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https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/02/26/nfl-combine-mike-mayock-draft-prospects-mmqb-peter-king

NFL Combine Crash Course: Mike Mayock on the Best Prospects, Top QBs In Indy
The preeminent draft expert previews this week’s event, with thoughts on Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb, Quenton Nelson, Minkah Fitzpatrick and more. Plus items on the Chiefs-Rams trade, an NFL tie to the Olympics and 10 Things
By Peter King



It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

For Mike Mayock, and for draftniks. Starting Friday at 9 a.m., NFL Network will show about 36 hours of live on-field combine coverage over four days from Indianapolis. ESPN will be on the air from Indy for big chunks of the weekend too.

I caught up with Mayock over the weekend as he took a break from tape study. He educated poor, pitiful me as I played catchup on the college names and the 2018 draft. I’m probably not the only one who has never seen a snap of Leighton Vander Esch, so step into the combine classroom. Professor Mayock is at the podium.

The quarterbacks are real, and they’re spectacular. Sort of. Was it just me, or did it seem like there were four or five franchise-type quarterbacks headed for the draft last summer … and now every one of them is covered with zits?

“I think it’s more media hype than anything,” Mayock said. “During the season, everybody is going crazy about Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold and the Heisman winner, Baker Mayfield, and Lamar Jackson, and that’s before the scouts and the teams and the analysts like myself and Daniel Jeremiah and Mel Kiper, before we all start to set up shop and talk critically about these kids.

The season brings things back to earth a little bit, I still think there is some excitement about this class, and I still think there are some franchise quarterbacks involved, but I also think it has been tempered somewhat by the availability of NFL free agents that typically aren't out there.”

The best players in the draft will not surprise you. “I think the two best players I have seen on tape are [Penn State running back] Saquon Barkley and [Notre Dame guard] Quenton Nelson.”

I might have some reticence about taking a running back in the top five, not to mention a guard. But not Mayock. “I think when you look around the NFL today and see that there are more and more high-level interior pass rushers than there were five years ago, you know have to be strong across the offensive front.

Every top-level quarterback I’ve ever talked to told me that what they hate the most is immediate pressure up the middle. If they can step up into a pocket, they’re all happy. And that’s what [Nelson] is. He is going to knock people down in the run game. I call him a people mover. He opens holes. For 330 pounds, his feet are pretty good. I think he can plug-and-play there for the next 10 or 12 years.”

In the 18 drafts this century, only three guards have been picked in the top 10: Brandon Scherff (Washington, 2015, No. 5) and the seventh and 10th picks in 2013: Jonathan Cooper (Arizona) and Chance Warmack (Tennessee). Scherff’s a star. Cooper and Warmack have been major disappointments.

“So recent history would say no,” Mayock said, “but I would look at who this kid is, not just on tape, but who the kid is. He loves football, lives football, and because of his work ethic, toughness and natural ability, unless he has an injury, I think this kid is going to be special.”

Mayock on Barkley: “My philosophy towards high-level running backs is if you believe the kid is a top-10 running back, and you are willing to commit to that, to the philosophy of carries and touches, draft him. And I think recent history tells you that is correct. Zeke Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Todd Gurley, Christian McCaffrey, all four of them have made their teams better. However, as you get down to the second, third and fourth rounds, man, there is a lot of really good backs, especially when they can catch the football. Tarik Cohen, fifth-round pick. Alvin Kamara,

I gave him to Green Bay in my mock draft. I thought he was a first-round pick. I still don't understand why he wasn’t. I think Sony Michel from Georgia compares favorably to him in the run game. I don’t know if he catches the ball as naturally and I know he doesn't run routes as well, so combine and pro day are going to be really important for Sony Michel.”

Receiver is a thin position this year, and recent classes have been terrible in the first round. Prompted by Mayock, let’s look at the receivers in the first round of last three drafts:

• 2015: Amari Cooper, Kevin White, DeVante Parker, Nelson Agholor, Breshad Perriman, Phillip Dorsett.
• 2016: Corey Coleman, Will Fuller IV, Josh Doctson, LaquonTreadwell.
• 2017: Corey Davis, Mike Williams, John Ross.

Wow. Is that awful. One of 13 has played like a first-rounder. Amari Cooper. One!

“I think there is some trends emerging,” Mayock said. “It’s a pass-first league. Who were the best rookie wide receivers last year? JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cooper Kupp, taken at 62 and 69 [overall, respectively]. If you look back since '14, at all the first-round receivers, there is a history of injury problems—guys who can’t answer the bell and most of them had that history in college that we didn’t pay attention to.

All three of the ones last year—Corey Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross—had durability concerns coming into last year’s draft. And I’m not saying they can’t become great players, because it typically takes a couple years at that position. I’m just saying, hey, beware of a history of injury at that position. Take a look at drafthistory.com and go back and look at those four or five draft classes.

“Number two: It takes a long time for these wideouts to develop. They are not used to quality press coverage, and they are not used to the complexity of NFL defenses. Nelson Agholor was supposed to be a bust, but he got moved inside in year three and finally contributed to a degree. I look at this and say what do we learn from this and apply to this year’s draft class.

I want to figure out Courtland Sutton, the big kid from SMU. It looks to me like the bigger guys without any injury issues have been able to contribute quickly. Go back and take a look and see if it holds out. I think [Alabama’s] Calvin Ridley and [Texas A&M’s] Christian Kirk are really good route runners. It will be interesting to see what they run. You can’t bang the table for any one guy that is going to come out and catch 60 balls next year. What are we going to see at the combine? I’m intrigued by that.”

Edge rusher is thin too, which boosts the stock of the premier guy, Bradley Chubb of N.C. State. Good stat from Mayock: Last year, NFL teams picked 17 rushers in the first three rounds, which is about six more per draft than in recent years. “Myles Garrett, Derek Barnett and T.J. Watt all had really good years, and Tak McKinley, Charles Harris, Trey Hendrickson and Carl Lawson from Cincy … all pretty impressive. So who is going to affect the pass game day one?

I think there are three of them. Bradley Chubb is not as twitchy as a Von Miller or some of those guys, but he does everything at a high level—stops the run, rushes the QB, great hustle, tough kid, great size. Marcus Davenport from Texas-San Antonio is really intriguing, and I’m eager to compare his numbers at the combine to Ziggy Ansah and Jadeveon Clowney to see how he matches up athletically to those two. And then Arden Key from LSU is another one of those. Gifted, but he has off-the-field concerns … hurt his knee, had a back issue. Who is Arden Key?”

Get to know Leighton Vander Esch. Asked Mayock if there’s a guy he’s smitten with after weeks of tape study. “The Boise linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch,” he answered right away. “I haven’t watched much of him. I have only seen two tapes so far; that’s the caveat. But I could make the argument that his tape against Oregon [in the Las Vegas Bowl] was as good an off-the-ball-linebacker tape as I’ve seen in five years. Key for him at the combine: Over/under 4.65 in the 40. I am anxious to see what he runs.”

After Barkley and Nelson, the best player could be Alabama cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick. “He is the only guy I could tell you that could start at all six positions in an NFL defensive backfield. Both corners, both safeties, the nickel and the dime. He’s fast enough to play anywhere. Nick Saban played him at a lot of his nickel and dime linebacker stuff. So he was tough enough to tackle, he’s fast enough to play corner, the NFL is a matchup league. I envision him as a chess piece for a smart coach who can move him around.”

The offensive line continues to be thin, which is a big problem for coaches seeing their quarterbacks getting knocked around. Mayock’s stat of the combine: Last year only 33 offensive lineman got picked in seven rounds, and that’s the lowest total going back to at least 1967. “I think a lot of that is the effects of the spread offenses in college football,” he said. “There is more security with offensive linemen that are coming out of pro-style offenses. What does that mean for this draft?

It means the two Notre Dame kids are solid gold, Quenton Nelson and [tackle] Mike McGlinchey, it means the center from Iowa [James Daniels], it means the center from Ohio State [Billy Price] and probably the guard from Georgia [Isaiah Wynn] are all solid gold because they stuck their hand in the dirt, they had to move people in the run game and they understand a little bit of pass protection.”

Please, please, please do not think opinions are final 60 days before the draft. That’s how far away from the first round we are. Mayock: “Last year at this time, DeShone Kizer was my top-rated quarterback.” Things changed. By the time the draft rolled around, Mayock didn’t even have Kizer in his three-QB first round mock.

Other pre-combine media notes:

• NFL Network will have 52 hours of live coverage from Indianapolis, starting Wednesday. The four days of coverage of on-field stuff commences at 9 a.m. ET Friday and runs through Monday. Friday workouts will be running backs, offensive linemen and kickers; quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends go Saturday; linebackers and defensive linemen work Sunday; defensive backs work Monday.

• ESPN will do “NFL Live” from Indianapolis on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and add significant coverage on “SportsCenter” each night of the combine.
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PETER G. AIKEN/GETTY IMAGES

THIS IS ONE INTRIGUING TRADE, FOR MANY REASONS
News item: Kansas City agrees to make its second major trade in a month, dealing 25-year-old Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters to the Rams.

We don’t know, yet, exactly the compensation. But Ian Rapoport reported he didn’t think the deal involved a first-round pick, which I have heard as well. If true, the best pick the Rams could lose this year would be 87th overall because Los Angeles does not have its own second-rounder. Next draft, if the Rams have a similar 2018 as they did in 2017, their second-round pick would fall in the 50s. But if it’s a low two and low three for a sort of problem child, it’s an intriguing trade for both teams.

Check down further in the column for my Stat of the Week, but you’ll see why Peters’ value was still high, though tarnished in Kansas City because of his anthem stance (he kneeled, much to owner Clark Hunt’s chagrin), his unpopularity in the arch-conservative area because of his anthem protest, and his one-game suspension after blowing up and throwing a penalty flag in the stands at the Jets. The man averaged 9.7 big plays (interceptions, forced fumbles, recovered fumbles) a year in his three Kansas City seasons.

It seems like a perfect fit for the Rams, too, at an unbelievably good price: a low third-round pick, at most this year, and they get in return a player under contract for two years and $10.5 million. Peters should thrive in a Wade Phillips defense that asks its top corner to play head-to-head against great receivers. If the Rams can coax Peters into buying into their way of doing things, this will have been a smart purchase.

Maybe the Chiefs couldn’t have made this work, and maybe coach Andy Reid figured Peters was just too much of a handful. But if the Chiefs don’t get a first-rounder in return for a 25-year-old cornerback who, if he can control his temper and play within the scheme, could be a Hall of Fame player, I like the deal for Los Angeles, risk and all.

I’m told there was no agreement or even “we’ll see” about redoing Peters’ contract, so the Rams will have to count Peters only $1.7 million against the cap this year. With the Rams’ biggest need being at cornerback, and with Peters surely understanding this season will be huge in figuring the value of his next contract, the Rams are likely to get the very good Peters—and in an area where the anthem protests do not roil the locals the way they do in the Midwest.

The Niners were also in play, and the Browns, too, to a lesser degree. But here’s what’s interesting: The Rams, 49ers and Browns are all on the Chiefs’ 2018 schedule. L.A. and Kansas City will play in Mexico City this fall. Peters might be a little fired up for that game.
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QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Everyone dreams of making $100 million dollars … That was never something that was very important to me. Signing this second deal with the team that drafted me was my goal from the beginning. It has been done, and I am excited and thrilled and proud of myself for being able to do that.”

—Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles, after signing a three-year extension, through 2020, with the Jaguars on Saturday night.

“I love Lamar Jackson. He’s gotten better and better each year. He does sit in the pocket. He can read defenses. He’s very poised. He takes a lot of shots downfield. He’s not running some dink-and-dunk system.”

—Former New York Giants director of player evaluation Marc Ross, fired by new GM Dave Gettleman in January, on the first-round Louisville prospect, in an ESPN appearance Thursday.

“You wanna compare him to Russell [Wilson], right? This guy’s [one inch] taller than Russ. They’ve been that height their whole life, so they work with it. You’re not trying to throw over him; you’re trying to throw in lanes. You know what’s not showing up with Mayfield? Batted balls. If his height is a concern, you’re looking for balls getting tipped and batted down at the line. The height is not showing up as an issue for me.”

—Darrell Bevell, Russell Wilson’s offensive coordinator for the first six seasons of his Seattle career, to Robert Klemko of The MMQB, on Oklahma’s first-round quarterback prospect, Baker Mayfield.

“Al Davis wanted these walls to be glass, so he could see that you were working. He always wore this cologne—a lot of it—and you could smell him before he got to you. ‘He’s coming this way!’ I’m still expecting to smell it sometimes.”

—Oakland coach Jon Gruden, to S.L. Price in his superb Gruden profilein Sports Illustrated.

“Everybody’s going to want to kick my ass, step on me. They can’t wait to talk about what a dumbass I am, and how s----- I was to start with. How ‘overrated’ I am. I hear it all. I know it’s going to happen. And I’m like: Come on!”

—Gruden, to Price.
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Cleveland Browns Draft Factoids of the Week, actually, now that the NFL has assigned compensatory picks and the draft order is complete:

Picks in the top 65 of the 2018 NFL draft
Cleveland 6
Houston 0

Picks in the top 130 of the 2018 NFL draft
Cleveland 8
Philadelphia 1

In the likely event the Rams include their third- or fourth-round pick in the trade to Kansas City for cornerback Marcus Peters, then:

Picks in the top 159 of the 2018 NFL draft
Cleveland 10
L.A. Rams 2

Over the 2017 and 2018 drafts, as the draft order stands this morning...

Picks in the top 65 of the 2017 and 2018 NFL drafts
Cleveland 11
Houston 2
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POD PEOPLE

New Indianapolis coach Frank Reich, the former Eagles offensive coordinator, and former number one overall pick David Carr, the brother of Oakland quarterback Derek Carr:

• Reich on whether the Eagles game-planned for the Super Bowl differently because of the Patriots’ reputation for never being surprised by anything the opponent does: “That’s a great question. You like to be able to say you dig deep no matter who the opponent is … But to be honest, I do think there was some element of who was on the other side. Maybe we did dig a little deeper because of the respect, and because of everything they do.”

• Reich on tight end Zach Ertz calling for a play in the NFC title game that the Eagles ended up using and gaining big: “When we're mining plays, some of the mining is coming from the players. In the championship game against the Vikings, Ertz comes to me on the sideline and says something to me about a play that wasn’t in the game plan, but we’d run it before, it just wasn’t in that game plan. He says, ‘Hey, I think Flutie Pump will be there.’ So I tell Doug [Pederson], ‘Hey, Ertz is telling me Flutie Pump is going to be wide open.’

And we hit it for 40 yards. [Actually 36] He called the play! Of course, to himself for a 40-yard gain, but that was cool about the culture and the relationship with the players that we had in Philly. I give Doug a lot of credit for trusting his players. That’s what his deal is—he trusts his players. Fourth-and-one when the game is on the line in the Super Bowl, he trusts his players. When you trust your players like that as a coach, you instill that confidence. Not every play is going to work, but that will be the same mentality that we will want to carry here in Indianapolis.”

• David Carr on whether he watches brother Derek and says, “That should have been me”: “There was a part of me that, human nature, you naturally go there. I’ve naturally gone there a lot. But whether it was how I was raised, my faith, and the fact that that all happened for the rest of the events to happen in our family’s lives, to think that two guys from a little town, in Bakersfield, Calif., both play quarterback in the NFL. One was the number one pick, and one is an All-Pro guy, is that by chance?

There’s no way that’s by chance. I lean on a higher power, our faith, and the fact that all of this is working for the ultimate good. And whatever that is, whether it is just getting Derek to the point where he is now, where he can be an influence on people and play good football, fantastic. I’m all about it, but I think that I did that for a little while.

You play the what-if game a lot, and then I would always get to the point where I would say, ‘I don't have an answer. I don't know what I would have done differently, given what I knew.’ So that’s where it ends for me. I had what I had, I did the best that I could, and that’s what I have always done, the absolute best I can, and if it’s not good enough, go do something else.”
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THINGS I THINK I THINK

1. I think the three-year, $54-million extension signed by Blake Bortles on Saturday night in Jacksonville is smart for both sides. But understand that the contract really doesn’t bind Bortles to Jacksonville for much more than the 2018 season. The Jags had the ability to bring Bortles back for his fifth season in 2018, at $19.05 million guaranteed. Instead, with the new deal, they bought two more seasons for essentially $7 million more guaranteed, plus cap-friendly salaries for 2019 and 2020. In other words: If the Jags let Bortles walk after 2018, they’d still owe him $7 million.

But by doing the contract, they buy two years of quarterback security if Bortles plays well in 2018. So I like the deal for Jacksonville. Plus, as Adam Schefter reported, the deal lowers Bortles’ cap charge to $10 million in 2018, important for a team that has about $30 million in cap room, which isn’t much.

2. I think this is also a smart deal for Bortles. It’s simple: The Jags liked him more than anyone else on the market did. No one else was going to hand him a starting job on a strong playoff contender. Instead of playing out his franchise-tag year, he gets more guaranteed money, plus some but not a lot of security … and he knows the coaches, knows the scheme, showed flashes of playing the best football of his NFL life as this season wound down, and did it with a cast on offense that was pretty beat up.

3. I think this is going to be an interesting book … In 2016, on the 15th anniversary of 9/11, ESPN’s Adam Schefter did a TV story on one of the victims of the terrorism that day, Joe Maio, who worked for financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald at the World Trade Center. “Nothing I have ever done has generated as much interest as this story,” Schefter said Sunday. “Nothing. I was honored to honor Joe.” Schefter never met the late Maio, but his connection with him runs very deep: Schefter married Maio’s widow, Sharri.

They live with their two children on Long Island, and have kept Maio’s memory alive. The latest effort is a book by Schefter, co-written with Sports Illustrated’sMichael Rosenberg, that will be published by St. Martin’s Press around the start of the football season. It’s called, “The Man I Never Met: A Memoir.” Said Schefter: “It’s designed to be a memoir about Joe, and it weaves in how I stepped into his life. I really wanted to honor Joe.

The video piece generated such a strong reaction, and I felt with a six-minute TV piece, there were still so many unanswered questions and such strong material we didn’t get into. Michael did a lot of work there. He researched the book so well—he found out things about Joe that I didn’t know.”

4. I think I won’t understand it if the Cowboys keep Dez Bryant and pass up saving $8.5 million in cap space on a declining 30-year-old receiver. It’s smarter, for many reasons, to cut him.

5. I think, if you ever want to know the lengths to which NFL players go to play in games (and a cool way to show how things have changed in media and training terms in the last 20 years), you should read this Jenny Vrentas story from The MMQB.

6. I think I will be surprised—not shocked, but certainly surprised—if Kirk Cousins is not the NFL’s first $30-million-a-year player three weeks from now. Here’s my thinking:

• Jimmy Garappolo’s deal with San Francisco averages $27.5 million a year.

• Garoppolo had started seven NFL games, and the 49ers had no competition for his services.

• Cousins is 29. Over his past three seasons as Washington’s starter, he has averaged 4,392 yards passing and a 97.5 passer rating. Assuming Drew Brees re-signs with New Orleans (an assumption, but not a given), Cousins will be far and away the best quarterback on the market, with at least eight teams starved for a quarterback of the future.

• Three of the teams most desperate for a long-term starter—the Browns, Jets and Vikings—have an average of $77 million in cap room entering free-agency. If the Jets want Cousins, which is a given, do you think they’d actually draw the line somewhere, anywhere, shy of getting their man?

• One asterisk: Cousins may decide he wants to go only to a team ready to win now. Say he decides his best option is Denver. (The Broncos, according to overthecap.com, have $26.8 million in cap room.) I doubt Cousins will say he has to make as much in Denver as the highest bidder, if he has his mind set on the Broncos. To me, that type of scenario is the only way he doesn’t end up at $30 million annually, or north of that.

7. I think, not that it’s a terrible decision, but I’m not too crazy about the Panthers planning to franchise-tag Graham Gano. Good kicker who had a very good year last year (29 field goals, 30 attempts). In the last three years, Gano has missed nine PATs and is 5-of-11 from 50-plus yards. Now he’s a $4.96 million player. Seems excessive to me.

8. I think what I appreciated about former Jets and Patriots linebacker David Harris—the second-leading tackler in Jets history—is that he was a very good player and the exact same person from the start of his career to the end. He retired the other day, letting a statement released through his agent be his only words on the subject.

I am fine with players being anything they want to be, as long as they’re themselves. And Harris was a private person and intensely competitive player, admired by so many coaches and teammates. Good for him to go out on his own terms, with very few syllables.

Perhaps, at least in part, his tantrums are a result of frustration with poor play by himself and his teammates?

There has been little criticism of his actual play on the field, or certainly his results. On those matters he is considered elite.

We all saw our own AD lose his temper a couple of times in’16 out of frustration. Obviously, not to the degree that MP has, but still...

Maybe elite players that are putting 100% of themselves into the game have a “frustration” snapping point on occasion? Because they “care” so danged much and some others don’t?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not excusing the outbursts and immaturity, just suggesting that the source might be coming from an overwhelming desire for perfection and for winning. If I’m even partially right, perhaps MP can be “fixed” more easily than some have feared.

I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that McVay and Wade more or less came to similar conclusions after their research and after talking to him.

One last thing. I think that this team’s locker room is strong and will be able to give MP the guidance and support needed for him to become fully assimilated into this culture. If MP wants to be a part of pulling together and winning, he’s definitely come to the right place. Heck, maybe the perfect place.

Sam Bradford will not be ending his career contrary to what the early opinions were.

Sam Bradford is set to hit the free agent market after spending the last two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. After proving he was the best pure passer on the roster, he suffered a knee injury in the first week of the year that derailed his entire 2017 season.

But what was described as a career-ender quickly subsided as he returned to the field to be the team's backup in the playoffs. Now, he has his sights set on a new opportunity for 2018, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

"He did have that knee surgery back in November," Pelissero reported. "Dr. James Andrews went in there to clean up a bone spur, clean out some cartilage, just try to get the joint to calm down. Now Andrews has told Bradford the joint itself is sound, that the ligaments are intact, that there's not reason for there to be concern moving forward."

Bradford joined the Vikings via trade when Teddy Bridgewater tore his ACL in August 2016. The Vikings sent a 2016 first round pick and 2017 fourth round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in that deal.

https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Bolt/Sam-Bradford-absolutely-plans-to-play-in-2018-115446136

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...t-least-178-million-could-exceed-179-million/

Salary cap is expected to be at least $178 million, could exceed $179 million
Posted by Mike Florio on February 25, 2018



With the new league year approaching, the NFL and NFL Players Association soon will be finalizing the salary cap number for 2018. In December, the NFL projected a range of $174.2 million to $178.1 million for the cap.

As often is the case, the actual salary cap likely will exceed those projections.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the cap will at least be $178 million. It also could exceed $179 million.

The specific number, generally driven by revenues in the prior years, ultimately becomes the product of negotiation between the NFL and NFLPA. Last year, the parties set the cap at $168 million.

The cap has been experiencing significant growth in recent years, even with a decline in TV ratings. With the Thursday night broadcast package spiking from $450 million to at least $550 million annually as of 2018, the increases likely will continue.

Les Snead has always been bold. Trading up for Goff, choosing Donald when DT wasn’t a need position, taking Gurley off the injury season, paying Woods much more than others were willing to spend, and acquiring Watkins despite all the question marks are but a few examples of a fearless GM. Now that he’s pulled off one of his boldest moves to date, the question remains...what’s next?

Lost in the fallout of what Marcus Peters will be able to accomplish for Wade Phillips is what his presence now means to Snead. Cap flexibility vs Johnson is obvious. The greater impact though is what it means to building the rest of the team. For many years, teams like the Patriots have been able to acquire free agents at discount prices because there was a valid perception that players could work for more than a paycheck. The Peters and Watkins moves indicate that volatility isn’t a blackball trait...this staff knows how to manage it. That’s why Randy Moss worked in NE. Perhaps the Rams can do in 2018 what we fans hoped could happen in 2001. Maybe players will get extended a bit more reasonably to stay (Donald, Watkins, Joyner, Sullivan, and eventually Gurley, Goff, etc). Maybe troubled or aging veterans who’s market is low but value is high will prefer this team over other suitors. With this team set at several positions with top flight production, Les can now focus on the four things that remain to be done before kickoff in September.

The structure of Wade’s defense in LA is good but needs more pieces to become great. Up front, with Donald and Brockers anchoring the ends, a top flight run stuffing NT would make this unit an all time great 3/4 unit. It would also help the cover/blitz/chase inside linebackers (Ogletree/Barron) become far less liabilities in the run game. To me, this is priority #1.

The second most pressing issue on this team is OLine depth. By sheer miracle...Saffold and Sullivan survived an entire year of relative health. Whitworth is in the mold of Slater and Pace but even the greats face retirement someday. While the debate rages over whether or not Watkins should be retained...and at what price, the effectiveness of an NFL OLine has a far greater impact on whether or not that offense will thrive.

The third glaring need is a development of replacements for Quinn and Barwin. Both are valued leaders who perform admirably. But neither are what they once were and never likely to be again. Sure, they were good enough last year to produce what the team needed, but the organization cannot afford to ignore that there is a need here that must be addressed soon.

Finally, and frankly Snead’s greatest strength has been the ability to find depth in the latter rounds of the draft and with undrafted free agents. The Eagles of 2017 were the first team I’ve ever witnessed to lose so many star players and still win a championship. The ‘17 Rams were the healthiest they have been in 16 years. The odds are against that happening again in 2018. Perhaps coaching will make the difference but Snead’s most unappreciated task this offseason will be churning the bottom of the roster.

The trade for Peters is making headlines and we all wait to learn the cost. While I share that anxiety, I’m far more curious to learn what Les and Sean have up their sleeves in the four other areas I’ve listed here.

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Fans Across the Globe Share How They Became Rams Supporters

The NFL fandom is a truly global one, stretching from cities around the United States, across the pond to the United Kingdom, and beyond. The Los Angeles Rams have played in London for the past two seasons and will venture to Mexico City to take on the Chiefs in 2018.

And as the NFL’s international series continues to expand, more and more sports fans around the world are beginning to follow professional American football — with many choosing the L.A. Rams as their “home” team.

This week, the United Kingdom’s No. 1 fan account — @LARams_UK — posed this question to its followers: “How did you become a Rams fan?”

The responses were filled with a variety of interesting and unique, personal anecdotes ranging from a chance encounter in a video game, to breakups, to familial ties. Take a look at some of the best responses below and be sure to check out more of the answers on the Los Angeles Rams UK Twitter Page.

Well, we might be waiting for awhile to see what the Peters trade compensation is, so I'll just put this out and guess. I was originally going to try and do this mock without putting Talib or Shaquem Griffin in (was going to have Malcolm Butler at CB and Vander Esch being our top pick), but the Peters trade has changed that.

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 at a cheaper price.

Re-Sign/Extend
DT Aaron Donald - 6 years $120 million
WR Sammy Watkins - 3 years $30 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
C John Sullivan - 1 year $1.5 million
OLB Connor Barwin - 1 year $1.5 million
DT Tyrunn Walker - NFL minimum
CB Troy Hill - ERFA
HB Malcolm Brown - ERFA
OLB Matt Longacre - RFA
LS Jake McQuaide - 3 years $3.3 million

Trumaine walks. We bring Sammy back on a three-year $30 million deal. It's a win-win for Sammy and us. Other than that, it's pretty standard.

Free Agency
ILB Brian Cushing - 1 year $1.5 million

Cushing joins the Rams on what is basically a "prove it" deal. He played for Wade in Houston, so Wade knows him well. However, Cushing missed most of the 2017 season with another PED suspension, and he's slowing with age. However, he still has the size and strength to step in besides Ogletree and help us improve against the run.

Trade
Rams trade Round 3 Pick #23, Round 6 Pick #20, 2019 Conditional 3rd Round Pick, and 2019 5th Round Pick
Chiefs trade CB Marcus Peters

Well, it's going to happen. We'll see what we give up. In this scenario, the conditional 3rd becomes a 2nd if Peters makes the Pro Bowl and a 1st if Peters makes the All Pro team.

Rams trade Round 6 Pick #23
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.

Rams trade Round 1 Pick #23
Browns trade Round 2 Pick #1, Round 4 Pick #1, and Round 4 Pick #22

It makes sense for the Browns to be aggressive. It makes sense for us to recoup some picks. The Browns need CB help, and it looks like there will be some good CB options available at Pick #23. This draft comes out almost perfectly on the trade value chart.

NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #1 - Tim Settle NT Virginia Tech
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Analysis: At 6'3" 335 pounds, Settle certainly has the sort of size that you expect out of a 3-4 NT. However, Settle's size isn't his only redeeming feature. He moves and plays like a DT who is 30 pounds lighter. Settle is explosive off the ball with great agility for his size and a lot of energy. His motor is highly impressive out of such a big guy. He combines the strength you expect out of a 330+ pound NT with the explosiveness you expect out of a 295 pound UT. Settle is still young at 20 years old, declared after his sophomore year, and is still raw. He needs to learn how to use his hands better as a pass rusher, he needs to play with better leverage in the running game, and he needs to show better awareness when it comes to blocking schemes. Nevertheless, Settle shows the ability win quickly with an arm-over swim move, he often forces teams to double him in the running game, and he's willing to chase players to the sideline. His potential is through the roof. He's been compared to Vince Wilfork, but I really like Jamal Williams as a comparison, who thrived in Wade's scheme (two All Pros in three years). The great thing about Wade's scheme is that he'll let Settle attack instead of forcing him to read and react, which isn't Settle's forte at this point in his career. Settle is exactly the type of player we need inside and is a perfect fit for this scheme. Plus, he'll have the opportunity to work with Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers. I can't think of a better duo to learn from as a young DL.

Round 4 Pick #1 - Shaquem Griffin ILB/OLB UCF
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Analysis: Many people have Griffin rated as a Day 3 pick, and some even have him rated as a 7th round pick or UDFA. Personally, I think this is similar to the disrespect Aaron Donald was given throughout his senior season before he blew up at the Senior Bowl. Donald's size scared teams. Griffin's missing hand also likely scares teams. However, after the Senior Bowl and Combine, it was clear that Donald's size issues were overblown. I expect the same to be true with Griffin after the Combine. He already had a great Senior Bowl week and won Practice Player of the Week. I expect him to dominate at the Combine by posting great jump and agility numbers and running a 40 in the 4.45 to 4.55 range. Griffin checks in at 6'0" 222 with surprising power and elite burst/speed. Griffin closes like few can at the LB position. 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 there during camp. 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. His game reminds me of Lavonte David and Deion Jones.

Round 4 Pick #22 - Ogbonnia Okoronkwo OLB Oklahoma
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Analysis: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo shared Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year with Malik Jefferson after posting 75 tackles, 17 TFLs, and 8 sacks in 2017. In 2016, he posted 71 tackles, 12 TFLs, and 9 sacks. Okoronkwo played a role at Oklahoma that is fairly similar to the one he'd be playing for the Rams. Oklahoma dropped him in coverage quite a bit but also asked him to rush the passer and set the edge against the run. Okoronkwo thrived in all three areas. In the NFL, he would offer similar versatility. Why is he not going higher in the Draft? It's possible he does if he has a strong Combine, but his size (6'1" 245) and his limitations as a pass rusher might drop him in the Draft. While Okoronkwo is very quick and explosive, he doesn't really show the great bend and dominant edge rushing ability or the power and heavy hands needed to be an impact NFL pass rusher. Instead, he wins with his quickness, smarts, and balance. His go-to move right now is a spin move. He shows sophisticated pass rush plans and uses his hands well, but there are legitimate questions as to whether he can get consistent pressure. Still, he's a physical player with a great motor, his versatility, and the athletic traits to be a solid NFL OLB and a great special teamer. There is potential for him to be a good pass rusher if he continues to develop his hand usage, pass rush plans, and power, but it's not guaranteed.

Round 4 Pick #23 - John Kelly Jr. HB Tennessee
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Analysis: John Kelly might be the most underrated HB in this Draft. He was unlucky enough to play on a Tennessee team that couldn't run block or throw the ball. It reminded me of Todd Gurley last year. He was constantly hit behind the LOS and rarely had a decent running lane. This is a guy who ran for more yardage last year than Alvin Kamara on less carries. Kelly Jr. doesn't have Kamara's speed, but like Kamara, I expect him to be a much better pro than college player. At 5'9" 210, Kelly has a good HB build. He combines plus quickness with great balance, outstanding strength, and a real mean streak. He rarely goes down on first contact, he runs angry, and he finishes with authority. He also has the quickness to make guys miss in the back-field and in the open-field. Kelly only has solid overall speed, but he has good burst. In the passing game, he's a very dangerous receiver due to the sharpness of his routes and cuts and his soft hands (as well as his ability to make people miss and break tackles in space). His pass protection needs work, but he doesn't lack the strength or willingness. He looks to punish people when blocking, but he needs to learn how to use his hands better, stop ducking his head into blocks, stay square to defenders, and be more patient. I expect him to learn quickly in the NFL. Overall, he has the potential to be a three-down HB and a very dangerous receiver in the passing game.

Round 5 Pick #23 - Micah Kiser ILB Virginia
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Analysis: Kiser fills a need for us behind Cushing as a thumper ILB. Kiser has been an incredibly productive LB at UVA posting 393 tackles, 33.5 TFLs, 19 sacks, and 8 FFs in his 3 years as a starter. Kiser has some athletic limitations that will severely limit his M2M coverage ability in the NFL, but he's a capable zone defender. His straight-line speed is below average, but he's a physical banger in the running game who will bring it on every play. He's a smart player with plus instincts who will attack blockers, play through the whistle, and lay the lumber. Kiser plays angry with a non-stop motor. He seems like the type of kid who will his way onto the field in the NFL. He has his limitations, but he'll carve out a role in the NFL.

Round 6 Pick #21 - 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 6'5" 315, and a lot of experience as a starter. Athletically, he's pretty average all around, but he's a smart player with good technique who will play through the whistle. His brother, David, overcame cancer to return to the NFL. Scott seems like a kid who could end up starting for us at Center down the line.

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: Sammy Watkins
ZWR: Robert Woods
SLWR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: John Sullivan
RG: Jamon Brown
RT: Rob Havenstein

SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Tim Settle
DT: Aaron Donald
WOLB: Robert Quinn
WILB: Alec Ogletree
SILB: Brian Cushing
SOLB: Connor Barwin
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

What's up gents! This Marcus Peters trade just got me back into the fold with the off season and with the loss in the Wild Card round I was being a grinch (still) lol. I have a pretty good idea to not only get us to that dominant window now but to keep our SB window open for years to come. Here we go!


Mission #1:
I have very little doubt with our FO recent year(s) of pure beast mode they have any doubt of restructuring the amounts of Tavon Austin's and Robert Quinns contracts. Both have very good roles and talents to play on this team and I'm not convinced cutting or trading them is the answer to be honest.

Restructure:
Just gives us an extra just shy of 14 m. from these two contracts alone. Quinns is putting a bit off to next year and Tavon's is a pay cut etc. No doubt Snead and mostly Demoff get this accomplished. They seem driven and motivated to get us to the promised land.

Resign:
Tender:
Malcolm Brown
Troy Hill
Matt Longacre 2nd round
It's obvious these 3 players are trending up and have a ton of potential for a few years at the least.

Extend:
Jake McQuide - 2 years 915k
NRC- 2 Years 850 k
John Sullivan- 1 year 1 mill.
Connor Barwin - 1 year 1.5 mill
D Easley - 1 yr. 1.8 mill
Cody Davis - 2 years 1.5 mill
Sammy Watkins - 3 years 11.5 mill
These players either add depth or continue the firepower we need to continue to dominate for years to come. The DL always needs fresh rotation where when the startes come out there isn't a huge drop off of production.

Franchise:
Lamarcus Joyner - 11.1 mill
I was so wrong about these guy, a pleasure to use the franchise tag on him. Love watching him come across the middle and delivering a shot.

Free Agency:
Andrew Norwell - 5 years 12.5 mill/yr
Mr Norwell is one of the best if not THE best RG in the game. This gives another All Pro, young (26), proven, and talented O linemen that will be around for Gurley and Goff for years to come. ( Imagine him kicking out to Whits side to clear the way with Whit!!) Will need to give him slightly more to pry him away from Carolina.

Trade:
Trade down Day 1 with Jaguars 1st rd. (29) and 3rd rd. (93) for Rams 1st rd. (23).
Adds value of a 3rd rounder without getting out of the first round and not at back of the bus of the first day.

Trade up with Jets 2nd rd. (49) for Jamon Brown, 3rd rd. (93), 3rd rd. (87).
Why would the Jets do this? They are rebuilding and regardless of the QB (actually think they land Cousins) they pick they need a starting quality G, and value of two 3rd picks to help them add quality to their roster.

Draft:
I absolutely love Joshua Jackson from Iowa but no way he falls to #23 not to mention #29. Thinking Hughes gets taken in the mid 20's so our pick is....?

1st Rd. Pick #29 Isaiah Oliver CB Colorado
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Dude seems like he would be a dominant 2nd CB on the opposite side of Marcus Peters who will be fighting for 1-3 years for a top money contract. This guy just strikes me as a Ram not even thinking of us drafting him. Also, it's smart to take a cheap option at CB #2 and maybe our future CB#1 if Marcus Peters doesn't work out and acts out. At least we aren't left with our pants down with no #1 or #2 CB and he's already had a few years to develop under his belt, and did I mention he'll still be cheap?

2nd Rd. Pick #49 Time Settle NT V. Tech
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If you have not heard or seen this guy, seriously watch this video and picture him in between Brockers and AD. Now I love you my man @jrry32 and we are like minded in almost everything but I do differ on our Run D and the way to fix it. Maybe not? Seems you want a thumper at ILB? and I read a lot of others who want a bigger run D guy at the other ILB spot. Me? I don't need anything flashy, keep an athletic Barron and IMO the main reason our Run D sucked last year ( at least in the first half of the year) was we didn't have a true NT. When you have Brockers, Settle, and AD lined up next to eachother, I'm sorry but that DL rush and pass D becomes a f'n unstoppable force. Also enhances our secondary effectiveness.

5th Rd. Pick #151 Marcus Allen S PSU
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I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, did I say LOVE this guy as a 5th round prospect!!? I see him as another John Johnson but better TBH. This guy can play and is a damn good tackler and makes big time plays. Listen to him the beginning of the second video, he sounds like he has his head and attitude right and he can play. Hoping he drops down and we snag him! lol
6th Rd. Pick #180 Greg Senat OT Wagner U.

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We need a developmental OT preferrably one for the LT spot and it doesn't hurt looking for one in the 6th with a year to maybe the 3 to develop. Now not the hugest fan of Walter Football but here's a review from that site,
"Some sources felt that Senat was the best of the offensive linemen at the East-West Shrine. Senat has strength and surprising movement skills. As one scout described him, "Senat is a fire hydrant that can move." After playing at Wagner, Senat has shown the skill to make the jump in competition from his time in St. Petersburg, and those tests will continue with an NFL team after the 2018 NFL Draft."


Definitely needs to add some strength and weight and work on technique more, but with our current OL coach think he can do wonders with him.

6th Rd. Pick#181
UCF LB Shaquem Griffin ILB/OLB
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I'm sorry even though it's amazing what he did with no left hand
without considering that feel good story the guy can flat out play. He'll be a great situational pass rusher/winded player speller at the least. Guys has a knack for making turnovers and being around the ball and is always around the damn ball. Did I mention he likes the football? Seems like he's going to be a day 3 pick upon review, and I never heard until seeing Jerr's mock.




The goal In this draft was to match the Defense with the Offense to help dominate to be a top 3 unit. If we get a another similar output from the offense and improve the defense I don't see anyway we aren't in the NfC Championship. Looking forward to your thoughts, all the trades equal quite a bit with the draft trade chart and we still have like 10.5 mill left for FA/draft signings. They key however is restructuring Tavon's and Quinn's contract, and I think Tavon's will be easier to negotiate than Quinn's since his value has went waaaay down but still holds enough value to keep on the roster due to keeping at least one guy that Gurley doesn't have to worry about to do his thing.

Could someone with vast Salary Cap knowledge please explain the Cap details for the Rams if Robert Quinn's salary was to be restructured this off season? I have looked it at on Overthecap.com and when selecting "restructure" for Quuinn's contract, the results for 2018 and 2019 seem too good to be true ; not sure they're offering all of the information.

Thank you in advance.....

It seems the Jags are happy with their QB but not so happy they gave him good money.

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That guaranteed money ranks below some QB's including Goff and Wentz on their rookie deals.

Does the Peters trade take CB at #23 off the table, now?

I don’t think so, necessarily.

Depends on BPA at LOT, CB, Edge, or NT, of course.

But if a CB that they really like should fall, it would still make a ton of sense.

Peters will take away half the field, virtually. But if the other outside CB is weak, then the QB could still feast on him. However, if the rookie (or maybe a second tier FA) could also hold his own, then the QB is in a fix. Even a Brady or a Brees. What an exquisite scenario for Wade.

Another thing. What if Peters doesn’t work out? Too much of a distraction? It would be very nice to have a quality young 2 year vet already in place at the “other” CB spot, huh?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m just fine with a NT, Edge, or LOT, too. Just daydreaming here a little bit. Lol.

Downtown Rams panel gets together to discuss the brand new Rams elite CB and the trade that will bring him to LA. Jake Ellenbogen, Nick Galarreta, Dennis Duolee, Jonah Trevino, Austin Wilson & Alex Kelly talk Rams off-season following the Peters trade.

SPREAKER: https://www.spreaker.com/user/downtownrams/downtown-rams-roundtable-live-ep-64-marc

iTUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast...ters-traded/id1233567831?i=1000403552471&mt=2

What I like about this trade, besides the obvious, is how this helps set-up how free agency & the draft continues to unfold. For under $2.mil. this next season, the Rams have filled a huge need by acquiring an elite player to more than fill TruJo's shoes at CB.
I count 4 positions remaining on defense where the Rams can seriously upgrade aspects of our game, only 3 of which really need be starters. With approximately $38.2 mil left in available CAP, including the signing of our draft class, and assuming that we still wish to re-sign Watkins, Joyner, Robey-Coleman, Sullivan, McQuaide as well as return our RFA's & ERFA's, we may be left with as little as $4.mil. Now, if we add the two CAP Casualties most often mentioned (Barron, Austin) this off-season as being cut, that should get us back up to about the $14.mil area in available funds. This $14.mil figure is without accounting for whether the Rams front load in their more typical fashion of late, or front load in a manner which may help pave the way for future contracts like Donald & Goff's to more easily squeeze under a future CAP.
OK, so the following is my list of the 4 positions i'd like to still see addressed on defense in 2018; CB#2, NT, ILB, LOLB. There has been a lot of talk about another free agent being brought in at CB#2, but with our limited remaining CAP availability, and that this position is an expensive one to fill with a highly regarded young veteran, I might suggest we leave this one for a higher pick in the draft. I'm of the opinion that there are some quality NT's, ILB's & OLB's to be had in free agency for a relatively inexpensive price, in fact, all 3 will come in under our $14.mil. in remaining funds. The LOLB would be more of a rotational guy anyway as I believe Ebukam is ready to take over for the departed (or will be) Connor Barwin. As for the oft mentioned lack of depth on our Offensive Line, the remainder of the draft, whatever that may be after discovering what we have left following the Peters trade, can be devoted right here. This isn't a mock, so i'll refrain from offering names for free agents & the draft, but with our limited money, we can continue to build a powerhouse going forward.
I understand some are wondering where is the money for re-signing Donald right here, right now, but I can only hope that Snead's best bargaining to date may be in how he approaches Donald & his agent. Donald's 5'th year option is a sizable raise and has already been accounted for, although we are all aware what's to come in the very near future. If the Rams have a new record breaking contract for the 2019 season ready and in place for Donald prior to the 2018 opening of camp, our team may just tie him up thru the end of 2024. jmo.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/sto...cs-pick-first-second-overall-picks-2015-draft

NFL execs pick between Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans had their problems, which is why both teams made their selections so early in the 2015 NFL draft.

The quarterbacks they picked 1-2 that year -- Jameis Winston to the Bucs, Marcus Mariota to the Titans -- had the potential to change the trajectories of their franchises. Do they still? Did they ever? Which one would NFL talent evaluators prefer now, with three years' hindsight?

Winston or Mariota? I asked evaluators that question before the 2015 draft and again this week. We'll dive into their then-and-now comments before taking a closer look at each QB in a broader context.

Evaluator No. 1: Pro personnel director

What he said in 2015: "Early on, I'd rather have Winston because he is more ready to operate within a pro offense, command the huddle. I see that personality, that energy. He believes too much in his arm. The coaches can tame that down. Long term, Mariota with a good QB coach will show. He will be like the guy who sat for two years and had an excellent career. Aaron Rodgers had that. Steve Young had that. When Mariota gets it, he is going to be good and will not beat himself."

What he's saying now: "I would take Mariota still and say there is better upside with him. Mariota is still developing. The coaching change reflects how they were looking for someone to do a little better job developing him, bringing out the best in him. There is still upside. To me, 'Famous Jameis' still gets in his own way. He still does silly things on the field and off the field that slows his development. He wants to be a gunslinger and an ad-lib guy, and he makes bad decisions. Mariota's biggest downside has been the durability. I still think he is talented. He needs the right tools around him."

Evaluator No. 2: Offensive coordinator

What he said in 2015: "Mariota might be the better pick if he is not that far behind in terms of learning the pro system. You cannot have the No. 1 pick blow up on character. Taking Johnny Manziel will cost all those guys in Cleveland their jobs a year from now. Winston scares the hell out of me, but he is better than the other guy [Mariota]. He is a player. I like him. He is not afraid. He tries to do too much, but just looks like a winner when he plays. You feel like we can ride this guy. He is the guy who can pick up any ball and play any sport and beat you."

What he's saying now: "It is hard to take Winston because his decisions are so bad, and it looks like he does stuff just to do stuff. You know he has been coached because Dirk [Koetter] does not mess around. Dirk is pretty tight offensively, and Winston just wings it sometimes. Mariota looks brittle to me, but you can do so many things because he can run so well. I just don't know how long you can do those things. This is not an exciting choice to make right now."

What four other evaluators are saying now

Pro personnel director: "The question is, is Mariota what he is? Have we seen the best of him? I still would probably take Winston. That energy he has is a little bit unharnessed. I just love the fiery leader that he has in him. To me, when I looked at Tampa Bay's roster, I saw all the talent but I also saw all the character risks they took. You have a volatile quarterback with that many character risks, it doesn't make for a great recipe. I felt like they were going to have some issues."

General manager: "These guys are not failures, but they are not home runs, either. To continue that baseball analogy, they both could get thrown out at second base, one because of injuries and one because of character. I'd probably take Winston just because Mariota's injuries concern me."

Offensive coach: "The word on the street is that Winston still does the childish stuff off the field because he thinks it's cool. He is competitive as s--- on the field. They win every two-minute drill against the defense in practice. It's just how competitive Jameis is. You love those things. If he ever got that other side of his life worked out, maybe he could really be something."

Offensive coach: "I think Mariota would be outpacing Winston if he had been the one going to Tampa with Dirk Koetter and those offensive weapons. Instead, he goes to Tennessee with a head coach [Mike Mularkey] who is not really a quarterback guru and was best known in the league for what he did in Pittsburgh with those gadget plays he built off the running game. It will be fun to see how things work out with the new coordinator in Tennessee [Matt Lafleur]."

Underwhelming impact

Neither Winston nor Mariota appears to be ascending. Neither is necessarily declining. Neither is a bust. Neither is a savior. They appear to be a couple of roughly average starting quarterbacks with the potential to be better than that.

Winston has 69 touchdown passes and 44 interceptions with a 55.4 Total QBR in 45 starts. His predecessors in Tampa Bay had three fewer touchdowns with two additional picks (46.4 QBR) over the 45 games immediately before Winston's arrival. The Bucs have had a better record with Winston in the lineup (18-27) than they had in the 45 games before he arrived (12-33). Winston's higher QBR and the team's modest statistical improvement on defense help explain the six-win gain.

Surely, the Buccaneers expected more. Their 18-27 record with Winston in the lineup is two games better than their 16-29 mark during Vinny Testaverde's first 45 starts as the first pick in the 1987 draft; Testaverde left the team as an unrestricted free agent after five seasons.

Mariota has 58 touchdown passes with 34 interceptions (54.6 QBR) in 42 regular-season starts. The Titans had seven fewer touchdowns and eight additional interceptions with a lower QBR (48.1) over the 42 games before Mariota arrived. The team's offensive efficiency has been flat overall, while the defense and special teams have improved, according to ESPN's metrics. Tennessee is 20-22 with Mariota in the lineup, compared to 13-29 in the 42 games before his arrival.

If the Titans loved those results, they would not be on their second general manager and third head coach in four seasons since drafting Mariota.

"The thing I think that we all forget about is, Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning isn't always available as the best quarterback coming out in a given year," a coach who has consistently favored Mariota over Winston said. "There sometimes are no winners in a particular quarterback draft, occasionally there is one winner and not very often, there are two that come out and drive it home."

The bottom line

Winston ranks 16th out of 37 qualifying quarterbacks in QBR since 2015. Mariota is 18th. All the QBs ranked higher than Mariota have been named to a Pro Bowl at some point in their careers (Winston went as Tom Brady's replacement after his rookie season). Most of the ones ranked lower than Mariota have not, and a few that have are either in decline (Jay Cutler) or already out of the league (Manning). Andy Dalton is the quarterback ranked between Winston and Mariota in QBR since 2015. He could provide a good barometer for their prospects.

Dalton's stats through 45 starts were a notch or two below those for Winston and Mariota. His interception rate (3.0 percent) was a little higher. His QBR (50.1) was a little lower. Dalton's 28-17 record as a starter in those games was much better, for one obvious reason: The Bengals ranked fourth in points allowed and second in ESPN's defensive efficiency metric during Dalton's first three seasons. Winston's Bucs have been 28th in points allowed and 23rd in defensive efficiency. Mariota's Titans have ranked 25th in points allowed and 17th in defensive efficiency.

The Bucs have also been especially bad on special teams, ranking 27th in efficiency over Winston's three seasons (they are last in field-goal percentage over that span). Bump up the Bucs and Titans in some of those key areas and everyone will benefit, including their quarterbacks.

Dalton produced a breakout 2015 season (his fifth in the NFL) when everything around him was at its best. The offensive staff had been together for years. Dalton had a good line anchored by Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler. Cincy had two young, healthy backs. A.J. Green, Marvin Jones Jr., Tyler Eifert and Mohamed Sanu missed only three games between them.

The Bengals' personnel infrastructure has eroded significantly since then. Dalton hasn't been able to make up the difference. Winston and Mariota could be more talented, but there is no evidence so far that either can significantly elevate an unspectacular supporting cast. So it goes for the vast majority of quarterbacks, no matter how early they are drafted.

For historical perspective, an evaluator pulled up a list of the 12 first-round quarterbacks selected over the past five drafts (2013-17). He placed Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson at the top. Jared Goff came next, a tick ahead of Winston and Mariota. Patrick Mahomes was sixth, with a notation that some might place him higher. Then came a grouping with Mitchell Trubisky, Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater, followed by a bottom tier featuring Paxton Lynch, EJ Manuel and Manziel.

"It is a great exercise because it shows you the risk of a first-round quarterback," the evaluator said. "How many of the 12 have been a hit? Two? It kind of puts those guys in perspective, Mariota and Jameis. Is that what they are going to be, solid quarterbacks and not superstars? Dalton is going to be a 12-year, three-Pro Bowl guy. For Dalton, that is a great thing. You hit on a pretty good NFL quarterback in the second round. If you are taking a guy first or second overall, are you OK with that?"

http://prod.preview.rams.clubs.nfl....terbacks/a4345709-2e56-42ec-b8c6-705ef1f9cf5a

Rams Positional Outlook: Quarterbacks
Myles Simmons

The 2017 Rams won their first NFC West title since 2003 with an 11-5 regular-season record. As Los Angeles’ focus shifts to 2018 and beyond, we’ll take a position-by-position look at how the Rams performed in 2017 and how each group currently stands at the start of the 2018 offseason.

QUARTERBACK

QB | Jared Goff
— 3,804 yards passing | 28 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions | 62.1 percent completion rate | 100.5 passer rating | Started 15 of 16 regular-season games

QB | Sean Mannion
— Started Week 17 vs. San Francisco | 185 yards passing | 72.5 passer rating

QB | Brandon Allen
— Served as Rams’ third quarterback throughout the season

ANY FREE AGENTS?

All of the Rams’ quarterbacks are currently under contract for the 2018 season.

LOOK BACK, LOOK AHEAD

Led by Goff, Los Angeles’ quarterbacks took a significant step forward under head coach Sean McVay in 2017.

Goff finished the year as the league’s No. 5 rated passer and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl after completing 62.1 percent of his passes for 3,804 yards with 28 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Goff also led the league with 12.9 yards per completion, helping L.A. to become the NFL’s highest-scoring team.

Mannion served as the Rams’ primary backup for the 2017 season, playing in five games. He started Los Angeles’ Week 17 matchup against San Francisco, when McVay elected to rest most of the club’s starters. In that game, Mannion completed 20 of his 34 passes for 169 yards.

L.A. acquired Allen off the waiver wire, and he was inactive as the Rams’ third quarterback for the vast majority of the season. He suffered a back injury — presumably during practice — and was placed on injured reserve during Week 15.

While Goff enters the 2018 offseason as the Rams’ starting signal-caller, there’s a possibility for competition between Mannion and Allen for Los Angeles’ backup quarterback role going forward.

I'm assuming that Peters was dealt for our third round pick and the Lions' sixth round pick, along with a second round pick and fifth round pick in 2019.

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 can't be traded in this mock, so he is another cap casualty.)

Re-sign:

Aaron Donald - six years, twenty million per year.
Lamarcus Joyner - five years, ten million per year.
Nickell Robey-Coleman - five years, six million per year.
Sammy Watkins - three years, nine million per year.
Jake McQuaide - two years - two million per year.
Cornelius Lucas - one year, veteran minimum.
Troy Hill - ERFA
Malcolm Brown - ERFA
Matt Longacre - RFA

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

Free Agent Signings

Weston Richburg, five years, 7 million per year.
Dontari Poe, three years. 7 million per year.
Navorro Bowman, two years, 6 million per year.


(Weston Richburg and Dontari Poe are my priorities. Richburg has concussion issues, while Poe has struggled with a back injury, which are the only reasons why they cost seven million per year. I've wholeheartedly jumped on the Bowman bandwagon.)

Trade:

Robert Quinn to the New York Jets for #37 overall (second round).

(This trade was jrry's idea, so I'm going to borrow it for a moment (only reason it's not linked to him is because it literally restarted this mock, like, a dozen times before now.) Anyway, the Jets need everything. Quinn is talented, but not a fit in our 3-4. We do this deal.)

2018 first round pick (#23 overall) to the Cleveland Browns for #35 overall (second round from Texans) and #65 overall (third round).

(We'll need picks after trading for Peters. What better way than to deal with the Browns, who could likely target a Courtland Sutton in the first round?)

Ethan Westbrooks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for #202 overall (sixth).

(Westbrooks in an impending free agent next year, and Poe has taken his spot. It makes sense to get something for him.)

Draft:

#35 overall (Browns) - Sony Michel, RB, Georgia.

(Hey, we took another Georgia running back with our first pick. Michel is what Tavon was supposed to be: a home run threat able to take it to the house on any play. He's a great blocker as well, so I'd be happy to use him in a large role.

#37 overall (Jets) - Hercules Mata'afa, OLB, Washington State.

(Awesome name aside, Mata'afa is a powerful edge rusher who played at defensive tackle during his time in college. He'll slide over to the SAM position and provide a run-stopping presence there.)

#65 overall (Browns) - Shaquem Griffin, ILB, UCF

(Inspirational story aside, Griffin is a hell of a linebacker, and if he had two hands, he'd be going first round without question. As he is, he's instinctive, possesses sideline to sideline speed, and he makes a ton of splash plays. He'll back up Bowman, and take his place eventually.)

#124 overall - J.C. Jackson, CB, Maryland.

(Character risks aside, Jackson is one of my favorite prospects in this class, and he has a first round skillset. I know that we're taking on a ton of risk with him and Peters, but I trust Wade to show them the ropes.)

#160 overall - Alex Cappa, OT, Humboldt State.

(Cappa is a new addition, and he needs to be molded like clay. He'd be a perfect project in the fifth round.)

#195 overall (Bills) - Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, OLB, Toledo.

(The only reason Adeniyi falls this far with his production are his lackluster athletic traits. He's a pure motor guy, and he can be an excellent reserve and special teams player.)

#198 overall - Dane Cruikshank, FS, Arizona.

(Cruikshank plays Cody Davis' role and comes in occasionally to cover a five-wide set and crush people on special teams. He's not the most athletic secondary player, as he's listed as a cornerback who will likely move to safety. He's very instinctive and has a nose for the football, and that's always useful.)

#202 overall - Nic Shimonek, QB, Texas Tech.

(Here we get our new backup quarterback when Mannion leaves or is traded. Shimonek has a live arm, but is inaccurate. I think that our quarterbacks coach can mold him into a perfect backup, who can either stay on to back up Goff or be used as a valuable trade chip.)

Roster:

QB: Jared Goff, Sean Mannion, Nic Shimonek.
RB: Todd Gurley, Sony Michel, Malcolm Brown, Sam Rogers.
TE: Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway.
WR: Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Pharoh Cooper, Josh Reynolds, Mike Thomas.
OL: Andrew Whitworth, Rodger Saffold, Weston Richburg, Jamon Brown, Rob Havenstein, Alex Cappa, Austin Blythe, Cornelius Lucas, Jake Eldrenkamp.
DL: Aaron Donald, Dontari Poe, Michael Brockers, Tanzel Smart, Morgan Fox, Omarius Bryant.
LB: Samson Ebukam, Hercules Mata'afa, Alec Ogletree, Navorro Bowman, Matt Longacre, Ejuan Price, Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, Shaquem Griffin, Corey Littleton.
DB: Marcus Peters, Kayvon Webster, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Lamarcus Joyner, John Johnson III, J.C. Jackson, Troy Hill, Kevin Peterson, Dane Cruikshank, Marqui Christian.
K: Greg Zuerlein.
P: Johnny Hekker.
LS: Jake McQuaide.

Thoughts, comments, critques, all are welcome!

https://www.nflpa.com/public-salary-cap-report

Rams will be able to roll over $4.3 million to their 2018 cap.

You shouldn't look back because "hindsight is 20/20" blah, blah, blah but I'm doing it anyway.

2014 was the year of Greg Robinson, Tre Mason, and Michael Sam but we also got Aaron Donald, Lamarcus Joyner, and E.J. Gaines(at least for awhile). So it was a mixed bag if you can call any draft that gets you Aaron Donald a mixed bag.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_St._Louis_Rams_season#2014_draft_class

Round 1, selection #2: OT Greg Robinson
Round 1, selection #13: DT Aaron Donald
Round 2, selection #41: CB Lamarcus Joyner
Round 3, selection #75: RB Tre Mason
Round 4, selection #110: S Maurice Alexander
Round 5: None
Round 6, selection #188: CB E.J. Gaines
Round 6, selection #214: QB Garrett Gilbert
Round 7, selection #226: OT Mitchell Van Dyk
Round 7, selection #241: S Christian Bryant
Round 7, selection #249: DE Michael Sam
Round 7, selection #250: C Demetrius Rhaney
**************************************************************
https://www.theringer.com/2018/2/22/17038636/2014-nfl-draft-class-revisited

The 2014 NFL Draft Class Is Ready for Its Second Act
Four years on, the players from this class are in line for major contracts or are about to hit free agency. That puts them at the center of the league’s future.
By Danny Kelly


Getty Images/Ringer illustration

The four-year anniversary of the 2014 NFL draft is just around the corner, and when the new league year starts on March 14, the players from that class will all hit important milestones. For some, it marks the expiration of their rookie contracts, giving them their first chance to hit free agency and earn that big-money second deal. For others—the former first-rounders set to play on their fifth-year team option—it’s the official start to their contract year, and with it, the chance to start negotiating, in earnest, for a lucrative long-term contract extension.

And for those few who’ve already signed a second contract, it could be considered a symbolic coming-of-age, the graduation to vested-veteran status, and all the perks that title affords. In any case, members of the 2014 draft class will find themselves dominating the headlines over the next few months.

With that in mind, let’s take a look back at those draftees: the quarterbacks, the breakout stars, the worst disappointments, and a little bit of everything in between.

The Quarterbacks
The 2014 class was light at the quarterback position, particularly at the top—just one passer was selected in the top-20, and only three were selected in the first round.

The Jaguars took Central Florida passer Blake Bortles with the third overall pick, and while he’s has had his moments—he tossed 35 touchdowns for a 2015 squad that won five games, and he played well in short spurts this past year—it’s clear Bortles is not the franchise-changing star and foundational building block the team envisioned.

The Jaguars finds themselves at a crossroads: If Bortles can’t pass his physical before March 14 (he recently had surgery on his wrist), his fifth-year option worth $19 million becomes guaranteed, and they’ll be forced to go one more year with a player that limits what they can do on offense. If Bortles does get a clean bill of health, though, Jacksonville can rescind the option and look to the open market, wielding that extra cap space to land a player like Kirk Cousins or Case Keenum.

The Browns chose Johnny Manziel with the 22nd overall pick, but the former Texas A&M playmaker started just eight games in two seasons before struggles with alcohol addiction and an assault charge (later dismissed) brought his time in the NFL to an end.

The Vikings chose Louisville star Teddy Bridgewater with the final pick of the first round, and while he showed promise during his first two seasons (and got a Pro Bowl nod in 2015), a devastating knee injury prior to the 2016 season put his career on hold. Now back to full health, Bridgewater is set to hit free agency, and he’ll be one of the most intriguing story lines to monitor over the next couple of months: Will he re-sign with Minnesota as the team’s starter? Will he take a backup role there as he tries to rehabilitate his career? Or will there be a team that sees him as a starter-caliber passer worth the big bucks? Time will tell.

While the first round certainly underwhelmed, the second round produced a pair of $100 million passers. The Raiders chose Derek Carr 36th overall, and the former Fresno State standout quickly broke out, throwing 60 touchdowns and just 19 picks in 2015 and 2016 combined. Carr’s play over those two years earned him a five-year, $125 million extension last summer. However, he regressed badly in 2017, playing through a fracture to his transverse process (which he suffered in early October), and he’ll have to prove he can bounce back in 2018.

Another quarterback with much to prove next year is the 49ers’ new franchise player, Jimmy Garoppolo. The Eastern Illinois product was selected by the Patriots with the 62nd overall pick, and after playing a backup role to Tom Brady for most of his first three years, was traded to San Francisco for a second-round pick in late October. Garoppolo took over the starter’s job for the Niners and looked like a future superstar over the team’s final five games, an impressive showing that earned him a five-year, $137.5 million extension. We’ll see whether Jimmy G can build on his late-season performance next year.

The rest of the 2014 quarterback class is mostly unremarkable outside of former Alabama star A.J. McCarron, who was chosen by the Bengals with the 164th overall pick and recently won a contract dispute with Cincinnati that will allow him to explore his options in free agency. McCarron played well for an injured Andy Dalton in the second half of 2015, but he still must demonstrate that he’s a starting-caliber signal-caller.

The Superstars
The quarterbacks taken on day one of the 2014 draft may end up as a mostly underwhelming bunch, but the first round certainly produced some superstars at other positions—and they’re all in line for top-money contract extensions.

There are former South Carolina star and top pick Jadeveon Clowney, who never lived up to the enormous hype that he carried into the draft, but is a two-time Pro Bowler (and a 2016 first-team All-Pro) with 20 career sacks to his name. There are pass rusher Khalil Mack (Raiders, no. 5 overall), who has racked up 40.5 sacks in four years, and receiver Mike Evans (chosen by the Buccaneers with the seventh overall pick), who has four 1,000-yard seasons and 32 touchdowns on his résumé.

The heart of the class, though, came from the middle of the round, and receiver Odell Beckham (12th overall to the Giants), reigning Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald (13th to the Rams), and guard Zack Martin (16th to the Cowboys) may each be the best players in the NFL at their respective positions. We aren’t far from seeing these six players receive new contracts worth several hundred million dollars combined.

The Pro Bowl Talents
These former first-rounders may not have quite achieved superstar status, but each has proved their value in the league. Take Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr, who came off the board ninth overall, quickly settled into his role in Minnesota’s defense, and has gone to three Pro Bowls. Titans tackle Taylor Lewan (11th overall) is a reliable mauler on the blindside and two-time Pro Bowler; Steelers LB Ryan Shazier (15th overall) is a two time Pro Bowler (who’s hoping to return to the field after suffering a serious back injury);

Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley (17th overall) is a three-time second-team All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowler; and Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21st overall) went to the Pro Bowl in 2016 while earning second-team All-Pro honors. We can add Patriots receiver Brandin Cooks (taken 20th overall) to this list, and despite the fact he’s yet to actually go to the Pro Bowl, he has posted three-straight 1,000-yard seasons and has scored 27 touchdowns in four seasons with the Saints and Patriots. Barr, Lewan, Mosley, Clinton-Dix, and Cooks are all set to play on fifth-year options in 2018, each eying long-term extensions with their respective teams.

As for Pro Bowl–caliber players from the second round and beyond, the 2014 draft produced a few gems. There’s Packers receiver Davante Adams (53rd overall), who got off to a slow start before breaking out in 2016, and he racked up 149 receptions and 22 touchdowns the past two seasons en route to a four-year, $58 million extension he signed in December.

There’s Allen Robinson (61st overall by the Jaguars), who caught 153 balls and 20 touchdowns in 2015 and 2016 combined, but missed nearly all of 2017 with a torn ACL. Assuming he doesn’t get the franchise tag, Robinson should be the biggest-ticket pass catcher on the open market once free agency kicks off, a title Jarvis Landry might’ve claimed had the Dolphins not slapped him with that tag on Tuesday. The former LSU Tiger (who went 63rd overall) has caught 400 passes for 4,034 yards and 22 touchdowns in four years and is set to make more than $16 million in 2018.

Panthers guard Trai Turner (92nd overall) has turned in three Pro Bowl seasons for Carolina and parlayed his quality play into the four-year, $45 million extension, signed last summer. A two-time Pro Bowler, Falcons running Devonta Freeman (103rd overall) signed a five-year, $41 million extension last August. And Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith (144th overall) followed the four-year, $50 million extension he signed in October with his first Pro Bowl nod in 2017.

The Somewhere-in-Betweens
Every team’s got to have a few role players—quality starters like Falcons tackle Jake Matthews (sixth overall), Cardinals safety/linebacker Deone Bucannon (27th overall) and Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby (31st). These guys don’t necessarily fit into the superstar category, and each falls a little short of the perennial Pro Bowler status. But all three have value to their respective teams, and all three should play on fifth-year options in 2018.

The Big-Money Second-Contract guys
The middle rounds of the 2014 draft class produced a handful of players who fall below superstar/Pro Bowl status but played well enough to earn major second-contracts nonetheless. Steelers DE Stephon Tuitt (46th overall) signed a five-year, $60 million extension with the team last year after proving to be an anchor on the defensive line.

The Eagles acquired nose tackle Timmy Jernigan last April and were apparently impressed enough with his play early in the season to give the Florida State product (who was drafted 48th overall by the Ravens) a four-year, $48 million extension in early November. Morgan Moses emerged as a solid starter for the Redskins at right tackle and earned a five-year, $38 million extension, and the Seahawks signed Justin Britt (64th overall) to a three-year, $27 million extension after he switched from right tackle to center and emerged as their most reliable offensive lineman.

The Packers gave Corey Linsley (161st overall) a three-year, $25 million pact a day after inking Adams, and four guards—the Browns’ Joel Bitonio (35th), Raiders’ Gabe Jackson (81st overall), Jaguars’ Brandon Linder (93rd), and Chiefs’ Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (200th)—all earned big-money second contracts as well.

The Question Marks
Each of the players in this category has flashed upside at one point or another, but they all come with question marks going forward. Take receiver Sammy Watkins, who the Bills took with the fourth overall pick. Watkins had an up-and-down tenure in Buffalo, sat out most of the 2016 season with a broken foot, and after being traded to the Rams before the start of last season, failed to establish himself as the team’s go-to guy. Watkins still has the talent to turn into a dominant threat on the outside, and, assuming he’s not franchised by L.A., is due to hit free agency in March.

Bills receiver Kelvin Benjamin (28th overall) is a similar case: He showcased his talent as a red zone target for both the Panthers and Bills, scoring 19 touchdowns in 46 games. But Benjamin missed all of 2015 with a torn ACL and struggled with a knee injury again in 2017—casting doubt on the health of his knee and his future as Buffalo’s no. 1 on the outside. The Bills must decide whether or not to retain Benjamin’s fifth-year option assuming he can pass a physical prior to the start of the league year.

When healthy, Chargers defensive back Jason Verrett (25th overall) has displayed potential as a shutdown corner, but he’s missed 39 of a possible 64 games in four years in the NFL, and the team has to decide whether to keep Verrett on his fifth-year option in 2018.

Then there’s Rams defensive tackle Dominique Easley, who has carried the first-step quickness he displayed at Florida into the pros but has struggled to establish himself as a reliable player in the league. He washed out with New England (who drafted him 29th overall) after two injury-shortened seasons and missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL—his third ACL tear overall (he tore both knees in college), giving him an injury red flag when he hits free agency come March.

Dolphins tackle Ja’Wuan James (19th overall) has looked like a solid starter at times, but he too has struggled to stay on the field, missing nine games in 2015 with a toe injury and another eight with a hamstring injury last year. Miami may choose to rescind the fifth-year option they picked up on James last spring and let him test the free agency waters instead.

The Chiefs face a similar decision with pass rusher Dee Ford (23rd overall). The former Auburn Tiger broke out in 2016 with a 10-sack season, but missed the team’s final 10 games last season with a back injury, and the status of his fifth-year option (which the team picked up last year) comes into focus over the next few weeks. If Ford can pass his physical, Kansas City may decide to rescind that option and let him hit free agency.

A couple of other teams must make decisions on fifth-year options over the next couple of weeks as well, like the Lions, with tight end Eric Ebron (10th overall), the Bengals with cornerback Darqueze Dennard (24th), and the 49ers with safety Jimmie Ward (30th). And while Cowboys edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence doesn’t carry a fifth-year team option (he went 34th overall), Dallas must decide whether or not to sign him to a long-term deal or hold on to him in 2018 with the franchise tag and force him to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. Lawrence tied for second in the NFL last year with 14.5 sacks, but never showed much consistency in the three years prior and has already had to undergo back surgery twice.

The Busts
Every draft class has a few busts, and it’s not too surprising that the Browns got hit hardest in the 2014 draft. The team’s first first-round pick, cornerback Justin Gilbert (eighth overall), started just three games over two seasons before being released, and we already talked about their second first-rounder, Manziel. Rams tackle Greg Robinson (second overall) was a huge disappointment as well, never developing into the dominant left tackle many expected, and L.A. traded him to the Lions prior to last year. Robinson only made it six games before being waived by Detroit.

Jets safety Calvin Pryor (18th overall) was traded to Cleveland after three disappointing seasons with the team, was promptly waived by the Browns after he got into a fight with a teammate, and didn’t last long in Jacksonville after that. Pass rusher Marcus Smith (26th overall) grabbed just four sacks in three seasons in Philly before landing in Seattle last year.

Free Agents to Watch
A big chunk of the rest of this draft class is about to make waves in the NFL’s free-agency free for all. 2014’s draft produced a talented group of pass catchers, and it’s worth watching where players like Austin Seferian-Jenkins (38th overall), Marqise Lee (39th), Jordan Matthews (42nd), Paul Richardson (45th), Donte Moncrief (90th), John Brown (91st), and Bruce Ellington (106th) end up.

A pair of the running backs from that class—Carlos Hyde (57th) and Jerick McKinnon (96th)—could end up starting for new teams in 2018, and that duo may be running behind free-agent offensive linemen like guard Xavier Su’a-Filo (33rd), center Weston Richburg (43rd), and tackle Jack Mewhort (59th).

On the defensive side of the ball, Preston Brown (73rd) and Avery Williamson (151st) headline the free-agent linebackers group, and there are some talented secondary players from this class about to hit the open market, too.

Assuming the Bears don’t use the franchise tag, breakout cornerback Kyle Fuller (14th overall) could end up starting for a new team in 2018, and we’re bound to see bidding wars get started on defensive backs like Lamarcus Joyner (41st), Aaron Colvin (114th overall), Nevin Lawson (133rd), and E.J. Gaines (188th).

Last night I had a dream that I was hanging out with Jeff Fisher and his daughter, Dakota Fanning. She was about to get a part in a new Jurassic Park movie.

Fisher got us sideline seats to watch a Titans-Rams game. The playing field was on a hill, tilted at a slight angle of about 30 degrees.

As we were sitting there, I wanted to be polite and say something positive about one of the Rams’ victories under Fisher. I knew we’d just had a great season (with a new coach), but in my dream I couldn’t remember anything positive Fisher had done. So I didn’t say anything.

Then I woke up.

I talk all about the recent proposition Mike Garafolo reported with the Rams tagging both Sammy Watkins and LaMarcus Joyner, life after Trumaine Johnson, Rams RFA's and NFL RFA's. South Florida DT Deadrin Senat joins the show.

SPREAKER:
https://www.spreaker.com/user/downtownrams/dtr-podcast-63

iTUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast...mmy-watkins/id1233567831?i=1000403436134&mt=2

http://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/ho...ummer-estimates-he-sustained-2500-concussions

Former 49ers LB Plummer estimates he sustained 2,500 concussions
By Matt Maiocco



The turning point for Gary Plummer came after his former teammate and friend, Junior Seau, committed suicide in 2012.

Seau’s family was later informed the Hall of Famer’s brain showed abnormalities associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Seau’s death sent shockwaves through the NFL, and it had a chilling effect on Plummer.

“I knew I was having some issues, but like a typical NFL guy, you think you’re still invincible,” Plummer said on The 49ers Insider Podcast.

“After Junior, my wife said, ‘Dude, you got to do something; I don’t want you to be the next Junior Seau.’ ”

Plummer, now 58, sought help and was diagnosed with the early stages of dementia after a career that spanned 15 professional seasons, including three years with the Oakland Invaders of the USFL.

Plummer played his final four seasons with the 49ers. He was two weeks shy of his 38th birthday when he played his final game -- a loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game in January 1998.

In addition to experiencing memory problems in his post-NFL life, Plummer said he suffered from headaches for approximately 12 years and had not been able to sleep well in 10 to 15 years. Moreover, he has experienced severe anxiety for the first time.

Plummer enacted some changes in his lifestyle, such as practicing yoga, meditation, learning to play a musical instrument and spending countless hours gardening in the backyard of his San Diego home.

“I’m close to 75-percent better now,” Plummer said. “I wish more players understand early onset dementia is something that happens to us from the CTE, from all the concussions. Basically, what it’s doing is aging our brains faster than normal. So all these things I had been going through were accelerated by what I came to know after my career, in terms of the definition of concussions.”

A Grade 1 concussion is considered “mild.” It might consist of a person “seeing stars,” brief confusion and no loss of consciousness. But it is still a concussion with a potentially devastating cumulative effect.

“If you’re not getting at least 10 of those a game, as a middle linebacker in the NFL, that means you didn’t play that day,” Plummer said. “I played 250 games. So (with) at least 10 a game, that’s 2,500 concussions.”

Over time, Plummer said working his brain in different ways and creating new mental challenges and stimuli have dramatically improved his quality of life.

“It was not overnight, by any stretch of the imagination,” Plummer said. “It was a long, slow process. But it wasn’t a long, slow, arduous process. It’s not like it was difficult to go to yoga. It’s not like it was difficult to go outside and listen to classical music while gardening.

“But I felt myself not only getting better at the time I was doing those things, but it then became the cumulative effect of, ‘Hey, there’ve been a few days where I didn’t have a headache.’ Or, ‘There’ve been a few days where I’ve been able to sleep through the night.’ And those were momentous occasions for me. It’s been amazing that I literally feel like a new man.”

Plummer said he believes what has worked for him can work for others, too.

“I encourage anyone that knows any professional football player out there to let them know, ‘Don’t be a victim,’ ” Plummer said. “If I can have 2,500 concussions and come back from it. Guys that played the average of three years, so maybe they had 150 concussions, you can come back from it.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ly-to-tag-lamarcus-joyner-than-sammy-watkins/

Posted by Charean Williams on February 22, 2018, 5:20 PM EST

Getty Images

The Rams could use their franchise tag on Lamarcus Joyner and allow wide receiver Sammy Watkins to test the market, Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports.

The Rams might not have enough salary-cap room to keep both.

Franchising Watkins projects to cost the Rams $16.2 million, while Joyner’s tag number is expected to be $11.1 million.

Los Angeles can’t afford to lose Joyner, who appeared in 12 games last season and made 49 tackles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions.

In a similar situation last year, the Rams franchised cornerback Trumaine Johnson a second time.

The Rams did give up a second-round pick in 2018 as well as cornerback E.J. Gaines to obtain Watkins in a trade. But his 39 catches for 593 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games isn’t worth $16 million.