Just reported the cap minimum will be $180M (previously was set at $175M).

That’s just the minimum.

Report states that a cap maximum has yet to be announced.

Rams tenderfoot roster is surprisingly accomplished

The 2020 LA Rams roster was the third youngest in the NFL, or so says Philly voice writer Jimmy Kempski. In fact, thanks to his data table, we know that the average age of the Rams roster has consistently been among the youngest in the NFL. His data reflects the following:

Year Average Rams age Rank (Youngest =1, oldest = 32)
2016 25.0 1st
2017 25.1 2nd
2018 25.5 4th
2019 25.6 10th
2020 25.1 3rd

Is that a good thing? I guess it all depends upon what your expectations are, doesn’t it?

If you want a team that is competitively each year, then you are pleased with the Rams’ performances. After all, despite the abundance of youth, this team has been rather successful. And that may surprise some of the NFL ‘purists’ who would argue that young teams cannot win. And yet, with the exception of 2016, the Rams have powered their playoff runs with exactly that.

Youth.

But there is a condition of young play that the Rams have not been able to avoid. That is the inconsistency of play. Veterans play more consistently. Young players have better durability and heal more quickly, but you never can tell exactly what you get with a younger player. No matter how else you may view these LA Rams, there should be a consensus about the team’s ups and downs.

The Rams defeated the Seattle Seahawks in two of three encounters. The Rams swept the Arizona Cardinals. But these same Rams could not defeat a poor San Francisco 49ers team? The Rams went on the road and defeated an extremely talented Tampa Bay Buccaneers team. But could not defeat the winless New York Jets at home?

It’s youth. The simple fact that the LA Rams roster carries so many players who remain on their rookie contract. It’s simply the reality of betting on key veterans. There is little money left to fill the ranks. And so, the Rams load up on young and untested players.

The Rams may be going the other way. You see, they just became much older at the quarterback position. And with the team aiming at win-now, there is a stronger likelihood of the team adding more veterans than rookies this season. Will it work? The organization thinks that the team is within striking distance of a Super Bowl run. We’ll certainly find out this year, won’t we?

I don't want to type with my thumbs forever on a phone or ruin the.... there's a special word to say it's about unity and connection ROD fits right in the middle, the gel, the cohesion since 2010. Com-ROD-arie?

I'm your normal die hard Rams fan, ROD since...., educated, blah blah blah. Always been into JRE since 2010 WOW was that 'raw'-same with ROD. Dude has earned it all, and all of ROD and got them all on (Ex-St Louie Dispatch etc @-X- . Flip it Tim Pool many times on JRE. I've been a personal supporter of him, his normal peeps and guests. It's not a distraction for me rather a direct awakening to life outside my normal desk jockey 8-5. Just wanted to say I enjoy BOTH equally and dig Tim's exclusive members only content lately. Peace

Rams free agency search turns up 3 undervalued veteran centers

The LA Rams have a few large needs to fill, one of which is the offensive center. Should they chase that need in the draft? Or, would it be wiser to look to the NFL Free Agency market, so as to stretch the limited dollars the team has to spend?

More specifically, a replacement, a stand-in, is needed for fourth-year pro and offensive line anchor Andrew Blythe who appears likely to leave via free agency. Blythe was picked up off waivers in 2017 and has solidified a Rams offensive line that was recognized by Pro Football Focus last year as the third-ranked offensive line in the NFL.

The lynchpin, the fulcrum of that line has been Blythe who’s now appeared in 40 career regular-season games with 18 starts and started three-of-four postseason clashes. He’s been a versatile player for the Rams, someone who has started both at offensive guard and offensive guard for the Rams in the NFL playoffs. But his contract is up, and the price to resign an NFL starter for two different positions has likely grown beyond the Rams budget.

Can the Rams be so fortunate the second time around to find a center? Unless they re-sign Blythe, finding a new center should be an area of intense laser beam-like focus in the days leading up to March. We know that the Rams tried, and failed, to draft center Cesar Ruiz from the 2020 NFL Draft. He was ultimately drafted by the New Orleans Saints.

2021 NFL Draft?

Now, comes news today that the Rams have already held a pre-draft video session with Wisconsin-Whitewater center Quinn Meinerz, according to Justin Melo of The Draft Network.

The #Rams recently held a predraft meeting via Zoom with small school OL Quinn Meinerz. #NFLDraft

— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) February 16, 2021

So, we learn the Rams have one eyeball on the draft option for a new center. And we know from the Rams’ past drafting practices that they love to select players who perform well in the Senior Bowl. And he has an impressive workout video available too.

He has the versatility to push for consideration at the offensive center or guard positions in the NFL Draft. But the LA Rams will want an NFL center. Can he do it? Oh yeah… he’s NFL ready

Meinerz has seen his stock go up recently because of his solid performance at the Senior Bowl and elevated his name to more of a national stage. He’s a prospect who didn’t play in 2020 due to the cancellation of Division III football last season. Many scouts now peg him as a solid second or third-round pick come April, based on his dominating 2019 play.

With the other eyeball, the Rams must look to the free-agent wares. Fortunately, there’s a handful of veteran centers available on the free-agent market who represent solid value, solid bang for the buck, solid bargains.

Jaguars center

One such option is Jacksonville Jaguars center Tyler Shatley, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound iron man out of Clemson who played in all 16 games last season. Shatley can play all over the offensive line and it is his versatility that was not only his biggest asset but kept him active on game days. The Rams would do well to have such an insurance policy in place.

Now in his seventh season after first joining the club as an undrafted free agent in 2014, Shatley only had one false start penalty called on him all last year. He was signed to a one-year contract for $1.5 million last year and represents an affordable, cerebral veteran player for the Rams to consider.

Don’t let his price throw you. He scored a very impressive 67.7 score with Pro Football Focus for his 2020 performance. That caps a series of ever-improving scores for the NFL center. And he is at the cusp of showing up big in his NFL career.

The attraction of a versatile player, one who can play both center and guard offers offensive line coach Aaron Kromer plenty of options to mix-and-match and scheme depending on the opponent and the game plan.

Vikings center

And versatility is also what center Bret Jones of the Minnesota Vikings brings to the table as the 6-foot 2, 315-pound lineman has played both center and guard last year. Now in his seventh season, he’s also a veteran presence who was signed for a $910,000 contract last year.

The native of Saskatchewan, Canada, was signed by the New York Giants in 2015 after spending two seasons in the Canadian Football League. He was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie in 2013 with the Calgary Stampeders. And, in 2014 received the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award. He saw action in 15 games last season for the Vikes.

Curiously enough, he originally signed on with the New York Giants after the 2013 NFL Draft. Canadien by birth, when things did not work out he found his passion in his native homeland. He has not been a solid performer for two seasons until 2020 when everything came together for him in two games against the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.

He had great performances in both 2016 and 2017, and he was the starter for the Giants for 13 games that season. He struggled due to injury in 2019. In 2020, he spent most of the season on the Vikings practice squad but did an excellent job in two starts in 2022. Now, he is ready for a chance to compete for a starting role and will be an ideal player for Coach Kromer to coach up.

Patriots center

A third undervalued free-agent center option is James Ferentz of the New England Patriots. At 31 years of age, he’s now entering his fifth NFL season with stints at Houston (2014), Denver (2015-16), and New England (2017-19). The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder has played in 38 regular-season games with and four post-season games as a reserve.

Last season, Ferentz played in 15 regular-season games and made his first two career starts – one at guard and the other at the center position. That’s pretty impressive to a player who was signed to a one-year contract for the affordable sum of $825,000 last year.

While he has not had a season where an NFL team has entrusted him to start 16 regular-season games, he has plenty of NFL experience to make a great versatile backup for multiple positions. And Ferentz has a nasty blocking style and has shown the ability to take on defensive linemen with solid technique and cerebral play. (kinda what you’d expect from a Patriots lineman).

He’s a snarler, a gritty player who can infect his teammates with a determined scrappy attitude that is sometimes lost.

All three of our veteran free-agent offensive center options have that versatility going for them. While everyone is quick to jump on the draft bandwagon, the Rams would be wise to not overlook the value of adding a proven, savvy veteran at the offensive center. After all, that’s how they landed Blythe and that turned out pretty well.

Where Does Les Snead Stand With The Rams Going Into The 2021-2022 Season?

The man in charge of bandaging every issue for the Rams organization, general manager Les Snead, is looking at a difficult season bound to be full of speculation, doubt, and low confidence for their premier problem-solver. All on the heels of the 2020-21 season that was not a complete loss for the LA Rams but certainly felt like a missed opportunity.

Ending the season with the league’s top-ranked defense, and crippled by the inefficiencies of former Rams quarterback Jared Goff, produced a mixed outlook about the future of this team. Any confidence in the team’s plan moving forward rested on the elite defense after their tenure under rookie defensive coordinator Brandon Staley made the most noise toward the end of the season.

With the departure of the DC, who produced a truly A+ coaching job in his debut year, optimists don’t know where to look other than a rejuvenated offense in the hands of Sean McVay, as he works to incorporate an offense for new Rams quarterback, Matthew Stafford.

McVay should be slated to take over the team’s identity after relegating some of that proxy to Brandon Staley—now the head coach of the Chargers—meaning the higher-ups are not looking to get rid of McVay any time soon. Many speculate that the quick move off of Jared Goff was an outcry from McVay to receive a quarterback that lives up to the game plan’s execution, and if that does not work out then Snead is inevitably to blame.

In the Ram’s final game of the season against Green Bay, a second-round playoff loss, Goff’s shortcomings were on full display and made most evident even before the contest in his first-round benching in favor of John Wolford. McVay knew Goff was no longer serviceable to the team and inevitably puppeteered Les Snead into accepting an offer—as ludicrous as it might have been. He’s the organization’s top dog, meaning a list of people that would be ran out of town first exists, and Les Snead has a lottery pick for the top spot on that list.

Les Snead’s fingerprints have been all over the recent success of the Rams post-Jeff Fisher. While the heavily discussed GM deservedly should get an additional season or two to get LA back in contention for a deep playoff run, his role may be the next play for change in the organization. Goff took the first hit, and while the general fanbase believes that Matthew Stafford will be an improvement for the offense, the move still has room to backfire if the 33-year-old quarterback does not mesh with the system.

Reflected on the paybooks, the window of opportunity will be shrinking with a potential exodus of key talent—exemplified by the inability to pay standout safety John Johnson III, the first domino in the line of expiring contracts as Snead put the team nearly 27M over the cap.

What will also strain Les Snead in the offseason is how they will pay for players they want. While the Rams have notoriety as a team that pays a TON of money for their roster—one that may have a bubble-like demise with the loaded contracts—they have all felt like good signings at the time.

When Sean McVay transformed the offense to create a Super Bowl contending team, the skeleton of the defense led by Wade Phillips was a few players away from being a thriving unit for the team. In the offseason leading up to their path to the Super Bowl, Les Snead added veteran defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and cornerback Aqib Talib to complement the developing secondary and add to the pressure from the D-line to help Aaron Donald run down NFC West quarterbacks. The free agency decisions made by Snead upped the clout for the defense, and ultimately kept Tom Brady to his lowest scoring Super Bowl appearance.

Stan Kroenke’s decision to ditch Fisher and keep Snead displays the confidence shown in the GM, however, Kroenke will be needing nothing less than a championship to justify the large costs and anemic/non-existent selection of first-round talent through the draft in the coming years. The strenuous pressure may last all offseason for Les Snead, but with good odds of keeping the Rams on a firm path in tandem with Sean McVay, the level of brain trust can console the large majority of fans to believe their organization can hear the commotion and want to improve their team based on what people watch through their screens every Monday, Thursday, or Sunday.

Josh Reynolds steps up as No. 3 receiver | Free Agent Spotlight

A bigger role in the offense awaited wide receiver Josh Reynolds after the Rams traded Brandin Cooks to the Texans last spring. While Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp handled the bulk of the reps, Reynolds had been viewed by Los Angeles teammates and head coach Sean McVay as a third starter. Though Reynolds had a quiet 2017 rookie season, he emerged from it with 50 catches for 728 yards and six touchdowns over his next two.

In that expanded role in his fourth season, Reynolds posted 52 catches for 618 yards – both career-highs – plus two touchdowns while playing in all 16 regular season games for the fourth-straight year. Those 618 yards were third-most among Rams receivers in 2020. He also recorded at least four catches in seven of those 16 games.

However, with his rookie contract expiring, the former 2017 fourth-round pick is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 17.

So what's next for the Rams and Reynolds?

The Rams could re-sign the 6-foot-3, 196-pound receiver. If brought back, Reynolds would provide Los Angeles with an experienced and durable big-play threat – see his career average of 12.8 yards per reception through his first four seasons, and the 40-yard touchdown catch against the 49ers in Week 6 as examples. When knee bursitis prevented Kupp from playing in the divisional round of the playoffs against the packers, Reynolds caught three passes for 65 yards.

If Reynolds and the Rams decide to go in different directions, the Rams could turn to wide receiver Van Jefferson, whom they selected with the No. 57 overall pick acquired in the Cooks trade with the Texans last year, as a replacement. While Jefferson didn't get a ton of opportunities as a rookie, he showed flashes when afforded an expanded role of being a capable third option after Woods and Kupp. The Rams could also look for Reynolds' replacement through free agency or the draft.

Was going over player stats and where they stood among the rest of the league and was shocked to see Hekker's numbers. 24th in 2020. WTF? 16th in 2019. Top 5 for ten years before that. Loosing Bones the reason for the drop off? Hekker was not very good last season. Usually dependable for sticking teams inside the 10. He just didn't do that very often. Manybe some of you armchair QB's have some explanations.

Something like this?

https://www.foxnews.com/media/rush-limbaugh-dead-talk-radio-conservative-icon

Portion of the article

Rush Limbaugh, the monumentally influential media icon who transformed talk radio and politics in his decades behind the microphone, helping shape the modern-day Republican Party, died Wednesday morning at the age of 70 after a battle with lung cancer, his family announced.

Limbaugh's wife, Kathryn, made the announcement on his radio show. "Losing a loved one is terribly difficult, even more so when that loved one is larger than life," she said. "Rush will forever be the greatest of all time."

The radio icon learned he had Stage IV lung cancer in January 2020 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Trump at the State of the Union address days later. First lady Melania Trump then presented America’s highest civilian honor to Limbaugh in an emotional moment on the heels of his devastating cancer diagnosis.

Cydekikk on the Stl Today forum wants to join ROD but says his IP address is being blocked and doesn'tunderstand why ..

I've seen his post for years and imho he's never been a trouble maker. Ever.

Yes - just remember watching The Rams on game day reading the plays.

Great Game

Morgan Fox emerges as key piece to defensive line rotation | Free Agent Spotlight

Like some of his fellow teammates, Rams defensive lineman Morgan Fox put together the best season of his career statistically in 2020.

His 22 total tackles, six sacks and two pass breakups were all career-highs. He also added one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as he played in all 16 regular season games for the second-straight year.

However, perhaps the most obvious example of what he meant to the defensive line rotation was the vote of confidence he received from teammate and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, who in late December said Fox was capable of stepping up with Michael Brockers out for the regular season finale after landing on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

"We know that Fox is going to step up and continue to play at a high level, like he's been doing all year," Donald said leading into the Rams' Week 17 matchup against the Cardinals.

Fox followed that up with a season-high four total tackles and his third sack in four games to help the Rams clinch a playoff berth.

Now, after all of that cumulative production last season, the 26-year-old Fox is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 17.

So, what are the options for Fox and the Rams?

The Rams could re-sign Fox, bringing him back to play alongside Brockers, Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Greg Gaines and A'Shawn Robinson. Fox's return would help provide defensive line coach Eric Henderson and new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris with continuity and experience to work with up front. Fox also contributed on special teams as well.

If the two sides decide to go in a different direction, Los Angeles could look for Fox's replacement through this year's NFL Draft. Another possibility could be promoting and developing one of the defensive lineman it signed to a reserve/future contract this offseason – Eric Banks (6-foot-5, 274 pounds) and Jonah Williams (6-5, 275) both have a frame similar to Fox (6-3, 275).

While player development is important, Fox's important role as Brockers' backup helped the Rams not miss a beat in a critical game. Plus, given the uncertainty surrounding what the offseason will look like in terms of on-field workouts during organized team activities, Fox's experience would help minimize the impact of having to virtually install Morris' scheme should Los Angeles have to go that route. Between each of those factors, a return would benefit both Fox and the Rams.

We know this is going to be a different offseason but they’ll still do these zoom meetings. This particular one is for @jrry32

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Holy crap. Temps dipped as low as 12° , that I know of. Snow, ice.

I lost power about midnight Sunday/Monday morning and just got it back Tuesday about an hour ago. Needless to say I'm never taking power for granted again.

Also, I smell really bad after not bathing for 2 days.

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Rams have faired well 3 out of the last 4 years. Don't fret about not having firsts! We've got some bright minds driving the bus

As a forever SuperBowl NFL fan.

I propose these 2 questions. Will start with the first,and add the 2nd which is to a lesser degree.

Is Sean Mcvay The best coach ever?

Ram coach ever ?

3 ILBs the Rams can steal in NFL Free Agency market

There’s a general consensus, tinged with a bit of unease and uncertainty, amongst LA Rams fans about the linebacker corps. The team is extremely light at all of the linebacker positions, and perhaps none more so than an inside linebacker.

It’s a win-now mentality for the team right now. That places any thin roster depth and talent deficiencies for this team in the intensive care unit. Maybe this need will be addressed in the draft. But a more likely option might be found if the team were to scour the NFL Free Agency market with an eye toward securing a bargain veteran play at that position.

Are there any free-agent inside linebackers who represent good value at a nominal price? After all, the Rams are on a tight budget, so they need to be super-savvy shoppers. The Top-Tier linebackers are simply too pricey, given the Rams salary cap situation. And why pay a premium for performance that benefitted another team?

The Rams are much too savvy for that nonsense. Why pay a player for the hope of duplicating the production on the Rams roster? It’s far more sensible to seek a player who fits the job description but who has not yet hit their NFL stride. Then let the production flow on the football field in an LA Rams jersey.

It’s the risk of hitting on a player just about to break out or take a turn for the worse. You split the difference. Either you overpay, or you nail a great bargain. Sometimes the Rams can do all of their homework, and still not hit the mark. But eventually, the odds will produce a home-run. When that happens, the roster jumps from good to great. So how can the Rams make that happen? Here are some players worthy of auditioning

Patrick Onwuasor

Now, one player the Rams might take a flyer on (healthy only) is Patrick Onwuasor, most recently of the New York Jets. Although saying he played for the Jets last season is a bit of a stretch because he was injured for almost the entire season between, first, his knee and then hamstring issues. He only saw the field for one game, and that was on special teams.

After being moved from wide receiver to safety at Arizona, he played safety at Portland State and was an undrafted free agent of the Ravens who played his way onto the field as a linebacker because of his speed and overall athleticism.

He signed for $2 million last year with the Jets but was unable to prove his worth. So I’m thinking he’s got a lot of incentive this season to prove-out and might represent a steal for the Rams. Let’s not ignore that Aaron-Donald-Effect either.

When he’s healthy, however, this former Baltimore Raven plays with a vicious intensity that made him a favorite of both teammates and fans alike and represented the kind of aggressive, blue-collar player that Raven head coach Jim Harbaugh loved during his time with the team.

Nicknamed “Peanut” (a moniker hung on him by a youth basketball coach), as Onwuasor told the Baltimore Sun back in 2016, “When I was small, my coach said, ‘Who is this peanut-head dude running around so aggressive? That’s one thing my coaches like about me. I’m physical and I compete.”

Onwuasor is a bit on the small size for an NFL linebacker, standing 6-foot-0 and weighing 227 pounds. But he possesses that solid combination of skills you like to see at linebacker – a player who can rush the passer from the middle of the defense, step up to stuff the run, and excel in pass coverage.

That’s the trifecta of skills for an inside linebacker, and he checks all three boxes. He brings versatility, giving the Rams an option for the middle of the defense on passing downs. A thumper who can enforce in the middle of the field, or patrol from center-field.

Is he a gamble, a roll-of-the-dice based on his recent health and someone who missed an entire season? Yes, but that’s also why he’d be a bargain free-agent steal for the club. And an intriguing chess piece for the Rams’ new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to strategize with.

Neville Hewitt

There’s another Jets’ inside linebacker who was a veritable iron-man on the field for them last season, as he played in all 16 games and lead the team in tackles, with 91 of the solo variety, too. That’s Neville Hewitt, also a college safety-turned linebacker at the pro level.

Coming into the league with Miami, he joined the Jets ahead of the 2018 season and was thrust into the spotlight in 2020 when middle linebacker C.J. Moseley opted out of the season due to Covid.

But the Jets had a terrible defense? I do believe a strong case can be made that the Jets defense this year held up its end of the bargain. It was the putrid offense and an erratic quarterback named Sam Darnold who was out there “throwing to ghosts” (and players in the wrong jersey color) that was the problem.

Hewitt emerged a team leader on defense and always played every down with grit and determination, in what was surely a most-trying season for him to endure last year. Signed for $2 million, I’m thinking a change of scenery, and greener pastures playing on a better team might be a smart move.

He’s a 6-foot-2, 234-pound punisher in the middle. He’s a snarler, a rabid pitbull who sheds blockers and delivers punishment. More than one running back rubs his limbs and hits the ben-gay after tangling with Hewitt. Want physicality? Hewitt is the guy.

Not to mention, just about any linebacker worth their salts gets a step-up in basis when they play behind the likes of the NFC Defensive Player of the Year in Aaron Donald.

Josh Bynes

And my third bargain is the battle-tested veteran Josh Bynes, another ex-Raven linebacker, who most recently played for the Cincinnati Bengals where he also played in all 16 games and amassed 99 tackles.

Bynes had an under-the-radar good season on a bad Bengals team last year. Bynes very quietly had one of the strongest careers among active linebackers. His Pro Football Focus grade of 52.4 was simply a tough year for a really good player

He really stands out in pass coverage and is a sure tackler that represents great value on the free-agent market. He has consistently been highly rated throughout his career wherever he’s played, with earlier stops in Detroit and Arizona.

Bynes will likely always be remembered fondly in Baltimore for one particular tackle, however – when he made the final tackle against running back Ted Ginn Jr., just shy of the goal line to secure their 34-31 Super Bowl XLVII win. That was a singular play in Ravens lore, and he’s just the sort of veteran clutch player that would be a welcome addition to the Rams defense.

Signed for just $1.6 million last year, he’d be a bargain signing for a cash-strapped team in search of a veteran linebacking presence.

Who said the LA Rams can’t find talent for the heart of the defense. Here are three excellent options to sign to the team, and due to their relative anonymity, they should all be affordable options.

Cam Akers' second-half surge highlights Los Angeles Rams' promising 2020 rookie class

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- It was Week 13 when rookie running back Cam Akers found a rhythm, scoring a touchdown for a third consecutive game and helping deliver the Los Angeles Rams a key 38-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Stuck playing a role in a running back committee, Akers emerged that afternoon as a feature back with some sage advice: Running backs tend to find a better flow with more touches.

Rams coach Sean McVay must have been listening because moving forward it was Akers, a second-round pick from Florida State, who the offense relied on for some big backfield performances.

Akers wasn't the only rookie to emerge for the 10-6 Rams. Safety Jordan Fuller played a starring role in the secondary and receiver Van Jefferson stepped up in the postseason.

But it was the emergence of Akers, drafted to replace Todd Gurley II, that provides the most promise for an offense that must be more consistent in 2021 behind new quarterback Matthew Stafford.

"Probably about midseason, that's when I started to get a good grasp on the run concepts, what the coaches wanted," Akers said after the season. "I just kind of settled in, played football and it showed."

In a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 14, Akers rushed for 171 yards on 29 carries. He bested that in a 30-20 wild-card playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks, as he accumulated 176 all-purpose yards and scored a touchdown.

McVay said Akers emerged as a "big-time guy" over the last few weeks and that there are high expectations for him moving forward.

In 13 games, Akers rushed for 625 yards and two touchdowns on 145 carries and caught 11 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Here's a review of the rest of the Rams' 2020 draft class:

Round 2 (No. 57 overall) Van Jefferson, WR, Florida

Jefferson appeared on track to play a significant role in the offense after an outstanding training camp, but the rookie's opportunities were limited through 16 regular-season games, as he caught 19 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown.

However, in a divisional-round playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, Jefferson stepped up in Cooper Kupp's absence and caught six passes for 46 yards and a touchdown, providing a resounding reminder of his ability to be a playmaker going forward. "Van showed why the game's not too big for him," McVay said after the season. Watch for Jefferson to earn a starting role in 2021 with Josh Reynolds scheduled for free agency.

Round 3 (No. 84) Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama

Lewis has all the physical tools -- during training camp teammates marveled at his physical traits. However, Lewis' rookie season was plagued by injuries. First it was his knee, which many teams flagged ahead of the NFL draft, causing him to drop to the third round despite having first-round talent. Then, he had ankle issues. In all, Lewis appeared in eight games and recorded two sacks and eight tackles. If Lewis is able to remain healthy in 2021 -- a big question considering his injury history dating to college -- he has the opportunity to play a big role on the edge with outside linebackers Leonard Floyd and Samson Ebukam pending free agents.

Round 3 (No. 104) Terrell Burgess, S, Utah

Burgess earned a role on special teams at the outset of the season and his contributions on defense began to grow in Week 6. However, his season ended abruptly when he was carted off the field with a broken ankle in a 24-10 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 7. Watch for Burgess to play an increased role on defense next season, especially if safety John Johnson III leaves in free agency.

Round 4 (No. 136) Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue

After the 2020 draft, Rams general manager Les Snead said Hopkins could carve an early role, but also pointed out the strength of a tight end group that included Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett and Johnny Mundt, leaving open the expectation that Hopkins' biggest contributions could come in the seasons ahead. Hopkins appeared in five games on special teams but was otherwise inactive this season. With Everett scheduled for free agency in March, expect Hopkins to play an increased role in 2021.

Round 6 (No. 199) Jordan Fuller, S, Ohio State

Fuller was the surprise of the draft class. With returning safety Taylor Rapp sidelined for part of training camp because of an injury, Fuller took full advantage and earned the starting job in Week 1, when he made an outstanding play in the red zone to preserve a 20-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys. On Monday Night Football in Week 11, Fuller intercepted Tom Brady -- twice -- in a 27-24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 12 games (he missed time due to a shoulder injury), Fuller had three interceptions, five pass deflections and 60 tackles.

Round 7 (No. 234) Clay Johnston, ILB, Baylor

Johnston, remembered for talking too much during training camp on "Hard Knocks: Los Angeles", did not make the 53-man roster out of training camp. He was invited to sign with the practice squad but opted to join the practice squad with the Carolina Panthers, where his father was the Panthers' director of wellness.

Round 7 (No. 248) Sam Sloman, K, Miami (Ohio)

2020 was a kicking odyssey for the Rams, starting with Sloman, who earned the starting job out of training camp but was waived after Week 7 because of inconsistency. He was 8-of-11 on field goal attempts, 18-of-21 on extra points and unable to consistently deliver on kickoffs. Veteran Kai Forbath replaced Sloman, but only for two games after he fared no better and went to injured reserve because of an ankle injury. The Rams signed Matt Gay off the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad. He settled in after a bumpy start to connect on 14-of-16 field goal attempts, all 16 of his extra points and will be the kicker going forward.

Round 7 (No. 250) Tremayne Anchrum Jr., OG, Clemson

Anchrum made the 53-man roster out of training camp and played in 12 games on special teams. Center Austin Blythe is the only pending free agent, so it's unlikely Anchrum will play a role on offense in 2021.

Screw it... It’s another uniform thread...

Many fashion divas here... @Loyal likes to wear feathers, for example. And, if I recall @Dodgersrf collects discarded used clothing of the celebrities.

Anyways... I am curious what UNIFORM “things” we see for 2021? The Rams have teased of a tweak, or variant.




Keeping this topic focused on Uniforms (not logos)... after experiencing a season of them...

See poll above. What changes do you want to see?

Unlimited choice in the poll.

I‘m not sure all the required approvals for tweaks, so we are not likely able to change much due to league rules.... but let’s assume you can change whatever you want. That’s more so the exercise of this poll.

After a season of these uniforms.... NOW what do you think?

I am intrigued by the annual update the Rams seem to be introducing.

2021 NFL Draft: PFF's (Top 300) Big Board

The 2020 college football season is not one that will soon be forgotten. In fact, it will easily go down as one of the most unusual on record. But now it’s NFL draft season.

With the 2021 NFL Scouting Combine and pro days once again threatened, there will be more uncertainty than any recent year. Let’s let the tape remain king as we unveil PFF’s postseason top 300.


QB TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
Three straight seasons of grades over 90.0. What sets Lawrence apart in a loaded quarterback class is how quickly he sees the game. He is the only quarterback who has played 200 snaps against the blitz over the last three years and has graded over 90.0 on those snaps.

QB ZACH WILSON, BYU
Wilson possesses special arm talent and performed at an equally special level this past season. His lowest grade of the season still came in at 76.1.

QB JUSTIN FIELDS, OHIO STATE
Fields has had his hiccups this year, but don’t let that make you think he’s not an elite prospect in his own right. His blend of accuracy, arm talent and running ability doesn’t come along every year.

OT PENEI SEWELL, OREGON
At 19 years old, Sewell had the single highest graded season we’ve ever seen from a Power 5 offensive tackle. Who knows what he could become when his body is fully developed?

WR JA'MARR CHASE, LSU
Chase did what DeVonta Smith did this year at 19 years old, and he was doing it against guys like A.J. Terrell and Trevon Diggs, who are currently the best starters on their respective teams. His 24 deep catches that year is still the most we’ve seen in a single season.

LB MICAH PARSONS, PENN STATE
The Penn State linebacker earned the second-highest run-defense grade we’ve ever given to a true sophomore. What the 240-plus-pounder can do as a blitzer is going to be a weapon in the NFL.

WR JAYLEN WADDLE, ALABAMA
The “other” Alabama receiver is a freak athlete in his own right. If you extrapolated his four games out to a full season, he’d have gone for 75 catches, 1,671 yards and 12 scores.

WR DEVONTA SMITH, ALABAMA
The Heisman Trophy winner. People will point to his frame and weight (175 pounds), but until someone can give me some examples on tape of it being an issue, I’m not too worried.

TE KYLE PITTS, FLORIDA
I’m no fan of drafting tight ends early, but calling Pitts a tight end is selling him short. If he were solely a receiver, Pitts would be in this range because of his ability to beat one-on-one coverage.

QB TREY LANCE, NORTH DAKOTA STATE
The tools are prodigious. Offensive coordinators must salivate watching him flick it 60-plus yards downfield one play then outrun a safety on the next. But with just one season in a run-heavy offense against FCS competition, Lance is still a massive project as a passer.

EDGE KWITY PAYE, MICHIGAN
Paye has everything you could want physically to be an every-down problem in the NFL. While he never put it altogether at Michigan, he’s shown he can take to coaching and has made strides every single year.

OT RASHAWN SLATER, NORTHWESTERN
Slater allowed all of five pressures back in 2019 before opting out in 2020. At only 6-foot-3, he may get stuck inside, but we think he’s more than athletic enough to hang on the edge.

CB CALEB FARLEY, VIRGINIA TECH
He’s got the size and speed part of the position down pat and was pretty darn good at the coverage part when we last saw him in 2019. He allowed a passer rating of only 26.8 that season.

DI CHRISTIAN BARMORE, ALABAMA
After a slow start to the season, Barmore turned it on at the end of the year. His performances against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff Semifinal and against Ohio State in the National Championship were two of the most impressive we saw from a defensive tackle all season.

OT CHRISTIAN DARRISAW, VIRGINIA TECH
Darrisaw turned in the second-highest-graded season from a Power 5 tackle in a massive breakout 2020 season. He’s an easy people-mover that few are going through.

CB PATRICK SURTAIN, ALABAMA
You won’t find a better combination of size, length and technique in the draft. All Surtain doesn’t have is the high-end speed you’d like when drafting a corner early.

S TREVON MOEHRIG, TCU
At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Moehrig has a lot of prototypical physical tools for the position, and they’ve translated to the field. He led all college safeties in pass breakups in each of the past two seasons.

WR RASHOD BATEMAN, MINNESOTA
Bateman can get off the line of scrimmage with ease then beat you with either his shake or his size. One of the best route-runners in college football, Bateman led the country in yards per route run from an outside alignment as a sophomore in 2019.

LB JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH, NOTRE DAME
The Butkus Award winner for the nation’s best linebacker. JOK has elite short-area quicks for a linebacker, and while 215 pounds may seem tiny, it’s the same weight that Darius Leonard played at this season for the Colts.

EDGE JAYSON OWEH, PENN STATE
Oweh can do things physically that other edge rushers can only dream of. With reported 4.3 speed, he can play both ends of an option play with ease. The Penn State product took a massive step forward this season as a run defender in his first season as a starter, earning an 89.8 grade in the process.

WR RONDALE MOORE, PURDUE
Moore never got a chance to prove that he can win as an outside receiver, but he’s shown more than enough from the slot to be a first-rounder. He led all receivers in broken tackles as a freshman in 2018.

LB NICK BOLTON, MISSOURI
Bolton won’t tick every box physically, but this is a guy you want in the middle of your defense. He led the SEC in defensive stops in each of the past two seasons.

EDGE GREGORY ROUSSEAU, MIAMI (FL.)
Yet another opt-out. Rousseau has the tools to be a top-five pick, but it’s hard to bank on him after only one year of college football. His absurd length and versatility will be a selling point for teams.

CB JAYCEE HORN, SOUTH CAROLINA
Horn has the athleticism and mindset of a man corner at the NFL level — he’s not going to back down from anyone. He allowed only eight catches from 24 targets for 116 yards across seven games this year.

EDGE AZEEZ OJULARI, GEORGIA
Ojulari was one of the biggest risers with his play in 2020. He’s the best pure speed rusher in the class and will threaten the edge against even the most athletic tackles in the league. He finished his redshirt sophomore season with a 91.7 pass-rushing grade.

OT TEVEN JENKINS, OKLAHOMA STATE
Jenkins was a full-grown man on the right side for the Cowboys. You won’t have to watch too many plays before finding a rep of him putting a defender in the turf. He allowed only four pressures on 211 pass-blocking snaps this season.

WR ELIJAH MOORE, OLE MISS
Moore became the focal point of Lane Kiffin's offense this past season and hauled in 1,193 yards in only eight games. He's an elite all-around athlete who could run any route asked of him from the slot at a high level. And from the handful of reps we did see from him on the outside, I'd be willing to dabble with him there in the league, as well.

EDGE JAELAN PHILLIPS, MIAMI (FL.)
Phillips' injury history will have to be thoroughly vetted, as he retired from the game altogether in 2018 due to concussions. Healthy and on a Miami line that allowed him the freedom to attack, Phillips showed why he was once a five-star recruit. He racked up 36 pressures over his final seven games.

CB ASANTE SAMUEL JR., FLORIDA ST.
Samuel was arguably college football's smoothest athlete at the position. He allowed only 179 yards in eight games and allowed a passer rating of only 46.2.

IOL ALIJAH VERA TUCKER, USC
Vera-Tucker’s quality play at tackle this past season made us feel even better about him on the inside. He earned an 81.8 overall grade and showed some fantastic ability to play in space.

LB ZAVEN COLLINS, TULSA
At 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, Collins isn’t your typical off-ball linebacker prospect. He dominates backs in blitz pickup and can chase them down in space, as well. His 91.1 overall grade this past season led all linebackers in college football.

WR KADARIUS TONEY, FLORIDA
He’s neck and neck with the man two spots down from him on this list when it comes to owning the title of “the most dangerous player in the draft with the ball in his hands.” Toney's balance, flexibility and explosion are exceptional. He’s broken 32 tackles on 80 catches over the past two seasons.

QB MAC JONES, ALABAMA
There’s not one play or throw from Jones that will make you go “wow,” but play in and play out he’ll get the ball where it needs to go on time. While not super toolsy, his command of the offense and position is impressive.

OT DILLON RADUNZ, NDSU
Radunz tore his ACL early in his redshirt freshman campaign in 2017. He started every game for the Bison since then, with 24 career pressures allowed on 715 pass-blocking snaps. Radunz is undersized at his listed 299 pounds, and it's worrisome that it already showed up on tape against FCS competition. He doesn't have a naturally large frame and arrived at North Dakota State at only 265 pounds. If he can continue to fill out, Radunz has shown the explosiveness and agility to be a starting-caliber NFL tackle.

IOL WYATT DAVIS, OHIO STATE
Davis hasn’t been quite as consistent in 2020 as he was in 2019, but the talent is obviously still there. He’s allowed four sacks and hits combined over the past two seasons.

OT SAMUEL COSMI, TEXAS
Cosmi has been one of the most tested tackles in the country and has improved every single year of his career. He allowed all of eight pressures on 368 pass-blocking snaps this past season.

OT ALEX LEATHERWOOD, ALABAMA
Leatherwood is one of the best run-blockers in the country but still gives up the edge too much to be considered a first-rounder. He allowed 15 pressures this year after only allowing 10 in 2019.

EDGE CARLOS BASHAM JR., WAKE FOREST
Basham had a bit of a down year, but he notched 112 pressures in the two seasons prior. He’s a burly 285-pound edge who should be a pocket-pusher for years to come.

RB TRAVIS ETIENNE, CLEMSON
Etienne didn’t have his best season on the ground but reinvented himself as a vertical receiver. His 90.9 receiving grade and 588 receiving yards led all FBS running backs.

OT WALKER LITTLE, STANFORD
Little has played all of one game since 2018. There’s no reason why he couldn’t be a quality NFL tackle, given his physical tools, but he’s so far removed from playing the game that it’s difficult to assess.

TE PAT FREIERMUTH, PENN STATE
Freiermuth isn’t your dynamic field-stretcher, but he should dominate the middle of the field with his size and ball skills. He was a focal point of the Penn State offense in his four games this season, recording 23 catches on 37 targets for 310 yards.

S AR'DARIUS WASHINGTON, TCU
At 5-foot-8, 179 pounds, Washington is not going to fit your prototype at the position. Still, he’s the most instinctive safety in the entire draft class. He allowed all of 157 yards in his coverage over two seasons as a starter.

IOL LANDON DICKERSON, ALABAMA
The ACL tear Dickerson suffered in the SEC title game, along with past injury history, will scare teams off. His tape was as dominant as we've seen at the center position this past year, though. He earned a 91.3 overall grade.

QB KYLE TRASK, FLORIDA
The stats are out of this world, but the two men from Florida above Trask on this list are a big reason why. His relative lack of production outside the pocket and his performance against Oklahoma in the bowl game will be big knocks on him.

LB JABRIL COX, LSU
Across two different schools/schemes and one week of practice at the Senior Bowl, Cox has proven one thing wholesale: the man can cover. He was the only linebacker to break up multiple passes in the one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl, and he had four throughout the week.

WR TERRACE MARSHALL, LSU
A massive catch radius combined with legit speed is a recipe for success. He's still skinny but is also still young at only 20 years old.

DI ALIM MCNEIL, N.C. STATE
McNeil has the potential to be the holy grail — a nose tackle who can rush the passer. He’s got one of the best first steps in the entire draft class, even though he weighs 320 pounds. He earned grades of 80.8 and 77.5 as a pass-rusher the past two seasons — mostly from a true 0-tech alignment.

OT JACKSON CARMAN, CLEMSON
While Carman has been a bit up and down over the past two seasons, evaluators will keep coming back to his tape against Ohio State this year. On 49 pass-blocking snaps — most coming when Clemson obviously had to pass in the second half — against two NFL-caliber defensive ends, Carman allowed all of one pressure.

S ELIJAH MOLDEN, WASHINGTON
Molden is another guy who won’t win any weigh-in but has the type of game that’s difficult to poke holes in. He allowed only 11 catches for 65 yards across 18 targets in four games this past season.

S RICHIE GRANT, UCF
There may not be that one thing Grant is elite at, but at the same time, there are almost no weaknesses go his game. He's lined up everywhere imaginable in UCF's defense and continued to produce.

CB TAY GOWAN, UCF
Gowan is a speedster with the height and length to challenge taller wide receivers. That gives you a lot of room for error at the cornerback position. Not that he made many of those in 2019 before opting out, as he allowed only 20 catches from 50 targets for 274 yards all season.

CB TYSON CAMPBELL, GEORGIA
Campbell is an ultra-smooth athlete who is still only scratching the surface of what he could be. Zone teams will love the fact that he’s missed only six tackles on 99 attempts in his career.

WR DYAMI BROWN, NORTH CAROLINA
Brown was primarily a deep threat in North Carolina's offense. His 18.4-yard average depth of target was the second-highest among Power 5 receivers. Don't let that fool you, though, as he's got the route-running chops to be far more than a one-trick pony.

OT LIAM EICHENBERG, NOTRE DAME
Eichenberg is such a clean tackle prospect. He allowed only 27 total pressures and no sacks over the past two seasons.

CB AARON ROBINSON, UCF
Robinson was a bully in the slot over his career at UCF. The way UCF played him there shouldn't worry many about him transitioning to outside corner, as he took 177 snaps in press coverage this past season — a very high number from the slot.

S JEVON HOLLAND, OREGON
All Holland did was produce, whether it was as a safety (freshman year) or slot corner (sophomore year). Before opting out, Holland collected 11 pass breakups and nine picks at Oregon.

EDGE PAYTON TURNER, HOUSTON
Turner has an ideal edge build and the physicality to boot. He was pretty much unblockable in the four games before getting hurt in 2020, earning a 90.0 pass-rushing grade.

RB JAVONTE WILLIAMS, NORTH CAROLINA
Williams is fresh off the single most impressive tackle-breaking season we've ever graded. He broke 76 tackles on only 157 attempts for the Tar Heels.

S ANDRE CISCO, SYRACUSE
Cisco is a straight-up roller coaster at the safety position. With 4.3 speed, Cisco notched 26 combined picks and pass breakups in 24 career games. He also gave up six touchdowns in nine games in 2019 before tearing his ACL two games into 2020.

CB GREG NEWSOME, NORTHWESTERN
Newsome looked like a different player on the 387 snaps we saw from him as a junior in 2020. He only allowed 12 catches from 34 targets for 93 yards all season.

EDGE RONNIE PERKINS, OKLAHOMA
Perkins is the only edge in the class who can boast a run-defense and pass-rushing grade over 90.0 this past season. He's a speed-rusher that recorded four-plus pressures in each of his final five games this season.

LB JUSTIN HILLIARD, OHIO STATE
Hilliard never played more than 231 snaps in a season for the Buckeyes, but he never played bad football for them, either. He earned an 82.3 overall grade on 494 career snaps.

DI MARVIN WILSON, FLORIDA STATE
Wilson was not the same player we saw in 2019 this past season after dropping weight to 305 pounds. He's just not much of an athlete for the position, but the guy who earned a 90.7 overall grade back in 2019 is still there somewhere.

CB IFEATU MELIFONWU, SYRACUSE
Melifonwu has some freaky tools for a corner who stands 6-foot-3, 213 pounds. He never earned lower than a 74.1 coverage grade in three years of playing time.

EDGE JOSEPH OSSAI, TEXAS
Ossai flourished in his first year as an every-down pass-rusher in 2020. He earned an 80.5 pass-rushing grade and an 81.1 run-defense grade across 588 snaps in nine games.

DI DAVIYON NIXON, IOWA
Nixon started the season like a house on fire, with seven pressures against Purdue then 10 stops against Northwestern. His tape toward the end of the year didn't come close to matching that effectiveness, however.

RB NAJEE HARRIS, ALABAMA
Harris has some of the best ball skills you'll ever see from a running back, with three drops on 83 catchable passes over his career. He's got bell-cow written all over him.

S PARIS FORD, PITTSBURGH
Ford is a tad undersized for a safety, but he consistently plays bigger than the 190 pounds he's listed at. He's a converted corner with six picks and nine pass breakups in two years at safety.

IOL CREED HUMPHREY, OKLAHOMA
Humphrey is one of the most proven centers in the country, with over 2,400 career snaps and three straight quality seasons to his name. He's got the size to play anywhere on the interior.

OT JALEN MAYFIELD, MICHIGAN
Mayfield was a tackle at Michigan but is a likely candidate to kick inside to guard in the NFL. He's one of the most explosive linemen in the class.

WR TYLAN WALLACE, OKLAHOMA ST.
Wallace's career production is second to none in the class. He's averaged over 100 yards a game since the start of 2018. He's got track speed and has consistently produced downfield.

RB MICHAEL CARTER, NORTH CAROLINA
Carter is fresh off a dominant 2020 season that showed a complete skill set despite being listed at only 199 pounds. His biggest selling point may be what he can do as a receiver after gaining 267 yards on 25 receptions this past season.

DI TYLER SHELVIN, LSU
Shelvin is a sure thing in the run game as long as he can keep his weight under control. He earned an 88.3 run-defense grade as a redshirt sophomore for the national champs in 2019 before opting out this past year.

CB ERIC STOKES, GEORGIA
Stokes now has three seasons of quality tape. For his career, Stokes has allowed only a 53.4% completion percentage in his coverage.

DI OSA ODIGHIZUWA, UCLA
Odighizuwa is on the smaller side for a defensive tackle, but don't let that fool you into thinking he won't hold up against the run. He's been as stout as it gets in that regard for three straight seasons as a starter.

DI LEVI ONWUZURIKE, WASHINGTON
Onwuzurike has the first-step quicks to be a difference-maker at the position, but we never quite saw him put it all together. He earned an 82.5 grade his final season for the Huskies in 2019 before opting out.

OT JAMES HUDSON, CINCINNATI
Hudson only has one year as a starter under his belt, but he routinely flashed high-end traits. He helped his cause out with an impressive Senior Bowl week, as well.

DI TOMMY TOGIAI, OHIO STATE
Togiai only has seven games as a starter under his belt, but that's how impressive they were. He averaged over three pressures a game this past season and took over in the run game against Clemson in the playoff.

RB KENNETH GAINWELL, MEMPHIS
Gainwell is an exceptional receiver who could probably play the slot full-time if he wanted to. He had over 200 yards against Tulane in 2019 and opted out in 2020.

EDGE DAYO ODEYINGBO, VANDERBILT
Odeyingbo is one of the most versatile defensive linemen in the class, with a body type and quicks to win from anywhere. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles in January.

S JAMIEN SHERWOOD, AUBURN
Sherwood is a big, explosive safety who will be coveted by man-coverage teams. At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he can line up just about anywhere.

CB THOMAS GRAHAM JR., OREGON
Graham was a three-year starter before opting out in 2020. He doesn't have high-end athletic traits, but he held up as well as any corner in the one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl.

WR CADE JOHNSON, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Johnson dominated FCS competition for multiple seasons before 2020 got canceled. He proved it was no fluke by earning the highest grade of any receiver in the one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl.

EDGE RASHAD WEAVER, PITTSBURGH
Weaver is a big, long, NFL-ready edge. He's a limited athlete but wins with his hands and play strength.

LB JAMIN DAVIS, KENTUCKY
Davis is a bit of a one-year wonder, but he's got the length and athleticism that are coveted at the position. He racked up 36 stops in 10 games this past season.

EDGE JOE TRYON, WASHINGTON
Tryon is a long, explosive edge who never quite put it all together before opting out in 2020. He only earned a 71.9 pass-rushing grade back in 2019.

WR JAELON DARDEN, NORTH TEXAS
Darden is a jitterbug slot receiver at 5-foot-9, 174 pounds. He racked up big play after big play in 2020, with 19 scores on 74 catches. Good luck even touching him in space.

CB SHAKUR BROWN, MICHIGAN STATE
Brown burst onto the scene with a number of awe-inspiring interceptions this past season. He is a playmaker with seven picks on only 79 career targets.

LB CHAZZ SURRATT, NORTH CAROLINA
Surratt is a weapon as a blitzer and plays with an uncoachable recklessness into contact. He's still a project in the run game, though, after switching to linebacker in 2019.

IOL BEN CLEVELAND, GEORGIA
Cleveland has quite the proven history in pass protection. Over the past three years, he's allowed only 13 pressures on 606 pass-blocking snaps. He's an enormous human being who tipped the scales at 354 pounds at the Senior Bowl.

CB BENJAMIN ST-JUSTE, MINNESOTA
St-Juste has the size and length profile certain schemes will love with an over 80-inch wingspan. He was also the highest-graded cornerback in the one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl.

EDGE CAMERON SAMPLE, TULANE
Sample has inside-outside versatility at 6-foot-3, 280 pounds. He's a power player who can win with his hands and earned a 90.4 pass-rushing grade in 2020.

CB RACHAD WILDGOOSE, WISCONSIN
Wildgoose has man-coverage movement skills and athleticism. He was just in a zone-heavy scheme manning the slot at Wisconsin.

RB KHALIL HERBERT, VIRGINIA TECH
Herbert was a man possessed in 2020, averaging 4.7 yards after contact per attempt for the Hokies. He's built low to the earth and is one of the best tackle-breakers in the class.

TE BREVIN JORDAN, MIAMI (FL.)
Jordan is a dynamic threat with the ball in his hands, but it far from a nuanced route-runner or inline blocker. He broke 21 tackles on 105 catches in his Miami career.

CB TRE BROWN, OKLAHOMA
Brown may be short at 5-foot-9, but he's got the speed and physicality to make up for it. He allowed only 21 catches on 44 targets for 266 yards in 2020.

S HAMSAH NASIRILDEEN, FLORIDA STATE
Nasirildeen has great size for the position at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. He's just not particularly explosive. He's a smooth zone defender that's been a terrific tackler in his career.

RB DEMETRIC FELTON, UCLA
Felton is a running back-receiver hybrid that can be a mismatch nightmare for defenses. He ran with the wide receivers at the Senior Bowl and didn't look out of place.

QB DAVIS MILLS, STANFORD
Mills has only 10 career starts to his name but already showed a lot of NFL-translatable skills. He gets the ball out of his hands quickly with a 2.43-second average time to throw for his career.

WR AMON-RA ST. BROWN, USC
St. Brown had a lackluster junior year when asked to play outside full-time. He's got good ball skills and is tough after the catch, but he struggled to separate deep consistently.

101 through 300

TE TOMMY TREMBLE, NOTRE DAME
WR SAGE SURRATT, WAKE FOREST
S CHRISTIAN UPHOFF, ILLINOIS STATE
EDGE JORDAN SMITH, UAB
OT D'ANTE SMITH, ECU
LB MONTY RICE, GEORGIA
IOL QUINN MEINERZ, WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER
CB KELVIN JOSEPH, KENTUCKY
WR SETH WILLIAMS, AUBURN
EDGE QUINCEY ROCHE, MIAMI (FL)
CB RODARIUS WILLIAMS, OKLAHOMA STATE
IOL KENDRICK GREEN, ILLINOIS
WR TUTU ATWELL, LOUISVILLE
LB DYLAN MOSES, ALABAMA

WR CORNELL POWELL, CLEMSON
LB PETE WERNER, OHIO STATE
IOL DEONTE BROWN, ALABAMA
QB JAMIE NEWMAN, GEORGIA
IOL TREY SMITH, TENNESSEE
CB AMBRY THOMAS, MICHIGAN
CB SHAUN WADE, OHIO STATE
LB CAMERON MCGRONE, MICHIGAN
OT ROBERT HAINSEY, NOTRE DAME
LB BARON BROWNING, OHIO STATE
DI JAY TUFELE, USC
DI BOBBY BROWN, TEXAS A&M
S TRILL WILLIAMS, SYRACUSE
S RICHARD LECOUNTE III, GEORGIA

DI MARLON TUIPULOTU, USC
IOL ROBERT JONES, MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
QB KELLEN MOND, TEXAS A&M
S DIVINE DEABLO, VIRGINIA TECH
OT SPENCER BROWN, NORTHERN IOWA
EDGE JOSHUA KAINDOH, FLORIDA ST.
CB KARY VINCENT JR., LSU
WR SIMI FEHOKO, STANFORD
EDGE PATRICK JONES II, PITTSBURGH
CB CAMRYN BYNUM, CALIFORNIA
EDGE DEANGELO MALONE, WESTERN KENTUCKY
EDGE ELERSON SMITH, NORTHERN IOWA
IOL JOSH MYERS, OHIO STATE
IOL DRAKE JACKSON, KENTUCKY
WR NICO COLLINS, MICHIGAN

RB CHUBBA HUBBARD, OKLAHOMA STATE
EDGE CHRIS RUMPH II, DUKE
RB TREY SERMON, OHIO STATE
WR AMARI RODGERS, CLEMSON
S TALANOA HUFANGA, USC
TE HUNTER LONG, BOSTON COLLEGE
OT BRADY CHRISTENSEN, BYU
EDGE PATRICK JOHNSON, TULANE
WR K.J. STEPHERSON, JACKSONVILLE STATE
S JAMES WIGGINS, CINCINNATI
DI JALEN TWYMAN, PITTSBURGH
S TYREE GILLESPIE, MISSOURI
DI MILTON WILLIAMS, LOUISIANA TECH
CB ISRAEL MUKUAMU, SOUTH CAROLINA
WR JONATHAN ADAMS, ARKANSAS STATE

DI KOBIE WHITESIDE, MISSOURI
CB PAULSON ADEBO, STANFORD
CB DEOMMODORE LENOIR, OREGON
RB KYLIN HILL, MISSISSIPPI STATE
EDGE CHAUNCEY GOLSTON, IOWA
RB RHAMONDRE STEVENSON, OKLAHOMA
WR DAZZ NEWSOME, NORTH CAROLINA
WR SHI SMITH, SOUTH CAROLINA
CB ROBERT ROCHELL, CENTRAL ARKANSAS
DI DARIUS STILLS, WEST VIRGINIA
S DAMAR HAMLIN, PITTSBURGH
WR ANTHONY SCHWARTZ, AUBURN
EDGE MALIK HERRING, GEORGIA
LB K.J. BRITT, AUBURN
EDGE ADETOKUNBO OGUNDEJI, NOTRE DAME

S CADEN STERNS, TEXAS
LB GARRET WALLOW, TCU
OT BRENDEN JAIMES, NEBRASKA
LB RILEY COLE, SOUTH ALABAMA
EDGE JONATHAN COOPER, OHIO STATE
EDGE DAELIN HAYES, NOTRE DAME
IOL SADARIUS HUTCHERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA
LB CHARLES SNOWDEN, VIRGINIA
TE TONY POLJAN, VIRGINIA
OT LARRY BOROM, MISSOURI
EDGE HAMILCAR RASHED JR., OREGON STATE
WR TAMORRION TERRY, BUFFALO
RB JARET PATTERSON, FLORIDA ST.
S REED BLANKENSHIP, MEMPHIS
QB SHANE BUECHELE, SMU

CB MARCO WILSON, FLORIDA
QB SAM EHLINGER, TEXAS
QB FELEIPE FRANKS, ARKANSAS
WR D'WAYNE ESKRIDGE, WESTERN MICHIGAN
IOL TOMMY KRAEMER, NOTRE DAME
WR AUSTIN WATKINS, UAB
LB ERNEST JONES, SOUTH CAROLINA
TE KYLE GRANSON, SMU
OT ALARIC JACKSON, IOWA
S AASHARI CROSSWELL, ARIZONA STATE
OT COLE VAN LANEN, WISCONSIN
S TARIQ THOMPSON, SAN DIEGO STATE
RB JAVIAN HAWKINS, LOUISVILLE
WR WARREN JACKSON, COLORADO STATE
EDGE VICTOR DIMUKEJE, DUKE

WR WHOP PHILYOR, INDIANA
TE PEYTON HENDERSHOT, INDIANA
IOL JACK ANDERSON, TEXAS TECH
RB C.J. VERDELL, OREGON
RB ELIJAH MITCHELL, LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE
RB LARRY ROUNTREE III, MISSOURI
RB POOKA WILLIAMS, KANSAS
WR MARQUEZ STEVENSON, HOUSTON
WR TREVON GRIMES, FLORIDA
WR JOSH PALMER, TENNESSEE
IOL MICHAEL MENET, PENN STATE
TE TRE' MCKITTY, GEORGIA
EDGE TARON JACKSON, COASTAL CAROLINA
EDGE RAYMOND JOHNSON, GEORGIA SOUTHERN
EDGE DEMETRIUS TAYLOR, APPALACHIAN STATE

DI O'BRYAN GOODSON, MEMPHIS
DI LOGAN HALL, HOUSTON
DI QUINTON BOHANNA, KENTUCKY
WR FRANK DARBY, ARIZONA STATE
S BRADY BREEZE, OREGON
CB SHEMAR JEAN-CHARLES, APPALACHIAN STATE
CB JOSH JOBE, ALABAMA
S TRE NORWOOD, OKLAHOMA
DI JONATHAN MARSHALL, ARKANSAS
CB MYLES JONES, TEXAS A&M
DI MUSTAFA JOHNSON, COLORADO
CB CHASE LUCAS, ARIZONA STATE
WR JALEN VIRGIL, APPALACHIAN STATE
RB BRADEN KNOX, MARSHALL
DI AUSTIN FAOLIU, OREGON

LB TONY FIELDS II, WEST VIRGINIA
RB GARY BRIGHTWELL, ARIZONA
DI TA'QUON GRAHAM, TEXAS
EDGE WILLIAM BRADLEY-KING, BAYLOR
OT JOSH BALL, MARSHALL
TE NICK EUBANKS, MICHIGAN
RB BRIAN ROBINSON, ALABAMA
TE QUINTIN MORRIS, BOWLING GREEN
CB D.J. DANIEL, GEORGIA
S JACOBY STEVENS, LSU
LB DIMITRI MOORE, VANDERBILT
DI TEDARRELL SLATON, FLORIDA
CB KEITH TAYLOR, WASHINGTON
IOL DAVID MOORE, GRAMBLING
S GREG EISWORTH II, IOWA STATE

S MARCELINO BALL, INDIANA
IOL TRISTEN HOGE, BYU
LB TUF BORLAND, OHIO STATE
DI KHYIRIS TONGA, BYU
S LEON O'NEAL JR., TEXAS A&M
LB AMARI GINER, FLORIDA STATE
LB JUSTIN RICE, ARKANSAS STATE
WR DAMONTE COXIE, MEMPHIS
WR JOSH IMATORBHEBHE, ILLINOIS
WR RICO BUSSEY JR., HAWAII
CB TREY DEAN III, FLORIDA
QB DUSTIN CRUM, KENT STATE
QB IAN BOOK, NOTRE DAME
IOL TREY HILL, GEORGIA
WR T.J. VASHER, TEXAS TECH

WR DAX MILNE, BYU
IOL CARSON GREEN, TEXAS A&M
LB ISAIAH MCDUFFIE, BOSTON COLLEGE
TE PRO WELLS, TCU
S MARCUS MURPHY, MISSISSIPPI STATE
OT WILLIAM SHERMAN, COLORADO
CB NAHSHON WRIGHT, OREGON STATE
LB GRANT STUARD, HOUSTON
OT TOMMY DOYLE, MIAMI (OH)
OT JAYLON MOORE, WESTERN MICHIGAN
RB JERMAR JEFFERSON, OREGON STATE
WR TYLER VAUGHNS, USC
WR OSIRUS MITCHELL, MISSISSIPPI STATE
DI LABRYAN RAY, ALABAMA
IOL MICHAEL MENET, PENN STATE

WR JHAMON AUSBON, TEXAS A&M
RB CHRIS EVANS, MICHIGAN
EDGE JANARIUS ROBINSON, FLORIDA STATE
CB DARREN HALL, SAN DIEGO STATE
EDGE JAMAR WATSON, KENTUCKY
CB CHRIS WILCOX, BYU
TE MATT BUSHMAN, BYU
LB JAKE HANSEN, ILLINOIS
S JAMAR JOHNSON, INDIANA
CB ZECH MCPHEARSON, TEXAS TECH
CB BRYAN MILLS, UNC CENTRAL
TE DYLAN SOEHNER, IOWA STATE
LB ANTHONY HINES II, TEXAS A&M
CB OLAIJAH GRIFFIN, USC
IOL DREW DALMAN, PENN STATE

TE JOHN BATES, BOISE STATE
S JOSHUA BLEDGESOE, MISSOURI
RB RAKEEM BOYD, ARKANSAS
EDGE MALCOLM KOONCE, BUFFALO
IOL RYAN MCCOLLUM, TEXAS A&M
OT CORDELL VOLSON, NORTH DAKOTA STATE
TE CARY ANGELINE, N.C. STATE

A damn shame. RIP. This guy was a monster is his prime.

Stay with me for a second...And I’ve had this conversation with a few people and they didn’t think it was a terrible idea. Heck I even think I’ve recently seen someone here post a reply saying something similar.

Using AD 99 as a fullback/blocking help 3-5 times a game maybe something to at least draw up some plays for during practice. I feel he could absolutely maul in certain situations as a lead blocker, but I also don’t necessarily think the best defensive player in the league should be running on both sides of the ball a lot.

Maybe I’m just hoping that getting Stafford may put us into a more creative mindset for the entire team. I mean if we are making another “all on SB push” for a couple years...If at least kick the tires? Or am I just bored, missing football and can’t wait to see a more aggressive offense?! ‍

4 Rams ranked among NFL’s top 101 free agents for 2021
Cameron DaSilva

Mon, February 15, 2021,

4 Rams ranked among NFL’s top 101 free agents for 2021 (yahoo.com)


Just as it did last offseason, free agency is likely to hit the Rams hard this year with a number of key players set to hit the market. Nine players who started at least two games last season will become free agents – eight of which are unrestricted free agents – which just goes to show how many losses the Rams could suffer.

The biggest names are undoubtedly John Johnson and Leonard Floyd, but Troy Hill, Gerald Everett, Josh Reynolds and Austin Blythe shouldn’t be overlooked as key free agents. Darious Williams will be a restricted free agent and should be back, but if a team covets him, they could make him an offer that Los Angeles can’t afford to match.

Touchdown Wire ranked the top 101 unrestricted free agents of the 2021 offseason, and four Rams made the list. Three were in the top third of the list, including two players in the top 25.

17. EDGE Leonard Floyd


Floyd is coming off the best season of his career and is hitting free agency again for the second time. He had 10.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 19 QB hits, all of which were career-bests for the former Bears edge rusher. He benefitted greatly from playing alongside Aaron Donald, just as Dante Fowler Jr. did, but could teams be scared off by Fowler’s regression with the Falcons after leaving the Rams? It’s possible, though Floyd is a more well-rounded edge defender.

22. S John Johnson III

Johnson is a stud in every sense of the word. His versatility, coverage skills, tackling and instincts make him one of the best safeties in the NFL – and he’s about to be paid like it. Johnson is unlikely to return to the Rams, who have a long track record of not paying their homegrown defensive backs. But someone will pay him handsomely, and he deserves every penny. Johnson should be one of the highest-paid players at his position and his placement in the top 25 of this list proves it. It’s a strong free-agent class at safety, with four players ranked ahead of Johnson on Touchdown Wire’s poll.

32. CB Troy Hill

Hill ranks high on this list despite finishing his 2020 season on a low note against the Packers. He was valuable to the Rams this past season, mostly covering the slot but also moving outside when the Rams used Jalen Ramsey in a “star” role as the nickel. Hill scored three defensive touchdowns and made a lot of plays for the Rams, which outweighed the mistakes and lapses in coverage that he had. Los Angeles would like to have him back, but with cornerbacks tough to come by, a team might pay give him more than the Rams can afford. Only three cornerbacks rank higher than Hill on this list.

62. TE Gerald Everett


It’s not terribly surprising to see Everett ranked in the top 101, but his placement this high is all about his potential. He hasn’t produced a ton in the NFL thus far, but he’s also been stuck behind Tyler Higbee each year he’s been in the NFL. Still, he’s had at least 33 catches and 320 yards in each of the last three seasons. And you could argue his best football is still to come. Everett is an athletic tight end who can still block, too, and has the potential to be a 700-yard receiver in the right situation. He won’t be one of the top-paid tight ends in the NFL, but Everett’s ceiling is still high thanks to his movement skills and build.

Cam Akers' second-half surge highlights Los Angeles Rams' promising 2020 rookie class


Lindsey ThiryESPN

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- It was Week 13 when rookie running back Cam Akers found a rhythm, scoring a touchdown for a third consecutive game and helping deliver the Los Angeles Rams a key 38-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Stuck playing a role in a running back committee, Akers emerged that afternoon as a feature back with some sage advice: Running backs tend to find a better flow with more touches.

Rams coach Sean McVay must have been listening because moving forward it was Akers, a second-round pick from Florida State, who the offense relied on for some big backfield performances.

Akers wasn't the only rookie to emerge for the 10-6 Rams. Safety Jordan Fuller played a starring role in the secondary and receiver Van Jefferson stepped up in the postseason.

But it was the emergence of Akers, drafted to replace Todd Gurley II, that provides the most promise for an offense that must be more consistent in 2021 behind new quarterback Matthew Stafford.

"Probably about midseason, that's when I started to get a good grasp on the run concepts, what the coaches wanted," Akers said after the season. "I just kind of settled in, played football and it showed."

In a 24-3 win over the New England Patriots in Week 14, Akers rushed for 171 yards on 29 carries. He bested that in a 30-20 wild-card playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks, as he accumulated 176 all-purpose yards and scored a touchdown.

McVay said Akers emerged as a "big-time guy" over the last few weeks and that there are high expectations for him moving forward.

In 13 games, Akers rushed for 625 yards and two touchdowns on 145 carries and caught 11 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Here's a review of the rest of the Rams' 2020 draft class:

Round 2 (No. 57 overall) Van Jefferson, WR, Florida
Jefferson appeared on track to play a significant role in the offense after an outstanding training camp, but the rookie's opportunities were limited through 16 regular-season games, as he caught 19 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown.

However, in a divisional-round playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, Jefferson stepped up in Cooper Kupp's absence and caught six passes for 46 yards and a touchdown, providing a resounding reminder of his ability to be a playmaker going forward. "Van showed why the game's not too big for him," McVay said after the season. Watch for Jefferson to earn a starting role in 2021 with Josh Reynolds scheduled for free agency.

Round 3 (No. 84) Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama
Lewis has all the physical tools -- during training camp teammates marveled at his physical traits. However, Lewis' rookie season was plagued by injuries. First it was his knee, which many teams flagged ahead of the NFL draft, causing him to drop to the third round despite having first-round talent. Then, he had ankle issues. In all, Lewis appeared in eight games and recorded two sacks and eight tackles. If Lewis is able to remain healthy in 2021 -- a big question considering his injury history dating to college -- he has the opportunity to play a big role on the edge with outside linebackers Leonard Floyd and Samson Ebukam pending free agents.

Round 3 (No. 104) Terrell Burgess, S, Utah
Burgess earned a role on special teams at the outset of the season and his contributions on defense began to grow in Week 6. However, his season ended abruptly when he was carted off the field with a broken ankle in a 24-10 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 7. Watch for Burgess to play an increased role on defense next season, especially if safety John Johnson III leaves in free agency.



Round 4 (No. 136) Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue
After the 2020 draft, Rams general manager Les Snead said Hopkins could carve an early role, but also pointed out the strength of a tight end group that included Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett and Johnny Mundt, leaving open the expectation that Hopkins' biggest contributions could come in the seasons ahead. Hopkins appeared in five games on special teams but was otherwise inactive this season. With Everett scheduled for free agency in March, expect Hopkins to play an increased role in 2021.

Round 6 (No. 199) Jordan Fuller, S, Ohio State
Fuller was the surprise of the draft class. With returning safety Taylor Rapp sidelined for part of training camp because of an injury, Fuller took full advantage and earned the starting job in Week 1, when he made an outstanding play in the red zone to preserve a 20-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys. On Monday Night Football in Week 11, Fuller intercepted Tom Brady -- twice -- in a 27-24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 12 games (he missed time due to a shoulder injury), Fuller had three interceptions, five pass deflections and 60 tackles.

Round 7 (No. 234) Clay Johnston, ILB, Baylor
Johnston, remembered for talking too much during training camp on "Hard Knocks: Los Angeles", did not make the 53-man roster out of training camp. He was invited to sign with the practice squad but opted to join the practice squad with the Carolina Panthers, where his father was the Panthers' director of wellness.

Round 7 (No. 248) Sam Sloman, K, Miami (Ohio)

2020 was a kicking odyssey for the Rams, starting with Sloman, who earned the starting job out of training camp but was waived after Week 7 because of inconsistency. He was 8-of-11 on field goal attempts, 18-of-21 on extra points and unable to consistently deliver on kickoffs. Veteran Kai Forbath replaced Sloman, but only for two games after he fared no better and went to injured reserve because of an ankle injury. The Rams signed Matt Gay off the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad. He settled in after a bumpy start to connect on 14-of-16 field goal attempts, all 16 of his extra points and will be the kicker going forward.

Round 7 (No. 250) Tremayne Anchrum Jr., OG, Clemson
Anchrum made the 53-man roster out of training camp and played in 12 games on special teams. Center Austin Blythe is the only pending free agent, so it's unlikely Anchrum will play a role on offense in 2021.

It sounds like the Rams are going to let Brown test FA, right?

Everyone seems to be using insight from Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic; the Rams are "unlikely to bring back" RB Malcolm Brown. (Source: The Athletic)

LINK OTHER

Do we have his replacement?

We have Jones and Calais as depth now.

So, if we go with 3 on the roster...

Akers
Henderson
TBD?

It sure looks like... If Rams are letting Brown go, they have plans to add someone (new) that plays on game day?

Someone for the “power role”?