rebuilding the defense

They quite possibly COULD walk away from Peters, Joyner, and Barron. Maybe even Brockers (though I think Brockers is playing hurt, who knows). This is a hypothetical scenario where they walk away from those 3 and of course Suh too.

In terms of the cap, that’s

Peters 9 M
Barron 9.6 M
Brockers 10 M

+ 37 M in already existing cap space. All 3 combined + that cap space = just over 65 M in cap space

Replacements?

* Some guys on the roster already (Kiser? a DB? Littlefield moves to Barron’s spot? Franklin-Myers?)

* First 3 draft picks. They need a corner, a DT, an edge rusher. Rams have a 1st rounder and 2 3rd rounders and are golden with 3rd rounders. I would think they would draft a corner or 2.

* free agency for OL, maybe DL. Don’t even need stars. Just solid consistent guys.

If they did it this way they would be keeping at least Talib, Johnson, Fowler, Littlefield, and Donald. If they have even 1 or 2 new starters on the roster already, that means replacing 4 or 5 players with 3 draft picks and some free agency money.

That’s fewer replacements than in 2001.

In 2001, with a complete defensive make-over, they added 7 new starters–as both promoted insiders and new acquisitions–including Ahonotu, Young, Zgonina, Fields, Polley, Herring, and Archuleta. In the end the 2001 defense was ranked 3rd in yards and 7th in points after being 23rd in yards and 31st in points the year before.

If they went whole-hog defensive rebuild in 2019, they’re adding 4-5 new starters at most, not 7, with maybe 1 or 2 already on the roster. Plus unlike 2001, in 2019 they have a star to build around ( He Who Does Not Need To Be Named.)