any of that.

They aren't tanking, but making the playoffs this year isn't a priority. They are going to save their money and picks for next year. They could finish in the top 10 next year which is where their targeted QB or QBs will be. It will make trading up easier and cheaper to insure they get the one they want. I can't argue with that thinking. They also are thinking of Stafford's contract. If they can nurse him through 2024 then he will be at their targeted retirement at the end of that season and give their young QB a redshirt year to acclimate and polish his skills.

I don't like it but I can hardly argue with it. They are looking at the long term. This has always been viewed as a foundational draft year. They have done that. I have always contended that the Rams will lose their core players of Stafford, Donald and Kupp in 2025. IMO they now have two of those replacements on board in Turner and Nacua. They have a very promising edge in Young.

The Rams look good at safeties long term with Lake and Yeast. Witherspoon and Dotson were key acquisitions that will give them another 3 to 4 years of good service. The same can be said about Royce Freeman, who has shown he's underrated and runs with speed and power. If they want a true #2RB behind Williams they have it in Freeman.

I think the jury is still out on Jackson as their franchise LT. If Noteboom can completely heal he gives them an option at RT if not they can draft an LT and move Jackson. That said because of his attitude, I think Jackson will walk which is the real reason IMO he got the LT start as Noteboom was more realistic just wanting to start.

Draft priorities:

1. QB1
2. Edge
3. OT
4. CB
5. RB
6. WR
7. QB2

I think it's clear the Rams are now taking a long term approach. What is unclear is whether or not they shut Stafford down for the rest of the year on IR. They will if he needs surgery. Regardless it's clear they need a QB better than Rypien to finish the year.

So ... NOT a playoff team this year?

 

[Flatlyner]

I’m not a cap expert, but I am a Kupp fan—believe it or not.
But the idea of trading either Donald or Stafford (which has been suggested) doesn’t really get much back, IMO. People are out of their minds thinking the Rams can pull in multiple or even one 1rst round pick for either. One is on the verge of retiring because we stink, and the other is about to get knocked into retirement if the blocking/playcalling doesn’t improve.
…so that leaves us Mr Kupp.

1) This offense was actually doing quite well before he came back. Atwell has all but disappeared since.
2) The chiefs’ WRs have been infected with butter fingers.
3) I have seen in some cases where a trade partner picks up some of the cost in a trade. Can any of Kupp’s hit be handed off to a trade partner like the Rams did with Goff?
4) maybe a late 2nd and 4th aren’t enough. What would you take?
That’s assuming there would be a way to dump some of the cap hit on KC.

This is all just food for thought because if I’m another team’s GM, the only Rams I’m looking at are rookies!

I mean, it's a moot point at this stage but, I wouldn't even pick up the phone without the basis of the offer starting with a 1st. Even if that is unrealistic, that's ok. I would think that the team is completely content to just keep him too (which they did).

 

[Gandalf]

With the cap situation, trading Kupp just doesn't make sense. Way too much dead money.

 

[sloramfan]

the rams are not gonna do nothing at the trade deadline...

the cowboys game was a slap across the face with reality...

rams are going nowhere... and trust me rams fans... no one had more high hopes before that game than i did...

let's get real...

the rams need more pressure and better tackling...

the o-line is not that bad...

 

[Allen2McVay]

the rams are not gonna do nothing at the trade deadline...

...

I agree.

 

[Memento]

All of my fucking hate for this deadline. Not even surrendering a third for Chase Young.

I do not like standing pat, especially since we're obvious sellers, and will continue to be at the bottom until we get a new quarterback. I've lost all confidence in Stafford, I lost all of my hope for Stetson Bennett, and I never had any confidence or hope in Rypien or the furniture guy.

 

[muggmeister]

All of my fucking hate for this deadline. Not even surrendering a third for Chase Young.

I do not like standing pat, especially since we're obvious sellers, and will continue to be at the bottom until we get a new quarterback. I've lost all confidence in Stafford, I lost all of my hope for Stetson Bennett, and I never had any confidence or hope in Rypien or the furniture guy.

Sorry for all your hate, but why the fuck would we deal a 3rd round pick for a guy who will be available anyway this coming off-season since a Super Bowl this year is already out of reach? Are you still of the mindset of "fuck them picks"? If you bothered to do some research on Young he makes splash plays at the expense of executing his assignments. If the Rams had made this trade they would have had to justify it by severely OVER-PAYING to keep him just make people like you happy. After 13 years and 16,000+ messages you should be a little more inciteful to what you post. I am glad that we kept our picks AND our projected cap space rather than sacrificing one for the other. Besides, who the hell says Young would have even considered resigning here if we had traded for him? Maybe he gets to California and fucking hates it? Hell, I don't know, but if he balls out with SF we can still get for next year.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I posted this once last week on another thread.

Think it is a mistake to assume Chase Young will be in Free Agency in 2024.

He might be but the Niners are not in awful cap shape. They are pushed-up against the cap but not over it; and most of their top guys are signed. Furthermore, several of their highly paid players are young enough to restructure for 2024 cap relief.

Should Young play well, and San Francisco go deep into the post-season, I could see Young getting re-signed.

 

[Merlin]

Paying Young will likely backfire on SF. He isn't the type of guy I'd trust to work hard when he's got a big bank account. So I hope that happens.