2021 Rams Offseason Preview

Hayden Winks
Fri, March 5, 2021, 10:01 AM





My goal with the Offseason Preview series is to get caught up with each team’s 53-man roster, offensive and defensive schemes, team needs, and offseason capital within a 10-minute read. The basics will be at the top -- cap space, draft picks, cut candidates, notable departures -- and the film and analytics takes will be at the bottom. I hope to write these in a way that they’re referenceable throughout not just free agency and the NFL Draft, but also the 2021 season as we look into weekly matchups. The offseason is the time for me to get outside of our fantasy football bubble and learn more about what’s going on at the other positions. You can read the rest of my 2021 Offseason Previews here and can follow me on Twitter (@HaydenWinks).
Rams 2020 Recap

Rams2020

The Rams had the best defense in the league last season, finishing 1st in points allowed, 2nd in passing EPA, 2nd in rushing EPA, and 2nd in adjusted sack rate. Ex-DC Brandon Staley was masterful in his usage of cornerstones Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald, plus maximized the secondary with his revolutionary two-high safety setup. Regression is coming given the Rams’ suspect salary cap and Staley’s departure, but the offense is a near lock to improve with Matthew Stafford in town. Sean McVay can dial up more 15+ air yard passes (29th) and that alone should improve the Rams’ No. 22 ranking in points scored. The Rams’ range of outcomes are wide, but a 2021 Super Bowl run is certainly within them. It’s the most stars and scrubs team heading into the offseason.
Rams 2021 Offseason
Rams Depth Chart

StaffordGoff
Offensive Coordinator: The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue believes Sean McVay hired a defensive coordinator with head coaching experience because he wants to drop some of the head coaching responsibilities in order to be more hands-on with the offense. Of course, he already was among the most offensive leaning head coaches in the NFL, but it goes to show how frustrated he was with his 2020 offense. The Rams were slower paced (12th) last season than the year prior, were more balanced (7th) in neutral situations, and were primarily limited to shallow passing (29th in average depth of target). With Jared Goff’s deficiencies out the way, expect the vertical passing offense to return. The overall ceiling has been raised significantly, and they have the skill talent to make a push even if the offensive line has some holes.
Passing Offense: The eye test has always been kind to Matthew Stafford, and he finally has the coaching and receiving talent to bring his game to the next level. Over the last four seasons, Stafford has ranked 26th, 15th, 33rd, and 29th in percentage of plays coming off play action. Goff was 5th, 3rd, 2nd, and 3rd. Stafford inheriting play action paves the path for a potential career-best efficiency season. He’ll primarily be throwing to Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, and it’s possible a Marvin Jones-level player rounds out the three-receiver starting lineup instead of low-ceiling No. 3 Van Jefferson. After a frustrating tight end committee, Tyler Higbee has blow-up potential in 2021 as the clear-cut top option. Gerald Everett isn’t returning and 2020 fourth-rounder Brycen Hopkinsonly played two snaps as a rookie. Higbee is a post-hype sleeper, particularly if the Rams can’t afford a Jefferson upgrade.
Rushing Offense: Sean McVay puts his offensive line in a tremendous spot by using motion, short-area passing, and play-action. They ranked second in adjusted sack rate despite starting castaways and Day 2/3 youngsters. For now, only C Austin Blythe is set to leave this offseason, although both tackles, LT Andrew Whitworth and RT Rob Havenstein, may have to take pay cuts to remain on the roster. Continuity and good coaching will have this unit playing better than their individual talents would suggest. At running back, the rotation will switch from three backs to two with Malcolm Brown off the books. McVay thinks Cam Akers is “an every-down back”, and that’s how he used him down the stretch last year when Akers’ expected PPR points average jumped from 3.6 to 13.7 following the Week 9 bye (full splits column). It’s Akers backfield to lose even with Darrell Henderson providing valuable one-cut running as the No. 2.
Defensive Coordinator: The Rams lost DC Brandon Staley -- my generation’s Vic Fangio -- to the Chargers this offseason. Staley brought defensive coverages to the modern era, using two-high safeties more than anyone while having as few defenders in the box as possible. The goal simply was to stop the intermediate and deep pass, even if that exposed them to positive runs. Despite running a single-high defense in Atlanta that played quarters at the second lowest rate (2%), new DC Raheem Morris is likely to retain most of the core principles of last year’s quarters unit just because it was so successful with these defensive stars. The difference in ancillary talent is a concern, however, with CB2 Darius Williams, SS John Johnson, and EDGE Leonard Floyd all looking at free agency paydays.
Passing Defense: 2020 Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald led the league in quarterback hurries (69) and tied for the lead with 15.0 sacks. The rest of the pass-rushing unit is sub-par though with OLB Leonard Floyd hitting free agency and DT Michael Brockers potentially on the chopping block ($4.6M cap savings). It’s an issue because the Rams don’t blitz often (27%, 19th). Perhaps 2019 fifth-rounder Justin Hollins or 2020 third-rounder Terrell Lewis have a breakout season. The secondary is also stars and scrubs driven. Jalen Ramsey is the best defensive back for my money, but breakout CB2 Darious Williams and SS John Johnson will be looking for paydays. Williams is the far bigger priority between the two with 2019 second-rounder Taylor Rapp and 2020 third-rounder Terrell Burgess as future starters at safety. Overall, some regression is expected, but the Rams still have the makings of a top-eight passing defense. They were No. 2 in passing EPA last year.
Rushing Defense : Stopping the run isn’t much of a priority in Los Angeles, yet they still were very good at it. They were often minus-one or minus-two in the box but managed to finish No. 2 in rushing EPA. The success starts at defensive tackle with Donald and 2019 sixth-round overachieving NT Sebastian Joseph-Day, who is more twitched up than most run at the position. He could see an uptick in snaps with Brockers aging out. If there’s an obvious weakness in L.A.’s defense, it’s at linebacker. Kenny Young, Troy Reeder, and Micah Kiser are all backup-level players and former Day 3 picks or undrafted free agents. The Rams’ front office obviously believes the position doesn’t matter much. I tend to agree.
Rams Team Needs
1. Corner(s) - The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reports the Rams “don’t plan to get out-matched by another team” when it comes to starting corner Darius Williams. Even if he’s re-signed, the Rams need to find another starter with slot CB Troy Hilldeparting. Jalen Ramsey played both inside and outside, so the Rams can be flexible here.
2. Linebacker - The Rams had one of the worst linebacker groups last season. 2018 fourth-rounder Kenny Young, 2018 fifth-rounder Micah Kiser, and 2019 UDFA Troy Reeder are all backup-level players. It’s a position that the front office has ignored for years.
3. Center - 2020 starter Austin Blythe is a free agent, and the Rams are thin at offensive line depth. A cheap free agent or late-round rookie will likely be filling this spot. Luckily for Stafford and Akers, Sean McVay does more for his offensive line than just about any NFL coach.
4. Edge Rusher(s) - Pure outside linebackers are needed. The Rams may not be able to make the money work to retain OLB Leonard Floyd, and they only have boom-bust youngsters behind him. 2018 fifth-rounder Justin Hollins and 2020 third-rounder Terrell Lewis have athletic upside if they can stay healthy.
5. Offensive Tackle - Both of last year’s starters are currently on the roster, but both may have to take a paycut to remain on the roster. Finding the long-term replacement for 39-year-old LB Andrew Whitworth is on the to-do list.
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings
Consider these my way-too-early 2021 fantasy football ranking ranges ahead of free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft, and here’s where each player ranked in PPR points, expected PPR points, and PPR points over expected last year.
Cam Akers (RB1) - After winning the job, Akers had touch totals of 22, 32, 18, 25, 30, and 19 (and some of those were on a bum ankle). The workload projects to be strong, and Akers always profiled as a three-down workhorse. With Stafford elevating the ceiling of the offense, Akers has top-five within his range of outcomes. His floor is just lower than others ranked around him because Henderson is a high-end backup.
Robert Woods (WR1/2) - Sean McVay is going to scheme Woods touches near the line of scrimmage, but he’ll now get the intermediate targets that Goff was hesitant to rip. The Rams’ cap situation prevents a better receiver from entering the mix, so a repeat of last year’s WR16 per game (16.0 PPR) finish feels appropriate. If the offense booms, Woods could be a low-end WR1. He’s only 29 years old.
Cooper Kupp (WR2/3) - Woods is just better than Kupp, who was the WR30 per game (14.0 PPR) last season. But both receivers stand to benefit from the quarterback upgrade. Kupp, 28, is a positive regression candidate after only scoring three touchdowns in 2020.
Matthew Stafford (QB1/2) - Stafford only was the QB23 per game last year, but everything is pointing up. The coaching upgrade is substantial, and the skill talent is some of the best he’s been around since Calvin Johnson’s retirement. Aside from the offensive line lacking high-end talent, there’s little reason to doubt Stafford’s passing potential in 2021.
Tyler Higbee (TE1/2) - Sadly a major box score disappointment, Higbee at least finished as the TE4 out of 43 qualifiers in my efficiency stat PPR Points Over Expected Per Game (+2.0) last year. He’s been a high-value target when given looks, and Gerald Everett is unlikely to re-sign. 2020 fourth-rounder Brycen Hopkins played just two snaps as a rookie, too, clearing the path to a Higbee post-hype takeoff in 2021. I’ll be putting my clown mask on and ranking him highly again this offseason. Wish me luck.
Darrell Henderson (RB4) - The Rams drafted Akers in the second round one year after drafting Henderson who has just 771 rushing yards through two seasons. He’s an explosive one-cut runner but offers little beyond that. He’ll be a distant 1B in McVay’s offense but is one ankle role away from having the backfield largely to himself. There’s an obvious path to a ceiling.
FA Gerald Everett (TE2/3) - Everett, 27, is coming off a career-highs in targets (62), catches (41), and receiving yards (417), and there aren’t many good receiving tight ends right now. Nick Mensio has him as the No. 3 free agent at the position, so Everett has a reasonable chance of finding a clear-cut starting job this offseason. Among 55 tight ends last year, Everett ranked 20th in yards per route run.

Rams News: Raheem Morris Discusses Potential Adjustments To Defensive Scheme - Rams Newswire
Raheem Morris Discusses Potential Adjustments To Defensive Scheme
by Maximo Gonzales



New Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has some big shoes to fill given the job his predecessor did with this group in the 2020 NFL season.

Despite being in his first year at the position, Brandon Staley managed to lead the No. 1 defense in the NFL. As a result, his efforts have helped him become the new head coach for the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason.

Morris is well aware of the expectations after inheriting a talented group led by what he believes are two future Hall of Famers in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. He will be tasked with replicating the same level of success the Rams had on this side of the ball throughout the 2020 campaign under Staley.

Of course, Morris will be looking for ways to kick things up a notch. Although he plans to stick with a 3-4 base approach, he expects them to be much more fluid when it comes to sub-packages, via Stu Jackson of the team’s official website:

“When you go into your sub-packages, which the league has kind of developed into, you see a lot more four-down fronts,” Morris said. “Whether you’re talking about odd or even fronts, whether you’re talking about bringing different people in to do some different things, you’re going to do all those things, you’re going to have all those different types of packages. Obviously, you’ll talk about who you are and what you are. We’re going to look like a three-four base team, something that we tried to look like in Atlanta.”

Morris added that the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it approach,” is not going to cut it if the Rams are going to win a Super Bowl:

“I wasn’t brought here to try to duplicate what they did last year,” Morris said. “We were brought here to win and we’re brought here to win a championship.”

It is encouraging to see that Morris is not planning on resting on the laurels of this group’s performance last season. While Donald and Ramsey will remain as the focal points of the defense, nothing is set in stone just yet with key players like safety John Johnson III, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd and cornerback Troy Hill all set to test the market as unrestricted free agents.

Fortunately, the Rams have good reason to be optimistic about all the different looks they can provide thanks to the bevy of versatile talent at their disposal. Morris is going to do what he can to put his own twist on the base 3-4 scheme just like Staley did with former defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

My wife and friends tend to talk shit when they find out about the actress I would love to get a night with. Lol

I'm sure we all have one that is not a concensus dime.

For me, I have always had a thing for THE Queen Latifah

So, here is something that happens so easily at RamsOnDemand… if you post a topic with a few questions… you get some good replies.

Good opinions. Funny stuff mixed in. The whole deal. You guys are awesome.

I love reading your replies.... So keep telling me what YOU think!

Today I want to ask about officiating.

Does it appear more calls (penalties) impact the game bigger? The judgement call ones, in particular?

Or is that age and time doing that to me?

I mean, there were always calls in the past like Emmanuel Sanders in our ‘99 run. But that was the rule at the time. Not a penalty extending drives “cheaply”.

I dunno... Super bowl LV was painful. Almost hard to watch at times. And… it wasn’t all Tom Brady. The penalties. It felt like the penalties really shifted momentum of that game, and they were (at least a few of them) close calls that probably shouldn’t have been called.

If there are penalties, call them. But if it’s close, don’t. Why is that a tough ask?

What do the stats say? LINK TO STATS

In 2008 defensive pass interference was called 156 times. In 2019 it was called 269 times.

Offensive holding... 2008 was called 485 times, 2019... 724.

Total flags according to this data (DATA LINK) 2019 = 3,572.... 2009 = 3,167. This site includes 2020, which shows penalties were actually down to 2,989.

Penalty data appears to move all over the map. That inconsistency seems odd too?

Is the rulebook just too ticky tack?

Too many rules?

Passing and offense-first approach by teams driving some of this?

Replay creating a “perfection mentality”?

What’s the deal?

Wade on The Herd this week, and while the whole segment isn't on the Rams there are some great gems in this. He talks about studying Stafford this year, his fit in McVay's offense, and talks about the culture McVay has created in Los Angeles turning a decade plus losing franchise into a winner. There has been a lot of McVay bashing around here in the past months and it's been absolutely ridiculous IMO given where we were prior to his arrival. Listen to a future hall of fame coach in Wade compare McVay to John Wooden. Worth a listen.


Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm5QgCAGsm4

I got hooked watching this video. It was labeled the “craziest game you’ve never seen”... and a good chunk of the time I felt I was getting duped.

“No way this is the craziest ending”...

I don’t remember this game. The statistical likelihood of comeback was near zero.

Now... the ending is a bit of a dud. I feel like laying that out there as it was a reason I almost didn’t post because it’s a 13min commitment to watch.

But the game, yeah, crazy finish.

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/zjsaazLiVv8

Baker Mayfield is in the window that Wentz and Goff were extended.

Do you extend Mayfield?

Andrew Berry: Calling Carson Wentz a cautionary tale for QB extensions is a stretch

The Rams and Eagles both traded up to draft Jared Goff and Carson Wentz in 2016.

The Rams and Eagles both gave lucrative extensions to Goff and Wentz during the summer of 2019 — the first year the quarterbacks could sign a second contract after completing their third seasons.

And now, the Rams and Eagles have both agreed to trade Goff and Wentz at the start of the 2021 league year.

At times, the two QBs demonstrated why their respective teams made such heavy investments in them. But had Los Angeles and Philadelphia let Goff and Wentz play out their fifth-year options — like Tampa Bay and Tennessee with Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota — then they would not have millions in dead cap allocated to quarterbacks who will play elsewhere in 2021.

Browns General Manager Andrew Berry worked for the Eagles as vice president of football operations in 2019. With quarterback Baker Mayfield eligible for an extension this offseason, Berry was asked if Wentz in particular serves as a cautionary tale.

“I don’t know that, with respect to anything that’s happened with any of the other 31 teams, that has a major bearing on how we’re going to address the quarterback situation here,” Berry said during his Wednesday press conference. “To me, we’ll evaluate that internally and make a decision that we think is best for our team and our organization. So I think it would be maybe a stretch to say that’s going to serve as a cautionary tale or any type of blueprint for us. We’ll make the best decision for us with the information that we have.”

After taking a step back in 2019, Mayfield displayed clear progress during his first year under Stefanski in 2020. The quarterback finished the season completing 63 percent of his passes for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. And Mayfield helped the Browns win a playoff game for the first time since 1994.

But he threw 21 picks in 2019 — more than anyone not named Winston.

It could be argued that the Rams were only able to deal for Matthew Stafford and the Eagles were able to receive a third-round pick and potentially a first-round pick because of those contract extensions. Still, the Browns may want to see another year of Mayfield just to be sure before they sign him to a long-term contract.

Aaron Donald Remains The Most Important Non QB

The Rams most important player in the 2021 season is unequivocally Matthew Stafford. He’s touted as the missing piece and the guy to smash through their ceiling at quarterback, and if he’s awesome, the Rams could win a title. Now beyond him who is the most important player?

Is it Andrew Whitworth, Austin Blythe, or some other offensive lineman that’s charged with protecting Stafford? Is it Cam Akers or some other young gun whose evolution could swing the season? Or is it someone completely under the radar? Nope. The answer is and always will be Aaron Donald.

Is it the boring answer? Yeah, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Donald is coming into the season with a third defensive player of the year award and can already start planning his eventual Hall of Fame speech. His impact on the field will be obvious but his impact off the field will be even more important.

For the second year in a row, a pass rusher that played alongside Aaron Donald will get PAID. Like Dante Fowler before him, Leonard Floyd raised his stock to such a degree that the Rams are obviously not keeping him because (take a drink) the Rams don’t have the cap space to do so. It’s not likely Floyd will bet on himself a second year in a row when the few teams that will actually have money will drop the bag on a guy who registered 10.5 sacks.

So, once again the Rams will have to take another vet pass rusher that isn’t in the Leonard Floyd/Bud Dupree tier. What does Donald have to do with that? Well, any mid-tier pass rushers looking for a ring and a “prove it” deal of their own see Donald as the perfect conduit to that. It’s almost a scientific fact at this point that having a one-man gang that opposing coaches painstakingly plan around, makes everyone else better. He’s the best recruiting tool the Rams have and while they missed out on J.J. Watt because Arizona made a case that moved him…TO A BIGGER HOUSE. But, the Rams could wind up with one or two free agents that wish to benefit from the Aaron Donald effect.

Aaron Donald is once again going to be the most impactful person on the field aside from Stafford. He has arguably a tougher task than Stafford given that the offense will function the same (but with a more mobile QB that can huck it), whereas Donald has to usher in a new scheme for the second year in a row.

The Rams lost Brandon Staley to the crosstown “rival” Chargers and hired Raheem Morris. Morris said he wasn’t going to fix a defense that wasn’t broken so schematically it will retain some of the tenants of that defense but with Morris’s own flourishes. Regardless of what they run, Donald and Ramsey are the engines that drive the defense, and they not only need to buy in but make sure everyone else buys in. What’s different this year besides the coach and presumably the personnel is that for the first time, Aaron Donald was proven to be mortal.

Despite winning defensive player of the year, Aaron Donald’s season ended in tears. Tears because for the first time he couldn’t be the Kaiju he needed to be. In the Seattle game, he tore rib cartilage while taking down Russell Wilson for the umpteenth time in his career. He did everything in his power to play the following week but try as he might, he couldn’t make an impact.

When Donald proved ineffective, the rest of the defense struggled to get any type of pressure and Aaron Rodgers ran roughshod over the number one defense in the league, to the point where you could hear him working on his proposal to Shailene Woodley at the line of scrimmage.

When Donald went down in Seattle the defense was able to rally but as everyone knows, the Seattle line is easier to get into than Arizona State. Donald will likely be back to his normal world-dominating self, but teams have seen Thanos bleed. He’ll still be double and triple-teamed but it’s possible that all that wear and tear could catch up to him. If it does then the defense is in trouble because they don’t have anyone else in the front seven to consistently pick up the slack. He has no margin for error if the defense is to be anywhere near where it was a year ago.

Matthew Stafford will receive the former lion’s share of the spotlight for obvious reasons but Aaron Donald is the guy that will determine whether they can make a Super Bowl run. On the field, he is tasked with implementing Raheem Morris’s new scheme and elevating their mediocre linebacker corps. He’s also going to be the reason the Rams score one or two big free agents. Aaron Donald is the best defensive player in the league and the most important player on the Rams not throwing the ball downfield, though if asked, he could probably do that too.

McVay: OC Kevin O'Connell "has a huge say and a huge influence on how we want to operate”

In January, it was reported that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell had been blocked from interviewing for that same position with another NFL team.

More than a month later, Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed it was true – and done for a good reason.

"Kevin's a great coach," McVay said during a video conference last Thursday. "He's our offensive coordinator. He has a huge say and a huge influence on how we want to operate, and I think even more so moving forward."

In their first season working together, McVay and O'Connell helped the Rams produce the No. 11 total offense in the NFL at 377 yards per game. Additionally, while O'Connell didn't explicitly have quarterbacks coach in his title, he was responsible for overseeing and working directly with the group.

Given his contributions in those roles and how well they worked together, O'Connell was someone McVay did not want to lose this offseason.

"I was really excited about the opportunity to be able to work with him in year two, continue to collaborate, learn from him," McVay said. "He understands how valuable he is to me and to the Rams and we talked about all those things, but I think it's a credit to the respect that he's garnered around the league. What I would say is he's our OC and that's why we blocked him (laughs)."

O'Connell was the Rams' first full-time offensive coordinator on staff since his first season as head coach (2017), when current Packers head coach Matt LaFleur served in that role before being hired as the Titans' next offensive coordinator in 2018.

Even though LaFleur's move at the time technically could have been considered a lateral move – like O'Connell's would've been this year – McVay did not block it because he strongly believes in helping coaches grow. McVay was, and still is, Los Angeles' offensive play-caller, and not blocking the move allowed LaFleur to move from a non-playcalling offensive coordinator job with L.A. to a playcalling one with Tennessee.

Will that precedent – along with O'Connell's aforementioned value and influence – collectively translate to increased opportunities for him to call plays this upcoming season?

"Yeah, those are things you always talk about," McVay said. "I think each situation is independent. I don't think you ever want to pigeonhole yourself into (a role). Kevin and I had a lot of great dialogue and I'm always going to listen. I'm not interested in losing a coach to go do that same role and I'm not naive to the fact that the play calling, and those things are very important and when that situation came up with Matt, we talked about that. Kevin and I have had great conversations, but I would like to think that anybody that's been a part of this Rams' building knows that there is an investment in us trying to help guys continue to grow and if opportunities that they have outside this building don't exist in-house, then usually that's when we're going to let guys go, even if it doesn't help the Rams and that's kind of been the approach."

Regardless of the scope of potential playcalling duties, O'Connell will continue to be an important voice for Los Angeles' offense approaching Year 2 on its staff.

"I would like to think that he and I both are really excited about the opportunities that we have moving forward working with the offensive coaches, these players and what next year can look like for us with him leading the way offensively," McVay said.

Versus Chicago.

A good opportunity to see our quarterback of next season at work.

I think this would be good for everybody but it makes too much sense so it might not be approved.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/1367183992739536898

When I'm right, I'm not shy about saying I was right. When I'm wrong, I'm not too proud to say I was wrong.

I was wrong about Matthew Stafford.

When the subject of trading for Stafford first came up, I was, in a word, apathetic. I viewed Stafford the prospect of acquiring Stafford as a lateral move that would not be worth the expense of draft choices, and I said as much.

Then the trade happened, and I was compelled to take a closer look. What I found is that I really didn't know that much about Stafford.

Sure, I knew his background, had a general idea of his stats and his winning percentage, and I had seen him play a handful of times over the years (including the Rams last trip to Detroit, which I attended). But I really didn't focus on him in great detail until after the Rams made the deal.

When I started looking at his film, I saw a QB who is clearly superior to Jared Goff in terms of pocket awareness, footwork/resetting the pocket, release speed and arm strength. I also was overwhelmed by praise he received from former teammates and talent evaluators, who lauded his football IQ, his work ethic, his team approach and his community involvement. This was echoed in the sentiments of Sean McVay, who is reportedly ecstatic about his new QB, and oddsmakers, who have put the Rams near the top of the list of Super Bowl contenders for 2021.

I then started looking more carefully at the context of his career. I was amazed a just how poor his run support has been over his career (the average leading rusher for the Lions during his tenure had around 600 yards). I confirmed that he has played on some very poor defensive teams, which forced him to play catch-up far too often.

So, in the end, I realized that I was wrong about Stafford. He is a much better QB than I realized, and there is a lot of reason to be excited about this trade.

Sorry it took me so long to get with the program!

History of NFL teams trading first-round draft picks for veterans: Winners, losers from last five years

In light of recent trades involving quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, we've elected to take a look at the trades involving at least one first-round pick over the past five years. During that time, a total of 13 such trades were made across the NFL. Over the prior five years, there had been just five trades involving a first-round pick. Teams like the Colts and Rams have proven willing to swap high draft picks for elite talents with much less hesitation while the Jaguars and Dolphins have been more inclined to trade away those players.

How are those deals working out for the teams acquiring the players? Let's take a look:

July 25, 2020: Seahawks-Jets

Seahawks acquire S Jamal Adams
Jets acquire 2021 first-round pick, 2021 third-round pick, 2022 first-round pick, S Bradley McDougald

Seahawks' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 12-4 (NFC Wild Card)
Jets' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 2-14

Adams has a very specific role in Seattle's defense, which makes him more valuable to them. Most teams would not have felt comfortable surrendering two first-round picks for the right to pay a safety top dollar. The LSU product missed four games last season and still managed to record 9.5 sacks. It is impossible to say which team will get the better end of this deal, but it feels as though the Seahawks are standing on the doorstep of significant franchise decisions. The draft compensation is only a part of the conversation. Adams is entering the final year of his rookie deal and Spotrac.com projects that he will earn $12.7 million annually on a new deal, which equates to roughly 7 percent of their salary cap space.

March 16, 2020: Colts-49ers

Colts acquire DT DeForest Buckner
49ers acquire 2020 first-round pick (No. 13 overall)

Colts' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 11-5 (AFC Wild Card)
49ers' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 6-10

For the second consecutive year, Indianapolis made a big trade to acquire a veteran (in the Wentz trade, the Colts gave up a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 second-round pick that could become a first-rounder). The Colts did have to pay Buckner $21 million annually when he was acquired. The team got more production than they could have expected out of the No. 13 overall selection. However, when comparing his deal to the one that 2020 No. 13 overall selection Tristan Wirfs received, Indianapolis is paying out a little less than $17 million more annually than they would have paid that pick. Buckner could play a vital role in the team's future success and how far the team goes will ultimately determine whether or not the trade was a success. If Indianapolis wins a Super Bowl with Buckner and Wentz, then no one is going to look back and begrudge the decision to trade those picks.

March 16, 2020: Bills-Vikings

Bills acquire WR Stefon Diggs, 2020 seventh-round pick
Vikings acquire 2020 first-round pick (No. 20 overall), 2020 fifth-round pick, 2020 sixth-round pick, 2021 fourth-round pick

Bills' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 13-3 (AFC Championship)
Vikings' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 7-9

Buffalo had to pay Diggs a lucrative amount, but his impact on the field was evident. Josh Allen and Diggs had a very strong connection and that led to a deep playoff run. The future is bright. If the Vikings had not turned the pick acquired into Justin Jefferson, there would be little debate regarding who won that trade. It feels like a rare circumstance where both parties found a rewarding return. Minnesota was in dire need of salary cap relief and found that through this trade, while Buffalo found the reliable deep threat they had been lacking.

October 19, 2019: Rams-Jaguars

Rams acquire CB Jalen Ramsey
Jaguars acquire 2020 first-round pick, 2021 first round-pick, 2021 fourth-round pick

Rams' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 16-10 (NFC Divisional Round)
Jaguars' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 5-21

Los Angeles paid a premium for the right to acquire Ramsey. His first year was not nearly as effective as he was in Year 2. The former Seminole played at a near Defensive Player of the Year level in Brandon Staley's scheme. The team did eventually give him an enormous contract that kicks in this year. Parting with so many high draft picks is more palatable when a team is one or two pieces away from Super Bowl contention, but Los Angeles still had some deficiencies at edge rusher and along the offensive line.

September 16, 2019: Steelers-Dolphins

Steelers acquire S Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2020 fourth-round pick, 2021 seventh-round pick
Dolphins acquire 2020 first-round pick, 2020 fifth-round pick, 2021 sixth-round pick

Steelers' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 20-10 (AFC Wild Card)
Dolphins' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 15-15

Fitzpatrick provided a spark to Pittsburgh's defense initially, but that faded early in Year 2. The acquisition was unique in the sense that the Alabama product was in the second season of his rookie contract. The Steelers had cost control for the better part of four years, so it was essentially acquiring another first-round pick at cost. Fitzpatrick was picked No. 11 overall and Pittsburgh sent the No. 18 pick in return. Regardless of the team's success, it is hard to argue that the AFC North franchise got the lesser end of that deal. Miami used the pick on USC offensive tackle Austin Jackson.

August 31, 2019: Texans-Dolphins

Texans acquire OT Laremy Tunsil, WR Kenny Stills, 2020 fourth-round pick, 2021 sixth-round pick
Dolphins acquire CB Johnson Bademosi, OT Julie'n Davenport, 2020 first-round pick, 2021 first-round pick, 2021 second-round pick

Texans' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 14-18 (AFC Divisional Round)
Dolphins' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 15-17

Situation matters. Houston traded a lot for Tunsil to protect Deshaun Watson and now Watson may not be with the team in 2021. In all likelihood, the Texans would regress with a different quarterback under center. As part of the deal, Miami acquired the No. 3 and No. 36 overall selections this year. They could draft the top offensive tackle less than two years after trading Tunsil. When it came time to negotiate his contract, Tunsil had all the leverage, knowing that Houston could not afford for him to leave after giving up so many picks. His situation is why most teams attempt to agree to terms on a contract extension before the trade takes effect.

April 23, 2019: Chiefs-Seahawks

Chiefs acquire EDGE Frank Clark, 2019 third-round pick
Seahawks acquire 2019 first-round pick, 2020 second-round pick, 2019 third-round pick

Chiefs' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 26-6 (Super Bowl champions)
Seahawks' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 23-9 (NFC Divisional Round)

A month earlier, Kansas City had dealt Dee Ford to San Francisco for a second-round pick. They essentially traded Ford and a first-round pick for Clark, who was immediately given a long-term deal worth $20.8 million annually. It is fair to say that the Chiefs got the better player in that exchange. Ford has played a total of 12 regular season games over the past two years.

March 13, 2019: Browns-Giants

Browns acquire WR Odell Beckham Jr., EDGE Olivier Vernon
Giants acquire 2019 first-round pick, 2019 third-round pick, S Jabrill Peppers, OG Kevin Zeitler

Browns' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 17-15 (AFC Divisional Round)
Giants' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 10-22

It is hard to declare anyone a winner in this deal. The Browns did win their first playoff game since the 1990s, but Beckham had been injured for awhile. It does not appear that any player exchanged in this deal will be a high-level performer for their new team in the long-term.

October 22, 2018: Cowboys-Raiders

Cowboys acquire WR Amari Cooper
Raiders acquire 2019 first-round pick

Cowboys' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 21-20 (NFC Divisional Round)
Raiders' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 18-24

Dallas' aggressiveness paid immediate dividends as they achieved immediate success. The long-term effects have been fleeting. His impact was no doubt hampered by the loss of Dak Prescott this season. The team gave him a sizable contract extension last offseason and many are already wondering how much longer he will be in Arlington since the Cowboys used a first-round pick on CeeDee Lamb. The Raiders used that pick to select safety Johnathan Abram, who has had a difficult time staying healthy.

September 1, 2018: Bears-Raiders

Bears acquire EDGE Khalil Mack, 2020 second-round pick, 2020 seventh-round pick
Raiders acquire 2019 first-round pick, 2019 sixth-round pick, 2020 first-round pick, 2020 third-round pick

Bears' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 28-20 (NFC Wild Card)
Raiders' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 19-29

Chicago went 12-4 in that first year and has played .500 football since. The performance of Mitchell Trubisky and the quarterback position, in general, has no doubt held the team back, but Mack's presence has not been as measured in recent years. Although still a difference-maker, his sack totals have taken a dip. Chicago's defense suffered a setback through the injury of defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and it is fair to question how much of the defensive success should be attributed to former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and Hicks. If Mack was not the missing piece then, was the deal worth sacrificing so much draft capital? They also paid him a record-setting contract at the time. The Raiders have not made the most of their end of the deal either. Running back Josh Jacobs and cornerback Damon Arnette were selected with those first-round picks.

April 3, 2018: Rams-Patriots

Rams acquire WR Brandin Cooks, 2018 fourth-round pick
Patriots acquire 2018 first-round pick, 2018 sixth-round pick

Rams' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 32-16 (Super Bowl)
Patriots' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 30-18 (Super Bowl champions)

The trade was noteworthy because the team that traded Cooks defeated the team that acquired him in the Super Bowl. As we later learned, the wide receiver's time in L.A. would also be short-lived. It is hard to claim either is a loser in the trade when both appeared in the Super Bowl. New England did essentially get its initial investment back in this trade.

March 10, 2017: Patriots-Saints

Patriots acquire WR Brandin Cooks, 2017 fourth-round pick
Saints acquire 2017 first-round pick, 2017 third-round pick

Patriots' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 43-21 (Super Bowl champions)
Saints' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 49-15 (NFC Conference Championship)

In retrospect, New England essentially gave up a late first-round pick in exchange for one year of performance for Cooks, who made 65 catches for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns in his lone season in Foxborough. The Patriots would probably kill for that level of production from the position today. New Orleans used New England's first-round pick on All-Pro offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk so that worked out pretty well for them. In the grand scheme of things, New Orleans likely won the deal but New England did not sacrifice much in compensation.

September 3, 2016: Vikings-Eagles

Vikings acquire QB Sam Bradford
Eagles acquire 2017 first-round pick, 2018 fourth-round pick

Vikings' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 38-25-1 (NFC Divisional Round)
Eagles' win-loss record since trade and furthest advancement: 35-28-1 (Super Bowl champions)

Bradford appeared in 15 games that season, but appeared in just five others before his career came to an end. It was a steep short-term investment for a trip to the divisional round. Philadelphia used the pick on edge rusher Derek Barnett, who has had limited impact. Even in knowing that, anyone would be hard-pressed to label Minnesota as a winner in this deal.

The idea of claiming a winner and a loser is often subjective and it goes beyond the surface level parameters of the deal. Most of these trades also involved a level of financial commitment and that prevents teams from divvying funds to other positions. With that being said, there is an argument to be made that half of these trades were won by the acquiring team. Most of those perceived victories have come in the past two years.

In making these deals, there should be a general rule applied by the acquiring team: the player should be one of the last missing pieces for a contending team. A team with several holes to fill should not trading substantial draft capital for one player because the financial commitment can hamper long-term plans.

This was a pretty cool tweet put out by the NFL yesterday.

Highlight video inside the tweet.

Login to view embedded media
View: https://twitter.com/nfl/status/1366931334493442060?s=21

Yeah... I know; fuck the Cardinals... who cares... this should be Rams Talk... Yada yada. I feel that way too, really... But...

The NFC West returns 4 teams to the playoff conversion in 2021, by adding JJ Watt the Cardinals aren’t sitting on their hands. They believe they can make a push, and... I don’t blame them. It’s the NFL, come on.

So; what do Rams fans think of Kyler Murray the QB?

Is he their franchise QB?

Could we be facing Murray for years, like we have Wussell?

JJ Watt thinks he’s the real deal;


Then there is this; LINK

“Only five quarterbacks in league history have thrown for 3,000 yards and rushed for 800 yards in a season: Randall Cunningham, Robert Griffin III, Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, and Murray. The Cardinals quarterback was the first to reach the 3,500-yard mark and accomplish the feat, falling just 29 passing yards short of 4,000 for the season (Murray was injured in Week 17 and had to leave the game or else he likely would have surpassed the 4,000-yard mark).”

Murray is 5’10” and 205lbs soaking wet. Will he hold up?

Here is his two year stat line;



So Rams fans... Are you shaking in your boots over the thought of facing Murray for years to come?

Lets talk... Kyler Murray, let’s hear your thoughts. I’m guessing this will be interesting...

Business of Football: Understanding Salary Cap, Dead Money

Of all the areas of coverage around the NFL, there is not one more frequently misinformed, misunderstood and misrepresented than that of the salary cap. It is one of these subjects that qualify for the adage: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Yes, I realize most fans and media know all they want to know about the cap, which for many fans, is simply how far their team is under it. That, however, is a momentary snapshot into a complicated and ever-changing figure. Managing the NFL salary cap, as I did for 10 years with the Packers, is like stuffing an octopus in a box; there is always something trying to hang out. Every action has a reaction; every move with one player is watched by every other player (and agent); precedent is paramount.

Cap management is one of the three parts of an NFL team’s football operation, along with coaching and player evaluation. The better-managed teams have all three areas working in concert, communicating and buying into one another’s plan. And this year, more than any other year in memory, cap management may be the most important of the triad of football operations.

With that in mind, and with my background, I thought I would answer some common cap questions, debunk some cap myths and try to give you a better understanding of that amorphous thing we call the NFL salary cap. With the NFL offseason upon us, settle in for this master class.

What is the salary cap and how is it calculated?

The cap is an artificial limit on collective player spending set by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the governing document between the NFL and the NFL Players Association. Everything about the NFL is rooted in competitive balance. The cap, in theory at least, levels the playing field on the financial side.

The CBA sets the percentages for sharing of NFL revenue, dividing it between the owners and the players according to what has been negotiated. Prior to the two most recent CBAs, the players’ share was roughly 50% of NFL revenues. Recently the pendulum has swung toward ownership, with owners getting 53% and the players receiving 47%, rising by a point to 48% once the NFL starts playing 17 games per regular season but getting no higher for the players over the next decade.

Thus, to calculate the cap in simplest terms: 47% of NFL revenues is divided by 32—the number of NFL teams—to set the team cap number for the year. For 2020 that number was $198 million. For 2021 due to economic losses suffered from a year of playing largely without fans—that number will go down considerably. As that number has not been set yet, for our purposes we will estimate the 2021 cap to be $185 million.

Myth: The reduced cap for 2021 has NFL teams scrambling

No. NFL teams are not waking up in March of 2021 and saying, “Oh my God, what are we going to do with a dramatically reduced cap?” This diminution of the 2021 cap was known by every team—as well as every player, fan and media member since July, when the NFL and NFLPA negotiated that it would be no lower than $175 million. This idea out there that teams are now scrambling is laughable; they have known about this for nine months. Teams spend eight months preparing for the draft; the good ones have been preparing eight months for the reduced cap.

Myth: The $185 million number is the cap minimum number for 2021

No. The $185 million is not the minimum, or floor; it is the maximum, or ceiling, for the 2021 team cap. A salary cap has a minimum as well as a maximum; many do not know that, as NFL teams have—and should have—a minimum that they have to spend on players.

I have been critical of the CBA minimum team spending requirements, as there is neither annual accounting nor biannual accounting, but rather it is only viewed over three- or four-year tranches. As an example, the Steelers spent $138 million in 2020, a stunning $60 million below the cap. No matter how much they spend in the year before or after, that should not happen, but that is for another discussion. Suffice it to say the minimum spending for 2021 could be well below $185 million, especially with such a long inspection period.

Myth: Every NFL team’s cap number is going to be $185 million

No. Actually, no team’s cap number is going to be $185 million (or whatever the final cap number is).

The 2011 CBA, for the first time, allowed teams to carry over unused cap room from one year to the next. In managing the cap for the Packers, we did not have that option; it was use it or lose it. I had to negotiate dummy incentives—such as a clause giving our third-string quarterback $20 million if he threw seven touchdowns in our last game—to carry over cap room. (When he didn’t earn the incentive, we would get it as a credit toward the next year.) Now teams don’t have to play those games.

As per NFLPA numbers, every team in the league has carried over 2020 cap room, from a low of roughly $500,000 for the Ravens to a high of more than $30 million for the Colts. Teams carrying over $20-plus million of cap include the Jets, Browns, Eagles, Cowboys and Jaguars. Thus, although the team cap is $185 million, the Colts’ adjusted cap will be around $215 million, and so on.

And again, these teams have been preparing, or should have been preparing, for this reduced cap for months.

Myth: Unlike the NBA, the NFL has a “hard cap”

No. The NFL does not have a hard cap; it has a soft cap (a yarmulke, if you will). To clarify, no team can go “over the cap” in terms of cap accounting. However, teams can and do go over the cap in terms of cash spending due to the feature of the NFL cap that differentiates it from all other sports leagues: proration.

Here is an example: Let’s say a player signs a four-year contract with a $20 million signing bonus. Signing bonuses, for cap purposes, are prorated. Thus, that player’s bonus is treated as $5 million in cap each year. The “cash over cap” for that one player, on one bonus of one contract, is $15 million: He received $20 million cash with only $5 million against the cap. This illustrates how teams are able to spend over the cap in terms of cash spending without being over the cap in terms of cap accounting.

But alas, the future cap charges do not go away. The problem with proration is when things go south with the player, leading to the scourge of the cap: dead money.

Dead money is cap accounting for players no longer on a team’s roster, “dead weight” that hamstrings teams from signing “live” players. We have now seen—within the last month—the two largest dead-money charges in NFL history in Jared Goff and Carson Wentz. These contracts were structured as if there was no way on God’s green earth the teams would exit them early—with tens of millions of future proratable monies (large signing bonuses, guaranteed option and roster bonuses, etc.) pushed out into future years as unamortized proration. Therein lies the rub. When a player separates—through release or trade—all unamortized proration accelerates on the team’s cap.

Goff will count $22 million on the 2021 Rams’ cap while playing for the Lions. Wentz will count $34 million on the Eagles’ cap, the fourth-highest cap charge in the NFL this year, while playing for the Colts. That is why I said for months that he would not be traded, and why I truly underestimated the breach of trust between Wentz and the Eagles.

For you fantasy football players playing in cap leagues, imagine that while the other players have $185 to play with, you start the draft with $151. You are the Eagles.

Myth: NFL teams don’t care as much as they used to about dead money

No. Believe me, they care: I have talked to members of several, including the Eagles, who desperately wanted to avoid this scenario.

Beyond Goff and Wentz, the only other two dead-money charges in history over $20 million are for receivers, Antonio Brown and Brandin Cooks. As to this being the evidence of teams’ willingness to incur dead-money charges? Please.

Brown would have been kept on the Steelers for many more years if he hadn’t forced his way out of town. As for Cooks, well, when it comes to dead money (and first-round draft picks), they do not care. They are true outliers.

Myth: Cap gurus magically create cap room by moving it into future years

No. You could do that and, sorry, no, you wouldn’t be a cap guru. You could take a big salary or a big bonus (not currently prorated), turn it into signing bonus (prorated) and, in the stroke of the player’s pen, cap room would magically appear and the problem would be deferred, although not solved.

The Rams did this with Goff. The Eagles did this with Wentz. The Saints have done this repeatedly with Drew Brees. The Steelers have done this repeatedly with Ben Roethlisberger. Pain is now being felt by the first two teams and will soon be felt by the latter two. Some NFL teams are doing this now to alleviate some existing cap problems, continuing the vicious cycle of stacking additional proration upon already existing proration and creating more problems down the road.

No one doing this is a cap guru. A true cap guru sets a team up so it never needs to do much of this, if any at all.

So Andrew, what is the best way to manage an NFL cap?

It is simple: Pay as you go. The goal for every team’s cap management, in my opinion, is to match, as much as possible, cash spending and cap accounting. It is to resist the temptation for short-term gain—which always leads to long-term pain—and pay as you go.

One of the things I am most proud of from my time in Green Bay is resisting temptation to play the “prorate/push out” cap game with Brett Favre. I learned from what I had seen at that time around the league, noting huge dead-money charges when franchise quarterbacks separated, including John Elway, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Dan Marino, Steve McNair and more. I knew at some point we would not have Brett; I did not want to burden the future front office and the future quarterback (who turned out to be Aaron Rodgers) with a $20-plus million cap charge for someone not there. Brett was ultimately traded with a final dead-money charge to the team of $600,000. Sorry for the not-at-all-humble brag, but you get my point.

For a current example, the 49ers, in negotiating the Jimmy Garoppolo contract, took on a first-year cap number of $37 million, very close to the first-year cash number of $40 million. Now, if the 49ers decide to move on from Garoppolo, it will cost them less than $3 million in dead money, a drop in the bucket compared to the $34 million for Wentz and $22 million for Goff. How a team proves itself as cap-savvy is by putting itself in a position to have ultimate flexibility on its roster, never to have to prorate, to put the team in position for sustained success.

Many teams do this well besides the 49ers, including the Buccaneers, Jaguars, Colts, Patriots and Browns, among others. They are ahead of the curve with the competitive advantage of being able to front-load, not back-load, cap. Thus, if things go south with a player, they can move on without the albatross of dead cap.

The reduced 2021 cap represents a huge opportunity for well-managed cap teams to, as the cool kids say, flex. More than any year before, prudent and solid cap management is really going to matter, and shrewd front offices are going to truly separate themselves. The business of sports always wins.

Los Angeles Rams free-agency overview: Find a deep threat and pass-rusher

The Los Angeles Rams enter 2021 NFL free agency coming off a 10-6 season in 2020 and have 12 unrestricted free agents. With the salary cap expected to drop significantly, the Rams must find creative solutions in free agency with three key defensive starters -- outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, safety John Johnson III and cornerback Troy Hill -- ready to test the market, as well as starting center Austin Blythe. As for what positions the Rams could be looking to add to their roster going into 2021, they must find a deep-threat receiver, solidify the pass rush and build depth at corner.

Here's what to expect from the Rams when the NFL offseason kicks into high gear with the start of free agency on March 17:

QUARTERBACK

Under contract: Jared Goff, John Wolford

UFA: Blake Bortles

Game plan: In an agreed-upon deal that will become official at the start of the new league year, the Rams traded Goff, a 2021 third-round pick and 2022 and 2023 first-round picks to the Detroit Lions in exchange for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Wolford is expected to remain the backup.

RUNNING BACK

Under contract: Darrell Henderson Jr., Cam Akers, Xavier Jones

UFA: Malcolm Brown

Game plan: Akers emerged down the stretch as a feature back and is expected to maintain the role in 2021. "Cam hit his stride at the right moments," coach Sean McVay said. "I think he's an every-down back." Henderson will provide a change of pace when needed and Brown will test the market, but could return for a seventh season as an insurance policy.

WIDE RECEIVER

UFA: Josh Reynolds

Game plan: With the addition of Jefferson last season, Reynolds' time with the Rams appears to be over. Expect the lanky receiver, who is coming off a career-high 618 receiving-yard season, to sign elsewhere. The Rams must find a consistent deep-threat receiver who can stretch the field, which is something they've lacked since trading Brandin Cooks last offseason.

TIGHT END

Under contract: Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins

UFA: Gerald Everett

Game plan: The Rams did not need to select a tight end in last year's draft but couldn't resist picking Hopkins in the fourth round. Hopkins did not play on offense his rookie season but is expected to move into a role behind Higbee in 2021 with Everett likely to depart in free agency.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Under contract: Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Austin Corbett, Rob Havenstein, Joe Noteboom, Brian Allen, Bobby Evans, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., Chandler Brewer

UFA: Austin Blythe

Game plan: Blythe has proven his versatility since the Rams claimed him off waivers in 2017. He's started at guard and has solidified a role at center the last two seasons. With an unusual free agency market because of the salary-cap drop, Blythe could remain in the Rams' budget. "He's definitely somebody that we appreciate, we value," McVay said.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Under contract: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Greg Gaines, A'Shawn Robinson

UFA: Morgan Fox, Derek Rivers

Game plan: Donald, Brockers and Robinson account for three of the Rams' top 10 salary-cap numbers in 2021, so this is not a position where they will be able to spend a significant amount to retain or add any players. An undrafted free agent in 2016 from Colorado State-Pueblo, Fox is coming off a career-high six-sack season.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Under contract: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Terrell Lewis, Justin Hollins, Justin Lawler

UFA: Leonard Floyd, Samson Ebukam

Game plan: McVay said near the end of the season that Floyd was a player he wanted to return in free agency. But after a career-best season, the Rams will certainly face competition when Floyd tests the market. He tallied a career-best 10.5 sacks last season.

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Under contract: Micah Kiser, Kenny Young, Troy Reeder

UFA: none

Game plan: All inside linebackers remain under contract, with Travin Howard an exclusive rights free agent. Kiser, who was sidelined for five games last season because of a knee injury, is expected to remain a starter alongside Young.

CORNERBACK

Under contract: Jalen Ramsey, David Long Jr.

UFA: Troy Hill

Game plan: After intercepting three passes and scoring three defensive touchdowns last season, Hill proved himself as a playmaker and will test the market. The Rams will closely monitor Hill's situation in attempt to re-sign him. Darious Williams, a restricted free agent, is likely to be retained, while Long will be expected to step in if Hill departs.

SAFETY

Under contract: Terrell Burgess, Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp, Nick Scott, JuJu Hughes

UFA: John Johnson III

Game plan: Johnson played a key role in the secondary the last four seasons but is among the top free agents at his position. He would like to remain in L.A., but expect him to earn a significant payday elsewhere. In his absence, expect Fuller and Rapp, who dealt with ongoing injuries last season, to step up.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Under contract: K Matt Gay, P Johnny Hekker

UFA: LS Jake McQuaide

Game plan: The Rams signed longsnappers Colin Holba and Steven Wirtel to reserve/future contracts over the offseason with McQuaide, a nine-year pro, set for free agency.

This was a good interview about the Cardinals signing J.J. Watt and other NFL offseason nuggets.


Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/C2ZA4ydb-OE?t=2

I'm not talking about the best QB or the worst QB the Rams have had in its long history, because the subject of the thread is which QB have we dumped that we regretted? Either through great play with their next team or for some other reason....AND, Kurt Warner can't be a choice because that's too easy, you Warner honks! Also, no Jared Goff because we don't know what he will do yet in Detroit. Here are some ideas:

Roman Gabriel
Ron Jaworski
John Hadl
Vince Ferragamo
Pat Haden (for you den...lol)
Case Keenum
Nick Foles, Super Bowl Champion

My choice is Ron Jaworski due to opportunity. He was a really good QB that was over 6 ft tall in his prime when we had a great defense and running game. We had a chance to beat those other Super Bowl teams if he had better quarterbacking in 1977,1978 and who knows if Ferragamo beats him out in 1979....

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/1366815089655955459?s=21


Surprised he’s getting cut. Might be worth a look.

I am just putting it out there as the Ravens don’t have much leverage. I expect most here will say we don’t have the capital but pro bowl 24 Year old Tackles don’t become available often! Plug and play vs draft picks? At just over $3 Mil this season...

Whitworth will not be around for ever and counts heavily against the Cap. Love the guy, but just saying...


Orlando Brown?

La Canfora : Expect another wave of big-name trades

So much of the early offseason attention has been given to the quarterback trades that have already been agreed to, or those likely to be consummated at some point to come, that it seems to have obscured the rest of the trade market.

It's all Stafford or Goff or Wentz or Wilson or Rodgers or Watson. All the time. Throw in the second-franchise-tag dance the Cowboys are doing with Dak Prescott and the 49ers and Jets possibly waffling off their starting quarterback -- and the Raiders as well, should they be able to upgrade into Russell Wilson -- and it's enough to make you forget about other recent blockbusters that were not connected to the QB position at all: Khalil Mack, Laremy Tunsil, Jalen Ramsey and Amari Cooper, to name a few.

The trade market has been very fertile in recent years, and I'd anticipate that to remain the case beyond just the quarterbacks.

The Broncos have a serious decision to make about Von Miller, and while I would certainly execute that team option if I were them, it might very well be a precursor to a trade. Chandler Jones could perhaps become expendable in Arizona, particularly should the Cardinals opt to dig deep to keep Haason Reddick after his breakout season in 2020. There is always demand for pass rushers -- especially established ones -- and even if they are coming off an injury or having potential off-field issues, it won't quell interest.

It's hard not to wonder about multiple trades looming at the receiver spot as well. Everyone I am talking to anticipates Allen Robinson and Kenny Golladay getting tagged, leaving a potential void of top pass catchers (other wideouts could also get tagged). The Browns aren't putting out any vibes about dealing Odell Beckham Jr., but that doesn't mean someone can't make a phone call that results in a deal. We've certainly seen it before. Brandin Cooks hasn't been traded in a few months ... which means he is overdue, given the nature of his career. That $12M salary is steep, but if I were the Texans I would be all about adding draft picks. Does Michael Gallup have a real future in Dallas given all of the moves they have made at receiver in terms of trades, draft picks and contract extensions?

Most GMs have considered it a foregone conclusion that the Patriots would trade top corner Stephon Gilmore this offseason and I haven't heard anything about a contract extension, so a trade still seems like an eventuality. I've been talking about Bradley Roby as a potential trade chip since before the trade deadline, despite him only just getting to Houston, because of that team's quick collapse. Again, shed salary and add more desperately needed draft picks.

The Ravens already granted permission to Pro Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to pursue a trade last month, as we first reported. The Falcons need to shed salary and add picks just as badly as the Texans; perennial Pro Bowl center Alex Mack would be a solid starting point (I'd be marketing Julio Jones if I was them, but I don't get that vibe at all).

Will all of these guys get dealt? Of course not.

But a bunch of them very well could, and that is a pretty star-studded list. Trades are in the air, the lines of communication have long been open – as the completed trades already speak to – and it's not all that difficult to envision another wave of transactions going down right as the league year opens in a few weeks.

Another reason to think Watson may be Panthers-bound

I've already told you about the lengths Panthers owner David Tepper is willing to go to in an attempt to land Deshaun Watson from Houston. Nothing has changed with that whatsoever.

I did pick up another tidbit, however, that could further facilitate a blockbuster between these teams if/when the Texans face reality and come off their position on not dealing their quarterback. League sources said Texans executive Jack Easterby – whose influence and import in that organization has only growing the past six months despite whatever is said or written about him – has a very close relationship with Panthers exec Steven Drummond, who has risen in that organization to great heights since Tepper took over.

Sources said that Drummond was under consideration for the Texans team president opening before quickly getting promoted again by Tepper – from a senior communications position to senior advisor to chairman in early February. Both of these young fast-risers have their owner's ear in a way not too many in this industry do, and their working relationship is a dynamic to watch, should the Texans truly hold an auction for their star QB (which many around the NFL believe they will do at some point before the draft).

They might be able to get pretty creative and help each other out at the same time.

Has Brees changed his mind about retiring?

Could Drew Brees have thrown a curveball to everyone around him? After sending every signal that his retirement was imminent whenever the Saints season ended, might he have changed his mind? He certainly is entitled to it, but it begs the question – a la Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh – as to what his market would be, who would be interested, and at what price? Because New Orleans would by no means be a lock for him. There is serious interest in keeping Jameis Winston and the Saints are absolutely intrigued – to say the least – about a potential coupling with Russell Wilson, knowing it would be a minefield to navigate contractually given their serious salary cap issues. Bottom line is Brees has run out of steam and had difficulty executing and getting the ball downfield late in the past several seasons, and nothing lasts forever. Retirement still would seem to make the most sense, but of course, it's his call and his career and he's earned the right to try to go as long as he wishes.

Wondering about the Dolphins

Still trying to figure out exactly how the Dolphins dueling offensive coordinator thing is going to work out. Seems more complicated than it needs to be, and is wrought with potential issues.

Agent's Take: 2021 NFL offseason dates to know for free agency, contract options, franchise tags and more

Will the Cowboys tag Dak Prescott again by the March 9 deadline?
By Joel Corry

Here's a look at key offseason dates running through the first week of the 2021 league year, which begins on March 17. Some dates have league-wide importance.

Other dates can potentially affect specific player contracts and the salary cap of individual teams because they are crucial to the timing of contract restructures, pay cuts and players being released.

Notable players have been highlighted on the appropriate date with how the event is specified in their respective contracts. Less heralded players are only mentioned on dates without a lot of activity.

Feb. 23
(22nd day before start of 2021 League Year)

NFL: The 15-day period where teams can designate franchise or transition players begins.

March 9
(8 days prior to start of 2021 League Year)

NFL: The period for designating franchise or transition players ends at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

March 15-17
NFL: Teams are allowed to negotiate with the agents of prospective unrestricted free agents during a two-day period beginning March 15 at noon Eastern Time and ending at 4 p.m. ET on March 17.

In the two-day window, prospective unrestricted free agents can't visit teams or have direct contact with team employees, except those from their current clubs. A player's ability to re-sign with his current club isn't affected by the rule.

The negotiating period does not apply to unsigned players receiving restricted free agent, franchise or transition tenders.

March 17
(2020 League Year ends at 4 p.m. Eastern Time; first day of 2021 League Year begins)

NFL: The top 51 begins. Only the top 51 salaries (i.e.; cap numbers), including unsigned franchise, transition, restricted free agent and exclusive-rights tenders on a team count against the salary cap during the offseason.

All teams must be under the salary cap prior to 4 p.m. Eastern Time..

NFL: The 2021 League Year and free agency begin at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

NFL: The trading period begins at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

Lions-Rams: Trade between teams involving Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff becomes official.

March 18
(Day 2 of 2021 League Year)

Rams: Quarterback Jared Goff's fully guaranteed $2.5 million 2021 League Year roster bonus is due. He will be traded to the Lions when the 2021 League Year begins on March 17.


Agent's Take: 2021 NFL offseason dates to know for free agency, contract options, franchise tags and more - CBSSports.com