Rams own FAs & roster decisions & trade rumors (w/ a good post by db)

Rams salary-cap casualty? Andrew Whitworth knows the ‘nature of our business’

GARY KLEIN

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2021-03-07/andrew-whitworth-rams-jared-goff-free-agency

Three years ago, for a tour of still-under-construction SoFi Stadium, Rams players boarded buses that ferried them down a hill and onto a dusty surface that would eventually become the immaculate playing field.
Offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth, 36 at the time, exited a bus and marveled at the work in progress. Then he turned to Jared Goff, joking that he looked forward to sitting in the stands or a suite and watching the young quarterback play when the $5-billion stadium was completed.

Last Monday, standing in a stadium parking lot, Whitworth reflected on the tour.
“I never thought there’d be a chance in the world I would walk out the tunnel in this stadium,” he said.

Whitworth, a 15-year NFL veteran, is preparing for a possible fifth season with the Rams — his second playing in SoFi Stadium, site of next season’s Super Bowl. And for the first time since signing as a free agent with the Rams in 2017, Whitworth is on track to protect the blindside of an established quarterback other than Goff.

In January, two weeks after their NFC divisional-round playoff defeat by the Green Bay Packers, the Rams traded Goff and two first-round draft picks to the Detroit Lions for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. The deal will not become official until the new league year begins March 17.

Whitworth’s status for the 2021 season also is awaiting official determination. In March 2020, the four-time Pro Bowl selection signed a three-year, $30-million contract that included $12.5 million in guarantees, according to overthecap.com. Whitworth started nine games last season before suffering torn knee ligaments. He sat out the last seven games and returned for the playoffs. He carries a cap number of $11.2 million this season.

Revenue lost by NFL teams because of the COVID-19 pandemic will cause the salary cap to drop from $198 million in 2020 to no lower than $180 million this season, though a final figure has not been determined.

“The plan is to prepare myself to play and to plan to be back,” Whitworth, 39, said after speaking at a news conference to open the Los Angeles Unified School District’s COVID-19 vaccination site. “But obviously, I have no idea what’s going to happen with our salary-cap situation. … You go through the offseason, you make sure you check off all the things that are feeling good and doing great.

“So, it’s a longer process than probably saying, ‘Hey, I’m back.’ It means I’m committed to being back and that’s the plan. Obviously, there’s a lot of work between now and then that has to go into that on a lot of different facets.”
Rams general manager Les Snead said after last season that Whitworth was “a freak of nature” and that the Rams wanted him to return. “In terms of his production on the field, I haven’t seen any more drop off,” Snead said. “Again, like all these decisions, there’s variables to be discussed within that.”

The Rams made a major decision when they decided to part ways with Goff, the top pick in the 2016 draft. After Goff helped lead the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2018, they rewarded him with an extension that included $110 million in guarantees.

“I try to explain to me people that ask me around town, it’s like every August I show up I’m looking around the room like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s right this guy’s not here anymore. Oh, that’s right, he left in free agency.’”
But immediately after last season ended, coach Sean McVay cryptically said Goff was the Rams quarterback “right now.” Snead said he was the team’s quarterback “in this moment.”

Asked if players were surprised by the trade, Whitworth indicated there were clues. “After hearing some of the press conferences and understanding kind of where we stood as a team, and what things were being said, you knew that there’s obviously some things there where it’s an open door for whatever,” Whitworth said. “So, I mean, you’re more just shocked at the timing and how fast that whole thing came about and all of those type things.
“So, I think as players you’re shocked by it, but I think it’s less shocking to the players only because that’s the nature of what we do. I try to explain to people that ask me around town, it’s like every August I show up I’m looking around the room like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s right this guy’s not here anymore. Oh, that’s right, he left in free agency

“That’s the nature of our business. We’re used to a different face every year. So, when you play that last game, one of the reasons guys are usually so upset when that last game happens is they’re like, ‘Man, this group of guys, I probably won’t ever play with again. And that usually holds true. It’s pretty rare when it’s not.”

Whitworth said that he and Goff became close through the years and that they would remain so.
“I’ll be there supporting him and wishing him nothing but the best,” he said.

Stafford, 33, has played 12 NFL seasons since the Lions selected him with in 2009 with the No. 1 pick in the draft. Whitworth said he has known Stafford for a while. They met through Clint Boling, Whitworth’s former Cincinnati Bengals teammate who blocked for Stafford in college at Georgia.

“We all play golf,” Whitworth said. “So, I already knew Matt pretty well. I think that will be a pretty easy transition and, obviously, he’s a heck of a football player.” A new quarterback is not the only change for Rams. There are several new assistant coaches, including offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, who replaces Aaron Kromer.
“It’s what the Rams felt is best — and there’s a couple other things that have gone that way this offseason,” Whitworth said. “So, whatever they think is best is what they’re doing, and you’ve just got to do your best to be a part of it.”

Whitworth, nominated multiple times for the NFL’s Walter Payton man of the year award for his community and charitable work, has been at the forefront of several initiatives with the Rams and is regarded as a team leader. He said he feels “great” physically and is working to strengthen areas of his knee that might have been weakened by last season’s injury.

Last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the first team to win a Super Bowl in their home stadium. The Rams are aiming to duplicate the feat.

From the parking lot, with the massive stadium in view, Whitworth sounded optimistic.
“It will be really special to have the opportunity to play the season, being my 16th season, where I have the opportunity to turn 40 and also be a left tackle in the NFL, which is pretty rare,” Whitworth said. “So, there’s a lot of things on the horizon and, obviously, a lot of goals, so it gives us plenty to be excited about and to work toward.”

Michael Brockers is reportedly on the trade block. If the Rams deal him, what could they get in return?

Unfortunately, probably not much. Interior D-linemen haven’t fetched a lot of value in recent years https://t.co/D8mfnhmx3L

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) March 9, 2021

Why John Johnson, Leonard Floyd weren’t tagged: Rams free agency tracker, grades, news

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/2438737/2021/03/09/why-john-johnson-leonard-floyd-werent-tagged-rams-free-agency-tracker-grades-news/

The Rams already opened the offseason with a blockbuster trade agreement of their franchise quarterback, but as free agency draws closer, they opted out of using the franchise tag on a couple of key defensive starters.

As Tuesday’s franchise tag deadline passed, the Rams chose not to apply it to either John Johnson III, their starting safety in 2020, or outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who ranked second in sacks (10.5) last season. Only nine players received the tag this year; three safeties (Jets’ Marcus Maye, Saints’ Marcus Williams and Denver’s Justin Simmons), and no edge-rushers.

We knew, through our own previous reporting, that the tag was unlikely for any Rams player this spring — even less likely than the already-improbable scenario of a long-term extension for either. Tuesday, that became official.

The tag number for a safety is estimated to be around $10.5 million (as of the deadline, the actual salary cap had yet to be confirmed by the league, and tags are based in part on that valuation). Sure, the Rams felt that Johnson, especially last season, was a valuable member of their defense (he even called the signals for the top-ranked unit) — but as a part of their long-term financial plan, they simply do not invest in safeties outside of drafting and developing, or signing cheap veterans. Instead, higher-priority positions on defense are within the pass-rush, and at cornerback.

This is dictated, in part, by the way the league continues to move toward the passing game. Elite cornerbacks and pass-rushers become invaluable to counter that, and the Rams were particularly effective here in 2020, ranking first against the pass and in limiting explosive passing plays (and in total yards), while finishing second in sacks (53). The Rams have the bulk of their salary cap’s defensive allocations tied up in All-Pros Aaron Donald (DT) and Jalen Ramsey (CB), and will tender restricted free agent cornerback Darious Williams. Around Ramsey and Williams, the Rams’ strategy in the secondary has developed into the drafting of starting-caliber safeties in mid-to-late rounds (current depth includes Terrell Burgess, Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp and Nick Scott) and/or bringing in cheap veterans. They plug in extra cornerbacks in similar ways.

Because they have Donald, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year whose team-leading sack production and pressure rates often come from the interior, the Rams also get flexibility with how they can build their outside pass-rush. They have the ability to bring in outside linebackers on year-long, team-friendly and incentive-heavy deals that also are easy on their annual cap limitations. They seek out slightly under-the-radar players with good build, durability and upside as fits in their system — first, because they can get them on cheaper deals, and second, because of the Donald factor.

Donald draws so much attention from opposing blockers — who double-team him at a league-high 70 percent rate — that outside linebackers and other pass-rushers get an automatic single-block advantage on the majority of snaps.

Of course, Floyd breezed through his incentive clauses on a career season, and also proved to be an excellent addition against the run. For the Rams, Floyd may have extra leverage in understanding the lack of depth currently on the roster at outside linebacker. The three viable pass-rushers left, should Floyd depart in free agency, are Obo Okoronkwo (who has real potential but has also battled through a few injuries), third-year hybrid outside linebacker Justin Hollins (who was in a rotational role in 2020) and second-year rusher Terrell Lewis, who was sidelined by recurring knee issues during an otherwise very productive rookie season. And, Floyd has proof of production — plus is a fit for the style of pass-rusher new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris likes.

The Rams’ own leverage may come from real-world examples of players who left on longer deals elsewhere after a standout season. Outside linebacker Dante Fowler was replaced by Floyd when the former signed a three-year deal in Atlanta, but recorded just three sacks in 2020 and may even become a cap casualty. If they can’t re-sign Floyd, they’ll be in the mix for several of the many intriguing outside linebackers who are preparing to hit free agency — such as Romeo Okwara, Trey Hendrickson, Justin Houston and maybe even Haason Reddick, depending on how competitive that position gets.

Floyd is No. 18 in The Athletic’s free agent rankings this offseason, while Johnson is No. 23.

All through free agency, I’ll be providing analysis and grades for the moves the Rams do — or don’t — make via this tracker:

Not using the tag

There’s a difference here between “not retaining valuable players” (which always stinks) and “not using the tag”, the latter of which is a smart move by the Rams — not least because they simply cannot be investing a hard $10 million or more on their non-core positions. Tag money can’t be restructured on any sort of back end to ease the pressure in 2021, and the Rams (who are $20 million to $30 million over the cap) will be in the restructure/relief business as the new league year begins.

Would a tag-and-trade have worked? Perhaps, but some league insiders believe that teams may be holding on tighter to inherited, non-financial capital (like draft picks) in a year in which just about everybody is in debt. The Rams need draft picks — and didn’t have much leverage in a trade for a player like Johnson. Why would a team offer high draft picks if they didn’t have to, knowing that the Rams couldn’t, and wouldn’t, want to keep Johnson’s tag number on their books?

Both players will undoubtedly draw interest in free agency from teams who are now coached or run by former Rams personnel. Brad Holmes, who helped draft Johnson in the third round in 2017, is now the general manager in Detroit (and he’s got former Rams director of pro personnel Ray Agnew in the front office with him, too). Aubrey Pleasant, who formerly coached the Rams’ cornerbacks, is now the Lions’ secondary coach. Former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is now the head coach of the Chargers. Staley placed Johnson in his leadership role on the Rams’ defense, and raved about his communication abilities. A new head coach always tries to bring in one or two of “his guys” in his first few years, to communicate his system and his culture to the rest of the locker room. The Chargers will likely at least have a conversation with Floyd, too — the outside linebacker followed Staley from the Bears to the Rams in hopes of reviving his career (it worked!).

After the season he had, Floyd may be looking for as much as $12 million-$13 million per year. Over the Cap has him valued at $11.5 million per year, and the projected tag number for his position would even be well over that, at $17.8 million.

The safety market is notoriously and annually fickle, but one league source postulated that Johnson’s market could even get as high as $14 million per year — a sum the Rams certainly would not pay — and of course, much higher than the projected tag.

Yet for both players, my sense is that if the free agency market becomes too clogged for such deals as it floods with cuts and tough-decision free agents from cap-strained teams across the league, and then bottoms out, the Rams would be able to re-sign one or both on a short-term deal … well under the tag value.

Relevant for Darious Williams unless they come to a long term agreement 👇🏼 https://t.co/5AcOVkazgq

— Los Angeles Rams UK (@LARams_UK) March 12, 2021

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
NOT surprising to hear more reports about Rams trying to re-sign Leonard Floyd. As previously said many times, they know his production potential/durability, vs. paying guy who projects as “unknown”. Either way, knowing IF you can sign or not sets up the rest of the spreadsheet.

I don’t know whether they will be able to (we will find out soon) but when there is not a ton of extra money and you think you’re close to winning bigger, feels like Rams would go to the player at the high-priority position who is a proven entity in their system (or at least try)

In my opinion, Blythe/center is another priority but he may want to try to test his market out. Felt like Snead was trying to sell to him the other day. They do not want to have to start a rookie for Stafford.