4 Potential Rams CAP Casualties...

[Riverumbbq]

4 potential cap casualties for Rams in 2023

With the Rams searching for ways to create cap space in 2023, these 4 players could be released

www.yahoo.com

 

[OldSchool]

My take would be Higbee extension lower this years cap. One of Shelton/Allen will be back. Floyd is the tough one I'm massively disappointed with his lack of consistent contributions and the June 1st designation frees up the most money but it creates a whole at IMO our weakest roster spot.

 

[Merlin]

I like the idea of a Higs extension. But yeah even if they don't extend him we have nothing behind him on the depth chart and he's not being overpaid for who he is so I don't see how he's a big target for finding cap space.

Floyd seems like a good option for a restructure or move. I've stayed off his nuts because he was rumored to be playing hurt but at some point the dude has to produce and he has not lived up to his paycheck. So he's definitely got a big target on his back this offseason for some sort of action. My guess is they restructure him and try to get him healthy this offseason because we could really use the good Floyd, but wouldn't surprise me if he's an example. After a season like this nobody is safe.

Allen simply doesn't move the bar in any meaningful direction. Shelton is as good as him, certainly better in the run game, plus Allen is always hanging on to health by a thread and I am tired of that.

Gaining $2.5M for Shelton doesn't seem very meaningful to me. I'd rather jettison Allen and have Shelton on the roster as our starting Center and draft a backup.

And I still think we're going to see some potential moves with guys like AD (retirement I think is real with him so something along the lines of a Pittsburgh trade is possible), Ramsey (at the very least a restructure may occur), maybe even Stafford (who did not look very good even in outings before the OL fell apart). Lot if it will be driven by where the players are at mentally of course. But I do think the landscape might change dramatically on things based on those big names.

 

[jrry32]

I don't see any of those guys being cut. But if there's one I think is possible, it's Brian Allen. Availability matters. Leonard Floyd played through injuries, played without Donald, and still produced a good year (9 sacks, a career high in QB hits, and near career bests in TFLs and tackles). He's a good, reliable player for us. I don't see us cutting him. We could use another guy like him.

 

[Jacobarch]

I'd hang on to everyone except Allen. Staying healthy is going to have to become a bigger priority especially when the players getting hurt are average at best.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I'm not seeing any of these 4 players as CAP Casualties necessarily because I tend to associate Cap Casualties as pure cuts. I do see Trade Value & Cap Savings with all 4 of these guys though, so Higbee, Floyd, and one of Allen or Shelton could be moved imo. jmo.

 

[Rambitious1]

Brian Allen - bye bye.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Floyd is one of my favorite Rams. Dude plays his assignments REALLY well, some of which do not lend to sacks and “numbers”. He’s a guy who plays a LOT of snaps too, been a healthy player, etc.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I like the idea of a Higs extension. But yeah even if they don't extend him we have nothing behind him on the depth chart and he's not being overpaid for who he is so I don't see how he's a big target for finding cap space.

Floyd seems like a good option for a restructure or move. I've stayed off his nuts because he was rumored to be playing hurt but at some point the dude has to produce and he has not lived up to his paycheck. So he's definitely got a big target on his back this offseason for some sort of action. My guess is they restructure him and try to get him healthy this offseason because we could really use the good Floyd, but wouldn't surprise me if he's an example. After a season like this nobody is safe.

Allen simply doesn't move the bar in any meaningful direction. Shelton is as good as him, certainly better in the run game, plus Allen is always hanging on to health by a thread and I am tired of that.

Gaining $2.5M for Shelton doesn't seem very meaningful to me. I'd rather jettison Allen and have Shelton on the roster as our starting Center and draft a backup.

And I still think we're going to see some potential moves with guys like AD (retirement I think is real with him so something along the lines of a Pittsburgh trade is possible), Ramsey (at the very least a restructure may occur), maybe even Stafford (who did not look very good even in outings before the OL fell apart). Lot if it will be driven by where the players are at mentally of course. But I do think the landscape might change dramatically on things based on those big names.

If McVay really is coaching year to year why would he entertain dismantling so much of the team?

I agree with you on Ramsey. He’s likely going to get a new deal. AD’s wife seemed to poo poo the retirement talk. He’ll finish his current deal as a Ram.

Stafford was injured last summer and didn’t look good early, especially being out of sync with Robinson. I think he gets a mulligan.

They can say bye to Allen with no worries. Depending on the draft plan I’d consider moving on from Noteboom or at least making him a reserve and moving Jackson to OLT.

 

[fearsomefour]

Brian Allen - bye bye.

Here is the problem.....and this improves the line how?
Are the Rams going to have the resources or desire to spend $10M or likely more for an upgrade at a G spot that allows Shelton to move to C?
Assuming Edwards is gone that would leave two empty G spots.
Someone like Bruss may be a long term starter, but, he wasn't there last year and is coming off of a major injury.
No one else on the roster has either experience or has shown they are a starting quality player at G.
I think only Havenstein and Shelton have earned spots on next years line.
Lets say the Rams spend the money to sign Risner at G (fill in your favorite G FA)......keeping Allen allows for Risner/Allen/Shelton as inside starters. Thats pretty solid.
I don't really expect the Rams to sign a big price FA.
So, cutting Allen leaves the team with ?/Shelton/?.....

 

[PARAM]

Here is the problem.....and this improves the line how?
Are the Rams going to have the resources or desire to spend $10M or likely more for an upgrade at a G spot that allows Shelton to move to C?
Assuming Edwards is gone that would leave two empty G spots.
Someone like Bruss may be a long term starter, but, he wasn't there last year and is coming off of a major injury.
No one else on the roster has either experience or has shown they are a starting quality player at G.
I think only Havenstein and Shelton have earned spots on next years line.
Lets say the Rams spend the money to sign Risner at G (fill in your favorite G FA)......keeping Allen allows for Risner/Allen/Shelton as inside starters. Thats pretty solid.
I don't really expect the Rams to sign a big price FA.
So, cutting Allen leaves the team with ?/Shelton/?.....

Anchrum was their first guy up, so they obviously believe he can handle it. They've been developing him, perhaps to replace Edwards in 2023. They believed Bruss was capable.of starting right away but he was injured. And even if they miscalculated, he could be developed. They need Noteboom to recover so they can have options at G (Anchrum, Bruss and Jackson). Havenstein and Shelton should be the starters. Allen can save almost 5mil and with his knee, pain, draining, etc. he needs to be gone. Arcuri, Thomas and Brewer will be backups/in the mix and they'll probably draft a C, G or T......maybe 2 of the 3. They will have a young O line.

 

[BonifayRam]

My take would be Higbee extension lower this years cap. One of Shelton/Allen will be back. Floyd is the tough one I'm massively disappointed with his lack of consistent contributions and the June 1st designation frees up the most money but it creates a whole at IMO our weakest roster spot.

A nonplayoff caliber 5-12 team paying an aging declining OLB $22 mil in 2023 & $22.5 mil in 2024 than when he departed (Contract completed) & no longer under contract, the Rams are still on the hook for nearly $10 million for the next two seasons........2025 & 2026.

The best for the Rams would be to trade & throw in some draft selections to entice some fat cap team to nibble.

However, that is just fantasy. No NFL team GM with one paramecium brain cell in the NFL is going to even consider paying that much $$$ for an OLB'er Floyd.

I will continue to think about Floyd's post situation & at some time come to a conclusion. The fact is I like Floyd. Pondering ....Option A- Having an MIA Floyd vacancy plus having the estimated $55 mill cap back in the bank to invest elsewhere vs. Option B- having Floyd playing in this position at the great cap expense.

My present position now is I'll take the $55 plus mil & the vacancy over having Floyd & his massive cap drain $$$$ the next four yrs.

 

[fearsomefour]

Anchrum was their first guy up, so they obviously believe he can handle it. They've been developing him, perhaps to replace Edwards in 2023. They believed Bruss was capable.of starting right away but he was injured. And even if they miscalculated, he could be developed. They need Noteboom to recover so they can have options at G (Anchrum, Bruss and Jackson). Havenstein and Shelton should be the starters. Allen can save almost 5mil and with his knee, pain, draining, etc. he needs to be gone. Arcuri, Thomas and Brewer will be backups/in the mix and they'll probably draft a C, G or T......maybe 2 of the 3. They will have a young O line.

Maybe, maybe not.
They also spent years developing Evans and a shorter time with Kolone. Those were also guys expected to play who couldn't do it.
I understand the reasoning for cutting Allen, but, I don't see how it does anything but make the line weaker.
Nowhere in your paragraph was a way the line is improved with his being released. None of the guys listed are an upgrade.....at best, hoping for sort of an offset.

 

[BonifayRam]

I'm not seeing any of these 4 players as CAP Casualties necessarily because I tend to associate Cap Casualties as pure cuts. I do see Trade Value & Cap Savings with all 4 of these guys though, so Higbee, Floyd, and one of Allen or Shelton could be moved imo. jmo.

If the Rams finally get the opportunity to invest a 2nd-day draft selection on a talented future starting center in this upcoming draft.....then yes strong consideration on trading or releasing the Rams starting center Brian Allen.

Center Coleman Shelton will be a UFA this time next year Rams have some veteran options on the possible reserve centers ( UFA Matt Skura/ UFA Jeremiah Kolone/ UFA Cole Toner) for the 2023 season along with the projected new 2023 2nd-day (2nd or 3rd draft pick).

I would like to have a ROD member share with me serious valid reasons why the Rams need to maintain Brian Allen as the Ram's starting center in 2023 & 2024 (when his contract concludes) after the draft.

 

[PhillyRam]

Release Floyd with a post June designation to open up 15M is a no-brainer at this point.

Extend or restructure Ramsey to save an additional 8-10M.

Trade or cut Allen.

Trade Higbee

All on all that should be enough to open up cap room to add an outside piece and keep Gaines & Gay...maybe even Scott.

 

[BonifayRam]

Maybe, maybe not.
They also spent years developing Evans and a shorter time with Kolone. Those were also guys expected to play who couldn't do it.
I understand the reasoning for cutting Allen, but, I don't see how it does anything but make the line weaker.
Nowhere in your paragraph was a way the line is improved with his being released. None of the guys listed are an upgrade.....at best, hoping for sort of an offset.

Here a few I just came up with.....

Positive for Brian Allen being elsewhere & not on the Ram roster when the 2023 season begins:

*A roster spot would be opened up for the newly projected drafted center if Allen was released or traded. Do you consider this a positive?

* Rams would not have to fund BA cap hits 2023 of $6.8 mil/ 2024 $7.8 mil / dead $2.4 million. Would you consider this a positive?

*If Snead's scout/ draft department is an NFL-grade functioning department then drafting a talented future starting center on the 2nd day of the draft brings in a healthy youthful interior OL'er to bring improvement in the near future. Would you consider this an upgrade?

*The absence of having to depend on a walking future injury starting center Brian Allen would bring great relief to these coaches. The Rams then could trash their comprehensive contingency plan for when Allen gets injured again, which would then cause a negative open oozing wound reshifting of the OL lineup like we have seen so much in 2022.

 

[PARAM]

Maybe, maybe not.
They also spent years developing Evans and a shorter time with Kolone. Those were also guys expected to play who couldn't do it.
I understand the reasoning for cutting Allen, but, I don't see how it does anything but make the line weaker.
Nowhere in your paragraph was a way the line is improved with his being released. None of the guys listed are an upgrade.....at best, hoping for sort of an offset.

I haven't seen Anchrum or Bruss play. Don't know if they'd be an upgrade or not. But I suspect 99% of Ram fans don't know either. That's the funny thing about this. Our OL suffered so many injuries, so quickly that I don't think we can possibly know what we have with any combination of the OL on the roster. Fans can 'say' they do but really, do they know?

 

[Ram_Rally]

My take would be Higbee extension lower this years cap. One of Shelton/Allen will be back. Floyd is the tough one I'm massively disappointed with his lack of consistent contributions and the June 1st designation frees up the most money but it creates a whole at IMO our weakest roster spot.

Saving almost 7 million by cutting Higbee is enticing. I hadn't thought about it before but he might be the clearest cut on the team.

I like Brian Allen and I think the Rams do to. Can he stay healthy is the question.

Floyd produced very well the second half the year. He had a bad knee injury in camp and that's why he struggled to start. He can't come back at his current cap number but I'd like to keep him.

 

[Ram_Rally]

I don't see any of those guys being cut. But if there's one I think is possible, it's Brian Allen. Availability matters. Leonard Floyd played through injuries, played without Donald, and still produced a good year (9 sacks, a career high in QB hits, and near career bests in TFLs and tackles). He's a good, reliable player for us. I don't see us cutting him. We could use another guy like him.

What's your take on Higbee? Is his current production enough to keep around or should the Rams be looking to ease Hopkins and a rookie into that role?

 

[ottoman89]

What's your take on Higbee? Is his current production enough to keep around or should the Rams be looking to ease Hopkins and a rookie into that role?

Restructuring Higbee and drafting Sam LaPorta would be my homer move.