I’ve got a hypothetical and possibly semi-heretical question about AD’s possible extension…

[Rams43]

Now hear me out before your mind slams closed…

AD is currently under contract and it’s a juicy one. At the time a record breaking one for a non-QB.

AD is gonna be 31 come May 23 and we all know Father Time is undefeated.

Rams are already struggling to sign FA’s because they are up against the cap. Current extensions are heavily backloaded to enable them to maximize certain elite talents for our SB window.

All the above are facts, are they not?

Question.

What would be so wrong with simply allowing AD to play out the last 3 years of his current contract as is? No raise, no extensions, just use the saved monies on other players for 3 more SB runs?

I realize that some will get emotional about this like they did about the Woods trade. But I’m seriously thinking this strategy has merit.

Your thoughts?

 

[Merlin]

As I mentioned in the other thread if this contract is causing issues for the Rams the answer is trading him. You don't tell him to sit down and stfu. You move him, thank him for the memories, and reload with the picks.

 

[Petrowsky]

Now hear me out before your mind slams closed…

AD is currently under contract and it’s a juicy one. At the time a record breaking one for a non-QB.

AD is gonna be 31 come May 23 and we all know Father Time is undefeated.

Rams are already struggling to sign FA’s because they are up against the cap. Current extensions are heavily backloaded to enable them to maximize certain elite talents for our SB window.

All the above are facts, are they not?

Question.

What would be so wrong with simply allowing AD to play out the last 3 years of his current contract as is? No raise, no extensions, just use the saved monies on other players for 3 more SB runs?

I realize that some will get emotional about this like they did about the Woods trade. But I’m seriously thinking this strategy has merit.

Your thoughts?

If Donald was willing to play the remainder of his contract at his current salary I would be all for it. The problem is I don’t think AD feels like he is being fairly compensated. I tend to agree that he isn’t being fairly compensated for what he brings to the table. Donald is the best player in the league. His salary should reflect that. I would rather the Rams have Donald while trying to squeeze in other players than not having Donald. He’s just too good and I feel like he will perform at a high level for the next few years. Pay the man.

 

[Rams43]

If Donald was willing to play the remainder of his contract at his current salary I would be all for it. The problem is I don’t think AD feels like he is being fairly compensated. I tend to agree that he isn’t being fairly compensated for what he brings to the table. Donald is the best player in the league. His salary should reflect that. I would rather the Rams have Donald while trying to squeeze in other players than not having Donald. He’s just too good and I feel like he will perform at a high level for the next few years. Pay the man.

What you’re proposing opens a can of worms for every player on every team that feels he’s outperforming his contract. And that would be the majority of them, I assure you. Just human nature.

Then we will see a deluge of elite players demanding new contracts midway through their last very lucrative one. Will result in chaos.

These players and agents need to factor in all things before signing on the dotted line on a 5 year contract And then be man enough to just play their best, be a good teammate while other players get their turn at a juicy contract, and just STFU.

 

[RamDino]

You nailed it @Rams43. He has THREE years left on his contract. If the Rams want to try and pay him more, I'm all for it. But he really shouldn't ask for anything else at this point, let alone demand it (not sure he is demanding it, btw). I'm sure the team feels just as bad as AD does about Miller leaving the team, but what can they do? They are trying to win every year and AD knows that. You can't redo contracts every year just because someone else is paid more.

 

[Psycho_X]

I don't like this thought at all BUT with AD talking about retiring because he wants to be closer to family in Pittsburgh more I've wondered if the thought of seeing if the Steelers would want him for a couple of choice draft picks. Him and Watts on the same line rushing the passer would be an enticing combo for the Steelers. Now the problem with that is his current contract offers almost no savings doing that this year. But next year it would.

Not saying I want to do that but would be nice to get something in return if he was going to retire anyway. Would be a win/win to let AD retire in his hometown and we get some compensation out of it. That would be more of a next offseason thing though and not this offseason.

Which circles back to the original point of letting his contract play out. If AD wants to retire here after playing 2-3 more years GREAT... give him a new contract, who cares its not our money. I would give him the highest contract for D player in history BUT I wouldn't guarantee it all, make a good chunk roster bonuses every year that we wouldn't be on hook for if he retired or is traded, and backload it a bit for upcoming cap increase. Guarantee he's the highest paid player over the first couple of years but after that if he plays for us he gets paid well, if not we don't get screwed.

 

[Kupped]

The problem is that you lose the player and you look bad as an organization.

So, as long as you're willing to go along with those consequences, you're all good.

 

[RamDino]

This BS is probably all media driven. AD does not seem like the type of guy to hold the Rams hostage at this point in his contract. And, as @Ram43 said... you just cannot pay re-do contracts every year. And just for the heck of it.. does that mean Stafford, Kupp, Ramsey, Gaines, Aykers, Higbee, and Havenstein all get new deals too. LOL

 

[BonifayRam]

If AD wants to go back to the NE area for family concerns then he has earned the TRADE ASAP to a an NFL close to the home that desires him. If it cannot be arrange @ this time then work on a trade as the season begins & moves on just like Denver did with Von Miller.

I have big issues with players demanding new contracts after already getting ultra-high record-breaking contracts.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Question.

What would be so wrong with simply allowing AD to play out the last 3 years of his current contract as is? No raise, no extensions,

Donald would probably hold-out, resulting in a ton of negativity to all parties, including the Rams; and eventually forcing a trade that would be difficult for the Rams to get ideal value because they would be negotiating from weakness.

just use the saved monies on other players for 3 more SB runs?

A lucrative Donald extension should result in a significant cap-savings to the Rams for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, giving them a better chance to add and keep talent for another run in the next two years when many of their top players are in their late-20s or early-30s.

Stafford's extension gives the Rams short-term-cap-relief. Donald's should do the same.

 

[dieterbrock]

What would be so wrong with simply allowing AD to play out the last 3 years of his current contract as is? No raise, no extensions, just use the saved monies on other players for 3 more SB runs?

Because his CAP hits are as follows:
2022 26,750 mill
2023 23,500 mill
2024 23,500 mill
So an extension allows the Rams to reward Donald AND make more CAP space available
Locks him up for good, AND frees up CAP space to sign others
Win/Win

 

[Kupped]

If AD wants to go back to the NE area for family concerns then he has earned the TRADE ASAP to a an NFL close to the home that desires him. If it cannot be arrange @ this time then work on a trade as the season begins & moves on just like Denver did with Von Miller.

I have big issues with players demanding new contracts after already getting ultra-high record-breaking contracts.

I don't.
The league regularly discards players when they underperform their contracts.. so we know the guaranteed money is all that really counts.
Donald signed his contract in 2018.. I don't see any issue with him pushing for an upgrade now.
Yep.. the team will deal with some dead money at some point and he'll vastly underperform what he makes at some point, imo. But that's the cost of having superstars sometimes.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Now hear me out before your mind slams closed…

AD is currently under contract and it’s a juicy one. At the time a record breaking one for a non-QB.

AD is gonna be 31 come May 23 and we all know Father Time is undefeated.

Rams are already struggling to sign FA’s because they are up against the cap. Current extensions are heavily backloaded to enable them to maximize certain elite talents for our SB window.

All the above are facts, are they not?

Question.

What would be so wrong with simply allowing AD to play out the last 3 years of his current contract as is? No raise, no extensions, just use the saved monies on other players for 3 more SB runs?

I realize that some will get emotional about this like they did about the Woods trade. But I’m seriously thinking this strategy has merit.

Your thoughts?

I agree that it’s what is best for the Rams. AD won’t think it’s best for him. He’d likely hold out.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Because his CAP hits are as follows:
2022 26,750 mill
2023 23,500 mill
2024 23,500 mill
So an extension allows the Rams to reward Donald AND make more CAP space available
Locks him up for good, AND frees up CAP space to sign others
Win/Win

THIS.

Consider Stafford.

He had one more year on his contract, with a reasonable (for a top-QB) cap-hit of $23M in 2022.

The Rams signed Stafford to a huge extension, and gave him a $60M signing bonus. He's happy; and his cap hit for 2022 went DOWN to $13.5M. The short-term savings also applies to 2023 when his cap-hit is just $20M.

A Donald extension should have a similar impact. Short-term cap savings to the Rams.

 

[thirteen28]

You don't tell him to sit down and stfu. You move him, thank him for the memories, and reload with the picks.

Or trade them away for good players, because fuck them picks

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

As I mentioned in the other thread if this contract is causing issues for the Rams the answer is trading him. You don't tell him to sit down and stfu. You move him, thank him for the memories, and reload with the picks.

There are some good interior Dlinemen in this draft, if the Rams could get an early enough pick. That would mean trading AD to a loser. I don’t know if he has a no trade clause or not.

I’m thinking the Rams don’t win that Super Bowl without AD though. I don’t think they would have a chance to win two in a row with that move.

But, it would allow them to reload for the next four years. I’d consider trading AD to the Titans for Simmons and some picks.

 

[Merlin]

A Donald extension should have a similar impact. Short-term cap savings to the Rams.

Yep. I think that's what Snead was alluding to when he said they're trying to make both sides happy. For the Rams happy means cap room to maneuver in the next two years.

 

[Merlin]

There are some good interior Dlinemen in this draft, if the Rams could get an early enough pick. That would mean trading AD to a loser. I don’t know if he has a no trade clause or not.

I’m thinking the Rams don’t win that Super Bowl without AD though. I don’t think they would have a chance to win two in a row with that move.

But, it would allow them to reload for the next four years. I’d consider trading AD to the Titans for Simmons and some picks.

I think that only becomes a possibility if AD prices himself out. But yes I think the Rams could move him and still win a ton of games and maybe more rings. As valuable as an elite 3T is (it is one of the hardest commodities to find in this league) it's still just one player.

All that aside I think they will get a deal done that makes both sides happy. And I want AD to retire in horns. But again gotta say that if anyone else were to pull this he'd probably be on the next flight out of LA.

 

[Turducken]

He is already the highest paid DT by a mile and he's only halfway through his contract (which made him the highest paid defensive player when signed). It's fair to ask him to play it out, but I'd rather figure out a 2 yr extension (e.g., $62m more) that makes him the highest paid defensive player over the next five years (even if it's only the top defensive contract for a minute).

We could structure to free up a few million on the 22 cap, guarantee $75m over the next three years for AD and give both parties exits in 2025.

Would need a three year commitment from AD (no take backs).

 

[RamDino]

I'm not a cap kind of guy.. I hate the business side of the NFL, but when you guys state that by extending Donald's contract and lowering this year's cap hit, aren't they just kicking the can down the road? For example, if he and Stafford retire together will the Rams take a 100 million dollar dead cap hit that year?