Baker is..

[Merlin]

I don't think anyone is safe. Not even AD.

 

[Memento]

I don't think anyone is safe. Not even AD.

I would not be surprised to see us deal AD to Pittsburgh; I've thought about making a mock draft that gives us two firsts and a second from Pittsburgh for AD.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I don't think anyone is safe. Not even AD.

And I believe Stafford, Donald, Kupp, Ramsey, Wagner, one of Gaines/A'Shawn, & Allen Robinson are all safe locks for 2023, they'll be far more vulnerable for 2024 as their dead money rapidly diminishes.
Higbee improved his trade value today & Van Jefferson/Floyd appear more susceptible to being moved this next off-season imo.

 

[Merlin]

I thought Goff was safe. We had just inked him. Thought there was no way they'd be able to move Cooks either. So you may be right. But I'm not ruling anything out personally.

 

[blackbart]

Baker looked good today and he resurrected Higbey, where the hell has that been????

I’m just not sure he looked anywhere close to good enough to try looking for a trade to move Stafford.

Sitting behind Stafford for a year and then getting a real shot at competing for the starter spot in 24 would be the best of both worlds for the Rams.

There will definitely be desperate team wondering just wtf happened with Baker in Cleveland and Carolina. Not every team is going to blow off those stops thinking they can get what we have seen in a couple of games in LA.

 

[oldnotdead]

As I've been saying it's obvious that Baker has improved his ability to go through his progressions. I love his accuracy.

Also, like I've been saying the Rams should tell Stafford he has a two year window to win another ring, but in 2025 Baker will be starting in LA. After the 2024 season, the dead cap on Stafford's contract is affordable. Stafford's dead cap would be $24M split over 2 years. But they could recoup $26.5 M in the cap. That would pay for Baker's contract.

If Baker knows he will be the starter no later than 2025 he will stay. It will give McVay 2 years to develop Baker and he does need work. It will also give McVay two years to design an offense to fit Baker's skillset. I think that will be fair to both QBs.

Personally, I don't think Stafford can play 2 years without getting too many concussions. If they let Mayfield walk and Stafford goes down again they will regret letting Baker leave. That will slam the SB window shut and McVay probably leaves soon thereafter. It behooves Snead to keep Baker and thereby keep McVay and the SB window open for years.

Remember concussions are accumulative each one making the player more susceptible to another. Look at how close the last two came together. Snead has to know this. IMO they had to let Matt try to play another year due to the dead cap. But even if they pull the plug after next season they can absorb the cap hit. It wouldn't surprise me if they have already talked to Matt about this. If Baker says he would accept backup for one year not two then Snead would have no choice but pull the plug on Matt.

I never thought I'd say this but Baker Mayfield might be the best option to keep the Super Bowl window open. This offense with all the backups playing looked better than Tampa Bay's with the starters. IMO if they let Mayfield walk that is where he will end up playing. Brady is playing himself into retirement.

 

[blackbart]

As I've been saying it's obvious that Baker has improved his ability to go through his progressions. I love his accuracy.

Also, like I've been saying the Rams should tell Stafford he has a two year window to win another ring, but in 2025 Baker will be starting in LA. After the 2024 season, the dead cap on Stafford's contract is affordable. Stafford's dead cap would be $24M split over 2 years. But they could recoup $26.5 M in the cap. That would pay for Baker's contract.

If Baker knows he will be the starter no later than 2025 he will stay. It will give McVay 2 years to develop Baker and he does need work. It will also give McVay two years to design an offense to fit Baker's skillset. I think that will be fair to both QBs.

Personally, I don't think Stafford can play 2 years without getting too many concussions. If they let Mayfield walk and Stafford goes down again they will regret letting Baker leave. That will slam the SB window shut and McVay probably leaves soon thereafter. It behooves Snead to keep Baker and thereby keep McVay and the SB window open for years.

Remember concussions are accumulative each one making the player more susceptible to another. Look at how close the last two came together. Snead has to know this. IMO they had to let Matt try to play another year due to the dead cap. But even if they pull the plug after next season they can absorb the cap hit. It wouldn't surprise me if they have already talked to Matt about this. If Baker says he would accept backup for one year not two then Snead would have no choice but pull the plug on Matt.

I never thought I'd say this but Baker Mayfield might be the best option to keep the Super Bowl window open. This offense with all the backups playing looked better than Tampa Bay's with the starters. IMO if they let Mayfield walk that is where he will end up playing. Brady is playing himself into retirement.

I haven’t seen anything that said Stafford had a concussion, even the first time he was out they never confirmed it, did they.

The spinal contusion is what put him out the second time this year.

I don’t see Mayfield sticking around for two years being the back up. One maybe.

 

[Kupped]

I don't think anyone is safe. Not even AD.

AD is safe.
Stafford is safe.
Kupp is safe.
Obviously, just my opinion.

The difference with those guys from some of the others mentioned is that these three carried the Rams to a Super Bowl win and are still ballers.

 

[Kupped]

I hope Baker has two more games just like today.
Best chance of someone overpaying him and getting the Rams a better comp pick.

The pie-in-the-sky dream is that he realizes how good it could be with the Rams.. takes a backup deal with a belief that Stafford's going one more year, two at the max.

 

[Steve808]

Baker is who he is. He can make some incredible throws. But like most QB's who are middle of the road or less he needs better personnel around him. He's still better than what we had at backup.

Now he's auditioning for a contract and starting spot somewhere next year. Sucks for him to be doing it with preseason caliber talent around him. But it just might make him more affordable for us. I'd be good with Stafford and Baker going into next season.

If Stafford plans to retire after another season or two, wouldn't it be better for Baker to be the heir apparent under McVay rather than going to some team that has no chance of winning anything long term?

And I don't know the answer to this but do the Rams get a comp pick if Baker leaves next season?

 

[SWAdude]

This man needs the right program. Just like Stafford did.

I just can not think of a path that benefits both the RAMS and Baker.

It is really up to Baker. Please share what team that needs a franchise QB that is willing to take a 27 year old maybe so maybe not QB as their best choice right now.

I hope there is not one.

 

[So Ram]

If Stafford plans to retire after another season or two, wouldn't it be better for Baker to be the heir apparent under McVay rather than going to some team that has no chance of winning anything long term?

And I don't know the answer to this but do the Rams get a comp pick if Baker leaves next season?

That is an interesting question.

It’s way over my pay grade.It sure is nice having him as a Rams QB right now though. I can’t tell his future or The Rams.

 

[So Ram]

This man needs the right program. Just like Stafford did.

I just can not think of a path that benefits both the RAMS and Baker.

It is really up to Baker. Please share what team that needs a franchise QB that is willing to take a 27 year old maybe so maybe not QB as their best choice right now.

I hope there is not one.

There might be some big money thrown his way? Mayfield just needs to find out what is in his best interest for his future & career.

 

[Oregonram]

In all honesty I wouldn't even consider green bay an "off" game. It was blah but the team was blah it was frigid the o-line was horrible and it still was only his second game with the rams in a volatile stadium.

Sean gave up on the run too early in Green Bay and put Baker in a tough spot. Today…hallelujah he kept hammering Denver with the run and it made Baker’s life so much better. Cam was running well in Green Bay too, but Sean elected to try to throw more. Kudos to the offensive plan today, and kudos to Baker resourcefully finding his receivers. Second only to Kurt Warner for efficiency today…rarified air. Merry Christmas to all my Ram Family!

 

[Oregonram]

I hope Baker has two more games just like today.
Best chance of someone overpaying him and getting the Rams a better comp pick.

The pie-in-the-sky dream is that he realizes how good it could be with the Rams.. takes a backup deal with a belief that Stafford's going one more year, two at the max.

And a commitment from Sean, that he will be inserted into the late third quarter of games where we have at least a 2 score lead to keep him game sharp and preserve Matt as well…

 

[PhillyRam]

I would not be surprised to see us deal AD to Pittsburgh; I've thought about making a mock draft that gives us two firsts and a second from Pittsburgh for AD.

Not sure you could get that much for Donald considering how high this yrs first is for Pittsburgh. It's not like you are getting a pick in the 20's.

And then factor in that Donald may only play a few more yrs tops. So no team gives up that much for a short term payoff unless they are a player or two away. Pittsburgh seems a little further away than that right now and he may not want to go anywhere else. So also not a lot of leverage there for the Rams.

I could see maybe a 1st and 2nd, with the Rams giving back a mid rounder.

 

[oldnotdead]

I haven’t seen anything that said Stafford had a concussion, even the first time he was out they never confirmed it, did they.

He was in concussion protocol. A severe enough spinal contusion could mask a concussion, depending upon where the contusion is located or he could have suffered both. What is revealing is that he had enough symptoms to initially put him in the concussion protocol. You can have both. When dealing with concussions they will err on the side of caution. He may have had a concussion that when it didn't seem to clear made them look further revealing a contusion. So just because they are talking contusion now it may be simply because the concussion has cleared.

Without medical records, there is no way to know the truth. But a concussion cannot be ruled out since he was exhibiting enough symptoms to initially place him into the protocol on both occasions.

He's one big hit from being placed on IR again next season. If he is and Baker comes in and plays well, I think Stafford will move on to broadcasting in 2024. IMO all Baker would want is to have assurances as to when he would become the starter. I think it's naive for us to think Stafford will finish out his contract. After 2023 that decision ultimately isn't his to make. He may want to continue but Snead is going to do what he thinks is best for the franchise and if it is moving on from a QB that is one major concussion away from retirement, then I think it behooves Snead to be pre-emptive if he has a chance to sign a QB that is good enough to get to and win a Super Bowl. IMO what Mayfield has shown especially today as he has the talent to be that kind of player.

From what I hear is that Tampa is probably going to move on from Tom and they are looking hard at Baker as are other teams after the Denver game. He carved up a good defense with backup receivers, which is going to draw a whole lot of attention in the NFL and he's doing it without turning the ball over.

Regardless of whether you like Mayfield or not, what he's done over 3 weeks is impressive. The offense looked like 2018 again. His teammates are believers and that is huge. Hell, he could probably make Robinson look like an all pro.

I think if anyone is going to be offered as trade bait it will be Robinson.

 

[oldnotdead]

And then factor in that Donald may only play a few more yrs tops.

Donald said last year he was only going to play two more years. He's planning on retiring in 2024.

 

[Memento]

Not sure you could get that much for Donald considering how high this yrs first is for Pittsburgh. It's not like you are getting a pick in the 20's.

And then factor in that Donald may only play a few more yrs tops. So no team gives up that much for a short term payoff unless they are a player or two away. Pittsburgh seems a little further away than that right now and he may not want to go anywhere else. So also not a lot of leverage there for the Rams.

I could see maybe a 1st and 2nd, with the Rams giving back a mid rounder.

A first and a second works, but I wouldn't give back a mid rounder in this year's draft (next year is free). I'm currently making a mock draft with that in mind, so thank you for your input and advice; I promise I'll take it in mind.

 

[Classic Rams]

I seriously doubt the Rams pay Baker starter money to be a backup. It's just not cap savy. He wants to be a starter and get a raise. I'm just enjoying his brief stay in LA this season. Too bad, because he could've had his beloved #6 jersey next year after the Rams cut Kendrick.