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znModeratorRams roster needs: Which players might they target in free agency and the draft?
Gary Klein
No more rebuild, remodel, reframe or however the Rams defined their frugal 2023 spending approach.
After achieving an unexpected 10-7 record and earning a playoff appearance, the Rams in the upcoming season will be regarded by some as potential Super Bowl contenders.
And they are flush with salary-cap space to build the roster.
Last week, the salary cap was set at $255.4 million, an increase of more than $30 million from 2023. The Rams currently have about $40 million in cap space, according to overthecap.com.
The NFL scouting combine begins Monday in Indianapolis, free agency opens in March and the draft will be held April 25-27 in Detroit.
Coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead, for the third year in a row, will be absent from the combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Instead, McVay, Snead and pro and college scouting personnel will review game video, and video from the combine, workouts, pro-day workouts on college campuses and in-person workouts.
It’s a predraft approach that works for the Rams.
Last year, they netted receiver Puka Nacua, guard Steve Avila, nose tackle Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young, all of whom played significant roles.
The Rams hold the No. 19 pick in the draft, but there is no guarantee Snead will make a first-round pick for the first time since 2016. History suggests he will trade back for more picks.
The Rams also have a pick in the second, third, fifth and sixth rounds. They will be awarded a compensation pick for Raheem Morris’ departure to become coach of the Atlanta Falcons, and they are expected to receive compensation picks for the free-agent departures of Baker Mayfield and Matt Gay, and possibly Nick Scott and A’Shawn Robinson.
Here are five questions facing the Rams as they prepare for free agency and the draft:
Should the Rams invest long term in a star edge rusher?
Dante Fowler Jr. Leonard Floyd. Von Miller.
They all played for the Rams, but the team under McVay has not signed a marquee edge rusher to a long-term deal. The philosophy has worked — the Rams made Super Bowl appearances to cap the 2018 and 2021 seasons — but adding a proven player to complement star tackle Aaron Donald and the emerging Young could help new defensive coordinator Chris Shula make his mark.
The Michael Hoecht experiment at outside linebacker in 2023 did not pan out, so the Rams might be poised to make a move.
The Rams reportedly flirted in the past with the Carolina Panthers about Brian Burns, and now the 25-year-old is a free agent. So is Jacksonville Jaguars star Josh Allen (26), the New York Jets’ Bryce Huff (25) and and the San Francisco 49ers’ Chase Young (24).
Do the Rams require a lockdown cornerback to be a serious contender?
In 2018, the Rams made a Super Bowl run with cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. In 2021, star cornerback Jalen Ramsey led the secondary.
Last season, the Rams attempted to get by with Ahkello Witherspoon, who played on a veteran-minimum contract, and second-year pros Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant.
Ramsey’s former Miami Dolphins teammate Xavien Howard, 30, was released last week. He joins a free-agent class that includes Jaylon Johnson, L’Jarius Sneed. Kendall Fuller, Chidobe Awuzie and Stephon Gilmore.
Is now the time to address the quarterback of the future?
Matthew Stafford, 36, cannot go on forever — though he is signed through 2026 and, based on his 2023 season, there is no reason to anticipate a dropoff in performance.
The Rams thought that they found Stafford’s backup and possible successor when they drafted Stetson Bennett in the fourth round last year. But the former Georgia star spent his rookie season on the nonfootball injury/illness list for an undisclosed issue. His future with the team is uncertain.
Will Snead trade for, sign or draft another quarterback?
With the Rams picking at No. 19, USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye appear out of reach. But Snead has proved — see Jared Goff in 2016 — he is capable of engineering historic draft feats.
Louisiana State’s Jayden Daniels, Oregon’s Bo Nix, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Washington’s Michael Penix are other prospects that could learn and develop behind Stafford.
Are the Rams willing to pay a premium for an interior offensive lineman?
On the eve of last season, the Rams’ traded two midround draft picks to the Pittsburgh Steelers for guard Kevin Dotson.
It turned out to be a huge coup for the Rams.
Dotson started 14 games at right guard and is now regarded as perhaps the top free agent at his position, putting him in line to cash in.
Dotson said near the end of last season that he would love to stay with the Rams, but the Rams under McVay have never paid a premium for a guard. With Avila’s success as a rookie on the left side, the Rams could opt to repeat the success on the right through the draft.
Left tackle is another position of intrigue.
Alaric Jackson, who beat out Joe Noteboom and started 15 games, is a restricted free agent. The Rams can tender an offer to Jackson and will have the right of first refusal if he receives offers from other teams. The versatile Noteboom, carrying a salary-cap number of $20 million, is a candidate for a restructured contract or, possibly, a release.
Can the Rams find a current and/or future replacement for tight end Tyler Higbee?
Higbee, 31, suffered a major knee injury in the Rams’ wild-card playoff loss to the Detroit Lions.
The eight-year veteran is expected to work his way back, but it remains to be seen how soon a player who will carry a $12.1 million salary-cap number can be at full strength.
Davis Allen, a 2023 fifth-round pick from Clemson, showed promise as a rookie. The Rams are not expected to re-sign Brycen Hopkins.
Dalton Schultz, Hunter Henry, Noah Fant and former Ram Gerald Everett are among available free agents.
znModeratorPlayers with voiding contracts become free agents when the new league year begins on March 13, like other players with expiring contracts. Re-signings can take place at any time. https://t.co/HN6XB7Z9Xg
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) February 26, 2024
znModeratorAaron Bushnell: US airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington
link https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68405119
…
Before setting himself alight in what he called an “extreme act of protest”, he said he would “no longer be complicit in genocide”.
znModeratorThe only coordinator opening… https://t.co/riAo7RZpa1
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2024
znModeratorThe Rams need edge rushers. Can they find answers in the 2024 Draft?
Which guys to watch at the NFL Combine who can add some exhilaration to the Rams pass rush?@Rams_LAFB | #RamsHousehttps://t.co/tOyy36JU0M
— LA Football Network (@LAFBNetwork) February 26, 2024
znModeratorWhy not the active leading in game-winning drives? https://t.co/YjOxmuJg61 pic.twitter.com/7RI77spYRu
— SeattleRams (@seattlerams_nfl) February 26, 2024
znModerator[quote quote=149504]The NFL informed teams today that the 2024 salary cap will be $255.4M, per @jjones9. That’s a huge $30.6M increase from last year. … Me: that should give the Rams about 42 M.
Or more like 46 M.
FEB 23 CAP RISING According to a release from the NFL, the league salary cap is set to see an unprecedented increase for the 2024 season. The change will increase the cap to $255.4 million and give teams $30 million more this offseason.
“The unprecedented $30 million increase per club in this year’s salary cap is the result of the full repayment of all amounts advanced by the clubs and deferred by the players during the Covid pandemic, as well as an extraordinary increase in media revenue for the 2024 season,” the NFL said in the statement.
As a result of the increase, the Rams will have approximately $46 million in total cap space.
In other words, the Rams will have more flexibility to bring back an impact player they otherwise could have lost like Kevin Dotson, or sign an impact free agent like Brian Burns or Danielle Hunter.
znModeratorJourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue The Rams are hiring Sean Desai, a source said (@JFowlerESPN initially reported), in what was described to me as a multi-faceted role that will work with the offense/offensive coaches from a defensive perspective. Rams have quietly staffed a job like this for a couple years.
It’s the Jimmy Lake spot. Lake of course went with Morris to Atlanta.
Desai has Fangio roots. Fangio was the DC in Chicago for 4 of the years Desai was a defensive coach there (2015-18). He overlapped with Staley there for 2 years. In fact Fangio replaced him as the DC in Philadelphia.
Whatever it is the Rams had Lake doing in 2023, it revived his career. Same could happen with Desai. He’s at least knowledgable of the Fangio system, which is what Shula inherits from Morris, who inherited it from Staley. I don’t know how close Shula will stick to that system, but Desai could be a resource, along with the other things he’ll be doing in his new role with the Rams.
Desai actually has a PhD, fwiw. From Temple. He was a coaching assistant for the Temple football team while being a grad student. In 2010 he chose coaching over entering academia. That year he turned down a full-time professorship at George Washington University to stay at Temple as a linebacker coach and special teams coordinator.
In lots of ways, he sounds a lot like Lake. Bright guy, varied background, hit a rough patch, Rams then hired him to be whatever it was Lake was with the Rams. Desai takes that role whatever it is.
znModeratorCam Newton gets jumped by 6 guys…and handles it.
…
https://t.co/5150ZXqgJY pic.twitter.com/fq22pN4IW8
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) February 25, 2024
znModeratorNumber of QBs who handled at least 95% of his team's dropbacks over the last 12 NFL seasons:
2012 – 19
2013 – 16
2014 – 15
2015 – 15
2016 – 14
2017 – 14
2018 – 15
2019 – 13
2020 – 12
*move to 17-game season*
2021 – 11
2022 – 10
2023 – 8— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) February 25, 2024
znModeratorDon’t know if this is true…
But if anyone knows Zach Wilson it’s former Jets/current #Rams OC Mike LaFleur and his input on Wilson would go along way in working out a trade….
Wilson with an Offensive minded coach like Mcvay 🤔 https://t.co/UxxsF7ASZN
— 𝚂𝚕𝚢 ™️ (@ThinkBlue47) February 25, 2024
znModeratorJourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue The Rams are hiring Sean Desai, a source said (@JFowlerESPN initially reported), in what was described to me as a multi-faceted role that will work with the offense/offensive coaches from a defensive perspective. Rams have quietly staffed a job like this for a couple years.
Me: the last guy who did this was Jimmy Lake. Morris took Lake with him to Atlanta. Here’s how Lake described his job with the Rams, a job that it looks like Desai will now take over:
When he came to L.A. last offseason, Lake had been fired as head coach of the Washington Huskies a year earlier after a plethora of issues on and off the field. By all accounts, it was a low point in Lake’s long coaching career.
Enter the Rams and coach Sean McVay, who offered Lake a job as an assistant head coach for the 2023 season. Normally a defensive coach, Lake found himself working on offense for the first time ever.
The experience not only helped him grow as a coach but on a personal level as well. So much so that when Raheem Morris left to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Lake was his first choice as defensive coordinator.
During his introductory press conference with the Falcons on Wednesday, Lake was asked what he learned coaching alongside McVay in 2023. In response, Lake opened up about what the Rams coach meant to him in just that one season.
“Such a growth experience for me, and if you had to boil it down to one thing, it was his leadership through the ups and downs of the season, and the way Sean handled that. We had an extremely young team. His leadership through the OTAs, through the offseason program, his leadership through our three-game losing streak never wavered. He stayed the same.
“You lose three games going into the bye week. We could have easily went the other way, but then we ended up going 7-1 after the bye, and it was really because of Sean’s leadership and how he displayed that in front of the team. He never wavered.”
znModeratorBlaine Grisak @bgrisakTSTthe Rams are adding former Eagles defensive coordinator, Sean Desai to their staff in a Senior Role.…The 40-year-old Desai was with the Bears from 2013-2021, serving as defensive coordinator in his final year with the team. He was let go after that season and hired by Carroll to be an associate head coach and have a role on defense under former Chicago colleague Clint Hurtt. The team lost Desai after the season when Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni made him the new defensive coordinator to replace Jonathan Gannon after he left for the Arizona Cardinals and when Philadelphia was unable to retain Fangio because they thought Gannon was staying, giving Fangio enough time to be hired by the Dolphins..Desai also spent two years overlapped with former Rams DC Brandon Staley when the two worked for Fangio in Chicago…Rams Fans United@RamsFansUnitedWorth noting, Eagles defense got a lot worse without Desai calling it……Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
The Rams are hiring Sean Desai, a source said (@JFowlerESPN initially reported), in what was described to me as a multi-faceted role that will work with the offense/offensive coaches from a defensive perspective. Rams have quietly staffed a job like this for a couple years.I imagine he will still help out with the defense where needed/asked but this is similar in responsibility to what Lake did – pretty cool job, objectively speaking
znModeratorNo. 12: Danielle Hunter
Hunter has been a revelation in new defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme, though he was just as productive in 2022. Teams that run a 3-4 or 4-3 could probably find a way to effectively deploy Hunter, and injury concerns of a few years ago seem like distant memories. He is on pace for another season with 900-plus snaps, 70-plus quarterback pressures and double-digit sacks.
Contract Projection: Three years, $65 million ($21.67 million per year), $40 million total guaranteed
znModeratorYou know what to do next @RamsNFL pic.twitter.com/0iBuuCrYsn
— Rams Tapes 🥶 (@RamsTapes) February 24, 2024
znModeratorThis thread digressed into some fantastic–and faaaaar from inappropriate–humor. 😎
But in the midst of that, something was said that was true. It really is the case that some analysts said during the season that Nacua needs to work on his route running.
Which we all know he will.
So imagine him when he does step up his game in 2024. 😲
znModeratorThat’s just unacceptable and reflects a lack of commitment and work ethic.
Well yeah, that’s the problem. I mean I’m not racist or anything, but…Samoans. You know. Too laid back. No ambition.
So even when he did break tackles, it was just to run into the next one.
In every single respect, the opposite of Atwell.
znModeratoran improved Puka Nacua (is that even possible?).
Well he did lead the league in drops. And I saw break downs of his play where analysts pointed out that he wasn’t an accomplished route runner in 23 (he often telegraphed routes and would slow down going into hard cuts). So yes you would think he could improve if he works on things in the off-season and in camp.
znModeratorRAMZILLA@elitsterRemember, Demarcus Robinson didn’t have a full offseason with Stafford, McVay in 23’. He was fighting for a roster spot after being signed June 12. Quickly became apparent he was a huge upgrade over the WR traded to ATL. What can he do in this offense with a full offseason of work?znModeratorRanking all 32 NFL Head Coaches:
1. Chiefs: Andy Reid
2. Rams: Sean McVay
3. Ravens: John Harbaugh
4. 49ers: Kyle Shanahan
5. Texans: DeMeco Ryans
6. Chargers: Jim Harbaugh
7. Bengals: Zac Taylor
8. Packers: Matt LaFleur
9. Browns: Kevin Stefanski
10. Steelers: Mike Tomlin
11.… pic.twitter.com/37jbGpHcTX— John Frascella (Football) (@LegendSports7) February 23, 2024
znModeratorMike Garafolo@MikeGarafoloMentioned the effect of the salary cap bump on free agency but it extends beyond that to extensions this offseason for the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, etc. Their agents’ expectations surely just went up, oh I don’t know, about 13%.…Me: in other words, when the cap goes up, so do free agency contract numbers.znModeratorRestricted free agent tender numbers are also now set for 2024: pic.twitter.com/ne5eoyMh8c
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 23, 2024
znModeratorWELCOME BACK @DEMARCUS ROBINSON‼️ pic.twitter.com/YsBYx8L3vw
— Rams Tapes 🥶 (@RamsTapes) February 23, 2024
znModeratorBlaine Grisak@bgrisakTSTAmong players with at least 35 targets last season, DeMarcus Robinson ranked 10th with a passer rating of 120.8 when targeted. Stafford—>Robinson had the 8th highest success rate in 2023. Led all Rams WRs in ESPN Open Score.znModeratorGood move! Robinson averaged 60 yards per game over the last 6 contests, including 4 TDs. Many of his catches came in clutch moments.
In the Rams playoff push, Stafford clearly gained a lot of trust in the veteran receiver. Glad to see DRob back for the next championship run! https://t.co/58yCUhoIJ8 pic.twitter.com/4BJ8CCfmAg
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) February 24, 2024
znModeratorJourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigueThe Rams tendered ERFA Ronnie Rivers, who emerged as a solid complementary RB to lead rusher Kyren Williams last season and is also a contributor on special teams.znModeratorJudy Battista@judybattistaMassive $30 million leap in the salary cap to $255.4 million per team is unprecedented jump; came as a result of the full repayment of money advanced to the teams and deferred by players during the pandemic, plus huge increase in media revenue, the league announced.…
from https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2024/2/23/24081380/rams-free-agency-nfl-salary-cap-increase-les-snead
With the increase, according to OverTheCap, the Rams are set to have $41.3M in effective cap space heading into free agency. This is before any contract restructures or other potential cap casualties. Los Angeles should have plenty of money to spend during free agency and replenish talent on their roster.
znModeratorGary Klein@LATimeskleinThe Rams will “connect with” QB Stetson Bennett “at the appropriate time,” Sean McVay said. “And you figure out, ‘All right, where are you at?’ And is this something we feel like is best for him and our football team to bring him back into this ecosystem.”znModeratorAri Meirov@MySportsUpdateBREAKING: The NFL informed teams today that the 2024 salary cap will be $255.4M, per @jjones9. That’s a huge $30.6M increase from last year.…Me: that should give the Rams about 42 M.February 23, 2024 at 12:07 pm in reply to: “the draft” thread … ie. not “the Rams draft” thread … #149502znModeratorThis is the most accurate take on evaluating quarterbacks nowadays (including the Stroud play his rookie season) that you will read.
A HUGE chunk of Caleb's throws come off-schedule, a huge chunk of many passing concepts are not translatable. Projections are MUCH tougher now. https://t.co/Z29sei8AoU
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) February 23, 2024
That’s who I’m watching now also… and Williams, so talented, concepts get no one open, OL bad so running for his life, then when things are open he plays too fast or doesn’t see things, so how do you evaluate? Do you just say “gifted thrower” & hope it all translates when things…
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) February 23, 2024
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