Losing at home to the Bucs in the Championship Game hurts like hell. Terrible coaching by LaFleur to kick a FG with just over 2 minutes remaining thinking the defense was going to get a stop on TB. I know we had all 3 timeouts but you can’t give Brady anymore chances. Giving up that long Touchdown pass just before half was awful by Kevin King as well. Rodgers wasn’t as sharp as he has been all season. What did you Ram fans think of this game?

I try to limit myself to one mock per week, but I'm going to do two this week because this is a bit of a special one. I don't plan to do another mock with us making a QB trade, but I figured it would be interesting to offer a scenario of how we could try to make this work.
Departing Free Agents
OLB Leonard Floyd
SS John Johnson III
CB Troy Hill
OL Austin Blythe
HB Malcolm Brown
TE Gerald Everett
WR Josh Reynolds
DL Morgan Fox
OLB Samson Ebukam

Resignings
LS Jake McQuaide
CB Darious Williams
ILB Travin Howard
OL Coleman Shelton
TE Johnny Mundt

Trades
Rams trade QB Jared Goff and LT Joseph Noteboom
Colts trade Round 1 Pick #21 and Round 5 Pick #21

The Colts need a QB with Rivers retiring. They consider Matt Stafford, but San Francisco outbids them. We discuss Goff with them while engaging with the Texans on Watson. Ultimately, Indianapolis opts to acquire Goff and Noteboom, who steps in at LT for the retiring Anthony Castonzo. This gives us the first we need to complete the Watson trade. The Colts have a buttload of cap room to use to upgrade their weapons, a stout OL, and a system that fit Philip Rivers well (who has a similar style to Jared Goff).

Rams trade Round 1 Pick #21, Round 2 Pick #25, 2022 Round 1 Pick, 2023 Round 1 Pick, and a 2024 Conditional Pick
Texans trade QB Deshaun Watson

The 2024 conditional pick starts as a 4th round pick. If Watson makes a Pro Bowl with the Rams before that pick, it becomes a 3rd. If Watson is named a First Team All Pro or wins the NFL MVP with the Rams before that pick, it becomes a 2nd. If the Rams win the Super Bowl in 2021, 2022, or 2023, it becomes a 1st. Instead of asking for Goff in lieu of some draft pick compensation from us, the Texans trade a mid-round pick for Jimmy Garoppolo. This deal only happens because the Jets prefer to draft Zach Wilson at #2 and Watson prefers the Rams to the Dolphins (along with the Texans not liking the optics of the Dolphins deal and not wanting Tua).

Rams trade WR Robert Woods
Jaguars trade Round 2 Pick #13 and Round 4 Pick #25

Yes, this one pains me too, but we need to recoup some draft compensation. The Jaguars could use a reliable route runner and possession WR for Trevor Lawrence and a locker room leader. We all know how phenomenal Bobby is. But we need to add some speed outside for Watson. Trading Woods saves us more cap room than trading Kupp does, plus Kupp is the younger player.

Rams trade Round 3 Pick #24 and Round 3 Pick #39
Eagles trade Round 3 Pick #5

We trade up for a player I really like. With the cap challenges the Eagles are having, they're willing to trade down, as they need more low-cost talent.

Free Agency

Tyrell Williams WR

Williams is almost certainly going to be cut by the Raiders after missing the 2020 season with a shoulder injury and not living up to the #1 WR money they paid him in 2019. At 6'4" 205, he's a speedy threat with the long strides and big body to give Watson the big-play WR he needs. He'll provide a nice contrast to Van and Cooper. He also won't cost us a comp pick. With all the first round picks we're going to be missing, we're going to need comp picks.


Brandon Graham EDGE

The Eagles designate Graham a post-June 1st cut, and he signs on with us in FA in hopes of winning another Super Bowl. We get him on an affordable one year deal. Because he was cut, he doesn't cost us a comp pick. Despite his age, Graham is still an effective player on the edge and should contribute as part of our EDGE rotation.


DeSean Jackson WR

We sign another player released by the Eagles (again, doesn't cost us a comp pick). Jackson signs a one year deal for basically the NFL minimum. He's from Los Angeles, wants to play for a winner and with Deshaun Watson, and is coming off back to back injury-riddled seasons. We figure that it can't hurt to have another WR capable of taking the top off a defense, even if DeSean likely won't stay healthy all year.


NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #13 - Alex Leatherwood OT/OG Alabama
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Analysis: At 6'5" 315 pounds, Leatherwood can play any position on the OL outside of Center. He offers legitimate tackle/guard versatility. He has the potential to be Whitworth's replacement and the potential to be a rookie who could start at OG and provide quality play. Leatherwood is a good but not great athlete at OT who is extremely technically proficient and possesses very good power. He has the ability to generate movement in the running game and the athleticism to make blocks on the second level and in space. In pass protection, he's difficult to beat because of his consistent technique, well-timed punches, and good anchor. To the extent he can improve there, he sometimes leans into his punches, which leaves him open to being pulled off balance or swam over. As a run blocker, he's a good positional blocker with the power to generate some movement. I wish he had more of a mean streak, though. Ultimately, Leatherwood is a polished OL prospect who lacks dominant traits but is a good all-around player.

Round 3 Pick #5 - Pete Werner LB Ohio State
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Analysis: Werner is one of my favorite players in this Draft. He reminds me a lot of Chad Greenway and Sean Lee. He's a bigger LB at 6'3" 240 and certainly plays to his size. He's a physical run defender who can blow up blockers, fill running lanes, and shed blocks. But he's a sneaky good athlete. You might miss it the first time you watch him because he's such a disciplined and sound player, but when he needs to run, he can run. He's not a 4.4 guy, but I think he has the speed to be a good NFL LB. In coverage, he has limitations against twitchier players because of his height and the stiffness in his hips. But he has the size and athleticism to handle TEs. More importantly for us, he's an outstanding zone defender. Heady, disciplined, and aware. I think he's a 3-down player who has the potential to be a Pro Bowl LB.

Round 3 Pick #37 - Tommy Tremble TE/FB Notre Dame
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Analysis: I know I'm not the only one tired of seeing the blocking set up perfectly for a long run only to watch Mundt or Everett get blown off the ball into the hole. Tremble isn't the most technically sound guy yet, but he's strong, violent, and physical. He's a guy who can be put in the backfield as a FB and blow open holes. He can also be brought across the formation as a lead blocker. And you can line him up on the LOS and let him loose on LBs and edge defenders. He's the sort of guy who doesn't just make a block. He looks to bury his opponent. As he becomes a more technically refined blocker, I could see him becoming one of the best blocking TEs in the NFL. I haven't even mentioned him as a pass catcher. At this stage, he's raw, but he's actually a very impressive athlete who has passing game potential too. The production wasn't there in college (he was used mostly as a blocker), but there's certainly potential for him to be a net positive as a receiver too.

Round 4 Pick #25 - Chris Rumph II SLB Duke
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Analysis: Rumph's father is currently the Texans' OLB Coach and previously was DL Coach at programs like Alabama, Florida, and Texas. Unsurprisingly, Rumph is a technically proficient player who possesses great football IQ and instincts. Duke has used him as both an off-the-ball LB and an edge rusher. At 6'3" 235, he seems small to play on the edge in the NFL, but I think he can do it. If he was bigger and stronger, he'd be a first round pick. Great burst off the ball, can flatten around the corner, quick-twitch athleticism, and a diverse set of pass rush moves. Kid has the athleticism, instincts, and zone cover skills to play ILB and the pass rush ability to play OLB. Long term, I think he can be an impactful 3-4 SOLB. Boston College has an OL with multiple future NFL players on it, and he gave them the business.

Round 4 Pick #37 - Drake Jackson OL Kentucky
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Analysis: Jackson leaves Kentucky as a four-year starter at Center in the SEC. At 6'2" 290 pounds, he's a smaller guy and has short arms. And yes, I know some of y'all will respond saying you don't want a small Center. All I can tell you is to watch a few of his games. This is a guy who competed against SEC competition, players from schools like Alabama and Georgia. He didn't just hold his own. He consistently beat the guy across from him. He's unbelievably quick out of his stance. It's noticeable because of how much faster off the ball he is than his teammates (which isn't a knock on them). His hands are also remarkably quick. As a shorter guy, he has a leverage advantage and consistently wins that battle, which makes him stout in pass protection. He's smart, he's technically refined, he blocks well in space and on the second level, he has a great understanding of angles, and he is hard to beat once he gets his hands on you. Yes, he's small, but he's really freaking good at football. He impressed a lot of people at the Senior Bowl in practice today, despite his underwhelming measurements. I'd much rather have him backing up Corbett than Brian Allen.

Round 5 Pick #21 - Kellen Mond QB Texas A&M
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Analysis: Let's just say that Mond is a work in progress despite being a four-year starter at Texas A&M. He is coming out of Jimbo Fisher's pro-style offense, so he should have a better grasp of the mental game than your average QB. At 6'2" 205, Mond is a very good athlete who has the ability to create with his legs and possesses good arm strength. He has made NFL-style reads and throws a NFL-style route tree. What is the problem with him? He's frustratingly inconsistent, one of the streakiest QB prospects I've seen. The talent is there in droves. He can make just about any throw. He is a legitimate threat with his legs. He can be very accurate and read the field well. And then suddenly, he can't hit the broad side of a barn and stops seeing the field. As a backup, he's a pretty good option. Can pick up yardage with his legs and do some damage when he's playing well. But if he's ever going to be a starting-caliber QB, he has to figure out what causes him to have stretches where he looks so bad. I'll also say that if Davis Mills is available here, I'd take him over Mond, but I think he goes higher in the Draft.

Round 6 Pick #25 - Shawn Davis DB Florida
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Analysis: Davis is a gifted athlete at safety who can play split, single-high, or come into the box and cover the slot. He's a tad undersized at 5'10" 199, which has led to some durability issues due to his physical play. He also needs to learn to tackle better, as he tends to go for the big hit over the wrap-up tackle. Fortunately for us and unfortunately for Davis, he was misused by Florida's incompetent defensive coordinator. Had he played in a better scheme and received better coaching, he might have gone in the third or fourth round. This is a kid who will bring energy, athleticism, and hitting power to special teams. But he also has the potential to be a starting safety in the NFL.

Round 7 Pick #25 - Blake Proehl WR/PR East Carolina
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Analysis: The name should sound familiar to all of us Rams fans. He's one of Ricky Proehl's sons. Ricky, a former NFL WR Coach (a highly respected one at that), has clearly done a lot to coach Blake. At 6'1" 186 pounds, Blake has a thin frame, but he also possesses great quickness/twitch, solid speed, and outstanding hands. ECU, for some odd reason, decided to play him outside this year. I think Blake can be a lethal slot WR in the NFL. His quickness, hands, and intelligence should play quite well inside. Additionally, he's a guy who offers a lot of special teams value and should be a reliable punt returner for us. I think we'll quite enjoy developing him and Nixon behind Kupp, Woods, and Jefferson.

Projected Starters
QB: Deshaun Watson
HB: Cam Akers
WR: Cooper Kupp
WR: Van Jefferson
WR: Tyrell Williams
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Alex Leatherwood
C: Austin Corbett
RG: David Edwards
RT: Rob Havenstein

DE: Michael Brockers
NT: Sebastian Joseph-Day
DE: Aaron Donald
OLB: Terrell Lewis
ILB: Micah Kiser vs. Travin Howard vs. Kenny Young vs. Troy Reeder
ILB: Pete Werner
OLB: Justin Hollins
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: Darious Williams
CB: David Long Jr. vs. Terrell Burgess
FS: Jordan Fuller
SS: Terrell Burgess vs. Taylor Rapp

K: Matt Gay
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Raymond Calais
PR: Blake Proehl

Weigh-ins were today. Interesting week ahead.



2021 Senior Bowl: Winners and losers from the offensive weigh-ins
Joe DeLeone 5 hrs ago


The 2021 Senior Bowl officially kicked off Tuesday with weigh-ins. As players prepared for their first day of practice, the staff in Mobile measured prospects to answer questions of talent evaluators.

© Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
This year’s Senior Bowl holds a lot more importance than it typically would with no NFL Combine being held, meaning getting these measurements now is crucial. It also means these numbers will be dissected a lot until every player participates in their pro day. Player length and size will always be important for teams looking for distinct advantages.

Check out which players on the offensive side of the ball had impressive or underwhelming measurements.
Winners

• Aaron Banks (IOL Notre Dame) - Banks was a consistent blocker all season for Notre Dame and is already picking up some serious buzz as a Day 2 prospect. We were reminded very quickly how massive of a human being Banks is during his weigh-in. At 6-foot-5, Banks was 338 pounds with 33-inch arms and 10 1/8 inch hands. That is one big dude who can be a serious mauler on any NFL offensive line.
• Spencer Brown (OT Northern Iowa) - Brown is another lineman who re-affirmed how large of an athlete they were. Brown’s height, length, and mobility are rare for an offensive tackle. At 6-8, his arms measured out to 34 inches with 10 3/8 inch hands. Brown has a ton of potential and plenty of room to add to his 314-pound frame.
• Ben Cleveland (IOL Georgia) - Speaking of physical freaks, Cleveland might be the leanest athlete for his weight. Listed at over 6-foot-6, the Georgia guard weighed in at 354 pounds despite most of that appearing to be muscle.
• Feleipe Franks (QB Arkansas) - Franks isn’t one of the top quarterback names at the Senior Bowl this year, but he does have strong upside because of his arm talent. Franks measured in as the largest quarterback at over 6-foot-6 and 234 pounds with 10-inch hands. Teams have always valued large quarterbacks, especially for a developmental one.
• Carson Green (OT Texas A&M) - Green adds to the list of massive lineman at the Senior Bowl. Any time a lineman measures 34-inch arms and 10 3/8 inch hands, it’s certainly worth noting. Green hit both of those metrics, making him a tackle with prototypical length.
• Cornell Powell (WR Clemson) - Powell isn’t one of the bigger receivers down in Mobile, but he does have a surprising metric for his hand size that you typically don’t see for receivers. Powell’s 10-inch hands are a major positive to have for a receiver who is only 6-foot.
• D’Ante Smith (OT Eastern Carolina) - Smith is a very underrated and under-talked about name participating in the Senior Bowl. His length is draw dropping with over 35-inch arms and 10-inch hands. Length for tackles is a major area of focus, and Smith surpasses the thresholds you want in a developmental tackle.

Losers

• Kylen Granson (TE SMU) - Despite being listed at 6-foot-3 on the team’s roster, Granson only measured in at 6-2 with 32-inch arms and sub-10-inch hands. Anytime a tight end lacks is at only 6-2 it’s a concern, but the added length issues add concern to his physical makeup.
• Creed Humphrey (C Oklahoma) - Humphrey is currently a name being floated out as the first center drafted this year. Understandably, centers typically have the shortest metrics for arm length, but Humphrey’s 31-inch arms are not good to see. Humphrey is a player good enough to outplay these concerns during the week of practice, but scouts will be making a negative note for his arm size.
• Drake Jackson (C Kentucky) - If there was one player who measured in with the most underwhelming numbers it would have to be Jackson. He falls under every measurement requirement you like to see from a draftable interior offensive lineman. Jackson was only listed at just under 6-foot-2, 290 pounds, 31-inch arms, and 8 1/2 inch hands. While Jackson might outplay his size, those are not good numbers to see on a draftable prospect.
• DeVonta Smith (WR Alabama) - Unlike the remaining players on this list, Smith being listed as a loser probably won’t impact his draft stock much. The concern comes from not weighing in with so many question marks about his weight. The thin-framed receiver dominated secondaries, but many teams will be concerned with investing a top-15 pick in a receiver playing under 170 pounds. Smith was listed at 175 at the start of the 2020 season, but not providing a weight at the Senior Bowl screams that he might be closer to 165. Smith will have time to add to his weight before his pro day, but with three months to accomplish this, he needs to be more than 180.

Check out the full list of measurements here.

The site is up again, have at it:

FWIW, teams are more willing to trade future picks I've noticed this year.

Edit: no picks have been added yet for compensation.

The 20 Most Fascinating People in and Around Super Bowl LV

This will be a Super Bowl like no other. For the first time in my 11-year career covering the NFL, the week will not begin with Opening Night, né Media Night, where reporters jostle shoulder-to-shoulder with people dressed in superhero costumes to ask Chiefs coaches about various play-calling minutiae while EDM music blares over the loudspeaker and fans scream nonstop at Michael Irvin. It’s more fun than it sounds, and I’ll miss it dearly. Everything about the event and its fabricated heft will be missing, even as the NFL breaks a sweat trying to shove its very existence into every quantifiable space in our (now virtual) lives anyway, because that’s what good businesses do.

It will be a fascinating Super Bowl for many reasons, though. Fascinating because Tom Brady is here without Bill Belichick. Fascinating that Andy Reid is back, no longer the coach who needs a championship for you to see his true genius. Fascinating that it will take place at all, marking the end of a season when the largest and most complicated sports property in the nation managed to ship hundreds of people across the country with regularity and somehow avoided canceling games (or a major health catastrophe).

In that spirit, here are the 20 most fascinating people in and around Tampa this week.

The Buccaneers’ coaching staff

The Buccaneers’ staff includes two women, assistant defensive line coach Lori Locust and assistant strength and conditioning coach Maral Javadifar. All of their top coordinators, Byron Leftwich (offense), Todd Bowles (defense), Keith Armstrong (special teams) and Harold Goodwin (assistant head coach), are Black. Their arrival here feels especially prescient given how the latest round of coach hirings and firings have slipped away without any tangible sign of progress on the horizon. Black head coaches are woefully underrepresented and are often forced into nonpipeline roles as a means of survival in the business. Yet, this team that would not be here without its group of talented coaches. The focus will certainly be on Tom Brady, but without Bowles, Leftwich, Armstrong and the rest, there is no way the Buccaneers would be here hosting a Super Bowl.

The Chiefs’ coaching staff

To build off the last point, Reid’s top offensive disciple, Eric Bieniemy, is also Black. He gracefully answered questions for hours last year about why he was not a head coach, as if the problem was somehow his and not due to some of the most obviously entrenched biases in U.S. professional sports. One day, Bieniemy will get his chance to pilot an NFL franchise, but for now, he will continue to design some of the most dazzling and innovative offensive packages in the sport. Having Bieniemy’s work on the game’s grandest stage once again will hopefully serve as a lesson to owners out there struggling with their milquetoast offenses that they may want to try hiring outside their box once in a while.

Jason Pierre-Paul

Since his departure from New York, which was an effort to save the Giants some desperate cap space, Pierre-Paul has been quietly dominant, logging 12.5, 8.5 and 9.5 sacks in his three years with Tampa Bay. The 2010 first-round pick, who burst into football consciousness as part of the Giants’ legendary NASCAR pass-rush package, Pierre-Paul has refined his game and plays nicely off Todd Bowles’s assortment of interior and edge pass rushers. Five years after Pierre-Paul nearly lost his hand in a fireworks incident, he is back at the Super Bowl.

Ali Marpet

Arguably the Buccaneers’ most consistent offensive lineman, Marpet’s stellar play may have led us to forget where he came from. The second-round pick hails from Hobart College and is the son of a rock ’n’ roll mom and video producer dad. He and Chiefs tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who will likely not play in the Super Bowl, are among a small number of Jewish NFL players. So much of Brady’s success over the years has been thanks to stellar interior line play, which prevents the quickest blitz schemes from traversing the shortest distance to the quarterback. Marpet is the next man up in a proud line of Brady bodyguards.

Le’Veon Bell and Leonard Fournette

Two running backs once at the height of the sport, Bell and Fournette will be relegated to uncertain role player status in this game. The setup has worked out slightly better for Fournette, the 2017 No. 4 pick who was waved by the Jaguars before the season. In recent weeks, his carry total has been 19, 17 and 12, respectively, signaling the dwindling likelihood that he may continue to act as the offense’s power component. Bell, meanwhile, logged a pair of carries against the Browns and missed last week’s game against the Packers. His season high for touches was 15, in a game against the Saints back in December.

Alberto Riveron

The league’s head of officiating didn’t seem to be in the crosshairs as much this season, but that changed quickly in the playoffs. A bungled call in the divisional round game between the Bills and Colts that handed Philip Rivers an extended comeback attempt perked up antennae. A questionable pass interference call in the Packers-Buccaneers game also roiled fans and brought into question the consistency of the foul-calling process. Riveron and his crew, in a moment this bright, will not be able to hide behind the fact that people are simply grateful for the distraction.

Sarah Thomas

Thomas, a 47-year-old referee from Pascagoula, Miss., will make history as the first woman official in Super Bowl history. She first began traversing the ranks in 1996 and broke the NFL’s officiating gender barrier in 2015. Now, she will be a key component of official Carl Cheffers’s crew.

The Weeknd

Perhaps a moment of unity that this country desperately needs: We will all watch with bated breath to find out whether he has a song that isn’t “Blinding Lights” during the halftime show.

Patrick Mahomes

You knew we’d get to the quarterbacks at some point. A lot will be written about torch-passing this week, which is fine. It is the simple narrative that is most easily digestible for the casual viewing public. However, I would caution all of us about projecting anything too deeply into the future. Andrew Luck retired early. A swath of promising talent in recent years has decided that the game’s rigors are not worth sacrificing their lives for. Mahomes had a front-row seat to the highs and lows of an athlete’s lifestyle, watching his dad, an MLB pitcher. Will he want to be on that ride forever? Instead, we should borrow a lesson we all hopefully learned during this pandemic and apply it to a great player like Mahomes in his prime. Enjoy it now. It’s happening now. What will happen in the future? Who knows. If Mahomes wants to be Tom Brady, that is great and lucky us. If he wants to be something else in five years, all the better.

Tom Brady

The 43-year-old quarterback has transcended the traditional idea of sports greatness and has raised the bar for any generational talent in the future who hopes to have their name synonymous with athletic success. Brady has played in roughly half of the Super Bowls that have occurred since some of his teammates were born. His 10 trips will likely be untouched by any quarterback in NFL history. His success outside of the Patriots’ dynasty, without bringing with him any of the coaching infrastructure, will boldly underline the tail end of his narrative arc.

Bill Belichick

Speaking of which, the simpletons will associate Brady’s presence here with the idea that he was more responsible for the success of the Patriots’ dynasty. This was a difficult year for Belichick from a personnel standpoint, but it’s hard to imagine New England will not rebound in the future. Still, for the moment, it will be hard for the larger football audience, which checks in periodically through the lens of their fantasy football team or DraftKings account, to keep Belichick’s contributions in their proper perspective when two weeks of Brady shine start to create some overgrowth.

Ndamukong Suh

Before the Patriots and Rams met in Super Bowl LIII, I talked to the then Rams DT about his pregame mental processes. He smiled and discussed his affinity for Animal Planet as a tome of information on the psychological battlefield. When I talked specifically about “poking the bear” referring to Brady, Suh said he wouldn’t consider Brady a bear at all. Now, Suh is playing with Brady and brings his penchant for in-game agitation to a Chiefs offensive line that is reeling from several serious injuries. It is often crafty veterans like Suh who have the biggest, though underdiscussed, impacts on critical moments in big games. Might that be the case this year?

Tom Moore

The 82-year-old Buccaneers consultant is still rolling. His Super Bowl appearance in 2021 will come a full 60 years after he began his coaching career at Iowa as a graduate assistant. Moore won a pair of Super Bowls as a position coach with Chuck Noll’s Steelers and another as Peyton Manning’s offensive coordinator in Indianapolis. The soft-spoken Midwesterner once told a reporter that he had no interest in retiring, as it meant he would just “hang around old people.”

Chris Boniol

The Buccaneers’ kicking coach is one of a small handful of former kickers employed by teams to specifically coach kickers. It’s a relatively untapped field, but an interesting one. Very few staffs have someone who is capable of addressing the psychology of kicking. Maybe it seems like an unnecessary cost, but when the game is on the line and you’re down by two, would you pay a few thousand dollars to have someone there to comfort your all-of-a-sudden most important player?

Antonio Brown

Fascinating might not be the word here, but the mercurial star receiver, who is still facing allegations of sexual assault and rape in a pending trial set for early December 2021, ended up being a subtly important on-field piece of Tampa Bay’s late-season run. During a typical Super Bowl with a crush of media, Brown would probably be confronted about his recent past, as would Tampa Bay’s decision makers. This year, he may very well be able to fly under the radar despite the fact that he’s still been causing trouble.

Steve Spagnuolo

The Chiefs’ defensive coordinator is an interesting historical footnote here. As the defensive coordinator of the 2007 Giants, he managed to spearhead the effort to shut down one of the greatest teams in NFL history—the undefeated Patriots helmed by you-know-who. He is the only coordinator to have inherited the league’s worst defense at multiple stops and coached them to a Super Bowl. While his time as a prospective head coach may be over (Spagnuolo was the Rams’ head coach for three seasons and held the interim gig in New York), his presence behind the scenes as a man who knows Brady well will be interesting to keep an eye on.

Tony Dungy

While Jon Gruden won the Bucs’ franchise its only Super Bowl to date, Dungy built the roster and assembled the fearsome Tampa-2 defensive scheme that provided the team with its lasting identity. Dungy went on to become the first Black head coach in NFL history to win the Super Bowl, with the Colts in 2006. Now, as an outspoken advocate for minority hiring, Dungy’s presence looms large in Tampa. His former team is loaded with talented Black coaches, only one of whom got a legitimate interview for a head coach opening following the season (Bowles). His legacy in Tampa should serve as a reminder about the spirit of the Rooney Rule.

Chiefs’ backup offensive linemen

The performances of Mike Remmers (in for Eric Fisher) and Andrew Wylie (likely in for Schwartz) will be factors against a Buccaneers defense that can create a ton of pressure. Reid has praised his general manager’s ability to layer depth across this offensive line and, indeed, having someone like Remmers or Stefen Wisniewski around to fill in has been a boon for Patrick Mahomes throughout the stretch run. But we’ve seen offensive line play targeted and exposed so many times in the Super Bowl, especially when good coordinators have an extra week to prepare and isolate matchups. Can this pair hang on against Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett?

Paying fans

A quick stroll through StubHub before publication showed seats in the 300 section of Raymond James Stadium going for roughly $6,800 per ticket. These prices have a tendency to calm down once the market resets before the game and inventory is left, but it will create a strange spectacle. The stadium will be populated by vaccinated health care workers sitting alongside the deep-pocketed traveling elite, who are, in theory, subverting the very idea of safety in solitude that will aid health care workers moving forward through the (hopeful) tail end of this pandemic.

Us

What does the Super Bowl mean to you this year? The NFL has been in an ethical tug-of-war throughout one of the worst stretches in modern U.S. history. Personally, it was difficult to watch players and coaches openly flout mask policies that could contribute to the societal disinformation gap and hard not to feel anxious for people in a huddle breathing all over one another during a pandemic. But at the same time, Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays were often a release amid months of lockdown. Catharsis. I complained about the draft taking place and then devoured it. I rattled my fist at the Ravens’ taking the field after Dez Bryant’s last-minute positive COVID-19 test and then watched the entire game. Never did I feel myself more twisted around this idea of good and bad sort of devouring itself whole. It was a complicated relationship that preyed on our lack of things to do. Am I looking forward to watching the Super Bowl with my kids? You bet. If you had asked me to wager money in September on whether we’d actually have a Super Bowl, would I have bet in the affirmative? No way.

This is my first stab. Still early, and both FA and various workouts will likely change a lot of this. With that said, here are my projections!

Round 2(57): Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
Humphrey gives the Rams a bigger anchor in the middle of the OL, and would allow us to move on from UFA Austin Blythe. Humphrey has extensive experience as a starter, and is no stranger to pass protection playing for Oklahoma. Other options include Josh Myers, Ohio State (probably goes earlier), and Landon Dickerson, Alabama (perhaps could get him a bit later).

Round 3(88): Victor Dimujeke, EDGE, Duke
With Leonard Floyd and Samson Ebukam potentially leaving in free agency, and Terrell Lewis having trouble staying on the field as a rookie, the Rams can use another young pass rusher. Dimujeke had 16 sacks over the past two seasons, and also brings some needed versatility with Raheem Morris likely mixing in more 4-3 alignments.

Round 3(COMP): Dayami Brown, WR, North Carolina
Here’s that deep threat we were missing. I think Brown can last this long given the depth of the WR class and his limited route tree. He does, however, what we need a WR to do: stretch the field. Over the last two seasons, he averaged over 20 ypc and had 20 TDs.

Round 3(COMP): Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State
Though his production in college doesn’t jump off the page, he is an athletic player with the ability to play inside and a lot of upside. Though he’s not the tackling machine model at this point, I think he has “thumper” potential.

Round 4(COMP): Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State
The Rams won’t be able to retain both Darious Williams (RFA – expect to keep) and Troy Hill (UFA – probably goes), so they’ll need some depth at the CB spot. I like Williams’ size (6’0, 193) and his ability to get his hands on the ball (31 PDs in 4 years).

Round 6(183): Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee
Showed some promise, and some durability issues in college. If he can stay healthy, could be a value choice here. With John Johnson potentially leaving, depth at this spot is needed.

Round 7(215): Spencer Brown, RB, UAB
Big back (235) who can catch the ball and does well in pass protection. A replacement for UFA Malcolm Brown.

You tube, They Mother Fing Rock.

Tracy Chapman, I aye aye had a feeling I belonged, and that was just the beginning.

Maybe we can create a running diary where we post our favorite prospects and the draft gurus/people with experience watching them can add detail. Here's my current favorite.

I think we need some size and some dynamic ability at the receiver position, so why not get a guy who has both? Enter Tamorrion Terry. 6'4, 205 pounds and can get vertical. If he's our second or third round pick (depending on his draft process) I'll be thrilled. Scouting report and video below. Basically he's a Josh Gordon type but he may have some maturity issues. From TheDraftNetwork:

PROS: Impressive blend of size and big play ability. Gets loose in the secondary on nine routes, double moves and posts. Showcases tremendous buildup speed and late burst at the top of routes. Smooth accelerator with long strides. Averaged 58 yards per reception on his nine touchdowns in 2019 and it was a combination of deep catches and massive gains after the catch. The vertical push he generates in his route stems leads to cushion and the ability to snap off routes and work back to the football on comebacks in addition to creating the cushion needed to setup vertical breaks. Tall and long with a massive wingspan. Has shown he can make catches through contact in contested situations, including high-pointing the football. Has found good production after the catch due to his vision, nifty footwork, elusiveness and acceleration.

CONS: Has his share of drops; some are concentration drops but others are improper technique greeting the football and being late to find/adjust to the football. Has some lapses in tracking and he isn’t immune to misplaying the ball in the air. Can be too patient at the catch point and there are times he needs to be more assertive to “go get it”. Route breaks can be too rounded. Has room to fill out his frame and add functional strength.


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Random things heading into the Superbowl...

1. Sucks thinking of weekends without football. With CoVID lockdowns, football might be more entertainment than I realize.

2. On this note, we start to pivot draft conversation into the main NFL forum about now... and let’s keep pumping topics, folks! It’s the off-season, so let’s get ROD creative. It certainly looks like the early part of the year will include additional stay-home time for many.

3. With football winding down, I will miss the food menu thread. Hats off to @A.J. Hicks @ScotsRam @Dagonet, and a few others for starting that one each week.

4. With football winding down, I fear @Loyal will crash our servers posting in the booty thread.

5. Thinking of the Superbowl... the Brady and Mahomes talk will be nauseating. If we feel this way, doesn’t most fans? So why do they do it?

6. @Selassie I bought a Matt Gay jersey and has not told anyone.

7. I dislike Tom Brady as much as anyone, but 10 Superbowls? How do I keep talking shit without looking like the problem is me?

8. The Rams will make more headlines this off-season than we probably think. You sort of sense it.

What is rolling through your head with a football-less weekend headed your way?

Just saw he accepted a position with the Lions.



Ouch. This hurts.

Well, we have our coaches, and I have ideas for this draft. As a note, none of the players I'll select in this draft were in my last mock; this is done for diversity purposes. Ready? Let's do this then:

Cut:

Kenny Young
Justin Lawler
Nick Scott

(I've decided to keep Okoronkwo for this draft's purpose, but the others aren't a surprise, and all of them save cap.)

Re-sign:

Jake McQuaide - two years, five million overall.
Darious Williams - RFA (first round tender).
Johnny Mundt - RFA (original round tender)
Coleman Shelton - ERFA
Travin Howard - ERFA
Raymond Calais - ERFA
JuJu Hughes - ERFA

(McQuaide signs for 2.5 million per year, which is probably not right, but we'll see. Williams is a great cornerback who deserves to be kept on this team, unless, of course, a team decides to give their first round pick to us and poach him - which, as you know me, will probably happen in a mock near you. The rest are RFAs and ERFAs.)

Release:

John Johnson III
Leonard Floyd
Troy Hill
Gerald Everett
Malcolm Brown
Derek Rivers
Josh Reynolds
Samson Ebukam
Austin Blythe
Morgan Fox
Kai Forbath

(I hate to let JJ3 and Floyd leave, but both of them could return a third round compensatory pick each - picks that can be used as ammunition to trade up. Hill has been a solid player, but I could see him going for a number 2 cornerback job. Brown should be replaced by Akers, Henderson, and a draft pick. Ebukam hasn't been effective this year and can be replaced by the combination of Hollins, Okoronkwo, Rivers, and two draft picks. Fox will go for a starting role. Blythe, Everett, and Reynolds can all fuck off. As for Forbath, I'd rather forget he was ever on the team.)

Free Agency:

Alex Smith (one year - eight million.)

(Yeah, I like the Smith idea that Jerry had. Sign me up.)

Trades (this is gonna be interesting):

A'Shawn Robinson to the Tennessee Titans for 2021 fourth round pick.

(Tennessee needs good players on the defensive line; both DaQuan Jones and Jack Crawford are unrestricted free agents. Robinson could easily fit in the middle of that defense, and we could get much needed salary relief and a pick, to boot. And that's not even mentioning the amount of depth we have on our defensive line; even without Robinson, we have Joseph-Day and Gaines in the middle, Donald and Brockers as other starters, and Michael Hoecht and Jonah Williams ready for large roles - hell, even Marquise Copeland and Eric Banks could find potential roles on the D-line. We can afford to lose Robinson and Fox.)

Rob Havenstein and 2022 seventh round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for 2021 fourth round pick and 2021 sixth round pick.

(Cincinnati's offensive line is horrible. Jonah Williams is a good player at left tackle, but their right tackle signing has been an enormous bust. We give Zac Taylor a lineman he knows for a pick. In addition, the Bengals likely lost their chance at Sewell, so this trade is necessary for them.)

Tyler Higbee to the Carolina Panthers for 2021 fourth round pick.

(To me, Higbee is who he is: a decent receiver and a good blocker. His contract is a hold-up, but I think that a team like the Panthers, who desperately need weapons and help for their quarterback, could definitely be interested. And in case, you're worried about us having only Brycen Hopkins, Johnny Mundt and Kendall Blanton at tight end? I say, I have a plan to fix it.)

Cooper Kupp to the Philadelphia Eagles for 2021 second round pick and 2021 fifth round pick (Cowboys).

(This is the trade that'll have a lot of people scratching their heads about, but I think it'll make a whole hell of a lot of sense with the pick. The Eagles have a desperate need for a wide receiver, particularly a safety blanket for Wentz/Hurts. Ertz is getting older, and they have no weapons. It just makes a whole hell of a lot of sense.)

2021 third (Fowler compensatory), 2021 fourth (Bengals), and 2021 seventh to the Detroit Lions for 2021 third and 2021 seventh.

(We give our old friend, Brad Holmes, picks to play with while we move up for a specific player.)

2021 third (Holmes) to the Minnesota Vikngs for 2021 fourth (Chicago) and 2021 fourth (Buffalo).

(Minnesota moves up, we move down. Simple.)

2021 fourth (Cory Littleton comp pick), 2021 sixth (Bengals), and 2022 fourth to the Los Angeles Chargers for 2021 third (Rivers comp pick), 2021 seventh, and 2022 fifth.

(The Chargers get a bevy of picks for their projected comp third, while we move up for a cornerback.)

Draft:

2nd (Eagles) - Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State. (6'5", 250 lbs.)

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(Freiermuth's called Baby Gronk for a reason, and it clearly shows. He's a physical do-it-all tight end who has the potential to dominate a game. In my mind, the only reason he's not a first round pick is because of his injury history, but he's flat-out the second best tight end in this class only to Pitts, and if he was healthy, in my opinion, he'd challenge him for that spot.)

2nd - Nico Collins, WR, Michigan. (6'4", 222 lbs.)

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(Want size, speed, and a giant catch radius? Look no further than Collins. He sat out because of Covid, and that's the only reason he's here. His speed is for real, and he's got a my-ball mentality that some tall players don't have. Maybe we could even use those slants that we did with Watkins for Collins?)

3rd (Lions) - Pete Werner, ILB, Ohio State. (6'3", 241 lbs.)

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(Given that I can't have Bolton in this mock, I'll take the guy who can also be an elite inside linebacker. Werner has it all: sideline-to-sideline speed and coverage that - while it won't look impressive - does the job, tackling, and great run-stuffing ability.)

3rd - Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State. (5'10", 184 lbs.)

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(Samuel Jr. is basically a more physical version of his father: insane ball skills, perfect in man coverage, but not the biggest player on the field and uses it as a chip on his shoulder. Sign me up.)

3rd (Chargers comp) - Trey Smith, OG, Tennessee. (6'6", 325 lbs.)

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(Smith has a medical history that we'll need to vet before he plays (he's had issues with blood clots). But a healthy Smith is one of the best offensive linemen in this draft period, and he'd be a first round pick if not for the blood clots. He's ridiculously powerful, but he's also solid as a pass-protector. Still, it's the run-blocking that gets him drafted by us - so much so that I've been tempted to mock him to us two years ago when he was a red-shirt sophomore.)

4th (Panthers) - Rondale Moore, WR/PR, Purdue. (5'9", 175 lbs.)

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(Moore is one of the most electrifying players in this year's draft, but he's also one of the biggest wildcards. Why? Because of his size and injury history. He missed a few games in his sophomore year and sat out his junior year due to Covid concerns. Still, with his blazing speed, his advanced route-running for a freshman, and his ability to return punts to the house, I'd love to have him.)

4th (Vikings, originally Bears) - Chris Rumph II, OLB/ILB, Duke. (6'3", 225 lbs.)

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(Rumph is someone that @jrry32 mentioned, and after looking at his film...I can see why. He flies all over the field, has an astounding array of pass-rushing moves, a motor that doesn't quit, etc. He's literally the perfect edge rusher, but he'll fall because he's underweight. I'd take him with a fourth.)

4th (Vikings, originally Bills) - Walker Little, OT, Stanford. (6'7", 309 lbs.)

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(Little could be an elite left tackle, but he has an injury history and sat out because of Covid concerns. He also has technique concerns. But he could be a solid left tackle for a number of years if developed properly.)

5th (Eagles, originally Cowboys) - Ar'Darius Washington, FS, Texas Christian. (5'8", 179 lbs.)

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(Washington is small, but he plays like he's 6'2", 220 lbs., much like Lamarcus Joyner did. He's not the same caliber player as Joyner (he's only a red-shirt sophomore), but he's got insane ball skills, great coverage abilities, and will let you know when he hits you.)

6th - Jamar "Boogie" Watson, OLB, Kentucky. (6'3", 250 lbs.)

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(Watson is an underrated player for Kentucky. He did struggle mightily against Mekhi Becton, but almost everyone in college football that year did, and he played great against the other competition. He needs to get more weight and strength, but for special teams and the like, he could be great right now and could develop into a starting caliber edge rusher.)

7th (Lions) - Rico Bussey Jr., WR, Hawaii. (6'2", 190 lbs.)

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(Bussey reminds me a bit of the New England slot receivers they always seem to get (and maybe a rich man's Greg Salas, if we're doing Hawaii comparisons). He has excellent short area agility and the soft hands needed to make catches. He's quite elusive in the open field, knows how to sit on zone, and he has good route running skills. He's not a great athlete who's going to blow you away, but as a special teams player, he's definitely going to give it his all.)

7th (Chargers) - Jah-Maine Martin, RB, North Carolina A&T. (5'10", 214 lbs.)

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(Martin is not a three-down back. Let's make that perfectly clear. He's a decent blocker...but he does not have the hands to be a threat in the passing game, unless we're talking screens and maybe checkdowns - and even those are iffy. But he's a big physical back who dominated at his level, has breakaway speed, and is quite scary with the ball in his hands.

Roster (starters = bold; rookies = italics):

QB - Jared Goff, Alex Smith, John Wolford.
RB - Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, Jah-Maine Martin, Raymond Calais.
WR - Robert Woods, Van Jefferson, Nico Collins, Rondale Moore, Rico Bussey Jr.
TE - Pat Freiermuth, Brycen Hopkins, Johnny Mundt.
OL - Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Austin Corbett, Trey Smith, Joseph Noteboom, Bobby Evans, Chandler Brewer, Tremayne Anchrum, Walker Little.
DL - Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Greg Gaines, Michael Hoecht, Jonah Williams.
LB - Terrell Lewis, Pete Werner, Troy Reeder, Justin Hollins, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Chris Rumph II, Jamar Watson, Micah Kiser, Travin Howard, Christian Rozeboom.
DB - Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, Asante Samuel Jr., Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp, Terrell Burgess, Ar'Darius Washington, David Long, J.R. Reed, Donte Deayon.
ST - Matt Gay, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide.

Feel free to tear my ass a new one.

News came out today that WWE Network was sold to NBC for exclusive streaming on their Peacock platform.


What does that mean? If you're an Xfinity cable or internet only subscriber (through their flex box), you get Peacock premium (the one with ads) for free, or $5/month for non-xfinity subscribers. $10/month get the ad-free version. Essentially, you get WWE and Peacock for half price with this bundle, if not free. For me, this is gonna save me $10/month. WWE Network is worth that price alone for the PPVs and everything else is just gravy. Now it's all free (sort of)!

Right now I have youtubetv because they were the least expensive platform that had the NFL Redzone channel on. Now that football season is over, I cancelled the sports package kept the tv, and I've noticed I never watch the traditional cable channels except for WWE Raw and MNF during the season.

Can someone tell me of a show that currently airs on a cable channel that is must see? The last one I watched was Vikings on History, and that is available on Prime and Hulu. I used to watch a lot of Comedy Central, now there's nothing worth watching on it. What happened to all the stand up specials? I don't watch cable news, Nick, or Disney. The movies that are TNT, FX, etc are all on the streaming platforms. My other interest is Discovery, which now has it's own platform that I'm considering.

In other words, I'm paying $65 plus tax a month to watch one episode of wrestling a week jam packed with ads or 16 MNF games.

Right now, my services on top of the internet price are:

Disney Plus
Amazon Prime
HBO Max (worth it for the movies)
WWE Network (free in a couple months)
Discovery Plus (maybe)
Youtube premium (in the event I want to watch cable news snippets or something random).
Hulu (which is free for me b/c I'm with Sprint)


All that for just above a hundred a month. WWE Raw condensed version is available on Hulu next day, and between that, the network, and youtube, I should get my fix there. So that leaves ESPN for MNF. I guess worst case is signing up for youtubetv again, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Who knows where that and NFL Redzone stand at that time.

Phew, that was longer than I wanted it to be lol. The transition is real, tho.

Probably not and it shouldn’t. But could trouble lay underground?

Look at the set up heading into 2020... they drafted Jordan Love with a first round pick...

The talk around how that pick should have been used on a “win now player”... get Rodgers a Superbowl, etc....

But the Packers came out in 2020 winning and made this “controversy“ go away.

The set up heading into the 2021 off-season...

The loss to Tampa... the Packers looked stunned. Rodgers, LeFluer... those final minutes, stunned. They expected to win.

So... Whats going thru Rodgers mind?

The decision to kick the field goal on 4th down with 2min left. Took the ball out of Rodgers hands that final play... his Championship record on the line... which now sits at 1-4.

THAT close. The Superbowl was THAT close...

Kicked a field goal.

Drafted Jordan Love.

Then Rodgers post game comments...

“A lot of guys futures that are, you know, uncertain, myself included,” Rodgers said. “That’s what’s sad about it most. . . . Just the uncertainties is tough and the finality of it all.”

I saw this article and chuckled this morning. Trade Rodgers? Really?

5 ideal Aaron Rodgers trade scenarios

NFL rumors will pick up big time over the next several weeks linking contending teams to a potential Aaron Rodgers trade after his Green Bay Packers lost in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The end of the game did not come without drama. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur made the shocking decision to kick a field goal with his team down eight points and facing a fourth-and-goal with just over two minutes remaining.

Rodgers touched on that and more in meeting with the media following Sunday’s loss, leading to speculation that he could very well be traded this offseason.

“A lot of guys futures, they’re uncertain, myself included,” Rodgers told reporters.

Green Bay’s decision to trade up for quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft could potentially expedite an Aaron Rodgers trade.

Coming off a likely NFL MVP performance during the regular season, the 37-year-old quarterback would draw a ton of interest on the trade block. Below, we look at five ideal trade scenarios.

This scenario seems too good to be true. We already know that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will be looking to upgrade at quarterback after they missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Cam Newton is going to be one-and-done in New England. And as the second-oldest head coach in the NFL, there’s very little reason to believe Belichick wants to ride a young quarterback in 2021.

A move of this ilk would likely require New England giving up the 15th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore as a starting off point. Sure the Pats have issues at the skill positions. Those issues will have to be addressed. With that said, Rodgers would change the make up of their offense in a huge way.

RAIDERS

It’s not a secret that Jon Gruden and Co. looked for a potential Derek Carr replacement ahead of the 2020 season. That included kicking the tires on both Philip Rivers and Tom Brady. While it appears that Las Vegas is committed to Carr for at least next season, Rodgers potentially being on the trade block changes things big time.

Rodgers would head to Vegas with a solid group of skill-position players, including running back Josh Jacobs and uber-talented tight end Darren Waller. The team would then need to find upgrades on defense under coordinator Gus Bradley. If that were to happen, competing with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West could be in the cards.

RAMS

We previously focused on the possibility that Los Angeles looks to move off struggling quarterback Jared Goff in a trade this offseason. Realistically, an argument can be made that he held Sean McVay and the Rams back in 2020. It’s also important to note that McVay runs an offensive similar to the one Rodgers is playing under in Green Bay.

So how would an Aaron Rodgers trade to the Rams look? First off, there’s very little reason to believe that the Packers would want Goff in return. Instead, the Rams would have to move off him in a separate trade. That’s important given that Los Angeles doesn’t boast a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft stemming from the Jalen Ramsey trade. Whatever capital they could get for Goff would then be sent to Green Bay for a package that would include next year’s first-round pick and more change.

COLTS

Philip Rivers’ decision to retire after just one season with Indianapolis changes the landscape big time for the Colts this offseason. Fresh off a playoff appearance, Frank Reich’s squad will be in the market for a veteran quarterback. Thus far, they have been linked to Carson Wentz.

Obviously, Rodgers would be an upgrade over every other option available to the Colts outside of the off-chance that the Texans trade Deshaun Watson within their own division. Indy could offer up a first-round pick in 2021 and 2022, proving itself to be conference title contenders under Rodgers for the foreseeable future.

49ers

This is the most obvious potential outcome. It is being reported that the 49ers are looking to upgrade from Jimmy Garoppolo during the offseason. In fact, they have already been linked to the biggest name on the trade block and could pull off a major blockbuster. It would be the 49ers way of bringing this Northern California native back to his roots after San Francisco passed up on Rodgers back in 2005.

The idea of teaming Rodgers up with Kyle Shanahan makes sense, too. Just imagine how well he’d perform in an offense that already boasts stud skill-position players in that of George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. It’s pretty much football porn. Expect NFL rumors to pick up in this regard a whole heck of a lot moving forward.

Preface: As most will agree, the Offense has regressed in point scoring. There are a few reasons for it. The only area where they improved over the year before was yards per carry in the Run game. And, I think this can be improved with better blocking, especially by the TE’s. On Defense, we lose the D/C which took the Rams to a #1 ranking. Since we don’t know what the new hire can do yet, I can only try to replace what players are obviously going to be lost due to negative cap balance the Rams are in. Also, will address the Return game on Special teams. There will be no room to sign anyone in house or from the outside without major cuts and restructures. I will plan on the Cap being settled at 185 million for this Mock. Rams are over the Cap at this time of approx. 21-Mil with 5-Mi carry over from last season.

Cut:

Pre-June 1 - Brian Allen, Nasimba Webster, Justin Lawler, Kendal Blanton, Donte Deayon, Colin Holba, Brandon Wright

Post-June 1 - Michael Brockers

Total savings in cuts- 11.7 Mil

Restructure:
Aaron Donald
Jalen Ramsey

Restructure savings – 23 Mil

Departng FA’s:

John Johnson III
Josh Reynolds
Leonard Floyd
Samsun Ebukam
Austin Blythe
Gerald Everett
Troy Hill
Johnny Mundt

Resign:

Morgan Fox
Malcom Brown
Darius Williams – 2nd Rnd tender
Travin Howard
Coleman Shelton
Jake McQuaid
Derek Rivers

Outside FA’s:

Daryl Willams RT – Bills


Willams was a rock for the Bills offense this year and will provide an upgrade over Havenstein. The Bills have given their LT big money and have Matt Milano to sign and he is a higher priority.


Jihad Ward DE – Ravens


Ward will provide DL rotation depth with Brockers gone. He has a similar build to Brockers but will be a slight downgrade at the poisiton, but the price is right.


Player Trade:
Rams send Rob Havenstein

Vikings send 4th Rnd (#115)


Draft:
Rams hold 8 picks at the start of the draft.

4 of their own, 3 comp, and 1 trade (Vikings)


Trades :
(trade up)

Rams send #57, #115, and 2022 4th rnd
Lions send #41

(trade up)

Rams send #88 & #101
Falcons send #68

(trade down)

Rams send #96
Vikings send #109 & #151

Rams own 7 selections after trades

Rnd 2 pick #41 Edge Jaelen Phillips - Miami
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Phillips has prototypical size for an Edge defender. He is strong at setting the edge and his hand usage is fully developed ; he is Pro ready. He falls into the second round and the Rams pull the trigger with a trade up. He is about the closest thing to replacing Leonard Floyd without spending big in free agency.


Rnd 3 pick #68 Center Josh Meyers – Ohio St
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This pick is the most obvious, Everyone seems to agree an upgrade at Center is a must for the long haul even if Austin Corbett is moved there for the 2021 season.


Rnd 3 pick #108 (Comp) WR Dazz Newsome – North Carolina
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Newsome is 5’11” – 190 lbs ; has mainly played out of the slot. But he has the speed to get behind the defense. He also is a talented punt returner. He has great change of direction, shiftiness. He can be WR4 until a legit “Deep threat” can be found to play on the outside. He provides an improvement in dynamic play making ability compared to Josh Reynolds.


Rnd 3 pick #109 (from Vikings) TE Noah Gray - Duke
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Gray provides an upgrade in blocking over Everett and Mundt. Although, at 6’4” – 240lbs, he will most likely be the move TE or H back. He will not be able to drive larger players, but he will be able to block in space and seal off larger players at the LOS. He played all over the formation for Duke, split out, inline off the LOS, in the backfield. He was the QB’s most trusted receiver in the offense.


Rnd 5 pick #151 S Reed Blankenship – Middle Tennessee St.
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Blankenship will help replenish the Safety group with the FA loss off JJ. He has great range which will allow the Rams options like moving Fuller closer to the LOS in certain packages leaving Blankenship as a single high. He has good ball skills and is a fundamentally sound tackler. He will provide speed on special teams units. I hope he doesn’t shine at the Senior Bowl so he stays under the radar.


Rnd 6 pick #205 CB Darren Hall – San Diego St
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There are other CB’s available here that are from larger schools and that are more popular. But, after watching Hall’s tape, I see a great football player. He’s great in coverage, plays with a swagger, sticks his nose in running plays, and was a productive blitzer. His play reminds me of Darius Williams. In 2019 he lead the NCAA in pass deflections, and in 2020 had 2 INT’s and 9 PD’s.


Rnd 7 pick #248 TE John Bates – Boise St
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John Bates…..who? Yes, he may be the best TE you have never heard of. The video is Zach Ertz breaking down his game. Also, he was invited to the Senior Bowl. I am not sure why nobody has this guy listed on their Big Board and/or Mock draft. For the Rams, he would be TE3, or Higbee’s back up. He can play inline, has great blocking technique in the running game. He also displays legitimate speed to get upfield, can run routes and has average to good hands. The TE room has been upgraded!

Roster:

Offense-

QB- Jared Goff, John Wolford

RB- Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown, Xavier Jones

WR- Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Dazz Newsome

TE- Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins, Noah Gray, John Bates

OL- Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Josh Meyers, Austin Corbett, Daryl Williams, Joseph Noteboom, Bobby Evans, Chandler Brewer, Tremayne Anchrum

Defense-

DL- Aaron Donald, Greg Gaines, Joseph-Day, A’Shawn Robinson, Morgan Fox, Jihad Ward

OLB- Terell Lewis, Jaelen Phillips, Obo Okoronkwo, Justin Hollins, Derek Rivers

ILB- Micah Kiser, Kenny Young, Troy Reeder, Travin Howard,

CB- Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, David Long, Darren Hall

Safety- Taylor Rapp, Jordan Fuller, Terrell Burgess, Reed Blankenship, Nick Scott

*Prepares to dodge thrown tomatoes*


Our offensive line was really poor last year and our team doubled down on the idea that they just needed time to grow. No matter where we put them this year (most metrics were high on them this year, Goff had the 10th highest average time in the pocket) they were average at worst. Blythe is the only expiring contract. Next is Corbett in 2022. I feel like Mcvay is much more likely to keep at least 3 starters on the line and maybe 4. Maybe we sign the best center on the market? But I don't think there will be much turnover until 2022 at the earliest.

With Raheem Morris joining as DC, we have some idea of what our defense might look like. Although, I can't say with total certainty that I know. I'm projecting base personnel that are similar to Pete Carroll's scheme (and also similar to Staley's). Basically, it's a hybrid between the 4-3 and 3-4 (it's a multiple scheme). Without knowing what the cap is, I'm just speculating on what we can do. I'm guessing a cap of around $190 million. With some restructures, we should have the money to do what's necessary. The one small positive of the cap not increasing this year might be that mid-tier FAs are much more affordable and more interested in one year deals. The top guys will still get paid. It's the mid-tier guys who will be looking at a lesser market. Finally, I'll note that if he's in shape, Larry Warford is still at the top of my wish list, but I already included him in my last mock, so I'm going to offer a different scenario.
Departing Free Agents
OLB Leonard Floyd
SS John Johnson III
CB Troy Hill
OL Austin Blythe
HB Malcolm Brown
TE Gerald Everett
WR Josh Reynolds
DL Morgan Fox
OLB Samson Ebukam

Resignings
LS Jake McQuaide
CB Darious Williams
ILB Travin Howard
OL Coleman Shelton
TE Johnny Mundt

Trades
Rams trade Round 2 Pick #25 and Round 3 Pick #24
Patriots trade Round 2 Pick #14 and Round 4 Pick #39

We trade up for an offensive lineman.

Rams trade Round 3 Pick #39
Vikings trade Round 4 Pick #14 and Round 4 Pick #38

We trade back with one of our two third round comp picks.

Rams trade Round 4 Pick #38
Ravens trade Round 5 Pick #28 and Round 6 Pick #27

Ravens trade up into the fourth round.

Free Agency

Tarell Basham EDGE

The Colts drafted Basham in the third round in 2017, but he only lasted two years there before they cut him. The Jets claimed him off waivers, and he has shown flashes of good play with them. We add him as a relatively cheap rotational player on the edge. He'll play behind Terrell Lewis and compete with Ogbonnia Okoronkwo for that backup spot. If Lewis gets hurt (which, unfortunately, seems likely), Basham and Okoronkwo can step in for him. I considered re-signing Samson Ebukam, but I think Basham has more upside.


Alex Smith QB

I want to make the point that this only makes sense if Alex is willing to accept a very cheap deal. Essentially, Alex comes here to mentor Goff, learn McVay's system, and start the transition to a coaching career. We gain from having an experienced backup who can be trusted in a pinch and can mentor Goff.

NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #14 - Alex Leatherwood OT/OG Alabama
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Analysis: At 6'5" 315 pounds, Leatherwood can play any position on the OL outside of Center. He offers legitimate tackle/guard versatility. He has the potential to be Whitworth's replacement and the potential to be a rookie who could start at OG and provide quality play. Leatherwood is a good but not great athlete at OT who is extremely technically proficient and possesses very good power. He has the ability to generate movement in the running game and the athleticism to make blocks on the second level and in space. In pass protection, he's difficult to beat because of his consistent technique, well-timed punches, and good anchor. To the extent he can improve there, he sometimes leans into his punches, which leaves him open to being pulled off balance or swam over. As a run blocker, he's a good positional blocker with the power to generate some movement. I wish he had more of a mean streak, though. Ultimately, Leatherwood is a polished OL prospect who lacks dominant traits but is a good all-around player.

Round 3 Pick #37 - Tony Fields II LB West Virginia
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Analysis: Let me preface this by saying that Ohio State LB Pete Werner is the guy I want most in the third round, but I think he's likely gone at this point. Fields is an undersized LB at 6'1" 220 pounds, but he possesses outstanding athleticism, four years worth of starting experience, and impressive physicality for his size. Due to his smaller stature and lack of length, he'll have trouble defeating NFL blocks, but he doesn't lack the willingness or physicality to try and play through blocks. He also has the quick-twitch athleticism to work around blocks. His instincts are quite good. Although, his lack of height occasionally causes him to take longer to find the football. He has the potential to be a starting Will LB who racks up a lot of tackles and covers well. He's a true sideline-to-sideline player. The one big area where I think he can improve is in taking better angles. He occasionally runs himself out of plays by being too aggressive.

Round 4 Pick #14 - Malcolm Koonce EDGE/SLB Buffalo
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Analysis: At 6'3" 250, Koonce will likely spend his rookie year as a rotational pass rusher and working on getting stronger to better defend the run. Koonce has the speed and flexibility to threaten the corner off the edge. He has a fairly diverse set of pass rush moves for a college player and a lot of savvy. He has long arms and active hands that he uses well to shed blocks and soften the edge. He also has the quick-twitch athleticism and footwork to win with inside moves and to get the OT out of position using stutter and jab steps. As a run defender, he has shown the ability to shed TE blocks and to set the edge against TEs, but he'll need to get bigger and stronger if he's going to set the edge against NFL OTs. Adding more power to his game also could unlock speed-to-power rushes, which would add another pass rush move to his toolbox.

Round 4 Pick #37 - Tre Nixon WR Central Florida
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Analysis: We need some speed at WR, and that's exactly what Tre Nixon brings to the table. At 6'1" 180 pounds, he has a thin frame, but he's tough to jam at the LOS due to his quickness of the LOS and varied releases. He's a skilled player who shows the agility, twitch, and loose hips to run routes at a high level. His route tree at UCF has been fairly limited, but the routes he does run look good. He is also a fairly surehanded kid who tracks the ball well over the shoulder. But the big selling point with him is that he can flat out run by CBs. He's a major deep threat. His biggest weakness is that physical CBs can knock him off his game due to his lack of strength and thin frame.

Round 5 Pick #28 - Grant Stuard LB Houston
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Analysis: Stuard only recently moved to LB for Houston. In 2019, he played as a box safety of sorts. In 2020, he moved to LB because it was how he could best help the defense. I like him a lot as a developmental LB and a core special teamer. Stuard is a fast, twitchy athlete who tackles well, brings endless energy to the field, and clearly loves football. He was the guy who got the defense lined up at Houston this year. His weaknesses (misreading his keys, taking false steps, and struggling to get off blocks) are at least partially due to his inexperience at LB. At 6'1" 225 pounds, he's a guy who has the upside to potentially develop into a starting LB and immediately brings speed, tackling, and energy to our special teams units.

Round 6 Pick #25 - Matt Bushman TE Brigham Young
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Analysis: Bushman is an intriguing TE prospect. He was considered one of the top prospects in the Draft coming into the year but suffered an Achilles injury before the season started. He's a little older (25 years old) due to him having done a mission. He has the size (6'5" 250 pounds) to play inline, but he needs to get stronger and show more physicality as a blocker. In college, he seemed content to get his hands on the defender and execute the block, rather than try to bury his man. His real value comes from his receiving skills. He's a very good athlete who has the speed to stretch the seam and the separation quickness to work underneath. But his best traits are his strong mitts and body control. He also understands how to create separation using his body and pushing off (legally).

Round 6 Pick #27 - Shawn Davis DB Florida
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Analysis: Davis is a gifted athlete at safety who can play split, single-high, or come into the box and cover the slot. He's a tad undersized at 5'11" 190, which has led to some durability issues due to his physical play. He also needs to learn to tackle better, as he tends to go for the big hit over the wrap-up tackle. Fortunately for us and unfortunately for Davis, he was misused by Florida's incompetent defensive coordinator. Had he played in a better scheme and received better coaching, he might have gone in the third or fourth round. This is a kid who will bring energy, athleticism, and hitting power to special teams. But he also has the potential to be a starting safety in the NFL.

Round 7 Pick #25 - Blake Proehl WR/PR East Carolina
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Analysis: The name should sound familiar to all of us Rams fans. He's one of Ricky Proehl's sons. Ricky, a former NFL WR Coach (a highly respected one at that), has clearly done a lot to coach Blake. At 6'1" 186 pounds, Blake has a thin frame, but he also possesses great quickness/twitch, solid speed, and outstanding hands. ECU, for some odd reason, decided to play him outside this year. I think Blake can be a lethal slot WR in the NFL. His quickness, hands, and intelligence should play quite well inside. Additionally, he's a guy who offers a lot of special teams value and should be a reliable punt returner for us. I think we'll quite enjoy developing him and Nixon behind Kupp, Woods, and Jefferson.

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Cam Akers
WR: Robert Woods
WR: Cooper Kupp
WR: Van Jefferson
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Alex Leatherwood vs. Joe Noteboom vs. Bobby Evans vs. Tremayne Anchrum
C: Austin Corbett
RG: David Edwards
RT: Rob Havenstein

SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Sebastian Joseph-Day
UT: Aaron Donald
LEO: Terrell Lewis
WLB: Travin Howard vs. Kenny Young vs. Tony Fields II
MLB: Micah Kiser v. Troy Reeder
SLB: Justin Hollins
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: Darious Williams
CB: David Long Jr. vs. Terrell Burgess
FS: Jordan Fuller
SS: Terrell Burgess vs. Taylor Rapp

K: Matt Gay
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Raymond Calais
PR: Blake Proehl

The Hawks are considering Sean's buddy Shane Waldrom as their OC. IMO this could hurt in more ways than one. They would have intimate insight into the Ram's WRs as well as McVay's scheme.

On the positive side, it should force Sean to do what I've know he must....to overhaul his whole offensive scheme.

Holmes wants to take Ray Agnew with him to Detroit. Holmes was dir. of pro scouting, and Agnew is dir of college scouting. He would be Holme's Asst. GM. That would give them two key guys to try to turn the Lions roster around quickly.

This coming season could look a whole lot different in a lot of ways offensively and defensively.

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Our boy genius Head Coach turns 35 today

I’ve been waiting all season to follow the Comp Picks.This goes all the way back to the start of McSnead.

Gerald Everett & JJ trade was pretty awesome.

Josh Reynolds was a solid 4th pick.

Ebukham-I thought would have been better & still flashes very well.

The Mcvay coaching staff & Snead with the URRFA & URF.

Now The New Rule with GM’s & coaches.Just wondering what all this brings The Rams in Draft Picks

We can still eat good today right?

My sister is down here for a volleyball tournament that my niece is playing in. My niece has to stay with the team, but my sis is coming over this afternoon.

So I'm making my homemade chicken tortilla soup. I'm about to throw two chickens on my egg to smoke beer can style. I'm using Modelo beer this time. Both yardbirds will go into the soup. It's one of my favorite things to eat. I have have this shit perfected my bois if I do say so myself. Each time I'm able to make a slight improvement though.

My daughter in law is making homemade corn tortillas and will be bringing those over. That's gonna be like the icing on the cake.

I'll take a few pics as I put this together.