As we see some draft picks signing I began to wonder. In years past we knew Fisher made the rookies go through the off season program for them fully before signing them. It seemed to work pretty good we didn't have any problems with contracts they all signed and all signed on the same day. We have very rarely had any issues with rookies and behavior problems even with Fishers habit of drafting kids with some off field issues. All that said do you think we'll follow the Fisher path or will we start signing them now? This is probably one of the very few area's where I didn't criticize Fisher. His was was a bit strange but we've seen other teams follow a similar model and it seemed to be good and educational for the kids especially the comments we heard about bringing the million dollars in the room and start taking away money for everything they had to pay. It was an eye opener for these kids.

Thoughts?

I was initially against his signing but he really looked good for his 1 year here.

Then he was mysteriously cut.
Never picked up by another team.
I even stalked him on Facebook trying to get a clue as to what happened.
I couldn't find an article that mentioned what happened to eitner.

That is no way to treat the nephew of Jack Hacksaw Reynolds, especially being he was part of the glue that held the line together in 2015.

Anybody have a clue?

I'm assuming it was some mysterious injury but they never mentioned it. thnx

It was so bad. Thinking of the trade with Denver, where they got Cutler and we got Tye Hii, was only the beginning.
15. Tye Hill
46. Joe Klopfenstein
68. Claude Wroten
77. Jon Alston
93. Dominique Byrd
113. Victor Adeyanju
144. Marques Hagan
221. Tim McGarigle
242. Mark Setterstrom
243. Tony Palmer

5 draft busts in the Top 100 players,0-5. It's almost like you have to try to fail with results like that.

Hi all.
I haven't been on the board much since our last game last season.
Starting to get very excited though about this season. Pretty sure we'll break the 8-8 barrier this year.

Look what I got my 4 year old granddaughter! She looks great in it.



Please share your pictures of friends and family in Rams gear.

Not for the squeamish...

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-jeff-fisher-rams-are-an-offensive-tragedy/

Best I've seen in one damning piece.

Arrrrrgh!

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...g-the-2015-rb-class-the-todd-gurley-conundrum

What happened to Todd Gurley?

A year ago at this time, one could have made a case that he was the best player from the 2015 NFL draft class. Now it's debatable whether he's even one of his draft's top three running backs.

With all the focus lately on 2017's "can't-miss" running backs, I couldn't stop thinking about how quickly our assumptions about college prospects and pros transform. Yet, often those views don't change quickly enough, which is how the Browns were able to get a first-round pick from the Colts in exchange for former No. 3 overall pick Trent Richardson after Cleveland knew he was a bust.

It wouldn't be easy to top the 2015 crop of runners for depth and potential. Gurley was supposed to be the centerpiece. Instead, David Johnson -- the seventh back taken (86th overall) -- is the player with the Hall of Fame start to his career. Melvin Gordon and Jay Ajayi have already rewritten early expectations as pros, while an explosive second tier of runners like Tevin Coleman, Duke Johnson and Thomas Rawls is gaining a foothold.

I went back to watch Game Pass footage of this entire special group of runners to see how they all have evolved and where they fit in today, arranging the backs into the tiers you see below:

No ceilings

1) David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

Originally drafted: Round 3, No. 86 overall.

Johnson put an exclamation point on his MVP-caliber campaign on Christmas Eve in Seattle, when he racked up 95 rushing yards and three touchdowns (plus another 41 receiving yards) against one of the league's best run defenses, long after Johnson's body should have buckled under the weight of carrying the Cardinals' season.

It's bizarre to think back to the draft profiles and scouts who questioned Johnson's toughness and power, saying he played running back like a receiver. In the final 20 minutes at Seattle, Johnson touched the ball 13 times for 99 yards and two scores to key an Arizona victory. He did it mostly with power, fighting for extra yards, excelling at resetting and finding a new hole after breaking a tackle. Johnson had 73 touches just against the Seahawks last season, a snapshot of a year in which Johnson answered any questions about his ability to be a workhorse.
http://www.nfl.com/videos
What makes Johnson transcendent, however, is how he closed the Seahawks out with two catches. The kill shot came on a go-route where he lined up wide, beating safety Kam Chancellor before coming back to the football like a seasoned wide receiver. Perhaps those scouts now see that playing running back like a receiver is a good idea.

What is Johnson's ceiling?: It's unfair to put outsized expectations on Johnson after one complete season as a starter, but it's also unfair to have to try to stop Johnson's diverse skill set. It's as if the football gods gave Emmitt Smith the receiving ability of Marshall Faulk. Johnson sees the ball on third-and-short and is often the primary receiver on third-and-long. He can run inside but also innately feels when a defender is near, jump-cutting away before the pressure gets there. Opponents rarely hit him squarely.

Johnson and Le'Veon Bell are the only two players in NFL history to record a season with 1,200-plus rushing yards and 800-plus receiving yards by Year 2. Johnson has a chance to explore uncharted territory, and I'll be there for every second of it. Coach Bruce Arians and Around The NFL mensch Chris Wesseling were ahead of the curve, saying early that Johnson could be an all-time great.

Quality starters

2) Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers

Originally drafted: Round 1, No. 15 overall.

First impressions can contaminate the consensus regarding a player long after that player transforms. Gordon's first impression was full of false steps. There is a fine line between patient and tentative for pro running backs, and it took a season for Gordon to explode over that line.

Through Week 13 of the 2016 campaign -- Gordon's last full game of the season, thanks to hip and knee injuries -- only two running backs had more than his 1,411 yards from scrimmage: Ezekiel Elliott (1,607) and David Johnson (1,709). Football Outsiders' numbers knock Gordon for being inefficient, but that doesn't take into account the Chargers' awful run-blocking. Gordon was hit in the backfield or swarmed by multiple defenders just as much as Todd Gurley was in 2016, but Gordon still created seven runs over 20 yards compared to Gurley's two. (Pro Football Focus ranked the Chargers' run-blocking No. 27 in the NFL, one spot behind the Rams.)

Gordon reminds me of a lesser, bigger version of Jamaal Charles. Both players are incredible at making cuts while moving forward. They both set up blockers well, waiting for holes to develop before picking their lane. Gordon doesn't explode quite like Charles, but both runners force bad angles from defenders because they go from zero to fast like few others. Gordon runs with an athletic arrogance that jumps off the screen. To use Cam Newton's words, Gordon was "dripping goo" on his runs as the season wore on. (Am I doing this right?) The numbers support it: Gordon got better in the second half of games and the second half of the season.

Why Gordon is ranked ahead of Gurley: I didn't want to be a prisoner to 2016 alone when coming up with these rankings. But it's just as misleading to only focus on Gurley's incredible first month in the NFL. If Gordon's 2016 season had been his first impression with NFL fans, he'd rightly be seen as a complete top-10 running back for years to come. He's a terrific receiver and better in space than Gurley. That's where today's game is played. Gordon might not have the upside of Gurley, but I have a handle on what Gordon is at the pro level after two seasons. Gurley, on the other hand ...

3) Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

Originally drafted: Round 1, No. 10 overall.

The need to explain away Gurley's disastrous second season is mystifying. The short version goes like this: The Rams' offense was run by paste-eating middle schoolers, and Gurley had no chance. No further analysis necessary.

Gurley's 278 carries tell a different story. At least four to five times each game, Gurley had daylight to work with. He often ran up the backs of his offensive linemen or was arm-tackled. If Gurley's game isn't about making defenders miss, then he'll need to run through defenders more often. He simply didn't show the same burst, second effort or power that he did in his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign. The Rams coaching staff noticed, often taking him out of the game in key situations or failing to give him the ball late with the lead.

For a window into Gurley's season, let's travel to Seattle last December. On fourth-and-1 inside the Seahawks' 10-yard line early in the game, Gurley got the ball on a pitch to the left. He had his choice of multiple lanes and elected to take on Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, only needing to gain a few inches with a full head of steam. Wagner stood him up cold and eventually pushed Gurley backward with some help. It was an example of Wagner's greatness, but Gurley also should have made the play.

Of course the season wasn't all Gurley's fault. The criticism of the Rams' passing game and offensive line was accurate. Still, that's not the point. Gurley was supposed to be a transcendent talent, the kind of player who should make his teammates look better. Try to imagine Adrian Peterson or Barry Sanders or even Corey Dillon carrying the ball 278 times with a 3.2 yards-per-carry average and only two runs over 20 yards, even with lousy offenses around them. Something was wrong.

Trying to explain Gurley's down season: This is the part where it's really tempting to play amateur psychologist and guess what was in Gurley's mind or heart last season, to interpret those shakes of the head or the lackluster runs in garbage time. I went into this exercise hoping to see something positive from Gurley, but aside from his occasional light feet and graceful glide, it just wasn't there. At his best out of the I-formation, Gurley was The Franchise, until quarterback Jared Goff -- who is more comfortable out of the shotgun -- came along as the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. How to split the difference is up to new coach Sean McVay.

McVay should help considerably by modernizing the offense. Gurley could bounce back on the strength of big plays as a top running back, and no one would be surprised. He showed that much talent as a rookie. This ranking is reflective of Gurley righting himself as a solid starter. But Gurley has to show himself to be a different player this year, to recognize that his sophomore slump was about more than his teammates. Otherwise, it will be time to trust what Gurley shows on Sundays over those scouting reports from the 2015 draft season.

4) Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins

Originally drafted: Round 5, No. 149 overall.

They don't have an NFL Scouting Combine test for running hard. Perhaps that's how teams let Ajayi slip to the fifth round despite his being a favorite of the draftnik community. Ajayi's runs look like car crashes, yet he always attacks the next snap like he's fresh off the lot.

Watching Ajayi contributed to my struggle to rank Gurley for this exercise. Miami's run-blocking was ranked behind the Rams' group by PFF (30th overall), yet Ajayi ran in every score and situation with such velocity. In some games, the eight-man fronts swallowed him. But more often, he ran through his obstacles.

The data supports the film. PFF ranked Ajayi No. 1 last season by a wide margin in their elusive rating, on the strength of forcing 58 missed tackles, 11 more than the next-closest back. Ajayi is a load to take down, but he can get to the edge on the way to a big play. Only Ezekiel Elliott and LeSean McCoy had more runs over 20 yards. Ajayi's second 200-yard game against Buffalo (and third of the season) in Week 16 -- despite his suffering a shoulder injury -- was one of the gutsiest performances of 2016. On one play, he literally carried linebacker Lorenzo Alexander like he was going against a middle-schooler. Ajayi got Rex Ryan fired.

So why isn't he ranked higher?: I want to see Ajayi's follow-up season. His running style could invite injuries and be tough to duplicate year after year. More importantly, he's not yet an asset on passing downs, coming in dead last in yards-per-route among running backs who played at least 25 percent of their team's snaps, according to PFF. That slightly lowers Ajayi's ceiling, but he could make this ranking look as silly as a 175-pound cornerback trying to tackle him. After making his first Pro Bowl, anything less than a long run as a quality starter would be a disappointment.

Role players-plus

5) Duke Johnson, Cleveland Browns

Originally drafted: Round 3, No. 77 overall.

Put Johnson on the Patriots or Falcons, and he'd be a star. Put him on the Browns, and he's a role player who most fans haven't been plugged in on since before the 2015 NFL Draft. However, only two running backs (David Johnson and Theo Riddick) have more receiving yards since 2015. Duke Johnson has quickness that you can't teach. On one play against the Chargers, he caused an injury because two defenders ran into each other after tackling the space where Johnson used to be.

Johnson is ranked so high here because every team in the NFL would love to have him, and he's just getting started. He's been incredibly efficient on a poor offense, finishing No. 2 in yards-per-route among running backs with at least 50 targets, according to PFF. Johnson won't make a living running inside, but only bad teams focus on what their players can't do. Johnson fits perfectly in today's NFL as a "space player" who will probably be catching 50 passes a year for another decade. Teams can win with guys like Johnson.

6) Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons

Originally drafted: Round 3, No. 73 overall.

Coleman leads the league in forcing inside linebackers to mutter "Oh, s---" under their breath. When the Falcons isolate Coleman one-on-one against the wrong player, the play is over before it starts. The most famous example came when Coleman beat Rob Ninkovich for a touchdown in Super Bowl LI, but Coleman is the rare NFL player who routinely makes opponents, even defensive backs, look like they are moving in slow motion.

Coleman is not your typical shifty third-down back. He's a decisive cutback runner who knows when to square his shoulders and take the 7-yard gain in front of him. He has a nose for the end zone (14 TDs in 16 games last year, including the playoffs) and can briefly take over a game like he did during a third-quarter drive in the Divisional Round against Seattle.

So why isn't he ranked higher?: Coleman wouldn't fit in most systems. He was only on the field for 34 percent of the Falcons' regular-season snaps in 2016, a number that decreased in the playoffs. That's primarily because Coleman plays alongside one of the league's 10 best backs in Devonta Freeman, but it's worth wondering if Coleman could hold up to 300 carries with his frame and running style. The Falcons smartly use him as a turbo-charged 1B.

It's a shame that Coleman's breakout season ended on such a tragic, if forgotten note. On second-and-2 with nine minutes left and a 28-12 lead in Super Bowl LI, Coleman was injured on a 1-yard gain. Freeman replaced him and missed a block on the next play, leading to a Matt Ryan fumble and the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.

7) Thomas Rawls, Seattle Seahawks

Originally drafted: Undrafted.

Don't blame Rawls for feeling raw. He returned from a broken leg last season in time to run for 161 yards in a playoff win, then watched as the Seahawks made replacing him an offseason priority.

Rawls was a revelation as an undrafted rookie, but his coaches believed he put too much pressure on himself to find the perfect hole in his second season. That was understandable. He was running behind a dreadful offensive line and suffered devastating injuries (a broken ankle in 2015 and the leg in 2016), only 19 regular-season carries apart. When the Seahawks transitioned from focusing on their outside-zone plays to inside runs, Rawls again ran with an abandon that few backs can match.

The most like Marshawn: The irony of Seattle potentially replacing Rawls is that he's more like former Seahawk Marshawn Lynch than any other NFL running back. Not a consistent factor on passing downs, Rawls has an incredible combination of lateral quickness and power. He routinely breaks the first tackle and has a natural downhill style. He has three performances of over 160 yards in only 16 starts (including the postseason). Give him quality blocking, and that's what he can do. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, a huge fan of Rawls, said it best:

"He makes somebody miss to find somebody to hit."

Despite Eddie Lacy's presence with the Seahawks, my money would be on Rawls leading the team in rushing this season, like he did in 2015.

8) Ameer Abdullah, Detroit Lions

Originally drafted: Round 2, No. 54 overall.

It was awesome, then it was over. In one run, Abdullah made two Titans defenders bear-hug air, tore through a tackle, and then tore a ligament in his foot. The play cemented Abdullah's reputation as a player who can't hold up physically, though it's too early to know if that reputation is truly accurate. Abdullah played all 16 games in his rookie season. More importantly, his game-and-a-half in 2016 were eye-opening. He put up 120 yards on only 17 touches in Week 1. Give him space, and he's going to fashion a clown suit for someone. When asked to run inside, Abdullah fights through tackles and falls forward.

Don't give up on Abdullah as a potential difference-maker. The Lions haven't -- SEE: Zero running backs taken in the draft -- and fantasy owners shouldn't, either.

Lot to prove

9) Matt Jones, Washington Redskins

Originally drafted: Round 3, No. 95 overall.

"Where is Matt Jones?" has officially replaced "Who is Mike Jones?" as one of America's greatest mysteries.

After breaking 100 yards twice in a three-game stretch last October, Jones fumbled against the Lions in Week 7 and was banished for the rest of the season in favor of "Fat Rob" Kelley. Jones deserves another chance.

There aren't many 235-pound backs with the wiggle Jones possesses. He finishes runs. In 2016, he averaged 4.6 yards per carry and was on pace for over 1,000 yards when he was benched for the rest of the season. His fumbling is a problem, and it's true that Jones almost seeks out contact too much, but the guy was also plain unlucky. Six of his eight career fumbles were recovered by the opposition. Would he have been benched if Washington had recovered more? Of his three fumbles in 2016, one came off a funky handoff and another was the result of a direct helmet shot on the ball.

Melvin Gordon looked like a bust to some after one season, and Jones now looks like a bust after two. I'm still holding out hope for a Matt Jones-aissance, because the talent is there.

10) T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars

Originally drafted: Round 2, No. 36 overall.

Sometimes "playing it safe" can be the riskiest move a general manager can make. Jags GM David Caldwell drafted Yeldon with the notion that the Alabama product was proficient at everything, even if he wasn't great in any one area. Yeldon was supposed to be the type of back you could turn a running game over to without a lot of drama. That proved true, but in the worst way possible.

Yeldon is not a player I recommend watching late at night. He gets what's blocked and not much more. His lauded receiving skills are fine, but not special enough to make him a logical third-down role player. A victim of his draft slot, no one would complain about Yeldon if he had been drafted in the fourth round. Taking him No. 36 overall, ahead of six of the players ranked above, has proven to be a fiasco for Caldwell, one he's been trying to cover up ever since.

Other 2015 favorites

Zach Zenner, Detroit Lions: Undrafted out of South Dakota State, Zenner is on his way to a productive career as a role player that should last longer than those of many of the players drafted ahead of him.

Jeremy Langford, Chicago Bears: A productive rookie season (816 yards from scrimmage) gave way to a spot on the bench behind Jordan Howard in Year 2. Langford (drafted in Round 4, No. 106 overall) is a good example of the difference between playing speed and timed speed. He was the fastest back in his class at the NFL Scouting Combine, but it doesn't show up on the field. I undertook this exercise hoping to learn new things, but Langford's tape was defined by its complete lack of surprise.

Karlos Williams, free agent: Remember him? After scoring nine touchdowns as a rookie with the Bills (drafted in Round 5, No. 155 overall), Williams has been suspended twice for substance abuse, released twice and chided for his weight by Rex Ryan, of all people. He figures to get one more chance in the NFL.

Buck Allen, Baltimore Ravens: A healthy scratch in Baltimore after a productive rookie season, Allen (drafted in Round 4, No. 125 overall) will be fighting for his roster spot following Danny Woodhead's signing.

Now relax, this is not a knock on the California Kid as I look forward to Goff showcasing major growth in year two under the tutelage of McVay, LaFleur and Olson. I also feel very strongly about the depth at this position and I know some of you feel it’s sacrilegious to carry three QB’s, but I’m old school and like having three QB’s on the roster, if they are worthy.

Sean Mannion is not the villain we can root for Mannion and hope that he plays as much as Paul Justin did in 1999, but I am anxious to see how Mannion takes to McVay’s offense because it’s about getting rid of the ball quickly something that Mannion has struggled with from time to time. Mannion at 6’6 is the tallest QB on the roster and there is no questioning his arm strength, the key for Sean besides not holding the ball too long and being very careful not turning the ball over as he did that at nauseam in his Senior year at Oregon State. If the triumvirate of the three offensive coaches annotated above can make an impact on Mannion as well, the Rams could use him as a major trade trip moving forward.

I always did like Aaron Murray at Georgia and was actually pleased with his addition to the field generals here in Southern California. Now I understand he had his hiccups in Kansas City, but Murray was known for his ability to lead at Georgia and always seemed to rise to the occasion when the chips were down. Murray is much shorter than Goff & Mannion at 6’1 on a good day, but he has the ability to escape the pocket and a quick release as well so this offense could be tailored made for him, however, he has been in similar offenses in Kansas City & Philadelphia. So this could be it for Murray although I never believe that about Quarterbacks, but Murray truly needs to showcase he is worthy of a roster spot because with two young guns in Goff & Mannion combined with their youth, it might be difficult to keep three, but this regime will have an affinity for that position.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...bridgewater-mike-zimmer-recovery-rehab-050517

Mike Zimmer is ‘more optimistic now’ about Teddy Bridgewater playing again

The Minnesota Vikings are set to start Sam Bradford at quarterback for a second straight season while Teddy Bridgewater recovers from a significant knee injury. There’s no telling when Bridgewater will be back – it’s worth noting the Vikings declined his fifth-year option – but Mike Zimmer is confident he will return at some point.

“I love Teddy Bridgewater,” Zimmer said Friday. “The guy is working his rear end off and continues to fight every single day. Everything about him, when he’s rehabbing and doing the work he has to do is the exact same way he approaches life, so. I’m excited.

“I’m probably more optimistic now about him potentially playing than I have at any point in time. But he still has a long way to go.”

No one is expecting Bridgewater to return this season, and him remaining out through 2018 wouldn’t be much of a surprise, either. Considering how severe his knee injury was, and that it threatened his career, it’s best for him and the Vikings to take it as slow as possible.

As for Bradford, he’s only under contract through 2017. That leaves the Vikings in a difficult situation, one that could cause them to draft a quarterback early in next year’s draft.

They’ll cross that bridge when they get there and will continue to be patient with Bridgewater.

---------------

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...rtain-future-sam-bradford-minnesota/98312808/

Teddy Bridgewater's future uncertain as Vikings move ahead with Sam Bradford

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings still can’t say when or if quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will play again. And that’s surely part of the reason general manager Rick Spielman says he still feels good about his bold trade for Sam Bradford after Bridgewater’s injury.

“I can tell you that, looking back on that trade, with all the other options, I would do that over in a second to get a Sam Bradford on our football team with the circumstances we were dealing with,” Spielman told a small group of reporters Thursday. “Because I think he’s got a chance to be a pretty good player, a quarterback, in this league.”

The Vikings traded their first-round pick in April’s draft and a conditional pick (which ended up being a fourth-rounder) in 2018 to the Philadelphia Eagles for Bradford on Sept. 3, four days after Bridgewater suffered a catastrophic knee injury in practice.

A little less than six months later, Spielman said there is still is no timeline on Bridgewater, adding he “is attacking his rehab as diligently as he can. He’s putting everything into it to get back on the field as quickly as he can.”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/02/21/pre-free-agency-buzz/98202800/
But Bridgewater, 24, is still working on his motion and hasn’t progressed to any football drills, Spielman said.

Asked directly if he’s 100% certain Bridgewater will play again, Spielman said: “Well, everybody’s hoping, but I’m not … what is it, a soothsayer?”

Had the Vikings not traded for Bradford and instead proceeded with backup Shaun Hill last season, they’d likely be looking for a starting quarterback now via trade, in free agency or in a draft class that’s regarded as average at best and reputedly light on players capable of starting immediately. So Minnesota's fade from 5-0 to 8-8 last season didn’t render the deal a failure.

Spielman praised Bradford’s toughness and performance amidst tough circumstances last season, saying it’s clear going back to the second half of the 2015 campaign in Philadelphia that he’s in his prime at age 29. Spielman also mentioned Bradford on a list of players whose contracts need to be addressed at some point, but stopped short of saying that’ll happen before the season.

“Everything’s in flux right now,” Spielman said. “So, I’ll just leave it at that.”

Bradford is due $18 million in 2017, the last year of his contract. That includes a $4 million bonus due the fifth day of the league year next month, which USA TODAY Sports reported in December the Vikings intended to pay.

The Vikings also have a decision to make by early May on Bridgewater’s fifth-year contract option for 2018.

Apparently Gurley's off-season work is impressing the Rams, according to this quick report from BR: http://teamstre.am/2p9RNdT

Keep in mind that it is Bleacher Report but this picture from training camp seems to indicate Gurley isn't messing around this year:


Here's to hoping he and the rest of the offense come out with their hair on fire this year!

http://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/sto...fill-every-nfl-team-draft-2017-offseason#NFCW

NFC WEST
By Bryan Knowles


Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback of the future

It was perhaps a blessing in disguise that three teams traded up ahead of Arizona to pick first-round quarterbacks. The run on players in a mediocre quarterback class allowed the Cardinals to replace some of the 5,000-plus defensive snaps they lost in free agency instead -- losses that included Kevin Minter, Tony Jefferson, D.J. Swearinger, Calais Campbell, Marcus Cooper and Alex Okafor -- with players such as Haason Reddick and Budda Baker. Those two draftees fit Arizona's mold of versatile defenders who can be moved around as the situation warrants.

Unfortunately, that means the Cardinals enter 2017 with no significant replacement plan for Carson Palmer. Palmer will turn 38 in December and is coming off a below-average season, finishing 21st in DYAR. Behind him are the 33-year-old Drew Stanton and practice squad vet Zac Dysert, neither of whom constitute a long-term plan. The list of quarterbacks who have performed at a high level past their 38th birthday is very short, and Palmer is unlikely to buck that trend. It's obviously not a pressing need for 2017, but the sooner the Cardinals plan for life after Palmer, the better off they will be.


Los Angeles Rams
Offensive line

Down a first- and third-round pick because of the Jared Goff trade from last season, the Rams did what they could to provide Goff with some tools. Three of their first four picks went toward building a receiving corps, but that leaves the protection up front in question. The Rams allowed the second-most sacks last season while finishing 29th in both adjusted line yards and adjusted sack rate. It's hard to develop as a quarterback when you have no time in the pocket.

The Rams added to the position in free agency, with Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan coming on board, but the rest of the line is a series of question marks. Greg Robinson has been hugely disappointing as 2014's second overall pick; he is being moved to right tackle. That means previous right tackle Rob Havenstein, who had 22 blown blocks in 2016, will bump in to right guard. Left guard Rodger Saffold had 24 blown blocks himself, per Sports Info Solutions, though it was a marked improvement over his 2015 campaign. The Rams hope the deck chair shuffling will provide something positive in 2017.


San Francisco 49ers
Right tackle

The 49ers finished last in adjusted line yards and 30th in adjusted sack rate last season, so it's safe to say the offensive line could stand an overhaul. They added Jeremy Zuttah in a pre-draft trade, but the projected starting lineup still includes three players with at least 21 blown blocks, per Sports Info Solutions: Trent Brown at right tackle, Joshua Garnett at right guard and Zane Beadles at left guard.

Of the three, Brown is the most concerning. He was an utter liability at right tackle a season ago. Ex-Seahawk Garry Gilliam will compete for the job, but even lineman-strapped Seattle wanted no part of Gilliam in 2017. The 49ers are going through a multiyear rebuilding process and had too many holes to fill in one draft. After none of their 10 draft choices were used on the offensive line, they'll have to limp through 2017 before they undergo a major overhaul.


Seattle Seahawks
Offensive line

Going into the draft, the Seahawks had needs at both tackle spots and guard. The Seahawks added Ethan Pocic in the second round and Justin Senior in the sixth, so they didn't ignore the offensive line entirely. However, Pocic's most logical fit in the NFL is at center, where the Seahawks already have Justin Britt. The Seahawks announced Pocic as a tackle at the draft, but all but one of his college games came in the interior.

This is an offensive line that has allowed 40 or more sacks in each of the last four seasons, so if this need feels like déjà vu, there's a reason for that. The Seahawks, from a very basic philosophical level, refuse to invest in the offensive line. They have ranked in the bottom three in cap spending on linemen in both 2015 and 2016. Time after time after time after time after time, the lack of talent on the offensive line gets ignored, and the Seahawks still manage to be successful. Imagine how good this team would be if Russell Wilson didn't have to run for his life every other snap.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/r...e-foster-masterpiece-to-the-trubisky-swindle/

Ranking the 38 NFL Draft trades, from the Foster masterpiece to the Trubisky swindle

The 2017 NFL Draft kicked off with an unforgettable night in Philadelphia on Thursday as three teams traded up to find prospects they hope will be franchise quarterbacks. But those deals were far from the only ones struck over the weekend, as the NFL saw a record 38 trades involving draft picks consummated during the three-day affair.

Time will tell who won and who lost these trades as prospects turn into players and players turn into potential mainstays on the field for the teams that invested more than just a single pick in them. But reacting to any draft class with a "¯\_(ツ)_/¯" is no fun, so let's use this space to definitively say in an entirely subjective way which decisions to move up were the best and which made no sense at all.

I'll save you the suspense and tell you now which trade was the worst move up, because you already know exactly which one it was. The Bears spent three mid-round picks to flip-flop with the 49ers at the top of the draft thanks to fear of missing out on quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Insiders around the league scratched their heads as they continued to reach out to sources and found no other team willing to make the move up to No. 2, and San Francisco seemed unlikely at the time to draft Trubisky (Kyle Shanahan said later that the only signal caller in the draft he was targeting was the one he traded up for himself in the third round). So why trade? Good question, and it's one that has no good answer.

Simply put, the Bears could have stayed where they were and drafted Trubisky, who is nowhere near a safe bet to develop into a franchise quarterback anyway. Instead, they sacrificed three picks that could have been used to add depth on a roster that needs it. Thankfully for Chicagoans, the Bears were on the positive side of one of the other worst trades of the 2017 draft.

In ranking these 38 deals, I took into consideration the value of each package per Chase Stuart's trade value chart, but that wasn't the end-all, be-all in piecing together this list. The player targeted in each case is just as important, if not more so than the price paid to take him. Does he fit a need? Did he have a good chance of being on the board later, making the trade unnecessary? Did the deal sacrifice too many picks for a team that needs depth? And so on.

I look forward to defending these rankings in five years when Mitchell Trubisky is a Super Bowl MVP.

Here are the rankings:

1. 49ers jump three spots for Foster
I can't tell you if medical or character issues will sink Reuben Foster, but this was undeniably a masterstroke by rookie 49ers general manager John Lynch, maybe even more impressive than the fleecing of the Bears earlier in the round.

Putting aside the red flags, nearly everyone had the Alabama linebacker as a top-10 talent. The 49ers were reportedly set to take Foster at No. 3 if the Bears were intent on moving up one spot for Solomon Thomas, per Peter King. Many mock drafts had Foster landing with the Bengals at No. 9, even after the issues surfaced over the past two months. And even when taking into account those red flags, almost no one thought he would slip out of the first round entirely, as a string of teams in the 20s such as the Raiders, Dolphins and Chiefs figured to be excellent landing spots for his talent.

To get Foster at No. 31 was a coup for Lynch. And the trade up was a necessity to land Foster, as the Saints, who had the No. 32 pick, were on the phone with the linebacker welcoming him to the team as the 49ers pulled the trigger on the deal. One more hidden benefit to take into account: Drafting Foster at No. 31 means having a fifth-year option available down the road to keep him at a cost-controlled discount if he pays off as expected. That option isn't available to second-round picks.


The 49ers made the best move up to land Reuben Foster. USATSI

2. Texans pay up to find a quarterback
Ninety-nine times out of 100, when a team trades a future first-round pick to move up in the current first round for a particular guy, I'm not a fan. With so much uncertainty surrounding any single draft pick, why not spread the risk by getting two top-32 talents rather than one?

But this is a trade I can get behind. The Texans had no answer at quarterback after the epic free-agent flop that was Brock Osweiler, and once two of the three top-tier prospects at the position came off the board, they had no choice but to try and engineer a move up to land Deshaun Watson, who has plenty to like based on his college performance but also plenty of question marks in how he'll translate to the NFL.

But the Texans did well to sell the Browns on only taking their 2018 first to move down 13 spots, putting them ahead of a Cardinals team that also eyed all of the top quarterback prospects this draft season. By comparison, the Chiefs had to add an extra third-rounder to move up 17 spots for their quarterback, and Houston had a far greater need at the position. While not having their top two picks in 2018 could come back to haunt them, the Texans did what they had to do with this deal.

3. Vikings can't wait any longer on Cook
The fact that the first round came and went without Dalvin Cook's name being called was a shock to some, considering how dominant he looked at the college level, but combine off-field red flags with an abysmal predraft process in terms of athletic testing, and it should have been no big surprise. But with his on-field résumé, he made for a great pickup for any team on Day 2.

The Vikings didn't have a first-round pick after acquiring Sam Bradford from the Eagles last year, and it was those same Eagles that lurked as a perfect landing spot at No. 43, a pick that might have turned the festivities into a riot as Philadelphians celebrated their good fortune. Sitting at No. 48, the Vikings sacrificed a fourth-rounder to move up seven spots for Cook, keeping Philly fans in check while also finding the heir to Adrian Peterson.

4. Jaguars pay small price to hop one spot
Like Cook, Cam Robinson was another name that could have been called Thursday with no one batting an eye. Teams like the Giants and Seahawksthat need line help seemed like perfect landing spots -- instead, he slipped out of the top 32 altogether.

Those same Seahawks were on the clock at No. 34 and could have easily taken Robinson and looked like geniuses for moving down twice before doing so. Instead they moved down a third time, with the Jaguars spending just a sixth-round pick to jump one spot and take Robinson, who gives the Jaguars Branden Albert insurance at left tackle but will be a starter somewhere on the line for a team that needed one.

5. Browns cash in picks for a third first-rounder
The wheeling-and-dealing Browns made a couple smart moves early Thursday, taking Myles Garrett over Trubisky at No. 1 then adding an extra first-rounder to move down from No. 12. That wasn't enough for Sashi Brown and the Browns braintrust though, as they surrendered an early fourth-round pick to jump from No. 33 to No. 29 and land a third first-round talent.

David Njoku didn't fill the biggest need for the Browns, but many considered him a top-20 talent who is one of the most athletically gifted tight ends to come into the league in a long time. He could help redefine the passing game for whoever's under center.

6. Falcons' pass-rush target doesn't come cheap
The Falcons traded a third-rounder and a seventh-rounder to move up five spots for Takkarist McKinley, which is a pretty steep price to pay. But I get it -- the Cowboys, Packers and Steelers all loomed as great fits for McKinley, so if the Falcons were set on having him, it was the right move to trade up. The Cowboys and Steelers both grabbed pass rushers in the next few picks, while the Packers traded out of the round altogether.


Drafting Takkarist McKinley cost a pretty penny, but it was a wise move up. USATSI

7. Dolphins stop talented lineman's slide on Day 3
As a senior, Isaac Asiata was voted the top offensive lineman in the Pac-12, a conference that also featured Utah tackle Garett Bolles, who the Broncosmade the No. 20 pick. Projected to go on Day 2 after an excellent combine, Asiata was still on the board at No. 164, so the Dolphins hopped two spots to pass the Lions and take him, and it only cost them a 10-spot drop later in the draft. He could be the immediate answer at left guard with Laremy Tunsilkicking outside.

8. Chiefs plan for life after Alex Smith
I think Patrick Mahomes has a decent chance of developing into a quality NFL starter, and I wouldn't rule out him becoming one of the better quarterbacks in the league. He certainly wasn't going to be available at No. 27, so I can understand the Chiefs pulling the trigger on the trade to move up. But the deal undoubtedly came at a high cost, as the Chiefs surrendered not only their first-rounder next year but a third-rounder this year. They did have plenty of extra picks on Day 3, so losing that Day 2 pick wasn't terrible, but the Texans made a similar move up and only had to trade their 2018 first-round pick. If the Chiefs gave up one or even two later picks rather than the third-rounder, I would like this deal more.

9. Vikings give new running back some help
Already without a first-rounder, the Vikings surprised many by trading up a second time on Day 2, as finding depth for a roster that needs it is critical to their success. But it was worth the move to snag Pat Elflein, who for some was the clear top center in this draft. He should start immediately at center or right guard and be a starter for a while. The VIkings did alleviate some of the downside of trading up twice for Elflein and Dalvin Cook by later trading down five times, picking up five extra picks in the process. That's called having your cake and eating it too.

10. Browns jump 19 spots on Day 3 to fill a need
The Browns have been open for business when it comes to trading the past two seasons, and amassing such a large stockpile of picks allows them to be flexible to move up whenever a prospect of interest falls further than he should. That could be the case for cornerback Howard Wilson, who posted one of the best combine times on the three-cone drill, a measure of agility and explosiveness that's critical for defensive backs. Wilson's 6.68-second mark tied for the third best in the drill with first-rounder Gareon Conley. For a team desperate for cornerback help, swapping a fifth for a seventh to make the move up makes total sense.

11. Chiefs make a Day 2 move for a running back
Kareem Hunt is a sure-handed back who could come in and quickly have a big role for the Chiefs' offense. They paid three picks to take him, trading a fourth and seventh to hop 18 picks in the third round, but they had extra draft ammunition to spend and plenty of teams were targeting running backs in the middle rounds (just look at Round 4).

12. Panthers go back to the pass-rush well
It wouldn't be a Panthers draft without adding bodies to the defensive line, and Dave Gettleman decided against waiting in the third round to trade up for Daeshon Hall, who was projected by some to go in Round 2. They paid a similar fourth-round pick to the next trade on this list but made a much bigger jump, hopping 21 spots on land the pass-rusher.

13. Patriots make two quick picks after long wait
The Pats didn't have a first- or second-round pick, and then when they finally came on the clock, they traded down to No. 83. After finally taking a player (defensive end Derek Rivers), they decided not to wait any longer for another, spending a late fourth to move up 11 spots to No. 85 for Troy offensive tackle Antonio Garcia, who will serve as line depth but has a good shot to develop into a quality starter.

14. Buccaneers add sleeper nose tackle in late deal
It might have been the last deal of the draft, but don't overlook the Buccaneers trading seventh-rounders this year and next to take nose tackle Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, a massive presence on the interior of the defensive line who should have been taken 50-100 picks earlier. He's as good of a late-round dart throw as you'll find in this class.

15. Bills get receiving help for Tyrod Taylor
Many pegged the Bills to take one of the top receivers in the class at No. 10, but after all three first-round prospects came off the board in the first nine picks, they instead traded down and addressed a bigger position need at corner. They then paid a not insignificant price (swapping the 91st pick for a fifth-rounder) to move up seven spots in the second round for Zay Jones. I like Jones and think this move will pay off for the Bills, but with no fourth-rounders on the docket, I don't know if it was wise to pass on filling another need later on Day 2 at No. 91.


Zay Jones is the all-time career receptions record holder in the FBS. USATSI

16. 49ers pay virtually nothing to move up for QB
C.J. Beathard wasn't expected to be taken until late on Day 3, but the 49ers surprisingly moved up late in the third round to grab him. Does that make this a dumb trade? Well, Beathard was reportedly the only QB in the entire classthat new coach Kyle Shanahan liked, and I'll trust him when it comes to evaluating signal callers. He likened the Iowa quarterback to Kirk Cousins, a player many expect to end up in San Francisco. Plus, they only sacrificed a seventh-rounder to hop from Day 3 to Day 2 and make the pick.

17. Cowboys surrender future pick for secondary help
The Cowboys did a great job finding two cornerbacks on Day 2 who could help a secondary that lost several key pieces this offseason, and they dealt a 2018 fifth-rounder to take another in Xavier Woods at No. 191, who could quickly battle for playing time at safety. It was a wise decision in the middle of a long wait for the Cowboys, who didn't have any picks between No. 133 and 211 before swinging this trade.

18. Giants finally address offensive line late
Taking a player like Cam Robinson or Ryan Ramcyzk in the first round who could come in and potentially be an answer rather than a slot tight end in Evan Engram would have been a much better decision on Day 1 for the Giants. As it was, they didn't address their line at all until their final pick, combining their sixth- and seventh-rounders to get to No. 200 for Adam Bisnowaty, who isn't going to protect Eil Manning's blind side but at least provides depth. Better late than never, I guess.

19. Titans double up on receivers after peculiar trade
The Titans did a good job addressing a pair of needs in the first round, even if both players might have been reaches at those spots. With no second-rounder, they faced a long wait and they decided to shorten it by moving 11 spots up to No. 72. Rather than get the secondary more help, or add some talent to the defensive line, they picked another receiver in Taywan Taylor. I think Taylor has a solid chance to emerge, but the receiver pool was deep (plenty went off the board in Round 4). No need to flip No. 124 for No. 200 to make this move, especially when considering they added another weapon for Marcus Mariota with their next pick, too, in tight end Jonnu Smith.

20. Browns keep adding to offensive line with value pick
The Browns spent big to build a top-notch offensive line this offseason, and they also turned an eye toward developing another potential starter by trading up for Roderick Johnson, who has immense upside to potentially unlock. He was projected to go in Round 4 or even on Day 2, but the Browns instead landed him in the middle of Round 5 after dealing No. 181 and No. 188 for No. 160 and No. 224. It pays to have the ammunition to make a move when a talent falls further than expected.

21. Bengals make late move for hybrid talent
A cornerback/running back/return man at Houston, Brandon Wilson saw interest from several teams and had multiple reported workouts with three clubs: Bengals, Raiders and Texans. With the Raiders looking like a prime landing spot at No. 208, the Bengals swapped the 217th and 227th picks to get to No. 207 and take him. The Raiders would then trade out of the spot for a similar package from the Cardinals. Wilson should contribute on special teams and could be a factor in the secondary eventually.

22. Eagles pay small price for even smaller runner
It's not surprising to see the Eagles exit the draft with a running back, as it was clearly one of their top needs heading into the weekend. But it is curious that rather than take a bigger guy who could handle a starter's workload, they instead opted for 5-foot-8 Donnel Pumphrey, who can apprentice under Darren Sproles for a year before eventually taking his role in 2018. Fortunately, the move from No. 139 to No. 130 only cost them a late seventh, making it one of the better value deals in the draft.


Will Donnell Pumphrey be the heir to Darren Sproles in the Eagles offense? USATSI

23. Bills fill big need with big talent, at a big price
Having already traded up once in the second round, the Bills made another move to get to No. 63 for Dion Dawkins, one of the better offensive linemen in a weak class for the position. He should be able to handle right tackle from Day 1, but at worst he should be a long-term starter inside. While he was a nice pickup, it cost the Bills three picks -- Nos. 75, 149 and 156 -- to get him. They would wait exactly 100 picks before making their next selection, missing out on the opportunity to bolster their depth with quality talent in the middle rounds. But the three guys they ultimately landed in Rounds 1 and 2 should offer big-time help.

24. Bears get value, address need with Jackson
The Bears only added five prospects to a roster in need of young talent thanks to their poor decision to trade up for Mitchell Trubisky, but that wasn't their only move up in this draft. They also sacrificed a sixth-rounder to hop five spots to No. 112 for Eddie Jackson, who is an excellent value for his talent but carries with him major injury red flags after tearing an ACL and fracturing a leg during his college career.

25. 49ers add veteran running back before Day 3
Kapri Bibbs briefly looked like he might be a difference-maker in Denver last season, but injuries limited him to just 31 touches. Still, Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch saw enough to snap him up before the start of Round 4, trading a 2018 fourth-rounder for Bibbs and a fifth this year. We see teams sacrifice a slightly earlier pick in the following draft to land a particular guy in the later stages each year, and the 49ers made a similar move in pick value while adding a back they obviously like.

26. Redskins make small jump for unheralded lineman
Were the Titans eyeing interior lineman Chase Roullier at No. 200? The Redskins must have thought so, trading back 10 spots in the seventh round so that they could hop from No. 201 to No. 199 in a trade with the Vikings, who drafted a much better line prospect in Pat Elflein earlier. The Titans moved down twice after Roullier came off the board to Washington, but they might have gotten the better player in Corey Levin at No. 217.

27. Buccaneers make value trade for injured linebacker
Kendell Beckwith was a likely third-round pick before suffering a torn ACL late in the season, and the Buccaneers made sure he would still be a third-round pick despite the injury. I don't know that it was necessary to move up 18 spots to take him at No. 107, but considering it cost them just the 204th pick, they at least paid a value price to make the move.

28. Cardinals trade up for another safety
After the Cardinals spent a considerable sum to move up for a safety in the second round (see below), they paid a small price to move up for another safety in Round 6, taking Rudy Ford at No. 208 after a 13-spot jump that only cost the 231st pick. It was a great trade value-wise, but I'm not sure Ford was worth the move, especially after already investing heavily in the position earlier.

29. Patriots make a second trade up for a lineman
The Pats added to their line depth on Day 2 by trading up for Antonio Garcia, and they did it again in the late stages Saturday, sacrificing a seventh-rounder to hop five spots and take Conor McDermott at No. 211. He seemingly isn't strong enough to stick in the NFL, but maybe Dante Scarnecchia can turn him into a capable reserve.

30. Titans make small trade up for a linebacker
The Titans swung three trades on Day 3, and this was perhaps the most questionable, moving up nine spots to reach for linebacker Jayon Brown at No. 155. Brown doesn't profile as a future starter, and yet the Titans gave up No. 214 to hop up for him. It's not a big price to spend, but why pay more than necessary?

31. Rams sacrifice a late pick to overdraft pass-rusher
Samson Ebukam is a solid prospect who could develop into a rotation pass-rusher for Wade Phillips. The Rams aren't really in a position to sacrifice picks considering they didn't have a first-rounder, they need personnel to fit the new offensive and defensive philosophies, and Ebukam had a good chance of being available at No. 141, where the Rams were originally slated to pick before the deal, which cost them a sixth-rounder.

32. Broncos trade up for potential return man
After drafting a quality receiver on Day 2, the Broncos felt the need to hop three spots in Round 5 for Isaiah McKenzie, a 5-7 receiver who figures to only contribute in the return game. If he turns into a dangerous return man, this trade will pay off, but I didn't see the next couple teams drafting him, so they probably could have stayed put and kept No. 238.

33. Patriots pick up veteran tight end before Day 3
The Patriots traded for a quality No. 2 tight end earlier this offseason, and they added Chiefs tight end James O'Shaughnessy before the start of Day 3 in a small deal, moving back from No. 183 to No. 216. While he'll help as a run blocker, that drop was the equivalent of spending about the 195th pick on the tight end, which seems like a little bit of an overpay.

34. Chiefs make questionable jump for receiver
Jehu Chesson was nothing but a disappointment for Michigan in 2016, and he didn't figure to be a hot name in this draft as a low-ceiling player coming off a down season. But the Chiefs packaged together two fifth-round picks to take him at No. 139. Even though they had a big stockpile of picks to move up when they wanted, I don't get this move, considering how little an impact secondary receivers have in their offense.

35. Saints sacrifice premium pick for odd fit
We're down to the truly baffling deals, starting with the Saints trading their 2018 second-rounder and a seventh-round throw-in to take running back Alvin Kamara at No. 67. That's right, despite having Mark Ingram as their unquestioned starter and signing veteran Adrian Peterson, the Saints spent what could be a high second-round pick on another running back. Kamara was good value this low, and he could emerge as a 2018 starter, but if he doesn't this is going to look awful in hindsight.


How much will Alvin Kamara play as a rookie in New Orleans? USATSI

36. Cardinals trade four picks for Baker
The more picks you trade, the more pressure is on for the guy you're targeting to pay off in a big way. The Cardinals for some reason gave up two fourth-rounders (one in 2018) and a sixth-rounder to move up nine spots in the second round for Budda Baker, a quality defensive back who is much like Tyrann Mathieu, so much so that he might not have a big role while Mathieu is healthy. Considering the Honey Badger just signed a huge extension before last season, I don't get mortgaging so many pieces to move up for Baker rather than sitting tight and hoping he makes it to No. 45, and pivoting to a bigger need if he doesn't.

37. 49ers make first and only draft blunder?
Give John Lynch and the 49ers a ton of credit for a great draft when all is said and done. But an unremarkable trade in the fourth round at first glance could end up being the worst deal of the draft, aside from their fleecing of the Bears at the top of Round 1. After signing Tim HIghtower earlier in the offseason then trading for Kapri Bibbs before the fourth round started, the 49ers packaged the 143rd and 161st picks to jump to No. 121, where they added Joe Williams, who wasn't even on their draft board the night before.

Kyle Shanahan apparently loved him, and after lobbying Lynch on behalf of Williams on Friday night, the rookie GM made some calls and decided the character red flags were overblown and that he would trust his head coach. But why not do due diligence on a guy your coach is in love with before three rounds are already in the books? This isn't an undergraduate term paper -- Lynch should have been on the same page with Shanahan regarding Williams well before Saturday morning rather than waiting until the last minute.

Another factor: Williams wasn't projected to go until late in Day 3, so spending two picks on him seems like a reach. Also, if you decide you have to have Williams, why trade for Bibbs? If you don't already have a deal you like lined up for Carlos Hyde, why create a logjam behind him and Hightower by spending several draft picks on Bibbs and Williams? Even if one of those two guys pays off in the long run, and I think one very well could, the whole situation is perplexing from a process-oriented angle.

38. Bears fall for a trap, trade the farm for Trubisky
Of course, the 49ers' handling of their running back situation pales in comparison to the trade they roped the Bears into Thursday, convincing Chicago to give up three mid-round picks, including the No. 67 overall this year and a likely high third-rounder next year, to move up one spot for a guy San Francisco reportedly had no intention of taking anyway. The Trubisky trade was the story of Day 1, and his success or failure will be the defining story of the 2017 draft years down the road.

Who you got???

I like Irish War Cry and McCracken just on name value alone. Gunnevera is the sleeper though.

The odds have been posted in the book for those interested

Rams mailbag: Draft analysis, McVay-Snead, salary cap and podcast requests


Gary Klein Contact Reporter
May 6, 2017

The Rams are preparing to welcome new players at next week’s rookie minicamp.

Eight draftees — tight end Gerald Everett, receivers Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds, fullback Sam Rogers, defensive lineman Tanzel Smart, linebackers Samson Ebukam and Ejuan Price and safety John Johnson — and more than a dozen undrafted free agents are scheduled to participate.

Now, on to your questions. Keep them coming at @latimesklein or gary.klein@latimes.com.

Based on the Draft, What was the biggest difference or take away u see bw Fisher/Snead vs Snead/McVay approach to player acquisition?

It’s too early to make any sweeping judgments about differences. The sample size with Snead/McVay is too small.

But it’s probably not a coincidence that players linked closely to former coach Jeff Fisher — receiver Kenny Britt, tight end Lance Kendricks and tight end William Hayes and Eugene Sims — are no longer on the roster.

In free agency, Snead/McVay identified a glaring need at left tackle and went out and signed a proven and expensive veteran in Andrew Whitworth. They did not pay for receiver Pierre Garcon, but acquired Robert Woods.

Clearly, McVay identified specific needs for his offense and Snead and the scouting department tried to accommodate him. It was not a surprise that the Rams drafted a tight end with their first pick. McVay’s offense is tight-end heavy.

Do the Rams know Kupp wasn't their first pick? Seems like they are promoting him not Everett. When are they doing the whole group intro?

Rookies arrive next week for a rookie minicamp that begins on Friday.

The Rams did not have a first-round pick, so they did not hold a news conference like last year for Jared Goff.

But I don’t get a sense that the Rams are “promoting” one player over another. The Rams’ website and social media team, it seems to me, makes a concentrated effort to post items about a broad range of players.

The website contains several items about Everett.

Of all our picks, it seems to me Josh Reynolds has the highest ceiling. Would you agree?

Projecting the career arc of NFL draft picks is a sport unto itself.

I have not seen Josh Reynolds, or any of the Rams’ picks, on the field with NFL players yet. So it’s difficult to give you an informed opinion.

Reynolds, of course, plays a position that often produces highlight-reel plays. And he showed in college that he might give the Rams a tall target with deep-ball capability.

But players such as tight end Gerald Everett, who played without much fanfare at South Alabama, might get even more of an opportunity to develop and shine in McVay’s offense.

After covering college football for 14 years, I have only covered the NFL for one. This much is clear, though: Standout college receivers often do not enjoy similar success — or separation — in the NFL because they no longer have the advantage of mismatches against less talented cornerbacks most weeks.

I’m looking forward to seeing Reynolds and all of the rookies next week. Let’s revisit the question in a future mailbag.

What do you make of the Rams going after Seniors (guys with a lot of college production)?

A record of success certainly works in a player’s favor.

Despite all the hyperbole about 40-yard dash times and other measures in the buildup to the draft, most coaches, scouts and personnel people tell me that the most important component of their predraft evaluation is what they see on video from a player’s college career.

But it’s hardly an exact science.

Consider: The Rams selected record-setting receiver Cooper Kupp in the third round after he played in 52 games for Eastern Washington.

The Chicago Bears made quarterback Mitch Trubisky the second overall pick after he started 13 games for North Carolina.

I have a lot of hope for the Rams with Coach McVay and other new coaches. Think the team will play much harder for these guys. Am I dreaming

You are not dreaming.

A new coach and staff to impress? Jobs possibly on the line?

It would a surprise if the Rams don’t play hard. But that’s also a subjective term. The Rams did not lose games last season because they didn’t play “hard” enough. They lost, most of the time, because they failed to execute and make plays, especially on offense.

Some of that was on the coaches as well as the players.

What's happening at Center? There's got to be a larger plan in place than "hope Sullivan stays healthy", right? Anyone else getting a look?

For the short term, the “hope Sullivan stays healthy” plan is in play.

John Sullivan was a reliable player for the Minnesota Vikings until back injuries forced him to sit out the 2015 season. Last season, he played for McVay in Washington.

McVay has said other interior linemen would get work at center. Demetrius Rhaney practiced at center last season. The Rams did not draft a center but they signed New Mexico State’s Anthony McMeans. They also signed Jake Eldrenkamp, who played guard at Washington. Perhaps he will get a look at center as well.

When are we getting a podcast with you and @LindseyThiry to talk about the draft picks?

We are scheduled to record a podcast early next week.

We’ll discuss the Rams’ draft, the schedule, make predictions and go off on tangents to address all kinds of other things that always come up.

Watch my Twitter account, and Lindsey’s, for the request for podcast questions. Answering them is usually the most entertaining segment for us.

When is the next Rams overtime podcast with @LindseyThiry ?

Hmm. Apparently there is high interest in the Rams Overtime podcast.

Please see above.

when do the Rams need to be below the cap??

NFL teams must be in compliance with the salary cap on the first day of the new league year. For 2017, that was March 9.

Only the 51 highest cap numbers on a roster count against a team until the week before the first game.

Thought Cody Davis did okay at safety at the end of last season. Do you know how he's viewed by coaches?

Cody Davis started three games last season and will probably be a reserve and special teams player again in 2017.

Davis, a fifth-year pro, is scheduled to earn about $1.7 million in salary and bonuses this season in the final year of a two-year contract.

With the departure of T.J. McDonald, the Rams will move cornerback Lamarcus Joyner to free safety and make Maurice Alexander the strong safety. The Rams also drafted safety John Johnson from Boston College.

How well is Goff doing at learning the offense? Has Goff shown improvement in mechanics since his off season work at 3DQB

After one of the Rams’ initial offseason workouts, McVay said he was pleased with the way Goff got the offense in and out of the huddle and lined up. It was a starting point.

Goff is learning a new offensive system for the second time in two years. So, at this point, it’s difficult to gauge how he is translating what he’s learning. We’ll get a clue during organized team activities and a much better sense during training camp.

The Rams opened only one practice to the media, and the offense worked out on the field farthest from where it could be viewed. Goff’s mechanics looked fine from a distance, but he was not under the duress of a rush.

How is Robinson doing at Right tackle? How is Havenstein doing at right guard? When will the rookies get to practice with the team?

With the signing of left tackle Andrew Whitworth, Greg Robinson was moved to right tackle. That would seem to be a better fit for Robinson because it removes the highly visible responsibility of protecting the quarterback’s blind side.

Rob Havenstein moved from right tackle to right guard.

“It’s not huge — it’s still offensive line,” Havenstein said of the transition after the first offseason workout last month. “We’re still using some of the same techniques. There might be little nuances that are a little different. But, kind of from what I hear and what I’m learning, is things happen a little quicker. There’s not as much space, so it’s just the little things that change.”

Most rookies are eligible to practice with the team during organized-team activities, which begin May 23. Last year, linebacker Cory Littleton could not participate because classes were still in session at Washington.

Saw no press reports of mini camp Was press allowed to attend. Will McVay be more open or closed about press at mini camp and preseason

The first day of last month’s voluntary minicamp was open to reporters.

Here is the link to the story I posted that day.

Former coach Jeff Fisher regularly opened practices to reporters. He was one of the only NFL coaches that did so.

Training camp practices will remain open to the press but McVay will adopt the NFL model of limiting access during the regular season to the first 15 or 20 minutes.

I really thought Mannion deserved to start ahead of Goff last year. What is feeling about Mannion's progress among coacheso

The coaching staff has sounded enthused about third-year quarterback Sean Mannion.

But Mannion will not start unless Goff suffers an injury, is sidelined because of an off-the-field issue or is consistently ineffective and error-prone for a long period.

That’s not a knock on Mannion. That’s economics. When a franchise invests as much as it has in Goff, he is going to play.

Asks DWalkerWinMan via Twitter: Do you get the feeling that the Rams are making inroads and reconnecting with fans from the previous Coliseum or Ram Time in Anaheim days?

The Rams made a pretty big push to reconnect with Southern California Rams fans upon their return last season.

The momentum of those efforts no doubt slowed as the team stumbled to a 4-12 finish.

Going 1-6 at the Coliseum and playing wretchedly on offense did not help.

I’m sure there will be fan-friendly events in the runup to the season, but drumming up excitement is going to be a tougher sell until they put an entertaining and successful product on the field.

does WR Nelson Sprice make the final roster?

And there it is, the weekly inquiry regarding Nelson Spruce.

Spruce played the first preseason game last season and then was sidelined because of injuries. The Rams did not put him on waivers, in part because they feared another team would claim him.

If Spruce is physically sound and catches the ball the way he has his entire career, he’ll be in the mix.

Tavon Austin, Robert Woods, Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas and rookies Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds are among the receivers who will be competing for playing time.

What's your main takeaway from the first Snead/McVay draft? Did anything, good or bad, surprise you about how the draft unfolded for them?

McVay told Snead what he wanted for his offense, and Snead tried to accommodate him.

That’s my main takeaway.

I was a bit surprised that the Rams did not draft a cornerback. The lack of an offensive lineman was mildly surprising.

The Rams’ draft lacked the flair and star power of teams such as the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and even the Chargers.

But we won’t know if it was productive until we see how the players perform.

Any word on scouting department hirings?! And what about #Ravens director of college scouting Joe Hortiz?! #Rams

The Rams have not announced any scouting department hires.

Last month, the Rams informed Ran Carthon, director of pro personnel, and scouts Evan Ardoin, Danton Barto and Sean Gustus that their contracts would not renewed.

Joe Hortiz is the Baltimore Ravens’ director of college scouting and has been with that organization since 1998. He is expected to be among those getting consideration by the Rams.

If (young) GK was drafted, what round? Would you be pick #132? That's pretty good. How about (experienced) GK? UDFA?

Had a young version of me been drafted at No. 132, the Philadelphia Eagles this year would have opted to pass on record-setting San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey.

The experienced version of me might have a chance as an undrafted free agent if the position of need was Christmas cookie eater.

Thanks, everyone, for the questions. Let’s do it again next week.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-mailbag-20170505-story,amp.html

UAB head coach Bill Clark knew Los Angeles Rams TE Gerald Everett could be a 'freak'

By Drew Champlin

[www.al.com]


When UAB opens its new football operations building, one room will be dedicated to past teams and NFL players.

Gerald Everett may not have finished his college career at UAB, but the Los Angeles' Rams tight end who was recently drafted in the NFL Draft's second round first made his mark there. There will certainly be a plaque honoring Everett.

Everett played as a sophomore at UAB in 2014. When the program was disbanded, he transferred to South Alabama and flourished over his final two seasons.

The 6-foot-3, 239-pound Everett caught 90 passes for 1,292 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons with the Jaguars.

"That's our player," UAB head coach Bill Clark said Thursday. "No offense to South Alabama, they can claim him too, but that's our guy. Jordan Howard (who finished at Indiana and is now with the Chicago Bears) is UAB. Gerald Everett is UAB. I don't make any bones about that. I think he'll tell you he's a UAB Blazer, I'm sure he'll tell you he's a South Alabama guy too, but no offense to them. He's our guy."

Everett quietly emerged onto the scene at UAB. Clark said that former offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent found him at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. Everett, who played one year of high school football, signed with FCS school Bethune-Cookman in 2012.

Before that fall, he enrolled at Hutchinson with hopes of being re-recruited by a bigger school. He redshirted one of his two seasons there and arrived at UAB in August 2014 as a sophomore.

Everett could have stayed another season at junior college, but the opportunity came open at UAB. It didn't take Clark long after seeing his film.

Two plays was all it took to convince Clark.

Everett, weighing just 215 pounds that season, caught 17 passes for 292 yards with a touchdown and a long of 34 yards and helped UAB to a 6-6 record.

"Just a good kid from day one," Clark said. "Unbelievable hands and physical. He had to get bigger and stronger, but what was so cool about him was how he could run after the catch.

"That was one of those guys where you were like, 'This guy is going to be unbelievable.'"

His touchdown was a 29-yard catch and run against FIU. Everett backed up another future NFL player in Kennard Backman that season. Backman was a senior with Tristan Henderson in the tight end group.

Everett recently stopped by UAB to visit Clark before heading to Georgia to watch the NFL Draft with his family. He played his final two years at South Alabama for Vincent and former UAB tight ends coach Richard Owens.

"We didn't want to lose the two tight ends we had, but we knew this guy was going to be a freak, and he was for South Alabama," Clark said.

By Chad Reuter
Draft analyst
Published: May 4, 2017

Next men up: Top QB talents in CFB pipeline for 2017

While three quarterbacks ended up coming off the board within the first 12 picks of the 2017 NFL Draft, there was plenty of talk this spring about how teams were much more excited by the prospects who could be in the 2018 draft class than they were about this year's group.

Indeed, there is plenty to be excited about. However, much can change in a year. A year ago, the conventional wisdom was that Deshaun Watson would be the 2017 NFL Draft's No. 1 overall pick. He, of course, ended up going 12th overall to the Texans as the third QB picked.

With an eye on the future, I've grouped the top college passers in talent tiers to differentiate their abilities, though all of them have a chance to make it at the next level.

Elite

» Lamar Jackson, junior, Louisville (6-foot-3, 200 pounds)
» Sam Darnold, redshirt sophomore, USC (6-4, 225)
» Josh Allen, junior, Wyoming (6-5, 233)
» Josh Rosen, junior, UCLA (6-4, 220)

Allen has the attention of NFL teams due to his arm strength, attitude and athleticism. Rosen can bounce back from an injury-plagued season to battle Darnold for NFL scouts' eyes and the Pac-12 crown. Of course, scouts are concerned about Jackson's slight build and decline late in the 2016 season, but for now, his rocket arm, toughness and playmaking skills keep the Heisman Trophy winner in this category.

Potential for greatness

» Baker Mayfield, senior, Oklahoma (6-1, 218)
» Luke Falk, senior, Washington State (6-4, 225)

Mayfield's lack of size might hinder him in scouts' minds. However, if he continues to operate the Sooners' offense in an efficient manner, it will gain him fans among NFL teams and potentially earn him comparisons to Russell Wilson. Falk's an "Air Raid" offense quarterback, but he has the ability to do more at the line of scrimmage.

Worth the price of admission

» Mason Rudolph, senior, Oklahoma State (6-5, 230)
» Trace McSorley, junior, Penn State (6-0, 205)
» Jake Browning, junior, Washington (6-2, 205)

All three of these passers have a shot to become NFL starters someday. McSorley and Browning should have great seasons in 2017 as leaders of their their teams. Rudolph and his top target, receiver James Washington, returned for their seniors years to make a run at the Big 12 title and increase their value to NFL scouts.

Underrated, for now

» Jalen Hurts, sophomore, Alabama (6-2, 214)
» Deondre Francois, redshirt sophomore, Florida State (6-2, 205)

Hurts has to grow as a pocket passer to be considered a top NFL prospect, but he has time to do so. Francois also has the tools to succeed at the next level, and should become more consistent as he matures. Their progression in 2017 will be fun to watch.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...p-qb-talents-in-cfb-pipeline-for-2017[/quote]

All teams, here;

http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/...es-for-every-teams-2017-nfl-draft-class#NFC W

Best and riskiest moves for every team's 2017 NFL draft class

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals
Best move: Moving up to draft Budda Baker in the second round might end up paying dividends for the Cardinals in the long term. He’s versatile -- essentially a four-in-one defensive back -- who can get on the field as a rookie. Plus, should Tyrann Mathieu get hurt again, Arizona will have a safety similar to Mathieu to slide into Mathieu’s role.

Riskiest move: Chad Williams, the wide receiver out of Grambling whom the Cardinals picked in the third round, comes with the most risk for Arizona because of the adjustment awaiting him. Facing off against NFL defensive backs on a daily basis will be quite a shift from competing against FCS secondaries. -- Josh Weinfuss


Los Angeles Rams
Best move: The Rams identified Gerald Everett as a second-round target early and were so convinced by him that they were willing to move back seven spots, from No. 37 to No. 44, which netted an additional third-round pick. Everett gives the Rams a downfield threat at tight end, which is especially critical given how much value Sean McVay got out of tight ends in Washington.

Riskiest move: The Rams took a handful of players from smaller universities who did not get a ton of reps against the best collegiate athletes. That includes Everett, who came out of South Alabama, and two others from Eastern Washington, third-round slot receiver Cooper Kupp and fourth-round outside linebacker Samson Ebukam. All three easily could play a lot this coming season. -- Alden Gonzalez


San Francisco 49ers
Best move: Trading down from No. 2 to No. 3 and taking DE Solomon Thomas. Adding Thomas, whom many considered one of the safest picks in the draft, is icing on the cake after the trade the Niners made with the Bears. The 49ers moved down one spot and picked up two third-round choices and a fourth-round pick in return. They used that fourth-rounder to move back into the first and now have some additional picks in 2018 that they can use to help acquire their franchise quarterback, if needed.

Riskiest move: Moving up to draft LB Reuben Foster. The Niners viewed Foster as one of the three best players in the draft, and based purely on talent, many others had him in that range. But Foster slipped to No. 31 because of a lingering shoulder injury as well as a negative drug test for a diluted sample at the scouting combine. If Foster is healthy and stays on track, he could be the steal of the draft. If not, this was a missed opportunity with a valuable draft choice. -- Nick Wagoner


Seattle Seahawks
Best move: One reason trading Richard Sherman would've made little sense is that the Seahawks are thin at cornerback. In CB Shaquill Griffin (6 feet, 32 3/8-inch arms), they get a player who fits with their physical preferences. And he tested well at the combine, running a 4.38 40. The Seahawks’ biggest strength during the Pete Carroll era has been developing defensive backs. Griffin has a chance to come in and contribute right away.

Riskiest move: General manager John Schneider admitted that concerns about DT Malik McDowell’s effort at Michigan State were warranted. “From a motor standpoint, he knows that he needs to keep going,” Schneider said. McDowell has a high ceiling and a low floor. He had just 1.5 sacks last season. The Seahawks are counting on Carroll to help McDowell reach his potential, and he has a chance to contribute right away as an interior pass-rusher. But there’s no doubt that this was a risky pick. -- Sheil Kapadia

http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/237355/nfl-draft-deception-the-art-of-the-smoke-screen

NFL draft deception: Stories of smoke screens and subterfuge

The NFL draft provides high drama, especially behind the scenes, and the most compelling development this year was the Chicago Bears' trading up one spot to grab Mitchell Trubisky, a quarterback the San Francisco 49ers reportedly weren’t interested in selecting at No. 2.

Were the Bears bluffed by San Francisco into trading three additional picks to move from No. 3? The MMQB.com website had a reporter embedded with the Niners, and he revealed there was one other team interested in No. 2, although the level of interest wasn’t disclosed.

Did Chicago have to make the trade to avoid another team trading up to get its quarterback? We may never know the answer with 100 percent certainty.

Smoke screens, bluffs, misdirection and misinformation all play roles during the draft. Teams go to great lengths to conceal their intentions, from not meeting with a prospect to outright telling a player they’re not interested, only to reverse course on draft night.

Secret dinner with Trubisky
The Bears may have been caught up in subterfuge by the 49ers, but Chicago also performed some deception of its own.

Chicago sent nearly every key member of its organization -- including general manager Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox -- to Deshaun Watson’s pro day to give the impression Watson was the team's potential target, according to ESPN Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson. But the Bears staged a secret dinner with Trubisky behind the scenes and begged his camp not to leak the news.

The plan worked as news of the dinner didn’t get out until after the pick was made.

Charles Harris remembers his disappointment last month when the Miami Dolphins cancelled a pre-draft visit to South Florida without explanation.

“I was like, ‘Man, that’s messed up,’” Harris said.

The former University of Missouri standout thought he had a great meeting with the Dolphins at the combine in February. However, the team didn’t request a personal workout and then Harris’ visit to its facility was terminated, which created doubt. But those questions were erased when Miami selected Harris with the No. 22 pick. The Dolphins purposely went silent with Harris two months before the draft.

“Everyone is tracking visits and all this stuff. Last year, we selected a bunch of players that we had in here” for one of the 30 allowed pre-draft visits, Grier said. “Teams track that stuff and I know it is your job [in the media] to do that, and that is fine. It’s just there are some players that we purposely try and stay away from once we are comfortable with the player, his character and what type of kid we are getting. We just do not feel the need to spend any more time with them.”

Minnesota’s ‘game of chicken’
The Minnesota Vikings were surprised to see Florida State running back Dalvin Cook available on Day 2, according to ESPN NFL Nation reporter Jeremy Fowler. So they started calling every team picking ahead of them at No. 48 overall -- save the Green Bay Packers, who had the first pick of the second round. Intradivisional trading is considered blasphemous.

Minnesota figured the Philadelphia Eagles were a threat to move up for Cook, and at least one team told the Vikings it had trade interest brewing. Was that interest real or manufactured? The team on the other end usually doesn’t know.

“Game of chicken,” one NFL executive said.

The Vikings essentially could protect their interest in Cook because they didn’t have to tell potential trade partners whom they were picking. They just wanted a higher draft pick.

Eventually, the Cincinnati Bengalsobliged. Cincinnati dropped from No. 41 to No. 48 to take controversial Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon. The Lions, picking 53rd that round, were one of the few teams that had shown interest in Mixon during the draft process. So as long as the Bengals were ahead of Detroit, Mixon was theirs.

Keeping secrets, even in-house
In Seattle, offensive line coach Tom Cable may have more say on personnel than any other assistant on the Seahawks’ staff. Yet when the team drafted LSU offensive lineman Ethan Pocic in the second round, Pocic said he’d never spoken to Cable, according to ESPN Seahawks reporter Sheil Kapadia.

“We just wanted to be very careful with how much interest we showed,” general manager John Schneider said.

The Killebrew curveball
Miles Killebrew didn’t know how to react at the 2016 Senior Bowl when the Lions flat out told the safety, “We don’t want you at all.”

“I think I took it well because the coach told me he liked the way I handled it,” Killebrew said. “I was disappointed.”

It turns out the Lions were bluffing, according to ESPN Lions reporter Michael Rothstein. They were indeed interested in the safety and selected Killebrew with the No. 111 overall pick in the fourth round. Detroit was the last team Killebrew thought would draft him after the Senior Bowl encounter.

How Jeff Fisher became Mike Shanahan’s accomplice
Occasionally, it takes two teams and two head coaches to get in on the act. In 2006, former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan needed help from good friend and Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher to land quarterback Jay Cutler, according to ESPN Broncos writer Jeff Legwold.

Denver wanted Cutler but did everything it could to avoid showing interest. The Broncos did not work out the quarterback and never met Cutler face-to-face during the pre-draft process.

Shanahan had a secret accomplice in Fisher, who had the No. 3 overall pick that year and did a deep dive into all the top quarterbacks. Tennessee wasn’t interested in Cutler -- the Titans targeted and selected Vince Young -- so Fisher was willing to dish his Cutler intel to his longtime friend. Shanahan and Denver landed Cutler that year with the No. 11 pick in the first round.

The Eric Fisher story
Even with the No. 1 pick, the Kansas City Chiefs felt the need to deceive in the 2013 draft, according to ESPN NFL Nation reporter Nick Wagoner.

The Chiefs had no interest in drafting Geno Smith, but set up a private workout with the quarterback to give off the impression they were considering him. Kansas City also put word out through the media that the team was “fascinated” by Smith after his workout. Any other public discussion by the Chiefs involved offensive lineman Luke Joeckel.

But Kansas City surprised nearly everyone when it took Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher with the top pick. The Chiefs were not linked with Fisher by design.

In retrospect, the Chiefs were in a no-win situation with Fisher, Joeckel and Smith, who all failed to reach their potential at the NFL level.

Owner in the dark
Three years ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars kept their intentions to select quarterback Blake Bortles so tight that no one in the organization knew except general manager David Caldwell and former head coach Gus Bradley, according to ESPN Jaguars reporter Mike DiRocco.

Caldwell and Bradley told owner Shahid Khan the day before the 2014 draft that Bortles would be the selection at No. 3 overall, which was one of the surprise picks that year. To be fair, Caldwell and Bradley didn’t leak any smoke screens or false information. The two just kept their decision to themselves.

Charley Casserly’s fib
Finally, here is a personal story: Sometimes a general manager can outright lie to protect his intentions, which was the case in 2003 with former Houston Texans GM Charley Casserly.

I was covering minor league baseball in Columbus, Ohio, when I received a tip Houston was interested in drafting Drew Henson, who at the time was in the Yankees' farm system. Henson was a former quarterback at the University of Michigan who famously -- or infamously -- took Tom Brady’s starting job for the Wolverines.

Doing my due diligence, I made a call to the Texans to check on this, and in his loud and accented voice, Casserly told me, "I am not drafting Drew Henson! If you report that, you will be wrong!" I doubled back with my contact, who stood by Houston's interest. But Casserly's defiance was so strong that I chose not to report it.

Two weeks later, the Texans drafted Henson in the sixth round. They held his rights for a year, then traded Henson to the Dallas Cowboys for a third-round pick.

It was a smart move by Casserly, now an analyst for the NFL Network. Casserly and I often laugh about this draft smoke-screen story when we see each other, but I definitely wasn't laughing then.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/j...rom-nfl-to-join-fox-sports-as-a-game-analyst/

Jay Cutler retires from NFL to join Fox Sports as a game analyst

Jay Cutler, who played 11 NFL seasons with the Broncos and Bears, is no longer a free agent. He's joining Fox Sports to be part of the network's No. 2 broadcast team -- behind Joe Buck and Troy Aikman -- working alongside Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Peter Schrager of "Good Morning Football" first reported the news.

Here's Cutler's statement:

I don't know if retirement is the right word; I don't feel that anyone ever really retires from the NFL. You are either forced to leave, or you lose the desire to do what's required to keep going. I'm in between those situations at this point in my life.

Words can't express how grateful I am to everyone who helped me along the my journey. I started playing tackle football at the age of 10 and was so lucky to have supportive parents and great coaches along the way that made my path possible. If I listed each person individually, this would quickly turn into an essay, but you know who are and I wouldn't be in this situation without you. So thank you.

To my parents, my sisters, my wife and kids - thank you for putting your wants and needs on the back burner while I played a game every Friday, Saturday or Sunday. You made it all possible.

I recently read a quote that struck a cord with me at the time. It was attributed to Henry Rollins (but with the internet these day, you can never be too sure who really said it). 'I did that, I gave everything I had to give to that. Now, if I returned to that it would be repetition - it might be fun repetition, but it wouldn't be meaningful repetition.' Thank you to everyone along the way. You made my dream come true.

"We're thrilled to welcome Jay to the Fox Sports family," Fox president of production and executive producer John Entz said in a statement. "We're very excited about the potential he brings to the booth and are looking forward to hearing his analysis during what is sure to be another great season of the NFL on Fox."

As recently as last week, days before the 2017 NFL Draft, Cutler's agent sounded surprised by retirement rumors.

"He never has mentioned retirement to me," Bus Cook told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "Jay Cutler, as far as I know, is ready to play and wants to play, and his skill set is as good as any quarterback in the league."

The feeling wasn't mutual, apparently; when the Bears released Cutler in early March , the Jets appeared to be the only suitor -- accept they never came calling. And the Texans, another team desperately searching for a quarterback, traded up to take Deshaun Watson with the No. 12 pick last week. The Browns, perpetually in the quarterback market, also used the draft to fill that need (DeShone Kizer, second round), and the 49ers preferred Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley to Cutler.

It explains why Garafolo first reported a career in broadcasting could be in Cutler's immediate future . The decision comes a month after Tony Romo retired from the Cowboys to join CBS Sports as its lead NFL game analyst beginning with the 2017 NFL season.

Cutler, 33, played in just five games last season because of injury, but in 2015, he ranked ninth in value per play among all quarterbacks, according to Football Outsiders, which was better than Matthew Stafford and league MVP Cam Newton. But that was the anomaly for Cutler, who regularly put up replacement-level numbers during his Chicago career.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/r...shing-naming-rights-deal-for-new-l-a-stadium/

Rams reportedly seeking record-smashing naming rights deal

If any company out there is hoping to put its name on the Rams' new stadium in Los Angeles, they better run the plan by their accounting department first, because it's not going to be cheap.

As a matter of fact, if the Rams get their way, it will go down as the most expensive naming rights deal in NFL history.

According to the Sports Business Journal, the Rams are seeking a minimum of $30 million per year from any company that's willing to buy the naming rights at the team's new $2.7 billion palace in Inglewood, California.

Not only does the team want $30 million per year, but the Rams also want the deal to run for at least 20 years, which means any potential company looking to purchase the naming rights would have to commit a minimum of $600 million to the team.


The Rams want someone to pay $600 million for the naming rights to their new stadium. HKS Sports & Entertainment

SBJ also noted that the Rams are giving AT&T the first crack at the new stadium's naming rights. Apparently, the Rams are trying to take advantage of the fact that AT&T is trying to beef up its presence on the West Coast, and a $600 million deal would definitely be one way to do that for the telecom company.

To put the Rams' asking price in perspective, AT&T doesn't pay anywhere near $30 million for the naming rights to the Cowboys' stadium in Dallas. According to the New York Times, the company pays between $17 million and $19 million per year to have AT&T Stadium be the official name of Jerry World.

The upside for any company that might decide to drop the $600 million for the naming rights at the Rams' stadium is that their name will be everywhere. The new stadium is scheduled to host Super Bowl LV, and could also eventually host an NFL Draft. Not to mention, there will be two teams playing in the stadium, which means a home game -- and national television coverage -- pretty much every week.

The new stadium is also hoping to one day host the NFL combine and eventually become an off-site home for NFL Network.

The potential 20-year, $600 million deal would also blow out every other stadium naming rights deal that has ever been made in the NFL. The two most recent stadium naming rights deals in the NFL didn't even fetch $600 million combined.

In Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz is paying $324 million over 27 years ($12 million per year) for the naming rights to the Falcons' stadium, which is set to open this season. In Minnesota, U.S. Bank is paying $220 million over 25 years ($8.8 million per year) for naming rights to the Vikings' new stadium, which opened in 2016.

Those two markets don't compare to Los Angeles, though. A better comparison might be Levi's Stadium and MetLife Stadium. In Santa Clara, the 49ers received $220 million over 20 years ($11 million per year) for naming rights, while the Jets and Giants are getting roughly $17 million to $19 million per year from MetLife.

The situation with the Jets and Giants is probably the most comparable since it also involves a stadium being used by two teams.

Basically, if the Rams get what they're asking for, they would blow every other naming rights deal out of the water, and they would get a lot more than what they were going to get in St. Louis.

Before the Rams moved to Los Angeles, National Car Rental committed $158 million over 20 years ($7.9 million per year) for the naming rights on a potential new stadium in St. Louis.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...cted-to-miss-otas-after-having-wrist-surgery/


It looks like Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin will miss much of the team’s offseason work due to a wrist injury.

The Rams confirmed that Austin had arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist on Tuesday. The wideout is expected to miss the final phase of the team’s offseason program, which consists of 10 organized team activities that kick off on May 23. He is expected to be healthy in time for training camp.

Austin set career highs with 59 catches and 508 receiving yards last season and scored four touchdowns overall after signing a six-year extension with the team before the start of the season. New coach Sean McVay talked about taking advantage of Austin’s skills as a receiver and a runner shortly after being hired earlier this year.

“You look at some of the things that Tavon Austin does with the ball, both in the run game and when he’s able to catch it as a receiver,” McVay said, via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. “He’s a guy that you want to move all over the formation.”

Any on-field work with Austin will have to wait, but he’ll still be able to attend meetings until he’s healed enough to return to action.

_____________________________________

Hopefully this isn't a lingering injury all year, this must have been what his snap story was about....Mods if you want to merge I understand, I thought this deserved it's own thread