That’s pretty cool. So that happened on Facebook? Or in twitter?

Zooey wrote:

Everything else is gravy/insurance.

I think they need another pass-rushing DT.

History demonstrates conclusively that 2 are never enough.

Assessing the Rams’ top free agents and whether they factor into 2024

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/5252700/2024/02/06/los-angeles-rams-unrestricted-free-agents-priority/?source=emp_shared_article

Let’s have the same conversation the Los Angeles Rams front office and coaching staff are having, shall we?

As the offseason begins, the Rams will ascertain priority free agents and whether they can be feasibly re-signed — or whether they fit into the team’s roster-building strategy in general. Additional variables to consider include compensatory picks received for departing players and the Rams’ resources. They will have around $40 million in workable cap space, a number that will fluctuate throughout the spring (and the Rams always set aside about $10 million for draft picks).

General manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay have both indicated in recent weeks that the Rams could lean on a disciplined approach at least through the first wave of free agency. That will start in-house, where some free agents could get extended — but may not, depending on how competitive their markets are.

Here are the top free agents, and whether the Rams should, could or can re-sign them:

Kevin Dotson, RG

Dotson, for whom the Rams traded in August, quickly became a part of one of the strongest interior offensive line tandems in the NFL alongside rookie left guard Steve Avila. He will likely have a competitive first voyage into free agency.

Snead has publicly acknowledged the team’s desire to extend Dotson, but also the realities of his potential options. Because they have a first-round pick (that could become multiple high second-round picks, knowing Snead’s history) they may not be willing to get into a lengthy negotiation with Dotson and a team with more resources.

“I would bet that he’ll definitely have a marketplace, for sure, people are gonna want him to come play football for them — we’re one of those teams,” Snead said last month, adding that the process could take some time. “But I can say, too, agents will call (and) we’ll start engineering and designing kind of a blueprint, more of a timeline of communication so that each step of the way they know where we stand.”

Continuing to invest in their offensive line, whether via an extension for Dotson, elsewhere in free agency or the draft or all of the above, should be a priority for the Rams into 2024.

Coleman Shelton*, C
A point of clarity on Shelton: He is not yet technically an unrestricted free agent, though could become one if he decides to void the last year in his contract. He has until late February to decide, shortly before the new league year begins. If he declines to void 2024, he will have one year left on his deal.

Shelton, a former undrafted free agent, became the Rams’ full-time starter at center through the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Ahkello Witherspoon, CB

Witherspoon took a chance on himself with a low-cost, one-year deal in free agency last summer. It could pay off because of his play throughout 2023 (though he suffered slightly from a groin injury late in the year). Cornerback is a position that the Rams often look at in their compensatory pick calculation because the nature of the position often commands a higher salary.

Witherspoon led the Rams with three interceptions and ranked No. 9 in the NFL in pass breakups with 14. He also recovered two fumbles.

The Rams are thin at reliable cornerback despite investing in the draft two years ago. Witherspoon was their most consistent player (and their only corner above 6 feet). They’ll need to add here in the spring, whether via free agency, trade or the draft.

Demarcus Robinson, WR

After the Rams’ Week 10 bye, and in partnership with a healthy Matthew Stafford, Robinson broke out with 356 yards and four touchdowns. The veteran receiver became the Rams’ No. 3 option, in tandem with third-year receiver Tutu Atwell. Robinson could quietly be an achievable signing for the Rams later in free agency if he’s available for a lower-cost deal. The coaching staff internally praised his fit in the offense by the end of the season as well as his infectious energy with teammates.

The Rams will also need to focus some attention on the draft to continue supplementing this position, regardless of whether Robinson is extended.

Jordan Fuller, S

Fuller, a sixth-round draft pick in 2020, quickly secured a starting role as a rookie that only was derailed when he suffered from significant ankle and hamstring injuries at the end of 2021 and into 2022. In fact, Fuller earned a pay escalator on the final year of his contract because he had played so many snaps as a late-round rookie. He was also a team captain in two of his four seasons in Los Angeles. The problem? The Rams do not usually extend safeties, preferring instead to draft in the middle to later rounds and develop players at that position. Undoubtedly new defensive coordinator Chris Shula, who helped identify and then coached Fuller, would like to keep him around. But Fuller could have a competitive free agency between now-Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley (Fuller played for him at Ohio State) or even the Detroit Lions, whose GM Brad Holmes was a key voice in drafting him in Los Angeles. The Rams are not likely to be financially competitive at this position, though have previously entertained extensions for safeties if they are close to the minimum (Fuller can likely get more elsewhere).

Carson Wentz, QB

I have Wentz listed not because he’d necessarily be a priority for the Rams but because their backup quarterback position remains a question into 2024, without certainty that fourth-round draft pick Stetson Bennett will return from the non-football/illness list. Wentz, 31, would be a reliable backup and played well in a Week 18 win at San Francisco.

Let’s understand, though, that a quarterback with Wentz’s experience could want to try to start somewhere and there is precedent, after Baker Mayfield’s blueprint of a “quarterback reset” in Tampa Bay following his brief time in Los Angeles in 2022. Even if the Rams want to retain Wentz, it might be out of their hands. Time will tell. Regardless, they need to solidify Stafford’s backup.

Last month, they signed quarterback Dresser Winn to a reserve/futures contract.

Brett Maher, K

I wouldn’t call Maher specifically a priority free agent for the Rams, but his placement here is symbolic of a real need to figure out their kicker in 2024 after a disastrous 2023 season in which they went through five different kickers (Maher twice) and left 38 points on the board due to missed field goals and extra points. If Maher can be that player, great! They also signed kicker Tanner Brown, who was with them in OTAs, to a reserve/futures contract in January.

Notes

Starting left tackle Alaric Jackson, outside linebacker/defensive lineman Michael Hoecht, inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom, receiver Tyler Johnson and defensive lineman Jonah Williams are all restricted free agents, which means the Rams could issue a contract tender instead of an extension. Receiver/return specialist Austin Trammell and running back Ronnie Rivers are exclusive rights free agents.

Others: Running back Royce Freeman, safety John Johnson III, tight end Brycen Hopkins, offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum, defensive ends Earnest Brown IV and Larrell Murchison, cornerback Duke Shelley, long snapper Carson Tinker and inside linebacker Troy Reeder are also free agents.

InvaderRam wrote:

gotta pick the best player available for me. if it happens to be tackle you do it. if you can get a potential franchise left tackle you do not pass on that. jackson is not that. although honestly at this point i’m in favor of trading down. there’s so many prospects better to get extra picks and target as many positions as you can. the guy from yale i mentioned is definitely not a first round pick. and since he can’t test in the preseason due to injury he might even be available in the third round. trade down and just accumulate more picks.

Okay that clarifies it, though I think I am generally more positive about Jackson than you are.

Billy_T wrote:

My latest mock draft.

Thanks for that though personally, I’m not up enough on this draft to be able to say much.

I do have a question. I’ve heard that this is an unusually loaded draft. Have you hear that?