What's the edge case for the cap going up like it has?

[Merlin]

A lot hinges on Shelton and Dotson. They could sign both to a kick the can down the road type of extension. Remember it is all about the guaranteed $$$.

You have been completely unrealistic with Dotson my man. Your suggestion of paying him $9M would be the kind of offer that would insult him and close off all further discussion. It is so below what he deserves that I don't care how much of it is guaranteed, he would walk out and the team would be moving on as a result.

Which still might be the result. Because the Rams having more cap doesn't matter when everyone has more cap. That just means for any FA you wanted to go get more teams will now be in play. More competition means more cost. Teams like New Orleans who had no cap suddenly are ready for a spending spree. It's gonna be insane. This will be a memorable FA period, just not in a good way. There will be some stupid money being thrown around.

Hunter I can't even imagine what he's going to get. But in a couple years that contract will look like Mack does right now and whoever signs him will probably be looking to move him.

I wouldn't chase cornerstone positions this FA period, given all this cap space coming in. I would make a real offer to Dotson though. Not $9M. Not $11M. Not $13M. The guy is gonna cost some bucks. I'd be willing to pay him, just make sure there's an escape clause which the Rams generally seem to be shrewd at.

 

[PARAM]

You have been completely unrealistic with Dotson my man. Your suggestion of paying him $9M would be the kind of offer that would insult him and close off all further discussion. It is so below what he deserves that I don't care how much of it is guaranteed, he would walk out and the team would be moving on as a result.

Which still might be the result. Because the Rams having more cap doesn't matter when everyone has more cap. That just means for any FA you wanted to go get more teams will now be in play. More competition means more cost. Teams like New Orleans who had no cap suddenly are ready for a spending spree. It's gonna be insane. This will be a memorable FA period, just not in a good way. There will be some stupid money being thrown around.

Hunter I can't even imagine what he's going to get. But in a couple years that contract will look like Mack does right now and whoever signs him will probably be looking to move him.

I wouldn't chase cornerstone positions this FA period, given all this cap space coming in. I would make a real offer to Dotson though. Not $9M. Not $11M. Not $13M. The guy is gonna cost some bucks. I'd be willing to pay him, just make sure there's an escape clause which the Rams generally seem to be shrewd at.

His "valuation" is 4 years 66 mil (16.5 mil per year). But it is always about the guaranteed money. They could spread that with a SB over 4 years and guarantee his first two years salary. If they gave him a 30 mil SB spread over 4 years it's 7.5 per (cap hit). Salary could be 7 mil, 8 mil (both guaranteed), 10 mil, 12 mil. That's 67 mil over 4 years with 45 mil guaranteed. And if the cap goes up, as it will, that 17.5 mil in 2026 would be another year in L.A. Maybe release him after 3 years (or not) and take a 7.5 dead money hit.

Cap hits of 14.5, 15.5, 17.5 and 19.5. Is that insulting? Average take is 16.7 mil per year.

 

[Merlin]

Cap hits of 14.5, 15.5, 17.5 and 19.5. Is that insulting?

I said that OnD's continued mentioning of $9M is insulting. That is without a doubt a fucking insult. I'd be pissed off getting that offer, given how well he played for us.

You're talking $15M range which I would guess is what the Rams are thinking. But the market is going up now I think. There is no way Dotson elects to not hit the market at this point. So valuation doesn't really mean anything, as the market itself is going to speak here in a few weeks.

I just know that talking sub $10M for a player of his caliber is a complete waste of time. It is not even remotely in the ballpark for his services.

 

[PARAM]

I said that OnD's continued mentioning of $9M is insulting. That is without a doubt a fucking insult. I'd be pissed off getting that offer, given how well he played for us.

You're talking $15M range which I would guess is what the Rams are thinking. But the market is going up now I think. There is no way Dotson elects to not hit the market at this point. So valuation doesn't really mean anything, as the market itself is going to speak here in a few weeks.

I just know that talking sub $10M for a player of his caliber is a complete waste of time. It is not even remotely in the ballpark for his services.

Sorry. I misunderstood. I thought you were talking his base salary had to be 15 mil per. My bad.

 

[WestCoastRam]

A lot of people keep saying the salary cap going up doesn't have a material affect on teams since they all get the same money but I'm not so sure. It's not like the money just gets spread out evenly. That... is not how finance works.

I suspect that the top FA's will get even more money than before with teams who might not have made a run at a top FA more likely to now and that might actually create a competitive advantage toward teams willing to be disciplined and save their excess money to pump up contract offers to middle class FAs. Like Dotson. Or maybe guys right below Dotson's value. The idea being is more cap will "graduate" teams out of spending on FA's we might spend on into the next stratosphere and we get to "overspend" on mid level FAs giving us a tiny competitive advantage in targeting the FA middle class.

Is the affect that great, probably not. It's actually probably quite small. Maybe not even that material. But it might benefit us if we stay disciplined in our spending.

 

[dang]

I want the best OL possible and Dotson would be a big part of making that happen. However, the Rams have so many needs:

-K -draft? FA?
-LT - resign Ajax? draft?
-OC - Shelton signed
-RG - resign Dotson? Resign Ajax? Draft?
-TE - Allen fills
-WR3 - Robinson signed
-Edge - draft? FA?
-DE - resign Hoecht to fill?
-CB1 - draft? FA?
-CB2 - FA? Draft?
-S - resign Fuller?
-ILB2 - Draft?

Let’s assume they find 3 starters with their 2024 draft picks and 2 starters from rostered players who ascend to starters. That leaves 7 positions that need to be filled thru FA. They appear to have hit on 2 with locking up Shelton and Robinson. And likely another 2 in Ajax (LT or RG) and Hoecht (DE) likely signed. So we need the remaining FA money to cover 5 FA starters (including Ajax and Hoecht). Unless the Rams do some restructure magic I’m prepared for one big fish and 4 medium fish.

 

[Merlin]

So we need the remaining FA money to cover 5 FA starters.

Using your examples and counting on my fingers I think you meant to say 3.

But yeah I expected the Rams to go get a couple starters in this FA period. But that was before Les made his comments. Now I'm prepared for them to go budget. We'll see. I am hopeful he's a sand baggin' bastid.

 

[dang]

Using your examples and counting on my fingers I think you meant to say 3.

But yeah I expected the Rams to go get a couple starters in this FA period. But that was before Les made his comments. Now I'm prepared for them to go budget. We'll see. I am hopeful he's a sand baggin' bastid.

I updated to say “So we need the remaining FA money to cover 5 FA starters (including Ajax and Hoecht)” as it wasn’t clear. Putting Ajax and Hoecht in the medium fish category. Fuller could me another medium fish but I’m down on his coverage play.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I want the best OL possible and Dotson would be a big part of making that happen. However, the Rams have so many needs:

-K -draft? FA?
-LT - resign Ajax? draft?
-OC - Shelton signed
-RG - resign Dotson? Resign Ajax? Draft?
-TE - Allen fills
-WR3 - Robinson signed
-Edge - draft? FA?
-DE - resign Hoecht to fill?
-CB1 - draft? FA?
-CB2 - FA? Draft?
-S - resign Fuller?
-ILB2 - Draft?

Let’s assume they find 3 starters with their 2024 draft picks and 2 starters from rostered players who ascend to starters. That leaves 7 positions that need to be filled thru FA. They appear to have hit on 2 with locking up Shelton and Robinson. And likely another 2 in Ajax (LT or RG) and Hoecht (DE) likely signed. So we need the remaining FA money to cover 5 FA starters (including Ajax and Hoecht). Unless the Rams do some restructure magic I’m prepared for one big fish and 4 medium fish.

Love that you acknowledge that 1-2 players we currently have can (and should!) ascend to starter roles or maybe even significant rotational roles. Seems too often posters just ignore the people who are on the roster if they haven't taken and excelled at a starter spot in the last year.

I think Lake might be an example of a guy who has been flirting with a starter spot and may take one next year. (Just not sure if he's rangy enough for the backend though.). I'd also like to seem Hampton take a step after being in an NFL program for a year. Dudes not gonna be a star player but one hopes that a draft pick like that can at least improve to be a valuable backup.

 

[Merlin]

I updated to say “So we need the remaining FA money to cover 5 FA starters (including Ajax and Hoecht)” as it wasn’t clear. Putting Ajax and Hoecht in the medium fish category. Fuller could me another medium fish but I’m down on his coverage play.

Yeah Fuller needs to move on. He has been a different player from that guy who came into the defense initially. Safety may be our biggest area of need. Depends on what they think of Lake moving into that pairing. But even if that's the plan it feels like they need another safety.

Safeties are the DBs that bring tackling in space to the defense. Or should. Just all around it feels like we need better quality back there.

 

[Londoner]

Just all around it feels like we need better quality back there.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if we spent all our first four picks on the defence, I wouldn’t complain. Edge, CB, LB and safety, in whatever order.

The offence has its starters, but needs depth. That can come in the later rounds.

 

[Merlin]

Yeah I favor a defensive draft haul early as well.

 

[Memento]

The only high picks I'd spend on defense are on cornerback, where I'd double-dip (Mitchell and Kris Abrams-Draine - KAD's on my radar). May trade down to get a fourth to spend on Javon Solomon (Troy. Seriously impressive edge-rusher, albeit short like Dumervil). If some defensive lineman falls and you can't pass on him (Jer'Zhan Newton), maybe. Personally, I'd spend a high pick on a cornerback if Quinyon Mitchell isn't there (say, trade out of the first and select Rakestraw with a high second; I don't buy for a second that he's going in the first round.), but only after a trade down, would definitely spend a second on Cooper Beebe. Might even go for broke and trade up for Brock Bowers or spend a second 2nd round pick on Ja'Tavion Sanders.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if we spent all our first four picks on the defence, I wouldn’t complain. Edge, CB, LB and safety, in whatever order.

The offence has its starters, but needs depth. That can come in the later rounds.

I'm down with that but I think championship winning teams these days tend to have a dominate side of the ball with complementary pieces on the other side that can hold up a certain bargain. So I'm fine with them adding a piece like a LT or WR and possibly G/C or TE in the early rounds to cement the dominance on the O side while picking up some pieces at D to take up what our boys did last year up a notch.

I only say LT as I think a lot of these tackles have some interior flexibility in the draft and AJ has shown quite well on the interior too. This is on the assumption that Dotson is gone.

 

[Classic Rams]

Rams have needed to build a stacked roster, I hate to mention them, but to match the whiners. I'm tired of hearing about their SB caliber roster already. We have the QB (for now), but need to immediately upgrade talent at many positions. Similar to dang's list.

 

[RhodyRams]

Yeah that was crazy. Cap exploded like nvidea!

bought Nvidia back in July, 50 shares at 480..just sold 25 at 785 last week