Wow, just traded to us.

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Watching the Mailbag segment with Myles Simmons and D'Marco Farr, he quoted someone from the Rams in saying (paraphrase) "Sullivan is not someone we are looking to replace."

This says to me:
1. Talks have happened and the Rams are sure they can sign the FA to a contract.
2. Rams might still draft a Center, but that Sullivan will be in the mix for the starter's job, no matter what.

My freakin' God....I imagine Wade and Les will be some trading fools come draft day. If not, they might as well call it the Ram's Round.

Not even going to get into Tavon here. But Tree in particular demonstrates that they locked up yet another guy who cannot produce in their scheme, and then had to orchestrate a trade to clean up the mess.

Meanwhile guys who DID excel in their scheme are yet to be signed to include Joyner needing to be tagged. And while I hear a lot of "relax man, the period just started" comments from other posters, there is a history with the secondary in particular where this organization has bled good talent, so it's not a reach to be concerned that it might continue.

I am not trying to light this front office on fire here. I have faith in them. But RIGHT NOW they have a pretty poor track record in terms of retaining their own. And this is something I genuinely hope turns around here real soon.

I have read 2 different versions on here both from fans. Can someone confirm if we got a supplemental 4th from Giants or their #2 in 4th rd pick?

Now that the 2018 Ram defense has officially been dismantled, intrigue abounds as to what’s next. When Wade Phillips was hired, the thinking was that the 2016 Rams had a talented defense but needed a complete overhaul on offense so Wade had to teach his players how to function in the new system. While he credibly improved his unit statistically over the previous regime, the onus on Wade to make adjustments to accommodate the personnel occasionally put him at a disadvantage on gameday. The run defense frequently faltered and the coaching staff made schematic adjustments throughout the games to mitigate the damage. But his history indicates that he prefers certain qualities of his players so he can dictate to the offense what they can and cannot do. The construction of the Denver squad provides clues as to what Wade desires.

The Bronco defensive line started with Sylvester Williams in the middle flanked by Malik Jackson and Vance Walker. Had Dom Easley been healthy last year, Wade would’ve Inherited upgrades across the board. Michael Brockers was slated to man the middle and is every bit is good as Williams there but as either side that Donald wasn’t on got gashed, Brockers was moved to end to funnel the damage inside. If I dared to guess, I’d say Brockers may find himself back inside while another decent tackle is acquired to replace his position. A mid level 3/4 tackle that excels at stopping the run would make this unit pliable to Wade’s purposes. I wouldn’t expect a high dollar investment here as we will analyze where the money is more likely to be spent in the next paragraph.

Now that Quinn and Ogletree have officially been moved, let’s consider the qualities of the Bronco’s linebackers under Wade. He channeled the run toward Brandon Marshall and the stout linebacker was equal to the task Ogletree wasn’t. A middle thumper is less expensive than an outside rusher and more plentiful in the draft but is no less important. If one isn’t acquired early in free agency, look for an early draft pick to shore up the responsibility. While Barron’s contract is cause for pause, his acumen is similar to Danny Trevathan in that he plays like a safety with similar responsibilities. I’m not so sure Barron is on the block but as mentioned, finances might dictate otherwise. But it’s the lack of a D Ware and Von Miller that glares at this roster. Outside the peerless AD, the Rams lack a credible outside rush that also sets an edge in the run game. Anyone hoping Ekuban and Littleton are solutions is someone who suffers delusions only fandom can produce. My suspicion is that one high priced free agent and one high draft pick, along with two more developmental picks will be selected to man the edges.

While Marcus Peters was acquired to handle Chris Harris Jr’s ballhawking role, the Aquib Talib role of a big corner who can post up tall receivers and stop the run may be leaving in the form of Tru Johnson. Ideally, Tru can be retained reasonably but we all suspect otherwise. Perhaps the Rams trust Kayvon there but his health is the gamble. Nevertheless, the position has yet to be filled. NRC acquitted himself well in the
Bradley Roby nickel slot and should absolutely be retained. Joyner is every bit the player Darian Stewart was acquired to be so at least we are set there, as I suspect JJ III is capable of doing everything the Broncos got from Ward (without the suspension issues).

In short, the Rams will lock onto upgrades for a run stuffing tackle, a violent inside linebacker, one or two premium pass rushers, and a tall corner. The cap space has almost been cleared and the draft picks have been stocked. Let the fun begin.

When he and Janoris were here.

It's shockingly true when you look back at his career stats - clearly more effective when JJ was here. The idea of bringing TruJo back has been intriguing to me, assuming it's around $12 million per year on average. For a few reasons:

1. While he may not fit Wade's press-man scheme, he's a great zone corner and a solid tackler for the position. Having Peters on one side will make Tru VERY effective on the other IMO.

2. As I said before, Tru was at his best as a #2 CB. The difference is stark, and it first became apparent in the same defensive scheme two years ago.

3. Money - probably why most want to move on from him. But here's the thing - IF we replace him with a free agent, they will cost a similar amount - and with heavy cap space this year and next, we can front load Tru's contract so that by the time Peters needs re-signed (or let go), Tru's cap hit is much less painful.


I would re-sign him and NRC. NRC will be an average salary, and that only gives you Tru and Joyner making big money for this year. And would give us the best secondary in the NFL.

Tree certainly had his issues, but his departure is going to leave a leadership void on this defense. I look around the roster and wonder who will step up to fill the void. Donald is a quiet type dude, doesn't strike me as the guy who is going to step up and lead this group. Brock seems to have come alive under this regime, maybe he's got it in him.

But in the wake of adding Peters, I have to wonder how the Rams see that leadership piece settling in. And it makes me think that might influence who they take at 23; might be a guy who has that type of leadership edge to him.

I mean for those of us who have been in leadership positions for some time, we know that while it's learned some dudes take to it easier than others. And I have to think that is an important consideration right now for the roster.

Just wondering if anyone heard anything about this or is this random questioning?

It makes me think someone somewhere told a scout that they think he is gay, or he has never seen him with a girlfriend or something. It doesn't seem like a random question.

Will this cause other teams to dig deeper? Or is it taboo from being made public? Will it cause him to drop?

I recall reading where a typical offseason finds any given team with something like 14-16 pending FA’s.

IOW, the Rams are not alone in this FA situation. It also means that inevitably some FA’s from other teams will shake loose that would be perfect fits for the Rams, specifically for Wade’s D.

It all comes down to whether S&M can make the best decisions on the best fits. Last year was impressive and they now certainly have the cap room for a few moves.

I sure wouldn’t bet against these guys.

Demoff
Snead
McVay
Wade

They complete each other. And they probably will be together for a while.

I wouldn’t trade any of them for any other, tbh.

Love it.

What if Wade doesn’t like Barron’s fit any more than he did Quinn’s or Ogletree’s?

Further, what if Gregg Williams in Cleveland still has the hots for Barron?

Perhaps Snead is dangling Barron in front of GW pending the go ahead from the doctors?

Wouldn’t fetch a kings ransom, I know. Maybe a 4th?

But it would clear more cap space and a roster spot for a LB that really did fit Wade’s D.

I’ve read some comments that Wade really likes Barron, but I wonder. What if that was coachspeak? And since they’re doing a major renovation already, why not just completely replace their starting LB corps with one that truly fits Wade’s desires?

Hmmmmm...

DTR Draft Profile: Davontae Harris, CB, Illinois State


Name: Devontae Harris
School: Illinois State
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200 pounds
40 Time: 4.43 seconds
Bench Press: 22 reps
Vertical: 32.5 inches
Notable Injuries: Torn small and large intestines
Notable Accolades: 24 starts at CB, 2017 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First-Team selection and No.1 ranked passes defended in MVC (13 PBU & 2 INTs) in 2017
SMLXL

STRENGTHS

Harris' athleticism jumps right off the page. The 6-foot CB shows the versatility to play inside or outside man at the cornerback position. He takes an aggressive stance getting right up into the receiver's face to disrupt him off of the line of scrimmage. Harris shows the ability to stick with receivers while flashing his natural athleticism by flipping his hips with ease, back-peddling or just flat-out accelerating. Harris shows enhanced play recognition and will go the extra mile to make a play if he knows the ball is not coming his way. Illinois State often placed him on the edge as well to have him rush the QB and he showed the ability to do that as well. Overall, his play strength in which is shown by his ability to fight through blocks and make contact with the ball-carrier is NFL-worthy. His run support will not go unnoticed due to the fact he shows keen awareness and desire to pursue the ball-carrier. The flashiest part of Harris is not even his athleticism but his hard-hitting ability. He uses timing to dislodge a pass if it gets by him and into the receiver's hands. The timing and power put together allow him to jar passes loose and incomplete. Work ethic is a plus and you can judge that based on the fact Harris benched over 20 repetitions as a CB.

WEAKNESSES

While Harris is aggressive, he will need to be careful at the next level. When you watch the film you do see there are many times where something does not get called in college but you know it will at the next level. Harris can get grabby and hold on perhaps a little too long so he will need to clean that up. Perhaps his biggest knock is his lack of elite production against lesser competition. I don't worry about that too much but it is a tad bit concerning based on the level of competition. He is a little raw and will need to refine his technique but it's nothing a good bunch of coaching can't fix.

DOES HE FIT WITH THE RAMS?

He absolutely does, this is someone that can be versatile and perhaps allow the Rams to potentially fill their nickel corner position if they do not re-up Nickell Robey-Coleman. Harris' physicality and ball skills, as well as his above-average speed, will allow the Rams to do more. Of course, Wade Phillips would also get a corner that was used as a situational pass rusher as well. With the Rams uncertainty at CB, they will likely look to double up or even triple up on corners in this draft and Harris is going to be an obvious fit.

DRAFT GRADE
What they are saying: Rounds 6 - 7
What I'm saying: Round 3 -4

PLAYER COMPARISON
Sheldon Brown
SMXLL

I love this comparison more than you know. First of all, I fell in love with Davontae Harris on tape, it's just evident he offers so much to the table and that is without looking at what he did at the Combine. When you see a cornerback that runs a 4.4 and benches over 20 reps, you simply take notice. This is a cornerback that you should want on any team. The reason I compared him to Sheldon Brown is for the simple reason that both guys are athletically gifted and can lay the boom. Brown and Harris play bigger than their size suggests and they both ran in the 4.4's. Everyone remembers Sheldon Brown because of his hard-hitting ability that he displayed on Reggie Bush his rookie year and Steven Jackson when he knocked his helmet completely off. Having a player like Brown is like having an enforcer in hockey, a pitcher that is not afraid to throw near a batter in baseball or a center that blocks the ball and shoves the shooter in basketball to send a message. When you see Harris over the middle, you will think twice about throwing in that direction. Brown developed that kind of mentality in many QB's and of course, he gained a reputation for it that lasted just about his whole career. Expect Harris to be that kind of player.

This was a team in transition two years ago after a 4-12 debacle. How could it not be? Pretty obvious.

It was a team in transition after last year's 11-5 record. And why is that?

Aside from the usual changes that come with a new HC and new system on offense with a young QB two other very, very major things happened.

The defense went from a 4-3 to a 3-4 without a roster populated with players with those skill sets in the front 7 other than maybe 3 guys. That's a big deal. It's a huge change-up. More than the change on offense.

And..........

The GM had more of a role regarding whom to put on the roster through the draft and free agency. And this is a big deal too because Snead is IMO a "roster changer" type of GM. He is willing to make changes on starters, backups, and anyone else out of the 53. He is an agent of change and I think he see's the roster the way the DC and OC (in this case the HC) see it. He grasps the whole thing.

Blend that with McVay and Phillips and this is a really unique trio.

There is a QB and HC that can spend many years together accomplishing a lot. And the HC is essentially an OC as much or more than a HC (right now currently as is) because of the staff in place.

And a DC with a track record of improving performance all round.

With a GM that is fearless and will make moves on draft day, in the offseason and during the FA period.

There is some skill and bravery leading this franchise.

And I value that more than cybermetrics, moneyball, and any other systems out there.

Risk and vision wins out over anything else in the NFL and NBA. The only two sports I follow with interest.

I know I'm getting way ahead of myself but with the expected release of tavon our 2019 cap space....ITS 119 MILLION DOLLARS......yea yea i know a big chunk of that is going to donald next year....but even with a huge payday to donald we should still have about 90+ million for next year......i feel a lot better about the future success of this team moving forward after the bad deals of tavon and tree gone

Well, I decided to do something different. I won't be doing trades, and I don't have Griffin, Mata'afa or J.C. Jackson in this mock, so it'll be something new entirely.

Also, I just got word of the Ogletree trade, so I'll be adding in the picks from that. Ready?

Cut:

Tavon Austin.
Mark Barron.

(I love Tavon as a player and a person, but the fact of the matter is that he simply costs too much. Barron is another cap casualty, as he doesn't particularly fit a Wade Phillips scheme.)

Re-sign:

Aaron Donald - six years, twenty million per year.
Lamarcus Joyner - franchise tag, re-signed (five years, nine million per year.)
Nickell Robey-Coleman - five years, five million per year.
Jake McQuaide - two years - two million per year.
John Sullivan - one year, two million.
Cornelius Lucas - one year, veteran minimum.
Troy Hill - ERFA
Malcolm Brown - ERFA
Matt Longacre - RFA

(This assumes that we can sign Joyner, NRC, and Donald, but let Tru and Watkins go. McQuaide is obvious, Sullivan is kept as a vet presence, Lucas provides cheap depth, and the rest are under team control.)


Free Agent Signings:

Allen Robinson - five years, eleven million per year.
Avery Williamson - five years, seven million per year.
Beau Allen - four years, six million per year.
Johnathan Joseph - one year, seven million.
Jude Adjei-Barimah - one year, one million.

(Main piece is Robinson of the Jaguars. When healthy, he's one of the best deep threats in the game. He's also a 6'3" monster in the red zone. Williamson is an inside linebacker from the Titans who is good in all facets of the game. Allen of the Eagles is a solid nose tackle who will help our run defense tremendously. Joseph of the Texans takes a lesser contract because of his age, but he's still got something left in the tank. Adjei-Barimah of the Buccaneers is a young cornerback who is coming off an ACL tear and a PED suspension. He has a ton of potential, but he's a gamble. In any case, he increases the cornerback depth.)

Draft:

#23 overall - Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise State. (6'4", 256 lbs.)

(Remember back in the 2017 draft where one of our targets - if Donald never fell - was C.J. Mosley? Here's our own C.J. Mosley, except better. Vander Esch has insane athleticism for his size and covers like a safety. He's just as good at stuffing the run, rushing the passer, doing whatever needs doing.)

#87 overall - Lorenzo Carter, OLB, Georgia. (6'6", 250 lbs.)

(Could Carter go higher than this? Yeah, but he needed to prove that he could put all of his considerable tools together, and that didn't happen until his last year in college. He also needs to put bulk on his frame because his build right now is surprisingly skinny. What we're getting from this third round pick is an athletic pass-rusher. Not to the standard of a Harold Landry, but still pretty damn good.)

#111 overall - Isaac Yiadom, CB, Boston College. (6'1", 190 lbs.)

#135 overall - Kemoko Turay, OLB, Rutgers. (6'5", 252 lbs.)

(Injuries are the only reason why Turay - who dominated the East/West Shrine game - falls here. He's an explosive pass-rusher who needs work, but can eventually be groomed as a starter.)

#160 overall - Folorunso Fatukasi, DE, Connecticut. (6'4", 315 lbs.)

(Fatukasi is a mountain of a man who should fit between nose tackle and five technique behind Brockers and Allen. He's an excellent run stuffer who has shown the ability to collapse the pocket.)

#176 overall - Dane Cruikshank, FS, Arizona. (6'1", 206 lbs.)

(Cruikshank fits at free safety behind Joyner, taking the role that Cody Davis filled. He needs work in coverage, but he has incredible ball skills.)

#183 overall - Ito Smith, RB, Southern Mississippi. (5'9", 195 lbs.)

(Small, but elusive and a hell of a pass-catcher, Smith dominated his competition, and looks to fit the Dunbar role.)

#194 overall - Alex Cappa, OT/OG, Humboldt State. (6'7", 305 lbs.)

(Cappa is our Whitworth successor. He's from a small school, so he'll need time to mature, but I think that he could - with time in the weight room - eventually take over for big Whit.)

#195 overall - Jamil Demby, OG, Maine. (6'5", 335 lbs.)

(Demby is another small school lineman who needs time to mature. Thankfully, we have the offensive line able to do that. I could see him taking over for Brown or Saffold.)

#196 overall - Timon Parris, OG/OT, Stony Brook. (6'5", 320 lbs.)

(Parris is yet another small school lineman who needs to mature behind our offensive line.)

Roster:

QB - Jared Goff, Sean Mannion.
RB - Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, Ito Smith, Sam Rogers.
TE - Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway.
WR - Allen Robinson, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas.
OL - Andrew Whitworth, Rodger Saffold, John Sullivan, Jamon Brown, Rob Havenstein, Austin Blythe, Alex Cappa, Jamil Demby, Timon Parris, Jake Eldrenkamp.

DL - Aaron Donald, Beau Allen, Michael Brockers, Tanzel Smart, Ethan Westbrooks, Morgan Fox, Folorunso Fatukasi.
LB - Samson Ebukam, Avery Williamson, Leighton Vander Esch, Lorenzo Carter, Kemoko Turay, Matt Longacre, Cory Littleton, Bryce Hager/UDFA.
DB - Marcus Peters, Johnathan Joseph, Lamarcus Joyner, John Johnson III, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Isaac Yiadom, Dane Cruikshank, Kevin Peterson, Jude Adjei-Barimah/Troy HIll, Marqui Christian/Blake Countess.

K - Greg Zuerlein.
P - Johnny Hekker.
LS - Jake McQuaide.

Thoughts, comments, critiques, all are welcome!

At the end of the day? What are we going to do with 5 6th round picks?

And another trade: Rams trading LB Alec Ogletree to the New York Giants for two 2018 draft picks, per league source. -

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Here's a list posted at NFL.com of the known scheduled pro days leading up to the Draft. In the past this same page has updated it with notes and comments including a list of known teams that attended. Two happened yesterday and links are available.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000919951/article/2018-nfl-draft-pro-day-schedule

March 6
» Purdue
» Georgia State

March 7
» Alabama, 12 p.m.
» Colorado, 4 p.m.
» Colorado State, 9:45 a.m.
» Marshall, 9 a.m.
» Northern Illinois, 10 a.m.

March 8
» Air Force, 3 p.m.
» Alabama State, 5 p.m.
» Army, 4 p.m.
» Fordham, 8:30 a.m.
» Samford 1 p.m.
» UAB, 9 a.m.
» Washington State, 1 p.m.

March 9
» Auburn, 9 a.m.
» Eastern Washington, 1 p.m.
» Princeton 1 p.m.
» Tarleton State, 11 a.m.
» Troy, 3 p.m.
» Tuskegee, 3 p.m.

March 10
» Washington, 1 p.m.

March 12
» Arizona, 12 p.m.
» California (Pa.), 10 a.m.
» Fort Hays State, 11 a.m.
» Hampton, 12:15 p.m.
» Illinois, 10 a.m.
» Middle Tennessee, 12 p.m.
» Old Dominion 8 a.m.
» Ouachita Baptist, 11 a.m.
» Tennessee State, 9 a.m.
» Tennessee-Martin, 3 p.m.
» William & Mary, 2 p.m.

March 13
» Elon, 2 p.m.
» Jacksonville State, 10 a.m.
» Kansas State, 1 p.m.
» Northern Arizona, 11:30 a.m.
» Northwestern, 9:30 a.m.
» Richmond, 8 a.m.
» Tulsa, 9:30 a.m.
» Vanderbilt, 11 a.m.
» Wake Forest, 9 a.m.
» Youngstown State, 8:30 a.m.

March 14
» Arizona State, 11 a.m.
» Buffalo, 8 a.m.
» Central Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m.
» Nebraska, 2 p.m.
» Oklahoma, 10 a.m.
» Portland State, 5:30 p.m.
» Virginia Tech, 8 a.m.
» West Georgia, 9 a.m.
» Wisconsin, 11:30 a.m.

March 15
» Clemson, 8 a.m.
» Grand Valley State, 11 a.m.
» Oklahoma State, 10 a.m.
» Oregon, 3 p.m.
» UCLA, 3 p.m.
» Virginia, 8:15 a.m.

March 16
» Central Michigan, 9 a.m.
» Coastal Carolina, 7:30 a.m.
» Georgia Tech, 9 a.m.
» James Madison, 8:30 a.m.
» Kennesaw State, 2 p.m.
» Nevada, 1 p.m.
» Oregon State, 12:30 p.m.
» Pittsburg State, 10 a.m.

March 19
» Bowling Green, 10:30 a.m.
» Bucknell, 3 p.m.
» Delaware, 3 p.m.
» Fresno State, 2 p.m.
» North Carolina Central, 3 p.m.
» N.C. State, 8 a.m.
» Pennsylvania, 12 p.m.
» Syracuse, 12 p.m.
» Temple, 8:45 a.m.
» Tennessee, 9 a.m.
» Toledo, 12:30 p.m.

March 20
» Azusa Pacific, 1:30 p.m.
» California, 1 p.m.
» Central Connecticut State, 1 p.m.
» Chattanooga, 10 a.m.
» Eastern Michigan, 9 a.m.
» Florida State, 1 p.m.
» Hawaii, 4:30 p.m.
» Penn State, 10 a.m.
» South Carolina, 9 a.m.
» South Carolina State, 1 p.m.
» UTEP, 1 p.m.

March 21
» Boston College, 1 p.m.
» Cincinnati, 8:30 a.m.
» Connecticut, 9 a.m.
» Georgia, 9 a.m.
» Missouri State, 10 a.m.
» Pittsburgh, 10 a.m.
» USC, 10:30 a.m.
» Western Michigan, 11:45 a.m.

March 22
» Ashland, 1 p.m.
» Grambling, 10 a.m.
» Massachusetts, 10 a.m.
» Missouri
» Notre Dame, 11 a.m.
» Ohio State, 11 a.m.
» San Diego State, 2 p.m.
» Slippery Rock, 8:30 a.m.
» Stanford, 12 p.m.

March 23
» Akron, 8 a.m.
» Bethune-Cookman, 10 a.m.
» Eastern Kentucky, 2:30 p.m.
» Kent State, 1 p.m.
» Kentucky, 7 a.m.
» Louisiana-Monroe, 10 a.m.
» Maine, 8:30 a.m.
» Michigan, 8 a.m.
» Michigan State, 12:15 p.m.
» Missouri Western, 9 a.m.
» Texas Tech, 12 p.m.
» Villanova, 8:15 a.m.
» Wesley, 10 a.m.
» Wyoming, 1 p.m.

March 25
» Northern Iowa, 5:05 p.m.

March 26
» Arkansas, 9:30 a.m.
» Baylor, 9 a.m.
» Iowa
» Jackson State, 12 p.m.
» UNLV, 1 p.m.
» Charlotte, 8:30 a.m.
» Sam Houston State, 10:30 a.m.
» South Florida, 9 a.m.
» Stony Brook, 8 a.m.
» Texas State, 4 p.m.

March 27
» Appalachian State, 10 a.m.
» Central Arkansas, 10 a.m.
» Florida Atlantic, 8 a.m.
» Iowa State, 9:45 a.m.
» Kansas, 10 a.m.
» Miami (Ohio), 10:30 a.m.
» Mississippi, 9 a.m.
» Monmouth, 1:30 p.m.
» Prairie View, 2 p.m.
» Shepherd, 12 p.m.
» Southern Utah, 11:30 a.m.
» Stephen F. Austin, 2:30 p.m.
» Texas A&M
» Wagner, 8 a.m.

March 28
» Florida, 10 a.m.
» Howard, 12:15 p.m.
» Maryland, 8 a.m.
» Miami, 9 a.m.
» Minnesota, 10 a.m.
» Mississippi State, 9:30 a.m.
» Navy, 4:15 p.m.
» Northwestern State (La.), 9 a.m.
» Ohio, 11:30 a.m.
» Texas, 9 a.m.
» Utah State, 10 a.m.
» UTSA, 4 p.m.
» Valdosta State, 3 p.m.
» Weber State, 5 p.m.
» Western Illinois, 2 p.m.

March 29
» East Carolina, 9 a.m.
» Houston, 9 a.m.
» Louisville, 9 a.m.
» North Dakota State, 10 a.m.
» Rice, 3:30 p.m.
» SMU, 9 a.m.
» Southern Mississippi, 10 a.m.
» UCF, 1 p.m.
» Utah, 10 a.m.
» West Virginia, 8:30 a.m.

March 30
» BYU, 10:30 a.m.
» Jacksonville, 10 a.m.
» North Texas, 1:15 p.m.
» South Dakota State, 10 a.m.
» TCU, 9 a.m.
» Western Kentucky, 9 a.m.
» Yale, 11:30 a.m.

March 31
» Texas A&M-Commerce, 10 a.m.

April 2
» Indiana State, 12 p.m.
» North Carolina A&T, 9 a.m.
» Southeast Missouri, 10 a.m.

April 3
» Alcorn State, 10 a.m.
» Boise State, 12:30 p.m.
» Duke, 1:45 p.m.
» North Carolina, 9 a.m.
» Tulane, 11 a.m.

April 4
» Ball State, 1 p.m.
» LSU, 8 a.m.
» New Mexico State, 11 a.m.
» Sacramento State, 12 p.m.
» Southern, 4 p.m.

April 5
» Arkansas State, 9 a.m.
» Louisiana-Lafayette, 3 p.m.
» New Mexico, 2:15 p.m.

April 6
» Georgia Southern, 9 a.m.
» Memphis, 11 a.m.
» South Alabama, 10 a.m.

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I'll keep this one short.


CAP Casualty Cuts :

Mark Barron
Tavon Austin

Rams Free Agency ($58mil. available) :

FS LaMarcus Joyner - Franchised (1 year, $11.287mil.)
CB Bashaud Breeland - (4 years, $30mil)
TE Tyler Eifert - (1 year 'prove-it', $3.5mil)
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman - (4 years, $24mil)
ILB Avery Williamson - (5 years, $35mil)
C John Sullivan - (2 years, $5.5mil)
LS Jake McQuaide - (3 years, $7.5mil)

Tender all RFA's, ERFA's) $5.5mil

Extend Aaron Donald (6years, $130.mil, $70.mil guaranteed


2018 Draft :

Trade (Rams #23 for NYJ #37 & 72) Even money with the Trade Value Chart)

#2.37 - OG/C Billy Price
#3.72 - OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
#3.87 - NT Derrick Nnadi
#4.111 - WR DJ Moore
#5.160 - RB Mark Walton
#6.183 - S Trayvon Henderson
#6.194 - OT/OG - Alex Cappa
#6.195 - OT/OG - Greg Senat

I thought about doing something crazy here, but I ultimately changed my mind. My idea was to swap one of the 6ths for Miami's 7th and Suh (since Miami is reportedly wanting to get rid of him). Imagine Suh at NT next to Donald and Brockers. I'd love to see that, but it is doubtful that it happens. Shaquem Griffin will not be in this mock (but I still love his game and want him). Without further ado, here we go:

Cut
WR Tavon Austin
ILB Mark Barron

I don't see anyone trading us anything for Austin. Barron played well for us, but we can find a better fit for our scheme.

Re-Sign/Extend
DT Aaron Donald - 6 years $120 million
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman - 5 years $25 million
S LaMarcus Joyner - Franchise Tag (5 years $45 million extension)
S Cody Davis - 3 years $4.5 million
CB Troy Hill - ERFA
HB Malcolm Brown - ERFA
OLB Matt Longacre - RFA
LS Jake McQuaide - 3 years $3.3 million

We let Trumaine walk. Sammy gets a better offer and also walks. The rest of it is consistent with what I've done before in past mocks.

Free Agency
C Weston Richburg - 5 years $42.5 million
ILB Avery Williamson - 5 years $32.5 million
OLB Pernell McPhee - 1 year $3.5 million

Weston Richburg was considered to be one of the best Centers in the NFL before missing almost all of 2017 with concussion issues. The Jets are reportedly very interested in Richburg, so that may make it difficult for us to land him. However, if we do, he'd offer us a Center with the potential to be among the best in the NFL in his prime. That would lock down the spot for us for years.

Avery Williamson fills our need of more of a thumper ILB next to Ogletree. At 6'1" 246 pounds, Williamson has the size and strength to handle the more physical ILB role in our defense. He has four years of starting experience for Dick LeBeau in his 3-4 in Tennessee, and will only turn 26 years old next week. Williamson has some limitations in coverage, but he's been very effective and productive against the run.

Pernell McPhee flashed a lot of ability in Baltimore and Chicago and has a lot of experience in the 3-4. He can replace Barwin in our scheme. He's had some injury issues the past few years, but I think he could do well platooning with Samson. He's a big OLB who can set the edge, but can also get after the passer. If he's able to stay healthy, he could provide us solid play at SOLB.

Trade
Rams trade Round 6 Pick #22
Broncos trade Round 7 Pick #7 and CB Aqib Talib

The Broncos will likely have to cut him, so they take what they can get here. We get Talib on a two-year $19 million deal with no guaranteed money left.

NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #23 - Harold Landry OLB Boston College
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Analysis: Landry possesses the potential to be one of the NFL's premier pass rushers. Landry decided to return to school after a 2016 season where he produced 22 TFLs, 16.5 sacks, and 7 FFs. However, Landry had a down year and saw his stock tumble a bit. Regardless, Landry wins like Robert Quinn. He's extremely explosive off the ball and can bend around the edge to get to the QB. His short stature (6'2" 252) and low center of gravity also allows him to play under blocks when he turns the corner. In 2016, Landry flashed some diversity to his pass rush approach by showing impressive hand usage and an effective inside move at times along with flashing a speed-to-power rush. However, in 2017, he was too reliant on attacking the edge. If Landry can develop those secondary and counter moves and bring back his more sophisticated pass rushing plans, he could be one of the NFL's best pass rushers. If he just relies on his speed and bend, he'll still be effective, especially with our interior's ability to collapse the pocket, but he won't reach his incredible potential. As a run defender, Landry can set the edge and hold his ground, but he gets engulfed at times by bigger OTs and needs to be more aware on trap plays as he gets too aggressive and allows himself to be pinned inside. He's shown the ability to drop into coverage with some effectiveness and has rushed out of two, three, and four-point stances. I'd say he looks most explosive with his hand in the dirt. @Boston Ram

Round 3 Pick #23 - Derrick Nnadi NT Florida State
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Analysis: I don't really understand why Nnadi isn't higher rated than he is. He's as consistent and reliable as they come on tape from snap to snap. It's hard to find a bad snap from him. At 6'1" 317 pounds, Nnadi is a short and squatty NT. However, he has long arms and big hands for a 6'1" player and uses them well. Nnadi is very difficult to move off the ball due to his low center of gravity, natural leverage, and impressive overall strength (both in his ability to anchor and his ability to overpower OLs with his upper body). As a run stopper, Nnadi can stack double teams, shed single blocks, and move laterally to disrupt zone blocking schemes. He's a tremendous run stopper at NT against both zone and gap schemes. As a pass rusher, Nnadi offers more upside than you'd expect out of a guy with his body type and run stopping chops. He has very heavy hands, great strength throughout his body, and good agility. He's not very explosive off the ball and doesn't possess great closing speed, but he is quite adept at bulling interior OLs into the QBs face or overpowering OLs on stunts and twists. Nnadi displays a great motor on both running and passing downs. I'm really surprised he is seen as a mid-round pick. He'll be a rock in the middle of somebody's defense, so let's make it ours.

Round 4 Pick #11 - Antonio Callaway WR Florida
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Analysis: Callaway is one of the most frustrating players I've seen in college football. If the kid would have taken his head out of his arse, we'd be talking about him as a top 10 or 15 pick and the #1 WR in this class. Callaway checked into the Combine at 5'11" 200 pounds and posted a 4.41 40. He put up outstanding tape at Florida as a freshman and sophomore with bad QB play. He's a dynamic returnman in addition to his receiving skills. Yet, this kid continuously landed himself in trouble year after year. Regardless, I think it's worth the risk in the 4th round. If he doesn't get his crap together, cut him and move on. If he does, you will have a top 10 NFL WR. Callaway is an explosive and sudden athlete with see ya later type speed. He runs by defenders who don't give his deep speed due respect, and he embarrasses defenders at the LOS with his quickness and explosion. While under 6'0", Callaway plays with a mean streak and is willing to get physical. He's extremely dangerous with the ball in his hands after the catch with the ability to make people miss and break tackles. His hands can be a bit inconsistent, but I don't think it's an issue that can't be solved. His route running needs a lot of polish, but his physical tools allow him to compensate. Hopefully, Woods and Kupp can take him under their wing and show him how to run routes, study film, and work hard. If Callaway manages to stay out of trouble, we won't miss Sammy Watkins or Tavon Austin.

Round 5 Pick #23 - Scott Quessenberry C/OG UCLA
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Analysis: Scott Quessenberry is a guy whom I've liked for years. He has the versatility to play anywhere on the interior, good size at 6'4" 315, and a lot of experience as a starter. Athletically, he showed out well at the Combine, which surprised me., He's also a smart player with good technique who will play through the whistle. I really liked his film while zone blocking as well. His brother, David, overcame cancer to return to the NFL. Scott is the type of kid who will make a great backup on the interior and could end up starting down the line for us somewhere. He likely won't be an elite player, but he projects as a potentially solid starter.

Round 6 Pick #9 - 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 #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 and good depth player to have while Toth is serving his time in the military.

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 5'8" 190 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, 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.

Round 7 Pick #7 - Brett Toth OT Army
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Analysis: Brett Toth stood out at both the E-W Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl in a big way. Measuring in at 6'6" 303 pounds with 33 inch arms and 10 inch hands, Toth has all the dimensions of a NFL OT. After playing in a triple-option offense, Toth impressed with his pass protection skills in the off-season bowl games. Toth can also get after it in the running game. On top of that, Toth is graduating from Army with a degree in Physics. Originally recruited as a Tight End, Toth added weight and ended up at RT for Army helping them to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in quite awhile. You must be asking yourself, "Why is a such a smart and gifted player with LT traits falling this far in the Draft?" Toth has to serve two years in the military before he can play in the NFL. Last year, the DOD change the rules to prevent athletes from getting waivers allowing them to play immediately in the NFL. It's possible the DOD could change its mind and grant Toth an exception, but it seems unlikely. Due to that, any team that drafts him must wait two years for him to play.

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
XWR: Josh Reynolds vs. Antonio Callaway
ZWR: Robert Woods
SLWR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: Weston Richburg
RG: Jamon Brown
RT: Rob Havenstein

SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Derrick Nnadi
DT: Aaron Donald
WOLB: Harold Landry
WILB: Alec Ogletree
SILB: Avery Williamson
SOLB: Pernell McPhee
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

I'll probably put out my next mock pretty quickly because I've been sitting on this one until the Combine ended, and FA is right around the corner.