After the trade–next steps

The trade has changed my thinking. Above all, it has changed my thinking on the FO. All signs pointed toward them maintaining the status quo. Now, we see that they are willing to be proactive. I am starting to dare to imagine that they really will act decisively to improve the offense in structural ways.

OK. We all know what we need on offense: QB, OL, and WR. Until this morning, I figured that our OL challenges were so severe that we had to draft OL at #10. This was in large part because we had multiple holes on the OL and very limited cap space.

But, the situation is now changed. The cap space changes the OL situation dramatically. We now have $ to sign multiple OL. We can afford to re-sign Joe B. if we wish AND bring in a couple of solid vet FAs. Now, apparently, the draft has some depth on the OL. Between FA and the draft, it is now clear that we would have a decent shot at shoring up that unit effectively … without necessarily picking a top OL at #10.

SO, if we don’t go OL at #10, that leaves QB and WR. Let’s touch briefly on WR. IF we re-sign Britt, we should be functional at the position. It’s a group that could stand an upgrade, but I think most of us would agree that our WRs were limited last year largely by ineffective QBs. And although WRs and QBs need each other, I think it’s clear that acquisition priority needs to lie with the QB over WRs. I feel the team needs to establish a clear, quality QB more than it needs to grab a #1 WR.

Which brings us back, as the league always does, to the QB position. How does the Foles/Sam trade change our prospects and draft position?

As far as I can tell, Foles gives us a shot at quality QB play. But nowhere near a promise. He may be a bust, or a starter with a low ceiling. The good news is that he is cheap and, basically, a one-year commitment. He’s a guy that offers a good shot at season-long health with an experienced starter, but perhaps not much better.

OK, that’s not necessarily a bad thing IF the team is looking beyond Foles. And, I am beginning to have a bit more faith that they are. Think about the lame duck issue. They need to get through this year, and then, presumably, be set for a good start in Pasadena in ’16. They may well be seeing Foles as a transition who might be better than that, but who is not to be trusted as the actual long term answer.

Which leaves the draft. Foles could be perfect as cover for developing a young QB. And I tend to suspect that that’s what Snead is thinking about. I am wondering whether Foles is the set-up for a QB draft. Spend the cap money on the OL to allow us to draft OL in later rounds–where one can often find solid talent anyway–and draft a QB at #10.

Now, I am not speculating about a big move for Winston or Mariota. Those moves would be enormously expensive in terms of picks. Having fleeced WASH for RGIII and reaped the harvest, I don’t think Snead wants to put himself on the other side of that equation.

And the great thing is that we have a good chance of having Grayson or Hundley or both available at #10. From what I read and see, both are good prospects for development under the cover of a solid starter.

So, to me, a clear path opens up for us. Spend Cap money on FA OL. Draft Grayson or Hundley. Then draft more OL in later rounds. Let Foley compete with and provide cover for the rookie.

That sounds like a good way to go, to me.

BTW, the R A podcast guys have a good piece looking at the 2nd tier QBs in the draft as well as a discussion of Weinke’s potential impact: http://www.ramsaddiction.com/rapod91. They rate Grayson and Hundley pretty highly. They say Hundley’s upside is similar to Mariota’s but that his downside is much lower. They then discuss Weinke’s experience preparing QBs for the league, and wonder if he couldn’t really help Hundley fulfill his high proposal.

In the end, I am more hopeful than I have been in a while. I am sad to see Sam go. But I love to see the FO being decisive and proactive, and I sense the opening of a path to structural improvement. Of course, it will all depend on the actual acquisitions–FA and draft–but the path is opening up, and I like the flexibility we have going forward.