from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2023/05/11/rams-aaron-donald-underdog-quote-offseason/?taid=645d9db2c5b182000124435b&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

[Donald’s] embracing the Rams’ role as underdogs, not feeling much external pressure from those high expectations.

“I kinda like it. It’s like starting all over again from scratch,” Donald said this week. “We ain’t the team that’s talked about. It’s kind of like the little underdogs. You just get to work and just play. You ain’t got to worry about too much other stuff. You just get to play at a high level and just fly around and then wherever the chips may fall. Obviously, the media and everything will be talking how they want to talk. As long as we do our job and do what we need to do, we’re going to be in good position and be the type of team we want to be.”

Rams’ Aaron Donald did ‘not really’ consider retiring amid offseason speculation on future

By Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/4507172/2023/05/10/aaron-donald-rams-future-comments/?source=nfltw

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Los Angeles Rams superstar defensive lineman Aaron Donald did “not really” consider retiring this offseason amid speculation about his future in football.

“You never want to end your career the way it was last year,” Donald said Wednesday, speaking publicly for the first time since a high ankle sprain ended his season last November.
“It never really crossed my mind.”

After going 5-12 last year, the Rams have overhauled much of their defensive roster, leaving Donald and only a few others in starting roles with any meaningful game experience. In the process, they parted ways with stars Jalen Ramsey, Bobby Wagner and Leonard Floyd — leaving intact only the three players they gave new contracts to in the spring of 2022: Donald, quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp.

“That’s part of football,” Donald said. “I can’t control that, obviously. I made a commitment to this organization to do everything I can to do my part. It’s different than what we’ve seen in the past — a lot of young guys are going to have to step up and have to be a huge part to helping us have success.”

Donald, 31, suffered the high ankle sprain during the Rams’ Week 12 game at Kansas City, but played through the injury before he was shut down for the rest of the year.

Donald had the tightrope procedure to repair the injury, multiple people with direct knowledge of the procedure confirmed to The Athletic in March. That is the same procedure Kupp had last year, to repair the same injury.

Donald confirmed the surgery on Wednesday.

“It was different, the first time I’ve ever been hurt in my career,” Donald said. “I’m at 100 percent now, so that’s all that matters. Feeling good.”

Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and future Hall of Fame inductee, contemplated retirement after the Rams won Super Bowl LVI.

But later that spring, the Rams re-worked Donald’s existing contract to boost his pay, ultimately a three-year, $95 million deal with $65 million in guarantees ($46.5 million guaranteed at signing).

Importantly, Donald’s deal also includes a no-trade clause, multiple people with direct knowledge of the contract said. Because Donald once speculated retirement, the Rams’ catastrophic 2022 season prompted some pundits to question whether he’d ponder it again. Donald addressed that speculation on Twitter in the winter, before his comments to reporters on Wednesday, and has been at the Rams facilities for the voluntary early phases of spring OTAs.

General manager Les Snead said earlier this month that when he and coach Sean McVay were outlining their offseason plans — including bringing in over 40 rookies to fill out the roster — Donald told them, “just make sure (the rookies) care.”

“You kind of got an idea of what was going on as far as certain moves they were going to have to make,” Donald said. “It was more (about), if you’re bringing young guys in — as long as they’ve got the mindset to work, and they’ve got the right mindset to just go out there and do what they need to do at a high level, and willing to put that work in, I can work with that.”

The Rams will travel more than 26,000 miles this season, which is the 4th-most of any team in the NFL https://t.co/rWA9MEzVlY

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) May 10, 2023

ESPN ranked the 100 best draft picks of 2023 and the Rams landed nearly half their class (6 players) on the list https://t.co/vPISKeNCcz

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 10, 2023

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[link above]

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Count ESPN’s Matt Miller as an expert who likes the Rams’ haul, at least based on his recent post-draft ranking. He ranked the top 100 picks in the draft this year, which isn’t just highlighting the best players, but the best selections made by teams – accounting for positional need and scheme fit.

The Rams landed a whopping six players in Miller’s top 100, which is nearly half of their 14-player class. Avila ranked the highest on the list, coming in at No. 35.

The Rams skipped their early-round selections for many years, trading them away. But keeping No. 36 overall to bolster the offensive line was a nice change of direction. Avila can play guard or center, and the Rams need him to hit the starting lineup as a rookie. This checks off a massive need and achieves good value, forming a great beginning to the Rams’ draft.

Evans, who the Rams drafted 215th overall, was the 60th-best pick in the draft, according to Miller. He was the second-highest-ranked Rams player on the list, followed closely by Davis Allen (No. 63).

Byron Young (No. 74), Hodges-Tomlinson (No. 75) and Puka Nacua (No. 91) all made Miller’s rankings, as well. Miller called Hodges-Tomlinson “one of the best value picks on Day 3,” writing the following about the Jim Thorpe Award winner.

One of the best value picks on Day 3, Hodges-Tomlinson will bring his quickness and confidence to a secondary undergoing a renovation. Projected as a nickel defender in the pros, the sixth-rounder has the talent and ball skills to push 2022 fourth-rounder Cobie Durant for a starting job.

Obviously, it’s fun to look at the value the Rams got with each pick based on pre-draft rankings, but if the players themselves don’t pan out and become future starters within the next four years, those rankings won’t mean anything.

Billy_T wrote:

Am also hoping they’ve found something in Tiyon Evans.

Yeah hoping he’s their new Malcolm Brown/Sony Michel. Though both of them knew pass protection and could catch, so we’ll see.

From https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2023/5/9/23709074/rams-undrafted-free-agents-meeting

Quarterback Dresser Winn, Tennessee-Martin – 6’ 2” / 215 lbs.

Spent six years at FCS University of Tennessee-Martin, will turn 25 in November. Bizarre play arc to his career, started the final five games of 2017, the first seven games of 2018, redshirted in 2019, did not earn a start, but was the team’s primary punter in 2020, started the last two games of 2021, and finally broke through as starter in 2022. Quite a roller coaster with three season-ending injuries, rehab, and roster battles.

Over his career, he completed 492 of 814 passes (60.44%) for 5800 yards and 37 touchdowns. He tossed 24 interceptions. Not much of a threat as a runner, Winn had 164 yards on 174 carries and nine touchdowns. As a punter, he averaged 40.2 yards on 26 punts and dropped eight inside the twenty.

Very good arm. Quick release from a nice over the top motion and has nice extension. Has stellar zip on his throws, including to the far boundary. His arm is flexible/talented enough to whip it side-arm and on the move. He appears less accurate when leading receivers. Not guy who throws it 75 yards, 55 or so is his maximum.

He’s a pocket passer and works exclusively out of the shotgun. Doesn’t look like he played in a complicated read offense, but decisively comes off his primary receiver to check down. He’s not a statue, he can navigate around the pocket and throws well on the move.

Dresser Winn is likely a camp arm. If the Rams continue their recent form and keep three quarterbacks on the opening roster, Winn would be a candidate for the practice squad. While he appears to have good football IQ and patience, his moderate on-field production, injury-filled past, and up-and-down record of availability are of major concern. He does have some game, but will need work on full-field reads and reacting to the speed of NFL defenses.

Running back Tiyon Evans, Louisville- 5’ 10” / 225 lbs.

Spent two years at JC before joining Tennessee in 2021 and played one for the Vol’s, rambling for 525 yards at 6.5 yards per carry. In his lone Louisville season, he logged 525 yards at 6.3 clip. Not much production as a receiver, only 10 grabs in two years, but on the what little film there is of him catching the ball, he looks like has good hands and catches the ball away from his body.

Ankle injuries have plagued him at the D1 level, he was limited to seven games for the Vol’s and only played eight games for Louisville. That’s only 15 games of experience. Not sure what to make of that, NFL players don’t sit out unless an injury is completely debilitating. If he can stay healthy though, never having 90 carries in a season, he’ll have fresh legs and not a lot of wear and tear on his body.

Not elite athletically, he weighed in heavier at the NFL Combine than his listed playing weight. HIs forty time, 4.52, is good, as is the 1.61 10-yard split. In the power/explosion drills, his 30.5 vertical and 9’ 5” long jump are below norms. He did have a solid 20 reps on the bench.

Stocky, low to the ground build with big thighs. Not a bruising power runner, he breaks tackles by staying low into contact, has good balance to bounce off that contact, and falls forward. Looks faster on film than he tested, cannot remember him being caught from behind on breakaways. Plenty of zone experience, but is more of a one-cut-and-go downhill runner. Has good stop/start ability and while not a darter, makes deft cuts at speed. Ball security is an issue, had a fumble for every 30 carries in school.

Just not enough receiving snaps to make a case for having value there. Limited to screens and check downs. As blocker, he’s a mixed bag. Really gets after it on some reps and on others it doesn’t look like much of an effort. NFL backs have to consistently be willing blockers, particularly guys who are on the roster bubble.

Tiyon Evans is a strong between-the-tackles runner, well-suited for the Rams inside/mid zone scheme. His running skills are evident, but I don’t think he has reached his potential, just not enough experience and/or high-end reps. He’ll likely be in a battle for RB#4 and since he doesn’t have a history of special teams play, the keys to his making the opening roster are upgrading ball security, showing he can make plays as a receiver, and being a consistent blocker.

You have to love seeing Zach Evans in the open field. Unless you're on defense.@runzekerun01 | #HottyToddy
🖥 https://t.co/Rym42sGbrF pic.twitter.com/zNgCSH2BtM

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 8, 2022

Marc Bulger to Torry Holt with a one-handed touchdown grab vs the 9ers. #stlrams (2003) @AllHands81 @MarcBulger10 pic.twitter.com/1b1ird3R4e

— St. Louis Rams History (@STLRamsHistory) April 14, 2023

Math: How Does it Work? https://t.co/CBBf0AHQdt

— Rachel Vindman 🌻 (@natsechobbyist) May 9, 2023

Puka Nacua was *really* good in high school, setting several Utah state records that have held up to this day – and scoring FIFTY touchdowns in his final 2 seasons

Get to know him with 5 things to know https://t.co/dlbfWMpW5J

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 9, 2023