Odell Beckham - WR - Giants
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports contract-year WR Odell Beckham "will not set foot on a field without a new contract."

Beckham is scheduled to make $8.459 million on the fifth and final year of his rookie deal. Following a season ruined by injury, the receiver understandably wants more security, but it is unclear if the Giants are willing to offer it. On Sunday, owner John Mara refused to rule out trading Beckham while saying he is "tired of answering questions" about the receiver's off-field behavior. While it would be a terrible move for the Giants, a Beckham trade cannot be ruled out at this point.


I'd be willing to give up our first this year and a 3rd or 4th next year if we could somehow sign Suh, extend Donald and give Beckham a new contract.


Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Mar 26 - 8:38 AM

I had Stranger Things on my list for a long time. I finally watched it, and I'm glad that I did. It was a little strange, kind of horror/fantasy/sci-fi type of show. I am not a horror fan. I never watch that genre. This show was well written well cast, and well made. I had difficulty stopping myself, from watching it all in one day.

Last year I was banging the table for Gerald Everett and I was pumped when we got him. I still think he has Jordan Reed upside as he develops. The coaches realized that and Higbee wasn't playing on third downs the back end of the year and the playoffs. If he gets a better grasp of the playbook and improves a blocker he should have a big second-year leap.

Anyways on to his year's obsession DJ Moore. I got to his tape late because I thought there was a real good chance the Rams could keep Sammy. I instantly regretted it about 30 seconds into his tape. If Harold Landry isn't there at 23 picking Moore is an easy call. Hell if the Rams thought they needed to and the price isn't too prohibitive I wouldn't mind a trade up. Moore has it all.

Moore is only 21, but has been the big man on campus since he got to Maryland as a true fresham 4 star recruit. His number aren't gaudy outside of 2017 but his market share is crazy and shows how much offense he created on his own. Last year he accounted for 52% of Marylands receiving yards and 53% of their receiving touchdowns. He did this all with a rotation of abysmal QBs in a bad offense. He played with 4 different QBs last year in his best season and still dominated. Oh and he can also throw the ball on gadget plays (3-5 career passer), run the ball out of the backfield or on sweeps, and he is a dangerous returner. He will make you miss he forced 39 missed tackles on 146 career receptions. If you like the advanced metrics even though he was one of the most targetted WRs he was still 16th in yards per route.

Rams just lost Sammy Watkins one of the more athletic WRs in recent memory. Moore has identical size but is an even better athlete. Both are a sturdy 6'0 210 pounds with blazing identical 4.43 40 times. Quickness, once again they have 6.95 3 cone drill which is average. However, Moore has a well above average 4.07 20 yard shuttle while Watkins has a below average 4.34. Explosiveness? Moore's 39.5 vertical 90th percentile of all WRs Watkins 34' is in the 34th percentile. Watkins well above average in the 83rd percentile with a 126" broad and Moore is in the 96th percentile with 132". All of that accounts for a 137.4 Sparq score which places him in the 97.1 percentile of all NFL WRs. Size, speed, quickness, explosiveness. Elite.

With Watkins leaving the Rams are missing an elite downfield threat with strong hands. Watkins primarily lined up as the split end, but also got snaps in the slot and in bunch formations. Watkins route tree was mainly slants, post, drags, hitches, and go routes. Moore had similar usage with some Tavon gadget stuff thrown in. As McVay would say Moore "can win on all 3 levels of the field." On the short level, he catches drags and screens and is one of the best after catch consistently gaining chunk gains on short passes. In the intermediate level he isn't afraid to go over the middle and for the most part, displays strong hands. He can sit in zones over the middle or generate an explosive burst out his cuts in deep outbreaking routes. Downfield you would like to see him win more contested jump ball situations, but he still has examples on tape where goes up and gets the ball while displaying outstanding body control to land in bounds. With his YAC ability, route running skill, and ability to win on all 3 levels he can be Sammy Watkins plus. Moore compliments the current group of weapons perfectly and would round out the most exciting young group of skill position players in the nfl with every player 25 or younger.

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http://www.draftsharks.com/article/dynasty-prospect-profile--d-j--moore
http://www.profootballweekly.com/2018/03/17/nfl-draft-profile-no-40-maryland-wr-d-j-moore/a2c3zie/
https://sports.yahoo.com/biggest-draft-movers-combine-monitor-fantasy-football-223540571.html
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/d.j.-moore?id=2560231
http://www.draftscout.com/members/ratings/tsx_profile.php?pyid=1003116

Let's see....

1. How bad will you suck this season?
2. How many picks will Wilson throw when you play the Rams?
3. Would you say the Rams will score more than 40 points against you or less than 50?

OK - This Seattle reporter has a different list.

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...awks-as-they-head-to-the-nfl-league-meetings/

Analysis: Three questions for the Seahawks heading into the NFL league meetings
Originally published March 25, 2018 at 3:06 pm Updated March 25, 2018 at 3:45 pm

Earl Thomas warms up at AT&T Stadium for a game last season at Dallas. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)

Pete Carroll and John Schneider figure to get a few questions tossed their way this week in Orlando. Here's our view of what might be the three most pressing.
By
Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Schneider and other team execs headed to Orlando this weekend for the NFL’s annual meetings, which run until Wednesday.

While the league meetings often elicit a flurry of rumors, they also serve as something of a break in the free agent signing process with the big-ticket players mostly accounted for and teams now on to the second- and third-wave guys who will mostly get one-year prove-it deals.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t still a lot of questions hovering over the Seahawks.

Here’s a look at a few that Carroll and Schneider may get asked this week in Orlando and our attempt at an answer.

Q: Are the Seahawks really going to trade Earl Thomas?
A: As Thomas himself said Friday, nobody knows and for now it’s a guessing game. The Seahawks are known to have talked to teams about Thomas. In Orlando, those talks could increase as every coach and GM will (or usually is, anyway) in attendance, and maybe meeting face-to-face will spur action — or possibly convince the Seahawks they really aren’t going to get the kind of offers they’d like (essentially, a package including at least first-round pick or its equivalent).

Thomas took to Twitter Saturday to state he’d like to stay in Seattle and someday have his number retired. But that desire is only really meaningful if it leads to agreeing to the kind of extension the team is comfortable giving him.

One thought for why Seattle continues to pursue offers for Thomas is the regret the team likely has for the third contracts it gave Marshawn Lynch, Michael Bennett and Kam Chancellor — Lynch and Bennett were long gone before the contracts ended (and Bennett technically before his final contract even began) and Chancellor probably will be.


Another is the Richard Sherman situation a year ago. Recall it was at the league meetings in Phoenix last March when Schnieder and Carroll each acknowledged that Sherman was available. Ultimately, he stayed put, only for the team to then release him this year and get nothing in return.

Seattle seems determined to make an aggressive decision to assure it gets something for one of its most valuable assess this time around — or assures that he stays in the fold long-term but with the kind of contract that won’t hamstring the team down the road.

Q: Are the Seahawks really rebuilding?
A: An initial thought is that neither Carroll nor Schneider would ever publicly admit to rebuilding, and it’s hard to imagine that Carroll would ever really let that seep into his thoughts anyway — this is a coach who got to the second round of the playoffs in his first year with a team that finished 7-9.

Also, any NFL team with an elite in-his-prime quarterback — and Seattle undeniably has one in Russell Wilson — has a chance.

But the Seahawks have admittedly sent some mixed signals this offseason about what direction they think they are heading.

The offloading of veterans such as Sherman and Bennett and the possibility that Chancellor and Cliff Avril never play again — as well as the talk of trading Thomas — certainly give the look of a team that if not starting over, is at least retooling.

Conversely, while it was thought that the Seahawks might not do much in free agency so they could load up on 2019 compensatory draft picks, they have signed enough free agents in the last few week-and-a-half that at the moment they would not qualify for any, according to OvertheCap.com.

Seattle has signed six free agents who qualify for the compensatory pick formula while losing five, a group of signees that includes 33-year-old defensive tackle Tom Johnson and 30-year-old tight end Ed Dickson, each of whom if the season began today might well start. And the Seahawks were also thought to be seriously interested in 31-year-old defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, though logically that appears out the window now.

Still, all are the kind of moves that seem to indicate a team still doing what it can to win now.

Seattle, though, also has kept its spending in check enough that it is set up well for the coming seasons.

While the Seahawks don’t have a lot of cap space for this season — according to OvertheCap.com they have just over $14 million for 2018, 19th most among NFL teams — they have the fifth-most cap space for 2019 and fourth-most in 2020.

So maybe the Seahawks are just doing what they’ve professed to always be trying to do — maximizing today while not forgetting about tomorrow.

Q: Do the Seahawks have any other really big moves up their sleeve other than whatever may happen with Thomas?
A: Maybe not. Some may question doing nothing significant to add to the offensive line other than signing free agent D.J. Fluker, apparently to play right guard. But the Seahawks might argue the big move made on the line was firing coach Tom Cable and replacing him with Mike Solari. They might also argue the same for the offense as a whole (firing coordinator Darrell Bevell and replacing him with Brian Schottenheimer). And the defense has already undergone a ton of change.

And with limited cap space for 2018 and few big-name free agents left, most of the roster building that is left at this point figures to be done through the draft.

That’s where it gets a little tricky, though.

Seattle has the 18th pick in the first round but then nothing until number 120 in the fourth.

Schneider said at the Combine a few weeks ago the Seahawks would explore options to add picks in the second or third rounds — which are held on the second day of the draft, which this year is April 26-28.

Trading Thomas would undoubtedly add to the team’s 2018 draft capital, and also allow them to make more moves if they wanted.

For now, that appears the biggest question left to answer.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...osal-getting-24-votes/?utm_term=.fdb85ddcfb5f

A new NFL catch rule faces one final obstacle at this week’s NFL owners meeting



by Mark Maske March 25 at 8:00 AM NFL’s competition committee finalizes its catch rule proposal ]

Any rule-change proposal requires 24 votes from the 32 owners to be ratified. It stands to reason that the catch rule proposal will generate the necessary 24 votes given that Goodell has publicly called for a new rule and the competition committee spent weeks painstakingly going over video of past catches — and non-catches — to formulate the wording it hopes will satisfy what the game’s participants and onlookers want.

But Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay, the chairman of the competition committee, was making no predictions about how seamless or stressful the approval process might be.

“I really don’t know what to anticipate,” McKay said in a conference call with reporters Friday.

The committee’s proposal says that a receiver, to be awarded a legal catch, must have control of the football with two feet (or another body part) on the ground in bounds, then must perform a football act such as taking another step or reaching the football toward the goal line or first-down marker, or must be deemed to have been able to do that.

The proposal eliminates the previous requirement that a player who goes to the ground while making a catch maintain possession of the football while on the turf, while saying that any slight movement of the football in the receiver’s hands detected via instant replay will not result in an incompletion as long as the receiver maintains control.

[ NFL owners to discuss national anthem policy at league meeting but no vote planned ]

Another proposal to be considered would limit defensive pass interference penalties to, at most, 15 yards. The proposal, made by the New York Jets, contains a provision that pass interference penalties deemed intentional or egregious would result in the football being placed at the spot of the penalty, as is the case for all such calls.

Supporters of the proposal say it would reduce the chances of a game being decided on a questionable call that penalizes a defense 50 or 60 yards. Detractors say that NFL defensive backs are savvy enough to know when to take a penalty to avoid giving up a long catch or a touchdown.

Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, acknowledged that concern during Friday’s conference call but also said the proposal seems to have some momentum behind it. However, the proposal would face long odds to be ratified if it is not endorsed by the competition committee. Rule-change proposals made by individual teams usually are not approved without the committee’s backing. McKay declined to say Friday whether the committee will endorse this proposal.

The owners, in all, will consider 10 rule proposals, 12 bylaw proposals and four resolution proposals. Among the others are:

Touchbacks … The competition committee is proposing to make the rule that places the football on the 25-yard line on a touchback on a kickoff, previously enacted on a temporary basis, permanent.

Instant replay … The Los Angeles Chargers are proposing to make roughing-the-passer and defenseless-player personal fouls reviewable by replay. The Washington Redskins are proposing to make all personal fouls reviewable. These are not endorsed by the competition committee, which always has been against making judgment calls by the on-field officials reviewable, and are thus highly unlikely to be approved.

Ejections … The committee is proposing to empower the league’s officiating department in New York to instruct on-field officials to eject a player, following an instant replay review, for a flagrant non-football act after a play. This would have applied, for example, to last season’s late hits by the New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Mike Evans, for which each was later were suspended after not being ejected. This proposal would not apply to anything that happens during a play, and the review could take place only if the officials on the field called a penalty. The competition committee opted against proposing a college-style targeting rule that would have brought replay into a decision over whether to eject a player for an illegal hit during a play.

Challenges … The committee is proposing to limit coaches to 40 seconds to decide whether to issue an instant replay challenge even when there is a longer break between plays, as when there is a television commercial break.

Tablets … The committee is proposing to allow coaches to view video on league-issued tablets on the sideline and in the coaches’ booth during games.

Locker rooms … The San Francisco 49ers are proposing that, by 2021, all NFL stadiums be required to have separate locker rooms for female coaches on each team and female game officials.

Coaching hires … The committee is proposing that teams be permitted to hire head coaches from the staff of a team that’s still in the postseason. The hiring could be officially completed and announced, but the coach could not begin working for his new team until after his current one is eliminated. That comes after the Indianapolis Colts waited until after this year’s Super Bowl to hire Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, only to have McDaniels change his mind after accepting a deal but before signing the contract.

In addition to rules proposals, the owners are to discuss the national anthem policy, but no vote on possible changes to it is scheduled. If there are to be changes to the anthem policy, they could come at the owners’ next meeting in May in Atlanta. The pending sale of the Carolina Panthers also could be considered by the owners at the May meeting, if it’s completed by then.

The above schedule is from 2017, just what do you think the schedule will actually be in 2018!! I'll show you mine, If you'll show me yours!!

* Week #1 - Rams @ 49ers ( Away)
* Week #2 - Rams @ Chicago ( Away)
* Week #3 - Rams vs Green Bay ( Home)
* Week #4 - Rams vs Arizona ( Home)
* Week #5 - Rams @ Detroit ( Away)
* Week #6 - Rams vs Kansas City ( Home / "Mexico City)
* Week #7 - Bye Week
* Week #8 - Rams @ Seattle ( Away)
* Week #9 - Rams vs Chargers ( Home)
* Week #10 - Rams @ New Orleans ( Away)
* Week #11 - Rams @ Oakland ( Away)
* Week #12 - Rams vs 49ers ( Home)
* Week #13 - Rams vs Minn. ( Home)
* Week #14 - Rams @ Denver (Away)
* Week #15 - Rams vs Philly ( Home)
* Week #16 - Rams @ Arizona (Away)
* Week #17 - Rams vs Seattle (Home)

This is my best Guess! What's yours!? Or Just " Rip-Mine-Apart!":mrburnsevil:

Seeing that we are likely in the linebacker market come draft day, I found this an interesting read.

———

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft...ck-shedding-and-everything-to-know-about-lbs/

2018 NFL Draft rankings: Speed, block-shedding and everything to know about LBs

The linebacker spot is one of the best groups in the 2018 draft class, and that's not just because of Roquan Smith and Tremaine Edmunds.

There are three or four more high-quality off-ball linebacker prospects who'll likely be picked in one of the first two rounds and will become solid NFLplayers.

Below I've ranked each of the consensus top off-ball linebackers in the qualities I deem most necessary to be successful at those positions in the pros (listed in order of importance). I've also added one player who should be available a bit later in the draft who excels at each particular trait.

Other installments in this series: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Offensive Tackles, Interior Offensive Linemen, Edge-Rushers, Defensive Tackles

Sideline-to-sideline speed

1. Roquan Smith
2. Leighton Vander Esch
3. Malik Jefferson
4. Tremaine Edmunds
5. Darius Leonard
6. Rashaan Evans

Smith ran 4.51 at slightly over 6-foot and 236 pounds, and he plays that fast on the field. Many of his impact plays came when he ranged from his spot in the middle of Georgia's defense to the sideline on either an outside run or wide receiver screen. Vander Esch also flies to the football, although he doesn't look as fast because he's a tall, long-strider. Jefferson gets to the perimeter in a hurry, and the same can be said about Edmunds. Leonard doesn't lack in the athleticism department whatsoever, and is more than capable of making plays on the outside. Evans has plus physical gifts too.

Sleeper:Jerome Baker

At 6-foot-1 and 229 pounds, Baker has to be a speedy linebacker to win consistently, and he's exactly that. At Ohio State, he looks like what's become the norm at the collegiate and professional ranks: a large safety playing linebacker.

Coverage skills

1. Leonard
2. Smith
3. Vander Esch
4. Edmunds
5. Evans
6. Jefferson

Leonard is terrific smoothly following running backs out of the backfield and tight ends down the seam. He's a keenly aware, fluid athlete with plus long speed. Changing direction is not a problem for him, which also helps in coverage. Smith demonstrated tight coverage at Georgia often because of supreme athletic talents and route-recognition skills. Vander Esch is good in zone, where his length and speed are best utilized. Edmunds has insane coverage upside, yet his recognition skills are a tick slow when moving backward. Evans and Jefferson are the most effective making plays close to the line of scrimmage yet neither are heavy footed.

Sleeper: Skai Moore

Moore intercepted 14 passes -- at least three each year -- during his productive, four-year career at South Carolina and knocked down six other throws. He's a choppy mover but gets from point A to point B quickly. He's quick to drop into zone down the seam and react to what he's seeing from the quarterback in the pocket.

Tackling reliability

1. Smith
2. Vander Esch
3. Evans
4. Edmunds
5. Leonard
6. Jefferson

Smith is as sure of a tackler as they come, and his film is littered with big hits and, more importantly, textbook wrap-up takedowns. Vander Esch is a reliable tackler on plays near the line of scrimmage, where a large portion of his tackles are made. Evans and Edmunds will miss a tackle occasionally, but not frequently enough for it to be considered an issue. Leonard's tackling skills are good too, and he packs plenty of power when he gets to the ball-carrier. Jefferson flies all over the field, and his immense speed leads to a fair amount of whiffs when he gets in perfect position.

Sleeper: Chris Worley

Mostly a between-the-tackles playmaker who's kind of a throwback linebacker, Worley is super consistent when he gets his hands on an offensive player who's holding the football.

Block-shedding

1. Smith
2. Leonard
3. Evans
4. Edmunds
5. Vander Esch
6. Jefferson

To me, the ability to shed blocks separates the good linebackers from the superstars. Smith has a plan when blockers approach, often initiating contact to keep himself from being driven backward. Even when long-armed offensive linemen get into his frame, he is violent enough with his hand use to shed quickly to get in the running lane. Leonard too is aggressive on his shedding attempts, and it typically pays off. The rest of the players in this group struggle to disengage from blockers, the lone, clear-cut knock on their games.

Sleeper: Jason Cabinda

Like Smith and Evans, Cabinda isn't afraid of contact, and he's not shy about asserting his will on bigger offensive linemen in his assigned gap. At times, his jolt surprises blockers and leads to the Penn State linebacker having an easy route to the ball-carrier.

Pass-Rushing/Blitzing

1. Evans
   
2. Edmunds
3. Jefferson
4. Smith
5. Leonard
6. Vander Esch

Evans' pass-rushing skill comes mainly on the edge, where he was used by Nick Saban. His suddenness and hand use allow him to create a fair amount of pressure around the corner. Edmunds and Jefferson can overwhelm interior blockers by converting speed to power on A-gap blitzes. Edmunds could see some time on the edge too at 6-4 and nearly 260 pounds. Because Smith is smaller, his impact as a blitzer mostly comes from his agility and aggressive hands to work past offensive linemen. Leonard's high-cut frame doesn't help him as a blitzer. His springy athleticism does. Vander Esch isn't as powerful as you'd expect at 6-4 and 256 when sent on blitzes up the middle.

Sleeper: Micah Kiser

Kiser looks like an old-school linebacker... compact, strong, and effective between the tackles. He thrived as a run-stopper and was used frequently as an inside blitzer. His low center of gravity, deceptive athleticism, and upper body strength allow him to create disruption in the backfield.

Scheme Fits
Middle Linebacker

1. Smith
2. Vander Esch
3. Evans
4. Leonard
5. Edmunds
6. Jefferson

Smith is ready to be the quarterback of a defense and run with tight ends down the seam. Vander Esch's combination of range, coverage experience and size would translate to well to a spot in the middle. Evans is your classic Alabama linebacker with a bit more athleticism than we saw from the likes of Reggie Ragland, who was a second-round pick in 2016 and turned in a quality run-stopping season in 2017. Leonard has the skills to play in the middle but would probably be best utilized more on the outside, and the rawness that Edmunds and Jefferson display getting off blocks would create issues at middle linebacker.

Sleeper:Cabinda

From his non-stop motor, to his block-shedding ability, good speed and deceptive change-of-direction skills, Cabinda seems like a classic middle linebacker with just enough athleticism to stick in today's souped-up, pass-happy NFL. If he sheds a few pounds to get a tick faster, that'd probably help him, but he's a smart second-level defender who was productive in his three years as a starter with the Nittany Lions.

Weakside Linebacker

1. Edmunds
2. Smith
3. Vander Esch
4. Jefferson
5. Leonard
6. Evans

With Edmunds's linear speed and ridiculous length, he's the new-age physical prototype at the weakside spot, which is a position typically played by the most athletic linebacker on the defense, someone who can be a tackling machine if kept "clean" from mobile blockers. Despite their difference in size, both Smith and Vander Esch could be 125-plus tackle linebackers in a weakside role, and although he can play a bit high, making him a bigger target for offensive linemen, Leonard's athletic gifts would bode well as a run-and-chase linebacker. Evans would probably be best inside

Sleeper: Dorian O'Daniel

One of my favorite prospects in the entire class -- my No. 31 overall prospect -- O'Daniel is a fast, agile, reliable tackler who's proficient in zone coverage defender and a productive blitzer. The former Clemson standout is the exact type of player a team should want at weakside linebacker.

Strongside Linebacker

1. Evans
2. Edmunds
3. Vander Esch
4. Jefferson
5. Leonard
6. Smith

Given his flashes of impressive edge-rushing skills and overall physical nature, Evans is the best strongside linebacker prospect of this group -- a position typically shifted closer to the line of scrimmage in under fronts. He's athletic enough to handle some coverage responsibilities too. Edmunds's mammoth frame and explosiveness would make a fine candidate for a "SAM" role in the NFL. The same can be applied to the comparably sized Vander Esch. Jefferson isn't small by any stretch at over 6-foot-2 and 235-plus pounds. Leonard and Smith are middle or weakside 'backers.

Sleeper: Fred Warner

Warner has the size -- over 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds -- and toughness to be a team's primary strongside linebacker. While he was involved with many tackles near the line of scrimmage and has quality range, he's also capable of flipping his hips and getting downfield in coverage. The BYU alum is one of the draft's sleepers likely best at weakside or strongside in the NFL.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/sto...ncy-ranking-top-25-potential-free-agents-2019

Ranking the top 25 potential NFL free agents for 2019

The 2018 NFL free-agent market is one week old, and already most of the top players are spoken for. As of Wednesday morning, nearly 80 of our top 100 free agents had signed contracts or agreed to terms. Naturally, then, it's time to turn the page and look ahead to ... the 2019 market.

It's not easy to project the makeup of next year's class knowing that some players will sign early contract extensions and others will receive the franchise tag. But the future market grew in relevance when quarterback Kirk Cousins and cornerback Trumaine Johnson signed massive deals last week after fending off early extension offers and previous franchise tags.

What follows is a ranking of the top 25 players whose contracts will expire after this season. Will any of them follow the Cousins-Johnson example? Consider this the first installment in a yearlong evolution of the 2019 class.

Note: Ages listed as heading into the 2019 season.

1. Matt Ryan, QB
Current team: Atlanta Falcons | Age entering 2019 season: 34

It's widely assumed that the Falcons will retain Ryan, even if it hurts -- much as their division foes in New Orleans have done for years with Drew Brees. That would mean a massive extension in the next 11 months, one that surpasses Cousins' $28 million annual average and possibly his $84 million in full guarantees as well. Cousins was entering his age-30 season when he hit free agency, but teams would still fall over themselves to sign a 34-year-old Ryan if they had a chance.

2. Aaron Donald, DT
Team: Los Angeles Rams | 2019 age: 28

The 2017 Defensive Player of the Year held out last summer in hopes of a new deal. He didn't get one and is set to play in 2018 on a fifth-year option worth $6.892 million. Now the Rams will try to get him signed ahead of his contract expiration. Will they face consequences for their too-low offers last year?

3. Khalil Mack, DE/LB
Team: Oakland Raiders | 2019 age: 28

Mack is set to play this season on a $13.846 million fifth-year option. Other than quarterbacks, there are no positions more pursued in the market than edge rushers. (Note that not a single dominant rusher actually hit the market in 2018.) Mack is a two-time All-Pro, was the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and has 36.5 sacks over the past three seasons.

4. Odell Beckham Jr., WR
Team: New York Giants | 2019 age: 26

Beckham has struggled with maturity issues and injuries at various points in his career. But offensive playmakers of his stature rarely hit the market, blemishes or not. If the Giants seek a "behavior" discount, or they decide against a franchise tag, Beckham would be hotly pursued.

5. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE/LB
Team: Dallas Cowboys | 2019 age: 27

The Cowboys gave Lawrence their franchise tag, worth $17.143 million, after a 14.5-sack season. He's young enough to play it out and see if Dallas can stomach another short-term, high-cap season -- or if the Cowboys let him explore free agency next year.

6. Taylor Lewan, LT
Team: Tennessee Titans | 2019 age: 28

This year's market showed us what even a slightly above-average left tackle is worth on the open market when the Giants guaranteed Nate Solder $34.8 million as part of a four-year deal worth up to $62 million. Lewan, a two-time Pro Bowl player, is set to play in 2018 on a $9.341 million fifth-year option.

7. Zack Martin, G
Team: Dallas Cowboys | 2019 age: 28

Martin, who is set to play this season on a $9.341 million fifth-year option, just learned the floor of what he would be worth on the open market. As the best guard in football, Martin would get a bump off the five-year, $66.5 million deal that Andrew Norwell signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. There isn't much reason to rush into a deal now.

8. Jadeveon Clowney, DE/LB
Team: Houston Texans | 2019 age: 26

Also set to play on his fifth-year option, worth $13.846 million, Clowney was beset by injuries earlier in his career. But he has missed only two games over the past two seasons, and again, two words: edge rush.

9. Danielle Hunter, DE
Team: Minnesota Vikings | 2019 age: 24

As a third-round pick, Hunter isn't restricted by a fifth-year option. And because he left school early, he'll be eligible for free agency well before he turns 25. With his youth and evolving skills, Hunter is a prime candidate to wait out a year or two on the franchise tag.

10. Ezekiel Ansah, DE
Team: Detroit Lions | 2019 age: 30

The Lions thought enough of Ansah to protect him with the $17.143 million franchise tag this season. But his age and previous inconsistency might make him a year-to-year player.

11. Frank Clark, DE
Team: Seattle Seahawks | 2019 age: 26

After entering the NFL amid a series of incidents that got him kicked off the Michigan football team, Clark has proved to be a reliable pass-rusher. He has 19 sacks over the past two seasons.

12. Landon Collins, S
Team: New York Giants | 2019 age: 25

His age, and the rise of the big safety as key schematic leverage, makes Collins an intriguing candidate to push for eventual free agency.

13. David Johnson, RB
Team: Arizona Cardinals | 2019 age: 27

In free agency, NFL teams value versatile running backs among all else. Johnson is an excellent receiver, as demonstrated by an 80-catch season in 2016. After missing all but one game in 2017 because of a wrist injury, he could push his value higher with a strong season in his contract year.

14. Le'Veon Bell, RB
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers | 2019 age: 27

Although he is about the same age as Johnson, Bell would enter the 2019 market with considerably more wear and tear. At the moment, he's set to play under the franchise tag ($14.5 million this season) for the second consecutive year in Pittsburgh.

15. Jake Matthews, LT
Team: Atlanta Falcons | 2019 age: 27

Any starting left tackle on the open market would receive massive interest. Matthews, who is set to play under a fifth-year option worth $12.496 million, has made all but one start for the Falcons over the past four seasons.

16. Tyrod Taylor, QB
Team: Cleveland Browns | 2019 age: 30

It's assumed that the Browns will use Taylor as a short-term starter until the quarterback they draft in April is ready to assume control. Taylor will earn $16 million this season and could be the best available player at the most important position next offseason, assuming Ryan is off the market.

17. Nick Foles, QB
Team: Philadelphia Eagles | 2019 age: 30

Did Foles' 2017 postseason rekindle leaguewide evaluations of him as a potential starter? Or will he be considered a backup who matched perfectly with his coach and team in a critical situation? The quarterback crop at the moment is lean enough for these questions to be relevant.

18. Grady Jarrett, DT
Team: Atlanta Falcons | 2019 age: 26

A fifth-round draft choice in 2015, Jarrett has developed into a serious interior disruptor. He unofficially had 15 tackles for loss in 2017, which are Aaron Donald-type numbers, and should cost the Falcons a premium if they want to keep him off the market.

19. Anthony Barr, LB
Team: Minnesota Vikings | 2019 age: 27

Linebackers in a 4-3 scheme don't usually put up big pass-rush numbers, and Barr has 10.5 sacks in four seasons. He also has struggled at times with injuries and inconsistent effort, but overall he is a big (6-foot-5, 255 pounds) and fast playmaker who can fit any number of scheme priorities. He is set to play under a $12.306 million fifth-year option in 2018.

20. Kelvin Benjamin, WR
Team: Buffalo Bills | 2019 age: 28

A former first-round draft pick who was traded in his fourth season -- and has only one 1,000-yard season in his career -- might not appear to be a popular target. But after seeing what Sammy Watkins -- another big, somewhat disappointing former first-round pick -- received from the Kansas City Chiefswith $30 million in full guarantees, it's easy to envision Benjamin's market. (Watkins will earn $48 million over the three-year deal.)

21. Jarvis Landry, WR
Team: Cleveland Browns | 2019 age: 26

Traded from the Dolphins to the Browns, Landry remains under the terms of a $15.982 million franchise tag. He could have a tough time matching the numbers he produced in Miami -- an average of 100 catches per season -- in the Browns' transitioning offense, but he would have suitors regardless.

22. Lamarcus Joyner, S
Team: Los Angeles Rams | 2019 age: 28

Carrying the franchise tag in 2018 at a cost of $11.287 million, Joyner has developed into a strong playmaker. It's worth noting that safeties haven't received much attention in the 2018 market.

23. Stefon Diggs, WR
Team: Minnesota Vikings | 2019 age: 25

Although he has had some struggles with injuries, Diggs has proved capable in the full range of receiver roles -- from the mundane short passes to game-changing deep routes in the playoffs. He caught a career-high eight touchdown passes in 2017.

24. Martavis Bryant, WR
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers | 2019 age: 27

Two suspensions for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy will force a serious vetting effort if and when he ever reaches the market. But in a vacuum, Bryant's talent makes him an intriguing target. Those looking for a safer receiver might prefer Diggs or the Panthers' Devin Funchess.

25. Kwon Alexander, LB
Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2019 age: 25

A 2017 Pro Bowl selection, Alexander has been a tackling machine for the Buccaneers over the past three seasons. He's also a bit more productive in pass coverage than other potential targets.

Honorable mentions

• Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina Panthers
• Eric Kendricks, LB, Minnesota Vikings
• Sheldon Richardson, DT, Minnesota Vikings
• Tyrann Mathieu, S, Houston Texans
• Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ason-and-eric-reid-could-be-a-big-reason-why/

Safeties aren't getting paid this offseason, and Eric Reid could be a big reason why

By and large, free agency in the NFL played out this month in the exact opposite manner of how it transpired in baseball. Teams with abundant cap space dove into the deep end of the financial pool before the markets even officially opened at the start of the league year, and dozens of marginal players received handsome compensation. Within days, the top talent was off the market.

Well, except for the safety position. Things look a lot more like Major League Baseball in terms of the way the market has unfolded, or, frankly, failed to unfold. This offseason in MLB was about a slow, patience-testing waiting game between teams and free agents, with long-term deals difficult to come by, with the market far softer than we had seen in recent years and with elite players going far into spring training without a new team. Words like collusionwere tossed around here and there, and the MLBPA and agent community believed something fishy might be going on.

And some of that same sort of chatter is going around in football circles, but on a far more position-specific basis. Agents for quality safeties -- guys who have been productive and healthy for the most part and who aren't at the end of their careers -- are getting beyond frustrated at the stagnant market, with salaries in a holding pattern at best. Several have reached out to the NFLPA to vent, I'm told, and are casting a jaundiced eye at NFL teams who seem to have strikingly similar financial evaluations on their players.

Bottom line is that at a time when the passing game is all the rage and middling quarterbacks along with receivers and corners are reaping massive contracts, safeties are having a difficult time getting legit offers, much less making a buck.

It's pretty bizarre. Even guys who can make plays on the ball are being largely shut out or limited to no-frills negotiations at a time when even running backs and two-down inside linebackers have gotten paid. There has been almost no movement at this position, and guys like Eric Reid (age 26), Kenny Vaccaro (27), Tre Boston (25), and Ron Parker (30) all still trying to find work, to say nothing of a group of older veterans who have still performed at a high level in recent years, like Corey Graham, Darius Butler and Reggie Nelson.

"We're barely even getting phone calls, and we're not the only ones," said one agent who is involved in the safety market. "You can't even get (BS) offers. We're literally getting nothing. I'm not even talking one year, $3 million. Nothing. And it's not just us."

Indeed, league sources indicated that several of the best remaining safeties on the market have been in communication with one another, sharing their experiences and trying to figure out what the heck is going on. Parker, Vaccaro, Reid and others have spoken about the fact that they can't seem to find a market, with different theories being espoused as to why. Going back to the combine it seems teams were taking a hardline stance on around $5 million to $7 million per year on safeties, and no one was getting close to what they had originally hoped for. The safety who did the best, actually, didn't do a thing, as the Rams placed the franchise tag on Lamarcus Joyner, which will earn him more than $11 million in 2018.

Kurt Coleman got a deal quickly with New Orleans after he was cut by Carolina last month -- he didn't have to wait for the league year to open to officially sign -- but that three-year, $16 million was an outlier. Morgan Burnetthad aimed for $10 million and couldn't get $5 million per year on a three-year deal with the Steelers. Tyrann Mathieu had hoped to reach around that figure as well when he turned down an offer to stay in Arizona on a reduced salary and ended up getting from the Texas $7 million on just a one-year deal, roughly half of what he was set to make originally in 2018.

That $7 million figure is the highest annual value for a safety this offseason, with 45 players at other positions bettering it on the open market, while 44 non-safeties got deals worth more than Coleman's max value. Only two safeties got over $5 million per year thus far at a time when receivers like Donte Moncrief are getting double that.

There are a few mitigating circumstances. Reid is a former first-round pick who has played well enough to warrant a contract, whether back with the 49ers or elsewhere, but as one of the more prominent players to have joined Colin Kaepernick in his peaceful pre-game demonstrations in San Francisco, this was always going to be a tricky market for him. Trust me, Kaepernick's legal team is watching Reid's situation very closely as it may possibly pertain to their ongoing collusion grievance against the NFL, and if Reid, too, is systematically ignored by needy teams, it will certainly raise more probing questions as to how much of this is really about football. Reid reportedly told ESPN that he does not plan to protest during the national anthem in 2018.

Agents for other safeties believe that teams may be ignoring much of the entire position group -- and other younger safeties overall -- as a means of not just singling Reid out, himself. It may not be as obvious that Reid is blackballed if there are a handful of similar players who can nary get a phone call from a team with stated interest in them, and if all anyone seems to be willing to pay, hypothetically, is around $4 million per year. At various times this offseason clubs like the Packers, Browns, Bucs and Cowboys have been sniffing around on safeties, and, boy, there are still plenty of them to choose from. Twenty-five remain on the market as we speak.

"It feels like, with Eric Reid in the market, and teams not wanting to touch him, that a lot of other safeties are also being held down," the agent said. "Instead of anybody getting $8 million to $9 million per year, no one is getting it."

Perhaps this market will open up some next week with all owners, coaches and general managers huddled together in Orlando at the annual spring meeting. There is also the specter of a potential trade for Seattle All-Pro Earl Thomas -- the best safety in the game, when healthy -- that could be somewhat hampering the free agent market. Thomas is available (the initial asking price was high: a first- and third-round pick) and the Seahawks have engaged with several teams about him, and Thomas wants a healthy new deal wherever he goes, I'm told.

So perhaps a few teams are holding out for him, and keeping that cash and cap aside for Thomas should they land him. But it's pretty clear that an abundance of options remains at this one particular position group long after most others have been thoroughly picked through and cleaned out. All eyes will remain on Reid, and whether he meets the same free-agent reality that has befallen Kaepernick, and the conversations between these young safeties will continue as they wait and wonder if and when they'll get paid anything close to their originally expected market value.

Let's assume the best case scenario where the Rams land Suh and Galette. Here's what I might do from there.
Trades
Rams trade Round 1 Pick #23, Round 4 Pick #35, and Round 6 Pick #24
Browns trade Round 2 Pick #4, Round 2 Pick #32, and QB Cody Kessler

The Browns are looking for a CB to pair with T.J. Carrie and E.J. Gaines. It looks likely that there will be a CB run near the end of the 1st, so the Browns trade up to land Josh Jackson or Jaire Alexander, both of whom are great fits for GW's scheme. We also throw in a 6th to get Cody Kessler to compete with Sean Mannion for our backup QB job. Trader Les continues to be active, especially with Harold Landry going before Pick #23.

NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #4 - Anthony Miller WR Memphis
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Analysis: This is a different take from my last mock in case McVay decides that he'd like to draft a WR to replace Watkins. Miller is the WR that I like the most in the late-first or early-second round range. Miller is a twitched up athlete who has great foot quickness, explosive change of directional skills, and outstanding body control. At 5'11" 200 pounds, Miller is slightly undersized for a WR, but he's a well-built player who plays with great physicality and strength for his size. Miller is short strider, but that helps him greatly with his separation skills. He's an unorthodox route runner who throws a lot of fakes and movement into his routes. He's a lot like Cooper Kupp in how deceptive he is while running his routes. He creates easy separation with his explosiveness out of his breaks and his ability to get the defender leaning in the wrong direction. Miller is an incredible WR in terms of yards after catch. He's very quick and elusive while also being strong and physical. This makes him a nightmare for tacklers in space. He has very large hands for his size (10 inches), and it shows in his ability to make spectacular catches. Miller needs to show more consistent concentration on the easy throws, as he has a tendency to try to run before looking it in leading to occasional drops. Miller isn't a dominant contested catch receiver, but he does well for his size. He's also very difficult to press due to his quickness, footwork, and physicality. He often makes CBs look stupid when they try to jam him at the LOS. Miller doesn't possess elite straight-line speed, but he gets open deep through his crafty route running, physicality, and quickness. If you asked me for a comparison, I'd say Golden Tate is a good one.

Round 2 Pick #32 - Orlando Brown Jr. OT Oklahoma
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Analysis: Orlando Brown Jr. is quite the lightning rod for criticism after his Combine, but his Pro Day has stemmed the bleeding to some extent. I know myself and many others don't see eye to eye on the kid. Personally, I think he's amazing value in the 3rd round and am not scared off by his Combine. At 6'8" 350 pounds with 35 inch arms, Brown is a very big and long man. His father, Orlando Brown, was a Pro Bowl caliber NFL LT who had similar size. Brown Jr. had a highly productive career at Oklahoma where he was consistently considered one of the best OLs in college football. He could have declared last year for the Draft, but he made a promise to his father that he'd get his college degree, which he obviously couldn't break after his father tragically died in 2011. Brown is an incredibly powerful player who manhandles smaller defenders in the running game and cedes next to nothing to bull-rushes in the passing game. Brown is surprisingly good at blocking on the second level and in space. He also does a nice job of mirroring in pass protection and preventing guys from beating him with inside moves. Brown is susceptible to speedy edge rushers attacking the corner. He relies on his length to try and push them past the QB, but his flawed kick-slide (not enough depth) and his slow feet make it difficult for him to prevent the best of the best speed rushers from turning the corner and flattening to the QB against him. Brown also plays high because he doesn't possess great flexibility due to his size and weight. However, Brown's strength and length allows him to get away with his lack of leverage. He displays outstanding hand strength and a powerful punch that stops pass rushers in their tracks. Brown's punch timing and placement are quality for an OT of his age, but they can both be improved. All in all, Brown is a supremely talented OT with size, power, and length that you simply can't teach. If he can clean up his body in the NFL with better nutrition and a great S&C program, he ought to be able to unlock more speed than most think he has, which will help him protect against explosive edge rushers. He's a bit of a project, but with our veteran OLs (Whitworth, Saffold, and Sullivan), our great OL Coach, and our ability to take our time with him, I think this is the perfect situation for Brown. Plus, Kromer's scheme loves big, powerful OTs.

Round 3 Pick #23 - Shaquem Griffin ILB UCF
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Analysis: Griffin checks in at 6'0" 227 pounds with surprising power and elite burst/speed. Griffin closes like few can at the LB position, and his 4.38 40 at the Combine reflects his freakish speed. He's been a highly-effective pass rusher because of his ability diverse set of rush moves and evolved pass rush plan along with his elite speed and quickness off the edge. He doesn't have the size to hold up as an edge, but he should be an effective blitzer. Griffin has had plenty of snaps in coverage and shows the athleticism to handle M2M coverage responsibilities in the NFL. In the running game, he's a sideline-to-sideline LB who will sift through traffic to make TFLs. He can also close from the backside due to his incredible speed. Despite his small stature, Griffin has shown the ability to work off of and through blockers. Griffin's missing hand can limit him at times. It can make it harder for him to disengage from blocks and can cause him to miss tackles. However, Griffin's unique blend of elite speed for his position along with top-notch instincts means that the tackles he generally misses due to his hand are tackles that few other LBs would have been in a position to make. Griffin is a film room junkie who went as far as to put his mattress in the facility during camp to allow himself to stay overnight to watch more film. It shows in his play through his tremendous instincts, tendency to be in the right place at the right time, and his evolved pass rush plan. Simply put, if Griffin had two hands, I think he'd be considered one of the top players in the Draft. He's been highly productive the past two years at UCF and won the Senior Bowl Practice Player of the Week Award. His game reminds me of Lavonte David and Deion Jones.

Round 4 Pick #11 - Jeff Holland OLB Auburn
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Analysis: You may not have heard of Jeff Holland as he only has one year of starting experience, but he made the most of that year by posting 45 tackles, 13 TFLs, 10 sacks, and 4 FFs in his only year starting in the SEC. What stood out to me while watching Holland is all of the stats that won't show up on the box score. I don't know if I've seen another guy in this class who pressures the QB as much as Holland. Watching his bowl game against UCF, he pressured the QB on almost every single passing play. At 6'1" 249 pounds with 33.5 arms and 10.5 hands, Holland has very long arms and big hands for his size. He definitely fits the mold of a 3-4 OLB. Holland uses his long arms and big hands to win consistently as an edge rusher. He has some of the most polished hand usage and sophisticated pass rush plans in this class. Holland actually has taken martial arts training to improve his hand fighting ability. As it stands now, his go-to moves are the two-handed swipe and the rip and run. Holland consistently wins off the edge by using his advanced hand usage, outstanding punch timing, natural leverage, and polished body positioning to thwart the attempts of tackles to push him past the pocket. Holland's powerful lower body and great balance also allow him to flatten out when turning the corner and prevent OTs from riding him past the QB. Young pass rushers should watch Holland's film to learn how to use their inside arm to soften the edge. Simply put, Holland won't be a workout warrior and doesn't have the prettiest looking body, but he wins as a pass rusher with technical skill, football IQ, heavy hands, power, balance, and tenaciousness. He actually posted comparable production to Carl Lawson, who posted 8.5 sacks as a rookie with the Bengals in 2017. As a run defender, Holland uses his natural leverage, power, and advanced hand usage to set a hard edge. He has some tightness in his lower body which limits his ability to drop into coverage and prevents him from reaching his full potential as a finisher and as a run defender in space, but Holland is a tenacious pass rusher who should drive NFL QBs crazy with his constant pressure.

Round 6 Pick #2 - Jack Cichy ILB Wisconsin
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Analysis: Cichy is just a really good football player. The problem for him is his injury history. He missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL, and he missed half of the 2016 season with a torn pectoral muscle. However, I think it's worth the risk because he's a Day 2 talent on tape. Cichy is a very smart and sound football player who possesses good athleticism for his size. At 6'2" 238 pounds with solid arm length, Cichy has the dimensions of a NFL ILB. While Cichy won't overpower blockers, he is quite adept at slipping blocks due to his advanced hand usage and agility. He sifts through traffic well, plays with consistent gap integrity, and tackles well, even in space. Cichy also reads his keys well and rarely takes false steps. The thing that stands out the most is Cichy's ability to close when he gets a path to the runner. He may not run a 4.4 40, but he plays fast. As a blitzer, Cichy is highly effective due to his outstanding anticipation of the snap count and his hand usage when rushing the passer. He puts a lot of pressure on the QB when used on A-gap blitzes. His cover skills are good; although, he's a better zone defender than man defender. Cichy also has that sort of annoying style that gets into the heads of offensive players. He plays through the whistle, is constantly buzzing around opposing players, and has a non-stop motor. All in all, Cichy checks all the boxes and should contribute in the NFL if he stays healthy. He'll be great depth at ILB and can contribute on special teams.

Round 6 Pick #9 - Will Clapp C/OG LSU
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Analysis: Will Clapp started at OG for his first two seasons before moving over to Center this year for LSU. Clapp is an average athlete, but he's an experienced and durable player who can play any position on the interior. At 6'5" 311 pounds, Clapp has the size to play inside in the NFL, but he does have short arms (31.25 inches). Clapp has the skill-set to be an effective Center for us down the line and could fill in as a starter if Sullivan suffers an injury. Clapp has good power with nice leg drive in the running game, and he's quite effective at blocking on the move and in space. He has strong hands and really latches on in both the running and passing games. He's an extremely smart player who is capable of helping his QB out by reading the defense pre-snap, recognizing pressure looks, and making sure the OL is on the same page. Clapp is a consistent and reliable player from snap to snap. However, he does play a little too tall, he doesn't have special movement skills, and he can be exploited by long-armed defenders. The good news for us is that Kromer's scheme does a lot to help out the Center. The most important attributes for Centers in our scheme are intelligence, reliability (especially with assignments), and the ability to block on the move and in space. These are all strengths of Clapp's. He offers us immediate depth with starting potential down the line.

Round 6 Pick #20 - Greg Senat OT Wagner
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Analysis: Greg Senat is a ball of clay for Aaron Kromer to mold. He'll get to start off as a swing OT for us, which is for the best for Senat. It'll allow him to bulk up and get stronger. Senat was arguably the best OT on the field during the E-W Shrine Game and surprised a lot of evaluators with how quickly he improved and caught on. Senat's film at Wagner is uneven. He's a very raw OT who needs to get stronger, but his smoothness, length, and overall athleticism are easy to see on tape. Senat started his career at Wagner on the basketball team and didn't join the football team until after his sophomore year. Thus, it is understandable that he's raw and needs to get stronger because he only has two years of football experience at a small school. Still, Senat has starting OT potential down the line, and we have one of the best OL Coaches in the game to develop him. At 6'6" 305 pounds with nearly 35 inch arms and 10 inch hands, Senat has all the dimensions of a starting NFL OT, and nobody doubts his movement skills. He's a worthwhile project. Desmond Harrison is another name worth keeping in mind as a project OT in the 6th round.

Round 6 Pick #21 - Phillip Lindsay HB Colorado
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Analysis: Phillip Lindsay's nickname is the "Tasmanian Devil" because of his endless energy, toughness, and refusal to let his size limit him. At 5'7" 185 pounds, Lindsay is definitely undersized, but that didn't stop him from rushing for 2726 yards and 30 TDs over the past two seasons at Colorado. He also caught 76 passes during that time. Lindsay is a fearless pass protector who will stonewall edge rushers despite his small stature. He saved his QB from a number of hits in college. He's actually been compared to Chris Thompson by some, and there's validity to the comparison. Lindsay is small with good speed (4.39 40 at his Pro Day), great pass protection skills, and good pass-catching skills. He won't break a lot of tackles as a runner, but he'll get what's blocked. He has the potential to be a valuable HB on passing downs.

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
WR: Robert Woods
WR: Cooper Kupp
WR: Anthony Miller vs. Josh Reynolds
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: John Sullivan
RG: Jamon Brown
RT: Rob Havenstein

SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Ndamukong Suh
DT: Aaron Donald
WOLB: Junior Galette
WILB: Mark Barron
SILB: Shaquem Griffin vs. Jack Cichy
SOLB: Samson Ebukam
LCB: Marcus Peters
RCB: Aqib Talib
SLCB: Nickell Robey-Coleman
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: John Johnson III

K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide

Unfortunately, I have many friends who are whiner fans. Of course they loved it and rubbed it in my face when the whiners beat us with our starters on the bench. They think Jimmy Crapoppolo is the next Tom Brady because "he's never lost a game". I shut some of them up when I asked if they want to bet on who wins the NFC west next season.

Sure, I gave them some credit for winning 5 games in a row, but don't forget this team was also 0-9 to start the season. A QB who also had a good record and similar stats? Brock Osweiler. I told my friends that the niners look improved but they are delusional if they are looking for next year's Super Bowl tickets.

If not for a lot of lucky breaks falling their way in the 4th quarter of the Rams 41-39 win on Thursday night, that game would have been a blow out.

Oddly enough, the Las Vegas oddsmakers give the whiners he same odds as the Rams to win the super bowl.

The whiner fans a delusional. Jimmy Crapopplo will meet reality when he meets Mr. Donald.

https://sports.yahoo.com/boxing-nev...arez-second-positive-test-043818538--box.html

https://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/a..._been_temporarily_suspended/s1_11773_26023301

Post your favorite gif or pic of the day in this thread.

Some have expressed confusion about how to post gifs so here are the basic instructions.
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Copy the gif 's URL(found in the address bar).
Left click the square next to the smiley face in the top row above (hover over it and it says "image.")
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I'll kick things off with this one...

Fractured left hand after being hit by batted ball yesterday. Prognosis is 6-8 weeks recovery time. I’m sorry I don’t know how to link from my phone but I read it at sfgate.com.

I just caught some of the Rams Cowboys replay. I didn’t see Tavon do anything special or detrimental on punt returns but he was a very nice presence on offense. Not only did he have several nice runs but he caught the attention of the Dallas defense to set up other plays. Most notably on the Goff to Gurley 50 yard td. I gotta believe with a full off season under McVay Austin has a very good chance to find a role in our offense. And with only incentive $$$ in the balance it’s pay for play time. Austin appears to understand that and has the tools to make a good go of it. I also think McVay has to take advantage of Austin’s speed on more sweeps screens and rub routes.

I've been a Rams fan since 1969. The Rams were powerhouses in the 70's and part of the 80's. After that, we sucked for a long time until the 1999 Rams won the Super Bowl. We win Super bowl 34 and got cheated out of Super bowl 36. After a few more good years, the Rams endured a long winter.

But the way the NFL is these days with the premium prices on quarterbacks, do teams really win with a QB at the "Max" salary? The Cheatriots have won but Brady takes less to help the team. The Sea pigeons won when Russell Wilson was at minimum wage. Same with the Eagles who had Carson Wentz at minimum wage and Foles at back up. It seems that giving your QB a "max" contract is a hindrance to paying the rest of the team.

IMHO, the Rams have 2 seasons to win a Super Bowl before Goff will demand the max salary. At that point, only really great drafts and developing players will keep the Rams on top. While I feel confident about McVay and Snead, the opportunity to take home the Lombardi is now.

I am confident that McVay will build a contender for years to come, but I would feel more reassured with another Trophy in the house before Goff commands a maximum contract.

Thoughts?

I know this site isn't often realistic when it comes to trades and player availability but this "no trade" draft I did would make mexpretty happy in the real world

Your score is: 22952 (GRADE: A+)

Your Picks:
Round 1 Pick 23: Landry, Harold, OLB/DE, Boston College (A-)
Round 3 Pick 23: Michel, Sony, RB, Georgia (A+)
Round 4 Pick 11: Settle, Tim, DT, Virginia Tech (A+)
Round 4 Pick 35: Brown, Orlando, OT, Oklahoma (A+)
Round 6 Pick 2: Scott, Jaleel, WR, New Mexico State (A+)
Round 6 Pick 9: Madison, Cole, OG, Washington State (A+)
Round 6 Pick 20: Conklin, Tyler, TE, Central Michigan (A+)
Round 6 Pick 21: FranklinMyer, John, DE, Stephen F. Austin (A+)
Round 6 Pick 24: Jackson, JC, CB, Maryland (A+)

No way some of these guys would be there at the stage I drafted them but one can dream.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/03/23/johnny-manziel-interview-comeback-pro-day-rehab

Johnny Manziel Opens Up: 'This Isn’t the Second Chance. This Is the 35th Chance'
By BRUCE FELDMAN


www.tigerdroppings.com

Wedged in between two of the biggest pro days on the 2018 NFL draft scouting calendar—Sam Darnold’s session at USC on Wednesday and Josh Allen’s at Wyoming on Friday—was an event that was barely on the league’s radar until Wednesday night. Coming off a 10–3 season and a second-round exit in the FCS playoffs, University of San Diego didn’t figure to draw much attention for its pro day Thursday until word spread that Johnny Manziel would be throwing.

It marked the first time NFL teams had seen Manziel throw since 2015, at the tail end of two tumultuous seasons with the Browns riddled with off-field drama that culminated with a four-game suspension for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

Manziel has been working with a trainer in Los Angeles since the middle of January and began throwing with his old quarterback coach George Whitfield about three weeks ago to get ready for another run at a pro career. Two San Diego receivers whom he’d been throwing to didn’t have a quarterback for their pro day, so they asked the former first-rounder if he’d do it and Manziel obliged.

Thirteen NFL teams attended the Toreros’ pro day. They saw Manziel, in a light rain, throw 38 passes with two misses. The Patriots also brought him inside the USD facility to get his updated weight on him (197 pounds).

“Man, I thought it went good,” Manziel told SI Thursday afternoon. “I’d only begun throwing with those guys since like the week before. It’s a precursor for what we’re about to do. It wasn’t flawless or anything. I missed a couple of throws. When we did our pro day I was working with those [receivers] every day. We knew the script without having a piece of paper. With this, you run a slant, you don’t know how those guys are gonna come out of it, but I thought it was good for everybody.”

Whitfield, his coach, says Manziel’s arm has more juice now than it did when he was coming out of Texas A&M, although he needs to keep working to improve his timing. Manziel has noticed a difference in his arm strength, as well.

“I think it’s because of the workouts that I’ve been doing,” Manziel says. “This is the strongest my core has ever been. What I’ve been working on with my guy in L.A.—we haven’t gotten into a squat [rack] or done dead lifts or tried to bench 300 pounds.

It’s been, let’s do core work and stuff we need to for my shoulder and my arm. Then when I started working with George the last couple of weeks, I’ve noticed a difference. I feel like I’m in the best shape that I’ve been in a long time, like at least since my Heisman year at A&M.”

Manziel knows his talent isn’t the real question NFL folks are going to have about him. He has been through rehab for substance abuse twice. In response to their concerns, he says his whole world has completely changed. He just got married earlier this month.

He says he has been sober for almost 90 days—before that he says he did smoke marijuana. “As far as hard drugs or anything like that, it’s been almost a year,” Manziel says. He has let old friends know he’s had to make drastic changes.

“I let them know, ‘Hey, I gotta be selfish in what I’m doing. I gotta do this for me. Listen, I’m not gonna block your number but if I don’t text you back and I don’t answer your calls, don’t be offended. I’ll call you when I get bored and I wanna say what’s up. But don’t invite me on any trips. Don’t tell me to go to Texas to go to [friggin’] Sixth Street. None of that.’

The people I know that are in my life that by no fault of their own are going to want to do something that I just don’t have the luxury of doing anymore. When I first got in the league, did I have some leeway? Sure I did, but I have exhausted all leeway and all second chances. This isn’t the second chance. This is the 35th chance. This is the last of the last chances to show people that I’ve made a drastic change in my life, and it’s for the better and I’m happy with where I’m at.

“I need to be safe for myself. I’ve let multiple people know—guys that had been around me for years, I reached out to a multitude of people and said, ‘Listen, I’ve never been selfish in my football career. I’ve always flown you guys to every game. I’ve gotten you tickets. I’ve done everything. But for now, I’m selfish with what I need to do because I don’t have room for you guys to come around and for me to get off on a bad path. It just can’t happen.

I’m happy. I’m married and I’m doing what I’m doing. My wife is my buffer with all of the bulls---. She doesn’t let me get away with any of the B.S. She’s just straight to the point. She has my best interest at heart, and there’s times where I don’t like it. I’m still a stubborn guy—I don’t like listening all the time. I’ve had a lot better sense of being able to sit back and reflect, even if it’s a daily reflection. I have that backstop. I’m working with good people and I’m working the majority of the day."

Manziel’s first trip to rehab three years ago he describes as “old-school, 12-steps AA, narcotics” rehab. “We went down the first avenue—if we can just get him to stop drinking, things will be good. But when I decided to try and make the whole comeback attempt last year, I stopped drinking for four or five months—dead sober. But it still didn’t change me going to the club with some of my boys and just drinking water. But it still didn’t affect me making bad decisions or tone down the knucklehead moves I was making.”

Manziel believes a key factor in his turnaround was being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2017. That has helped him get his life settled down, with a new understanding of his issues and a way to treat them. It has diffused the anger that often bubbled up inside him, he says. “Finding out that diagnosis and accepting that diagnosis, taking my medicine, is like someone that had diabetes and is taking their medicine every day. I take two in the morning and one at night.

“[The medications are] supposed to keep you even-keel. Sure, I do still drive in traffic and when someone cuts me off, I get pissed, but I’m able to take a deep breath. When I went to that mental health place, I started dealing with different coping mechanisms to really help me not being so drastic in my actions all the time.”

Manziel also realizes that he faces a lot of skepticism. He lost the benefit of the doubt a long time ago.

“I told people [after the USD pro day], I can sit here and talk to you guys all day. I’m a great talker. I have media savvy. I can do an interview like I’m not worried if I get into tight spots but the thing is, I can talk ’til I’m blue in the face about how I’m a different person but here’s what happens: I do this for two months, I do this for three months, I do this for six months and then something always sets me back,” he says.

“So until I have a year under my belt of me being better—and now I have three months of really positive traction going around every aspect of my life—my main key is consistency, consistency, consistency with my regimen. With not missing s---, with not going missing, with just doing what I’m supposed to be doing every day and doing it for a long point of time. And until I get into [an NFL] building and I’m able to show that, it’s all just talk. It’s all just me saying that I’m different. Now, I know I am.

“My dad came out here a couple of weeks ago and we played golf. We had the greatest trip of our life. We’d never spent father-son time quite like that. He said, ‘The anger is gone. A lot of the things I’d seen in you over the past few years are not there any more. I’m happy with where you’re at. I’m glad that you found a girl that you really love.’

I’m just a different person on these meds. I would like to say that it’s something different—I had gone through that struggle with the negative stigma that surrounds mental illness, but for whatever reason when I take these little pink pills, it helps me be stable. I’m not as crazy. I don’t want to go out and party. I don’t want to escape from life or the problems that I’ve made from it. I started facing some things head-on.”

His career NFL stat line is modest: seven touchdowns, seven interceptions. Manziel has done the post-mortem in his mind many times over why things went so horribly wrong during his two years in Cleveland.

“As much as it was me not having my head right off the field, it was more of me falling into that really hard depression when I went to Cleveland and got there,” he says. “I was down. I was pissed. I hated it. I didn’t give it a chance. I was so mad at myself. The biggest thing was when I got on the field and I thought the field was supposed to be my safe haven and my sanity, I didn’t perform.

It was the first time in my life that I hadn’t gone out on the field and been better than everybody else. Or even shown flashes of rookie promise. In minicamp, I still played like s--- against other rookies. I was extremely discouraged, and I didn’t have a lot of positive things going for me.

[Brian] Hoyer wasn’t like how [Josh] McCown was, but it wasn’t his fault. He was a guy that had bounced around a million times and was finally getting a chance to start, and so of course, he’s going to try to take every advantage he can of the situation.”

The problems that surfaced in Cleveland, of course, started long before Manziel got to the NFL. His success at Texas A&M, where he led the Aggies to their first top-five finish in over a half-century and became the first freshman to ever win the Heisman Trophy, masked his issues. The extent to which he thrived on the field was a remarkable feat in itself. He cringes now at how he handled all of it.

“I was extremely selfish,” he says. “I was never a selfless person. I only cared about what I cared about and it didn’t matter if I said something to somebody that upset them. I got to a point especially [in 2013] when life was so hectic and I was dealing with all of this other B.S. I had no privacy and I would take my stresses and anger out on other people.

I didn’t care what their feelings were. I didn’t care how my actions and my behavior made them feel. That was a huge, huge thing that I’ve been working on even up until this year, that I was only gonna do what I want to do when I want to do it. In reality, I feel like that’s what marriage has helped me with because even when I’m right, I’m wrong. And when I’m wrong, I’m definitely wrong.”

His days the past couple of months have been much more structured. He drives over to UCLA Monday through Friday to throw for two hours. Then he’ll drive to the gym to work with his trainer. “And then I’m doing psych meetings and I’m going to the psychologist and the psychiatrist, and I’m making sure my meds are right, and I’m going to get my blood work done and doing all of this stuff that I need to do,” he says. “It’s a lot of tedious maintenance work that I have to keep up to take care of my mind just like I do my body.”

On Monday, Manziel will leave Los Angeles and fly to Texas to play in The Spring League. Players officially report next Wednesday, with the first game on April 7. He also plans on attending Texas A&M’s spring game on April 14. Down the road he says he’d like to be an ambassador for the school. He’s trying to get a licensing agreement to sell some merchandise there and hopes to collaborate with some mental health charities around the Bryan/College Station areas.

“The proceeds go to certain things that I feel like have made a difference in my life and where I can start helping some other people because that’s one thing I didn’t do,” he says. “I didn’t help some other people. I only cared about me and where my money was and what my situation was. I didn’t give back the way I should’ve given back, and it’s time to change. I’m working on doing some cool things to try and make up for lost time.

“At the end of the day, if I was never to make it back to the NFL, I’d be completely happy to be clean and sober. But is that what I want and I aspire to? No. But at the same time I can live knowing what I’ve accomplished football-wise because I know there’s more to life than just a game.

I didn’t always see that before. I felt it had to be Super Bowls and $100 million contracts and the whole works. Keep it simplistic: Let’s try to get a contract offer to go to training camp. Clean and sober with a contract offer to go to training camp and I’m on Cloud Nine. Play in a preseason game and I’m on Cloud 39.”

Fortune favors the bold, they say. And has any team been more bold than the Rams this side of maybe Philly?

Big Whit. A 2-3 year rental.
Talib. A 2 year rental.
Joyner. A 1 year rental, at present.
Suh. Would be a 1-2 year rental.
Peters. Technically, a 2 year rental although I suspect that he might be around for much longer.
Sully. Originally a 1 year rental although now extended for 2 more.

The above represent some pretty bold short term moves that many teams would consider too risky. Yet they have kickstarted the Rams into SB contention along with some good drafting and shrewd FA moves both incoming and outgoing. Couple of bold trades this offseason have opened the doors for cap opportunities and upgrades via the draft.

Been a long time since we’ve seen such bold thinking and competence from our FO and coaching staff, huh?

I will laugh even harder when I get to watch Aaron Donald abuse him.


I concede that Nelson looks to be a very good guard, but he should shut up about him being a good choice for teams that face the Rams and Aaron Donald, or the Eagles defensive line. He hasn’t played a down in the NFL.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/03/23/report-washington-pulls-offer-to-junior-galette/

He'd be an intriguing signing as an edge rusher. I'd take a flier on him.

http://walterfootball.com/nflrumors/teamdraft/17-32

23. Los Angeles Rams:
Comment on these NFL Rumors
3/17: The Panthers and Rams are very interested in Chandon Sullivan. - Tony Pauline, DraftAnalyst.comThe Georgia State cornerback is an early third-day prospect who impressed at his pro day with an 11-2 broad jump. I don't know what the Rams would do with another corner, but Carolina makes sense. -Walter

I guess we'll find out how desperate teams are for a quarterback.

Turns out he was just an arm for the two wide receivers that are going to be possibly drafted from University of San Diego.