Things we can ASSume this offseason

[Ram65]

2. Goff will be restructured.

It sounds worse than it is. The Rams have options to move roster bonus money in 2020 and 2022 to signing bonus. How much is the big question?

7. Rams will decline Nickell Robey-Coleman's option. NRC is a good nickel back still but his play in 2019 was not something the Rams can do without when the gain is $4.5M. This is basically a cut, and yes he is definitely good enough to try to trade, however I think the Rams simply let him go and replace him in-house. Sucks but it's a cap and business decision to ensure they can field the best roster possible. Rams will 100% move on from him IMO.

I'm not sure about this one. At the very least I would try to trade him. It seems in the NFL CBs are always getting hurt. Having more than you need to start the season in a good idea. NRC played 63.8% of the defensive snaps last year. He stays healthy and is still in his prime. Saving $4.5M could help other positions that are needed. I wouldn't be surprised either way on NRC.

5. Weddle will be cut.

Yes and Mathews too. Savings on Mathews is $3.75M dead cap is at $2M. One could argue that NRC is a better bang for the buck than Mathews. NRC played more snaps. better PPF grade and is much younger. Mathews started out looking good but, he faded. His sacks were more coverage type with and AD/Brockers moving the QB to his area.

8. Littleton will be allowed to leave in FA. I've put up some stuff to show why I think this and don't want to get all crazy about it, but Littleton is not a strong run fit ILB.

Those were some damming stills of CL. The only problem is finding an ILBer that can fill the runs and cover too.

9. Rams will make noticeable investment in the LB roster.

0. Rams will make noticeable investment in the OL roster.

How about the defensive line? There are a lot of spots the Rams need to invest in. The funny thing is that #2 draft pick seems to be going to a few spots if you know what I mean. Even Les Snead can't fill all the holes with one 2nd round pick.

Good post enjoyed reading it even if I question some of the moves.

 

[Merlin]

Yes and Mathews too. Savings on Mathews is $3.75M dead cap is at $2M.

Not 100% certain re: Matthews because the savings is so little. I think it's likely though yes.

With NRC yeah I should have included that as part of the 100% thing. That said, nickel backs are easily found compared to corners who can play outside the hashes. Teams know the Rams are going to need to maximize cap space. So maybe, we'll see. You are correct though that it's possible.

 

[fearsomefour]

Littleton is going to cost more on the market than some lesser regarded types who are a better fit for a 3-4 ILB spot. So it's possible they go get Correa for example at a lesser cost. Or maybe Kwiatkoski. If they get either of those guys we'd be better vs the run immediately. On pass downs they need to be dropping into a zone or rushing which both are capable of.

Edge will probably need to be upgraded in the draft due to cost of these guys on the market. I'm guessing that will be our selection in round 2 (I feel like we're going to have a good rush option or two there) but either way they'll bring in a pass rusher to deepen the room in this draft.

If they manage to do that I think we end up with a better LB group overall no question. A group that is better designed to play this defense. Fowler will still be better than our best rusher, but the Rams could still field a constant rotation with a good enough rush and have a young edge coming online at the same time.

Could be.
Wait and see.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

NRC is a good nickel corner. That is a tough position to fill. Maybe they have an in house replacement, but if he's not equal to or better, we will have another Saffold on our hands. Too many people undervalued the position.

11. No matter what is done we’ll have at least a year of threads and comments about how the Rams got it wrong. Fans have no patience for draft picks to develop or be coached up. They always know a better trade target or free agent regardless of whether the team was willing to trade him or if he ever considered us or if he even fit our scheme.

We all want the team to get better. We just have a different vision on how that should be done and it rarely matches Snead and McVa’s vision.

Ha! If I were GM, Saffold never would have left, the Rams would have had a drafted a center and Blythe would have been replaced by the start of the season. Don't underestimate the prowess of the forum GM.

 

[BonifayRam]

Rams must decide on several marquee players entering free agency

On defense, the Rams may have to choose between Dante Fowler Jr. and Cory Littleton. On offense, they need to figure out their line.

www.espn.com

Rams must decide on several marquee players entering free agency


HOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Rams are coming off a disappointing 9-7 season in which they missed the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Now, the team must move ahead facing difficult choices in free agency as several key offensive, defensive and even special-teams mainstays are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.

Making the decisions more complicated is the Rams' limited space under the salary cap, which is projected to rise from $188.2 million to at least $200 million in 2020. With the projected increase, the Rams will have just more than $21 million available under the cap, according to ESPN's Roster Management.

That cap number, though low, is somewhat flexible if the Rams are able to restructure some of their current contracts or even trade a player who carries a significant salary-cap number.
The moves the Rams make in free agency will be crucial as the team constructs its roster ahead of the 2020 season. For a fourth consecutive year, the Rams do not have a first-round draft pick, after trading their 2020 and 2021 first-round selections to the Jacksonville Jaguars last October in exchange for cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Here's a look at current Rams who are pending unrestricted free agents.

Defense

Three marquee players are pending unrestricted free agents: defensive lineman Michael Brockers -- who has been with the Rams since they selected him with the 14th overall pick in 2012 -- outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. and inside linebacker Cory Littleton.
The Rams won't keep all three and it seems Brockers, a cornerstone of the locker room and a key in their run defense, is most likely to sign elsewhere.
That means the biggest decision of free agency will be whether to keep Littleton or Fowler.
The franchise tag remains an option for either player, though it seems unlikely the Rams will be able to utilize the tag, given the cost of linebackers last season was set at $15.4 million and is expected to rise in 2020.

The Rams acquired Littleton, 26, as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He quickly asserted himself as a playmaker on special teams and earned time on defense in spot opportunities in his second season. He was promoted to a starter in Year 3, and over the last two seasons Littleton has led the Rams in tackles and has intercepted five passes."Cory just makes plays all over the field," head coach Sean McVay said at the end of the season. "He's been really impressive."Littleton has expressed a desire to remain in L.A., but has said his ultimate goal is to earn as much money on the free-agent market as possible.

Starting-caliber depth behind Littleton is a concern. Key reserve Bryce Hager, who was sidelined last season because of a shoulder injury, is a pending unrestricted free agent. Micah Kiser is expected to return from a season-ending pectoral injury and the Rams also return Troy Reeder, Travin Howard and Kenny Young.

Fowler, 25, played this past season on a one-year, prove-it contract worth up to $12 million and the former first-round pick did not disappoint. He had a career-best 11.5 sacks and forced two fumbles.
"Dante had an outstanding year," McVay said. "I think everybody can see that."
At the end of the season, Fowler expressed a desire to remain with the Rams. He credits the organization with helping to turn around his career after acquiring him at the trade deadline in 2018 from the Jacksonville, where his career through 3 1/2 seasons was plagued by injuries and off-the-field issues.

Though Fowler has proven himself as a significant playmaker, the Rams do have some depth at the position, including reserves Samson Ebukam, a starter in 2018, and Ogbo Okoronkwo, who showed a burst in spot opportunities last season.Safety Marqui Christian, a key reserve, also is a pending unrestricted free agent.

Offense
It's no secret the Rams' offensive line struggled through changes and injuries last season. More adjustments are likely coming as left tackle Andrew Whitworth and offensive guard/center Austin Blythe prepare for free agency.

Left tackles are rare finds on the free-agent market and the Rams were lucky three years ago that Whitworth became available. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the Rams' locker room and offense.

"It's a relationship that I certainly cherish," McVay said about his bond with Whitworth, who arguably was McVay's most valued find in free agency after he was named coach in 2017. "He's helped me a lot, as you're still getting familiar with how to best handle this role and navigate through the things that occur on a daily basis. Somebody like him has been instrumental."

But Whitworth is 38 years old now and not producing at the same level that he has in the past. He remains a solid option at the position, though, and one the Rams must seriously consider re-signing if he is willing to take a significant pay cut from the $10.3 million he earned last season.
If Whitworth does not return, the Rams are without a clear starter at left tackle and there likely would be an open competition between several young players, including Joe Noteboom, Bobby Evans and David Edwards.

Blythe, a four-year pro, unexpectedly won the starting role in 2018 at right guard when Jamon Brown served a two-game suspension. This past season, Blythe was shuffled between the guard positions and then started the final seven games at center after Brian Allen suffered a season-ending knee injury. McVay stated several times that Blythe, a former undrafted free agent, provided a sense of calm when he took over at the position. Blythe will test the market.

Along with the offensive line, the Rams also must determine their backup quarterback situation. Blake Bortles, who joined the team last season on a one-year deal after the Jaguars released him, is a pending unrestricted free agent who will seek a team where he has the chance to earn significant playing time again.

Quarterback John Wolford, an undrafted free agent in 2018 from Wake Forest, remains on the roster after signing a reserve/future contract.
Receiver Michael Thomas, a sixth-round pick in 2016, is also a pending unrestricted free agent.

Special teams
Kicker Greg Zuerlein is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Over eight seasons, Zuerlein has converted 201 of 245 field goals, including a 57-yard attempt in overtime against the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome that sent the Rams to Super Bowl LIII.
However, this past season Zuerlein's field-goal percentage dipped from 87% in 2018 to 73% after he missed 9 of 33 attempts.
Zuerlein earned $2.3 million last season.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.


View: https://twitter.com/uninterrupted/status/1223289844580986882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1223289844580986882&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Frams%2Fstory%2F20


.

 

[Ram65]

Brockers is truely a class act. Good Luck MB!

 

[baconandbread]

There are so many decisions to be made that it's fair to say this is really a crossroads type season for the Rams, where they need to hit on a lot of them at the least in order to keep that championship window open. And for those who think our window is closed already, well enjoy the draft talk and no hard feelings. But for me, I'm not ready to concede yet when the Rams were so close to getting into the playoffs not to mention gave the 9ers everything they could handle in week 16 even with all the flaws in their 2019 roster.

Basic idea here is that there are some things we can assume are coming this offseason, whether it's basic approach type stuff or even particular decisions on players who obviously need to go. Figured I'd throw out the ones I think are 100% a given, to my mind at least:

1. Ramsey will be signed. I just don't see this going any other way. The Rams invested heavily in draft capital to bring him in, and not signing him isn't really an option. If you want to see what his reaction is to being tagged, look at the reason he came available in the first place. IF he hits the 2020 season without being signed I believe his representation will push him to test the market. Expect the Rams to circumvent all this and lock him up.

2. Goff will be restructured. I don't think the Rams have lost faith in him. He is a pocket passer and as such those guys need to be protected. And I may be in the minority but when I watch the games from 2019 I can see plenty of good things in his play, he made a lot of passes and kept us in a lot of games when there was nothing on the ground and it's not like we had wideouts running wide open all over the joint (and I say this having watched the all-22 for every game). He wasn't perfect, he did make some really stupid decisions too, but if you look at the body of his play with perspective 2019 will go down as a good learning year for him. So assuming he's still the guy as far as the Rams are concerned, which I think is a safe assumption, a restructure makes sense. I expect it will happen this offseason.

3. Cooks will play out 2020 with us. Rams have an out in his contract for 2021 so this will be a business decision to try to get him back to where he was in 2018 which would be the best possible ending. And there was a significant difference in his play in 2020, as well as his mental sharpness. And it didn't really get much better as the season finished up, with a good example being the wheel route he started and stopped on vs the 9ers (he got outside on Sherman vs cover 1 and Goff read it and threw it accordingly) as late in the season as week 16. The old Cooks was a smart and aware receiver. So Rams will try to get him back to that, and if he struggles JRey will step in (this is a contract year for JRey btw).

4. Gurley will play out 2020 with us. The only way the Rams would consider moving him is if he was a problem in the locker room but given what we know about him from the outside looking in that is not an issue. So financially they will ride him in 2020 but hopefully add to that room a bit so that if he does miss significant time we have enough guys to eat snaps. I don't think they will assume Hendy or Brown can eat those snaps so I expect an addition.

5. Weddle will be cut. This is a no brainer of course given the cap boost he'll bring. At this juncture in his career he is a SS who isn't too good as a tackler any more (he changed after the concussion IMO). We have two good SS types, guys who can hit, tackle with sureness, and cover underneath, in Rapp and Johnson. It is possible the Rams add to that room if they don't think they will be able to sign Johnson, which includes both draft and FA, but even if they do nothing but cut Weddle they are in good shape compared to most other rosters.

6. Brown will be cut. A backup has one job: to be available when the main guy can't go. Brown has failed to deliver two consecutive seasons. Rams will upgrade his roster spot in the draft at the very least.

7. Rams will decline Nickell Robey-Coleman's option. NRC is a good nickel back still but his play in 2019 was not something the Rams can do without when the gain is $4.5M. This is basically a cut, and yes he is definitely good enough to try to trade, however I think the Rams simply let him go and replace him in-house. Sucks but it's a cap and business decision to ensure they can field the best roster possible. Rams will 100% move on from him IMO.

8. Littleton will be allowed to leave in FA. I've put up some stuff to show why I think this and don't want to get all crazy about it, but Littleton is not a strong run fit ILB. You can get guys in every draft (college SS types or mobile backers who aren't great in traffic vs the run) starting round 2 who can play third down nickelbacker type roles. They won't be as good as Corey in that role. But his liability in run defense is something the Rams will not accept when it comes to paying him big market money. He is absolutely gone IMO and best wishes to him.

9. Rams will make noticeable investment in the LB roster. The options are out there to upgrade both OLB and ILB in both FA and the draft. OLB is going to see some FA possibilities that fit and it's likely we will see good edge possibilities at our pick in round 2. ILB is going to have good options in FA as well as the draft. It's been a long time since the Rams have prioritized LB in general, however that changes this year because we have a new DC who is used to rosters with superb LB talent. There is zero chance he looks at our game film and comes away happy.

10. Rams will make noticeable investment in the OL roster. I don't know if it will be FA or the draft and it may be both. But I am certain there will be an influx of talent for competition and depth at the very least. There is simply zero chance the Rams stand pat with the roster group that was most to blame for their 2019 results. With the money invested in Goff & Gurley, the stadium opening in 2020, they are going to set up their star offensive players with every opportunity to regain that status by investing in the line that makes it all happen.

Great post! Agree with most of this except not sure they'll restructure Goff unless it's absolutely last resort. Personally, I feel they are going to try and keep Fowler long term, so one less roster spot to fill.

 

[Memento]

Weddle after new contract:"Memento, chocolate ice cream with pecans?"

Damn straight I'll have chocolate ice cream with pecans! After Weddle gets cut.

 

[BonifayRam]

Great post! Agree with most of this except not sure they'll restructure Goff unless it's absolutely last resort. Personally, I feel they are going to try and keep Fowler long term, so one less roster spot to fill.

The retaining of Dante Fowler Jr. will be a very hard sign for the Rams Org. due to lack of Salary Cap funds.

The Rams available Cap figure has continued to go downward. Just figured- Rams have has changed the last few days. 2019 Proven Performance Escalators kicked in thus OTC (overthecap) has the Rams Team Cap Space @ $14,716,619

Los Angeles Rams Salary Cap | Over the Cap

Los Angeles Rams salary cap, contracts, bonus money, dead money, and cap savings for every player

overthecap.com

Spotrac has it @ $19.5 million. It's my understanding that that site has yet to factor in 4 Rams qualifying for Proven Performance Escalators (PPE)'s. They are WR Cooper Kupp, S John Johnson, WR Josh Reynolds, and OLB Samson Ebukam.
This number will continue to be unset until the NFL set the official 2020 ceiling.

Proven Performance Escalator | Over the Cap

Proven Performance Escalator | Over the Cap

overthecap.com

�

Cooper Kupp	Rams	3	71.3%	39.9%	80.0%	63.7%
John Johnson	Rams	3	66.6%	95.2%	35.9%	65.9%
Josh Reynolds	Rams	4	26.9%	55.5%	43.3%	41.9%
Samson Ebukam	Rams	4	32.7%	68.5%	51.0%	50.7%

Therefore, It's my thought that below cadre of Edge Rushers will be the following:

Samson Ebukam (Starter)
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (Starter)
Natrez Patrick
Justin Lawler
Jeff Holland
Jachai Polite

P.S. Attention @flv

LA Rams available salary drops over $4.6 M due to PPEs

The LA Rams boast a young inexpensive roster for the most part. That is, until the 2019 Proven Performance Escalators (PPE)s kicked in

ramblinfan.com

 

[Ram65]

I thought the Rams were going to be closer to $20 Million after the performance bonuses were accounted for.

Is this with the rookie contracts included?

 

[BonifayRam]

I thought the Rams were going to be closer to $20 Million after the performance bonuses were accounted for.

Is this with the rookie contracts included?

Negative "Rookies not included"......that Jalen Ramsey trade costing the Rams TWO 1st round selections & a 4th rounder takes a little off the cost of the rookie contracts for 2020...if you're looking for a positive.

Now lets all hope that Snead can avoid a nuclear catastrophe & sign Ramsey to a extra long contract next season at this time.

 

[baconandbread]

The retaining of Dante Fowler Jr. will be a very hard sign for the Rams Org. due to lack of Salary Cap funds.

The Rams available Cap figure has continued to go downward. Just figured- Rams have has changed the last few days. 2019 Proven Performance Escalators kicked in thus OTC (overthecap) has the Rams Team Cap Space @ $14,716,619

Los Angeles Rams Salary Cap | Over the Cap

Los Angeles Rams salary cap, contracts, bonus money, dead money, and cap savings for every player

overthecap.com

Spotrac has it @ $19.5 million. It's my understanding that that site has yet to factor in 4 Rams qualifying for Proven Performance Escalators (PPE)'s. They are WR Cooper Kupp, S John Johnson, WR Josh Reynolds, and OLB Samson Ebukam.
This number will continue to be unset until the NFL set the official 2020 ceiling.

Proven Performance Escalator | Over the Cap

Proven Performance Escalator | Over the Cap

overthecap.com

�

Cooper Kupp	Rams	3	71.3%	39.9%	80.0%	63.7%
John Johnson	Rams	3	66.6%	95.2%	35.9%	65.9%
Josh Reynolds	Rams	4	26.9%	55.5%	43.3%	41.9%
Samson Ebukam	Rams	4	32.7%	68.5%	51.0%	50.7%

Therefore, It's my thought that below cadre of Edge Rushers will be the following:

Samson Ebukam (Starter)
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (Starter)
Natrez Patrick
Justin Lawler
Jeff Holland
Jachai Polite

P.S. Attention @flv

LA Rams available salary drops over $4.6 M due to PPEs

The LA Rams boast a young inexpensive roster for the most part. That is, until the 2019 Proven Performance Escalators (PPE)s kicked in

ramblinfan.com

Thanks for the info! Looking at the list I feel they could do it (or at least make it a possibility) by the releases of Matthews, Weddle and trading NRC.

 

[BonifayRam]

Thanks for the info! Looking at the list I feel they could do it (or at least make it a possibility) by the releases of Matthews, Weddle and trading NRC.

Your more than welcome.

My thoughts on Dante Fowler Jr is he is a perfect Wade Edge Rusher for the Rams. It was DF whose play help put the Rams in the SB a year ago. Since we traded for him in October 2018 DF has started every gm that the Rams wanted him to start. As a Ram, he has dressed in 27 gms & had 24 starts.

Snead paid a decent fair price for DF a 2019 third-round pick & in this upcoming draft Snead will pay more costing us a 2020 fifth-round pick. When you now combine that with the salary cap cost for these 27 gms which was only $14 million....I would state ....was Rams salary cap $$$ well spent! I consider this trade deal a very good one for Snead!.

My belief DF did the Rams a favor & signed a Ram friendly cap extension to play here in 2019. More than likely he could have signed a deal for much more $$$ elsewhere & for a longer period of time. I do not expect that DF will be so easy on the Rams this time.

PFF has DF rated as the #2 34 D ER behind Shaquil Barrett. The rest of the ER's are 43 D'ers. The top ER is Jadevon Clowney whose market value is around $20 mil. a yr. DF could easily secure a 4 yr deal for approx $60 million. The Rams will be nothing but bystanders @ that high $$$ stakes poker table in March for DF.

Another circumstance into the mix on DF resigning is ..... I fully expect the Rams defense will play 2nd fiddle to Rams offense in FA'cy. What Ram salary cap $$$ crumbs the Rams will have to consider spending on UFA's will not be spent on an edge rusher. The Rams currently have an excellent young talented cadre of ER's so there is no pressing need here.

The OL has supreme top billing for concerns & if a moderate $$$ cost addition is secured it will come in this OL unit. More & likely Snead will NOT get involved in any early FA bidding & will wait till the 2nd round period time to shop @ Dollar General UFA'cy.

Finally, I do expect new DC Brandon Staley to push for 1 drafted ER in upcoming draft. Of course that drafted ER will cost about $15 million less than DF.

 

[Merlin]

Finally, I do expect new DC Brandon Staley to push for 1 drafted ER in upcoming draft. Of course that drafted ER will cost about $15 million less than DF.

It's really hard to imagine a good edge option not being there for us at 52. Not all of them are ideal fits but the sheer amount of them that would need to go off the board before we are up is unlikely. And if that happens, well, there's gonna be a real nice option for us just go BPA as far as I'm concerned.

IMO when the Rams are up at 52 they'll be looking for OL/Edge/DL outside of that possibility of a high end talent at xxxx dropping.

 

[baconandbread]

Your more than welcome.

My thoughts on Dante Fowler Jr is he is a perfect Wade Edge Rusher for the Rams. It was DF whose play help put the Rams in the SB a year ago. Since we traded for him in October 2018 DF has started every gm that the Rams wanted him to start. As a Ram, he has dressed in 27 gms & had 24 starts.

Snead paid a decent fair price for DF a 2019 third-round pick & in this upcoming draft Snead will pay more costing us a 2020 fifth-round pick. When you now combine that with the salary cap cost for these 27 gms which was only $14 million....I would state ....was Rams salary cap $$$ well spent! I consider this trade deal a very good one for Snead!.

My belief DF did the Rams a favor & signed a Ram friendly cap extension to play here in 2019. More than likely he could have signed a deal for much more $$$ elsewhere & for a longer period of time. I do not expect that DF will be so easy on the Rams this time.

PFF has DF rated as the #2 34 D ER behind Shaquil Barrett. The rest of the ER's are 43 D'ers. The top ER is Jadevon Clowney whose market value is around $20 mil. a yr. DF could easily secure a 4 yr deal for approx $60 million. The Rams will be nothing but bystanders @ that high $$$ stakes poker table in March for DF.

Another circumstance into the mix on DF resigning is ..... I fully expect the Rams defense will play 2nd fiddle to Rams offense in FA'cy. What Ram salary cap $$$ crumbs the Rams will have to consider spending on UFA's will not be spent on an edge rusher. The Rams currently have an excellent young talented cadre of ER's so there is no pressing need here.

The OL has supreme top billing for concerns & if a moderate $$$ cost addition is secured it will come in this OL unit. More & likely Snead will NOT get involved in any early FA bidding & will wait till the 2nd round period time to shop @ Dollar General UFA'cy.

Finally, I do expect new DC Brandon Staley to push for 1 drafted ER in upcoming draft. Of course that drafted ER will cost about $15 million less than DF.

I think the same thing but in reverse order of how they will prioritize haha...my guess is DF is their FA signing because what he brings against the run as well as on the edge (Littleton, Brockers, Weddle, Matthews and NRC gone) and Whitworth on a team friendly deal. Draft a starting Centre early and another guard later for depth. I think we have the pieces already in place personally for the O-line and it will be greatly improved just from them having a year under their belts and Kromer being able to be more focused on their development now that we have an OC. Guess we'll just need to wait and see

 

[FrantikRam]

As far as 100% guarantees go, I agree with everything except 6 and 7.

For Malcolm, that's not his only role - he plays special teams. And given the heavy draft investment into Henderson, it's safe to assume he will be the primary backup next year. Brown having a low cap hit seems like a no-brainer to keep.

As for NRC, you have to think about our nickel D in a larger sense - Troy Hill or someone with less experience will be starting at one CB spot, and our signal caller on defense is likely departing - also our best cover linebacker. Having our NCB gone too may be too much change.

Not saying it won't happen - but saying it's 100% is a big stretch IMO. If I were making the decisions I'd keep him.

 

[Merlin]

For Malcolm, that's not his only role - he plays special teams. And given the heavy draft investment into Henderson, it's safe to assume he will be the primary backup next year. Brown having a low cap hit seems like a no-brainer to keep.

You may be correct on both counts. But re: the RB room if you look at McVay's history as a play caller he has had problems in the redzone with two different offensive teams. The first being the Redskins who had strong TE play, the second being our Rams with primarily 11 personnel. And while Higs' emergence and Everett being in a contract year make me think their TEs are going to explode in 2020, fact remains our young offensive head coach has room to improve in the redzone.

What's the best way to do that? A power run game. Not necessarily power scheme mind you, but a run game where teams can know it's coming and you still have a chance to get the down/distance.

To get to that point (which also benefits us in division and playoff bouts) we definitely need to upgrade the line a little bit at least. But we also could use a back with a nose for short yardage and a powerful running style, type of guy who can get through traffic with the ball. Gurley can do that when he's in the zone and feeling good because he's a beast. But after him? Meh. I don't trust Brown to be available. Rams probably disagree with me, but we have missed that element since CJ left.

IMO adding that element should be a big priority in this draft. And the best part of it is you don't gotta go early to do it.