Well this sounded good until I saw the lineup. Fuck off with this list.
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It's safe to say the top 3 teams will be taking QBs. The question is which and in what order. I think it's a pretty good bet the next 3 will take WRs. A defensive edge rusher could be in that group though. A big question is will somebody trade up (Minnesota???) with LAC to get a QB? Denver and Las Vegas could (should??) also draft QBs. Tennessee has got to go LT, don't they? Then Morris & Atlanta go next? I believe defense. They've got the QB, LT and offensive weapons. It's possible that's where the first defensive player goes off the board. Edge rusher? The Bears might go LT or WR to help Williams. They could also trade down with Denver or Las Vegas (who need a QB) and still fill a need. I guess my point is the draft may play out well for a team who needs defensive starters like the Rams. We might see a heavy lean towards offense in the first 18. I like that idea. And if that's the case there should be plenty of solid defensive options to choose from as well as a trade down possibility (Dallas, who needs a LT and a C?) with the ability to still get a stud.

"Fuller's new contract reportedly includes up to $5.25 million"

I feel nothing but gratitude towards Fuller who played a key role that season in us securing a SB even if he was injured come the big day. He was a team leader and all-around great presence who didn't quite live up to his early promise. Good luck.

Best of luck to him. He had so versatility .. we have to replace that depth. I know the Rams like him and he was given a chance to start but got injured

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I didnt see this on here yet.
Very good interview, all about AD.
Sounds like AD let the Rams know he was going to retire after the playoff loss to Detroit.

As the first wave of free agency wraps up, and the draft is still ahead of us, what are the top 10 positions we still need to fill?

Not in order, but my thoughts are:

#2 RB - Kyren was awesome when healthy, but he had definitely shown that he has a tendency to get hurt. And when he wasn't out there, we didn't look nearly as good. I think I would like a bruiser there - good for short yardage and good for blocking, but that may be gilding the lily.

#4/5 WR - same basic reasoning - Kupp and Nacua both play hard and get hurt. We need someone bigger than Tutu to come in and take their place if they are down for any length of time.

DE - Jonah Williams wasn't the answer, and neither is Michael Hoecht. Someone that can play tough on the line and add some pressure would be a huge asset.

5T DT - Replacing Kobie's spot, with him moving over to Donald's spot. A high draft pick might be the way to go there with what is remaining on the free agency board.

Edge - Would have been nice to get someone here through free agency, but, not sure there is anyone left that would work for us.

MLB - We need someone beside Ernest Jones, and Rozeboom ain't it. Especially with AD gone, we need a tough against the run inside presence back there.

CB1 - I love that Darious had returned, but we still need a lock down corner if we can find one.

FS - I know we don't play a true SS/FS style, but we still really need some one who can go after the ball. Curl is a stud, but he's not going to come up with a bunch of interceptions this year.

K - I think this is fairly obvious.

Backup OL - not as important with Note restructured, but he and McClendon are the only two that are sure things as backups right now.

These aren't in order, and aren't all- inclusive, but they are the 10 biggest holes I would like filled between now and August.

What do you think?

If they knew they were in great need of a DT, why did they use $ instead to sign TE, OG ??

I’m stoked we’re retaining one of the best OGs in the NFL

Feel free to post about Dotson and what we can expect with this OL this season

Once again we cooked balls at the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry in Virginia City and once again we took first in Best Overall Taste.

Our booth

Our friend helping

My wonderful abscess at full expansion

All ground up and ready for the sausage stuffer. The goop on the right is the ground up balls.


Me cooking up the bangers before they went on the griddle for a quick sear.


My lovely trooper wife peeling the balls.

The trophies in the professional category.

This year we did Bangers and Mash as team Ball Bangers. They actually tasted great. I'm sure even @Selassie I would like them. :evil:

We took first in Best Overall Taste and 3rd in Most Creative Dish.

1-19 Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA, 6046, 259

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Latu may not be the best athlete, but he’s the most skilled pass rusher In this draft class. His selection permanently ends the Hoecht EDGE experience.

2-52 T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State 6007, 189

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T.J. Tampa gives the team the big physical CB it needs in the division. Capable in zone and press, my guess is the Rams new coach (Scheelhasse) who came from Iowa State had already told the team all about him.

3-83 Austin Booker, EDGE, KANSAS, 6044, 240

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This kid has too much upside to pass on if available at this selection. He can spell the starters and even allow Latu to shift inside on obvious passing downs from time to time to better the pass rush.

3-98 Justin Eboigbe, DL, Alabama, 6043 297

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IMO, too much focus upon finding someone close to Aaron Donald would be a huge mistake. There’s only one. Here the Rams grab a solid DE capable of stuffing the run and pushing the pocket to join the rotation.

5-153 Kristian Boyd, DT, Northern Iowa 6024, 324

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Depending upon who you read, this small school product was destroying opposing OLinemen during Hula & Shrine Bowl practices. He may prove to be enough to back up and maybe push Bobby Brown III while Kobie Turner moves to Donald's spot.

5-154 Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame 6021, 234 (from Steelers)

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This kid runs around like his hair is on fire. I love the attitude. He has the length and may have the coverage ability too keep that extra safety off the filed during obvious passing downs.

TRADE

Rams trade two 6th round selections (#195 & #209) to Saints to move into bottom of the 5th round (#175)

5-175 Audric Estime, RB, 5113, 221 (Acquired from Saints/mock trade)

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If not for that 4.71/40 at the combine, this kid would probably be gone a round or two earlier. He’s not the homerun back most probably want, but this big bruiser plays faster than that to me and fits the offense like a glove.

6-195 (Traded to Saints in Mock Trade)
6-209 (Traded to Saints in Mock Trade)

6-213 Travis Glover, OT, Georgia State 6060, 338

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Glover is a 5-year starter with 34 ½” arms. After a strong showing in the Hula Bowl, he was a late call up to the Senior Bowl where he was said to fair pretty well. With an 80.7 PFF pass blocking grade he was said to also hold his own vs. North Carolina and LSU.

6-217 Casey Washington, WR, Illinois 6006, 197

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Some are calling for the Rams to go WR early, but this is a DEEEP draft class at the position that should have some late round gems. This could be one of them. This kid has good speed, great hops, and was said to be uncoverable during Shrine Bowl practices.

7-254 Quantez Stiggers 5113, 203

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No college experience and just 1 year of CFL football. But he was voted the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie, has good speed, and also was said to shine during Shrine Bowl practices.

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Could probably get him at 2nd round or after..

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I’m looking to cut my cable ties in the near future and I’m wondering which device to purchase. It looks like Roku has several tiers and Nvidea looks pretty pricey. I have 2 roughly eight or nine year old LG smart TV’s with sound bars that I’m happy with. I’ve also seen in print recently some brouhaha with Roku over conflict resolution procedures I’m not sure about. Any suggestions?

We didn't tender him, but he got some fully guaranteed money.. I'm not particularly mad about him coming back, but my hope is that he's a special teamer and our 3rd or 4th ILB. With AD gone, I really want us to have a real starting ILB, and we can get one in this draft. Rozenboom wasn't terrible all the time, but we need to re-anchor the middle of this defense, and that means Rozenboom should be strictly a special teamer.

"The restructured contract, in light of Donald’s retirement, reads a bit more like salary cap maneuvering by the Rams to keep the door open to Donald possibly coming back to the team. If both sides were 100% on the retirement they would have simply bought his salary this year down to $1.21 million and taken out the option and roster bonuses..."

As if the resignation of AD wasn't enough

.

Yeah, there's not going to be any doom-and-gloom here; there's been enough for today. If you're going to talk about who will replace AD, anything about drafting or trading for his replacement, you're in the wrong thread. This thread is a tribute to AD, where you post highlights, interviews, memories, basically the happy tribute stuff.

I'll get us started with this:

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Anyone have any more happy memories?

We can't make fun of him anymore!

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1. I didn't see this coming...

2. ...because I didn't want to see it coming.

3. I'm happy for Aaron Donald. He gets to ride off into the sunset having accomplished everything a player could wish to accomplish, and now can look forward to a retirement of family, good health, and countless accolades.

4. I'm happy for us for having had the chance to witness one of the great careers of all time.

5. I was fortunate enough to have seen AD play several times. The last time was in 2018 at Detroit. He had 2 sacks, including a key strip sack, of future Ram Matthew Stafford in a 30-16 win.

6. I'll be telling my grandchildren about that one.

7. Not going to lie, though... as a fan, I'm greedy. I wanted another year or two of Donald creating havoc for other teams. I particularly wanted it at this point in history, as I believe the Rams are poised to contend in the next couple of years.

8. Poor Kobie Turner... those are some massive shoes you'll be trying to fill.

9. Lucky Kobie Turner... you learned from the best, and seem to have the drive to emulate what you saw.

10. The Rams apparently knew this was coming, and still declined to pursue any of the DL on the FA market. Looking at the players who moved, I can't say I'm shocked.

11. There is no replacing Donald, but there must be a plan. I can only guess... so I will!

12. Looking at the two moves the Rams have already made on the defense - signing Darious Williams and Kamren Curl- I wonder if the Rams are hoping that a vastly improved DB will mitigate against the loss of their top pass rusher. Looking at this year's draft prospects, I believe the Rams will have the opportunity to add a top CB to the group, and I won't be surprised if this is the plan.

13. There are some intriguing DTs in the draft. Byron Murphy of Texas is a guy who could be in play at pick #19. There are also some who could be there on Day 2 that I like, including Kris Jenkins (Michigan) and Branden Fiske (FSU).

14. If Chris Shula wants to go for an entirely different type of player on the inside, we could also consider T'Vondre Sweat, the massive (6'4, 366) NT from Texas. At least he'd demand some of the double-teams Donald drew.

15. Not seeing any DT in the FA market who I'm dying to get, but perhaps a trade?

16. On the "Mount Rushmore" of "pure" Rams (players who only played for the Rams), Tom Mack must now step aside. Its Merlin Olsen, Jack Youngblood, Jackie Slater... and Aaron Donald.

17. Building the OL so that we can pound the ball and keep the defense off the field now goes from excellent strategy to pure genius.

18. This one will sting for a while, but I'm still excited about this upcoming season.

19. Man, I'm going to miss Donald.

20. Of course, there's always that Eric Weddle scenario...

Now that AD as retired, do you think its more realistic to do a trade for Mack, and restructure more contracts?

Personally we should bother the Eagles about Reddick and Sweat even tho Sweat just restructured. These two would create chaos with our young guys. We would need some help from HIG/Kupp/Stafford Tho. It would fill 2 huge gaps.

Do we go after Clowney or Young?

Is Murphy now at the top of the Rams draft board?