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- Jemma
Well, it's the end of the season. Let's get into things, shall we?
Cut:
Colby Parkinson
Darious Williams
(Shamelessly stealing from @jrry32 - although he stole from me first (with Hollin Pierce of Rutgers, haha. Just kidding, but I did post about him first in a mock draft, for serious.) Parkinson was a horrible signing, and D-Will's play fell off a cliff.)
Our Re-signings:
Alaric Jackson - franchise tag
Michael Hoecht - two years, 5.5 million
Tyler Johnson - one year, 3.5 million
Dylan McMahon - ERFA
(Assuming everyone else is gone, and I'm thinking to use the tag on A-Jax on a prove-it contract. I like Robinson as a player, but I can't get behind a drunk driver as a starter for personal reasons (that have very recently been made especially personal). Sorry, D-Rob, but Johnson is younger and has no off-the-field issues.)
Free Agent Signings:
Nick Bolton, ILB, Chiefs - five years, 50 million total. (8 million first year).
(There, we've solved our inside linebacker problem, and didn't even have to spend a pick. Bolton will be thirty at the end of the deal, but I think it's worth it to improve our defense.)
Eric Stokes, CB, Packers - two years, 9.5 million total.
(Taking a chance on Stokes, who fits our system and is still quite young. He's had injury and inconsistency concerns, but he has great potential as a man-cover corner. Competing with Durant and Emmanuel Forbes.)
Elijah Molden, CB, Chargers - one year, 4.5. million.
(Another chancy signing, but I've always liked Molden, and he's only twenty-five. He's had injury concerns, and he's on the smaller side, but is a solid tackler and a threat to pick off passes. Competing with Durant, Forbes, and Stokes.)
Leki Fotu, NT, Jets - two years, five million (second year can void).
(Big-bodied nose tackle (335 lbs.) to replace BB3. Has injury concerns, but liked him a lot in college, and has shown flashes. Even on a two-year contract (which is really a one-year deal for 2.5 million), he could very well be worth it.)
TRADES:
Cooper Kupp to the New England Cheatriots for #77 overall.
(I know we're losing a veteran and someone people should be a Ram for life. I'll remind you that we were shopping Kupp this season, and teams had interest. I have an idea on what to do with this pick.)
Kyren Williams to the Denver Broncos for #85 overall.
(Yeah, I've admittedly soured on K-Will, and I have a better idea on what to do with our running back position as a whole. Denver badly needs a good running back. It fits.)
Rob Havenstein and 2027 fifth to the Minnesota Vikings for 2027 fourth.
(Before you shoot the messenger, please note that I'm all for keeping Havenstein in most of my mocks. But let's face facts: he's thirty-three, costs a fair bit of our cap, and we should be having real talks about his successor. Why not now?)
Jonah Jackson and #191 to the New York Giants for #154 overall.
(Yes, shamelessly stealing from Jerry again because it makes sense.)
Derion Kendrick and #203 overall to the Detroit Lions for #226 overall, #229 overall, and #245 overall)
(Sorry, not sorry, DK fans. He's gone. He's gone, and he's never coming back. I don't care that I'm giving up the sixth for a bunch of sevenths to get rid of his ass. His shit attitude would fit perfectly with Captain Caveman and the Ankle Biting Kittens.)
#100 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders for Michael Mayer.
(Fixed the tight end problem. Mayer was rated quite highly as a receiver and blocker, and he's been killed by poor quarterbacking play from the Raiders. Imagine what he could do with Stafford.)
#26 overall to the Buffalo Bills for #56 overall, #62 overall, #107 overall, and #130 overall.
(Trading the first-round pick to Buffalo for two late-seconds and an early fourth and a late fourth. Figure that fits the trade chart, especially since Buffalo trades up for an edge rusher to help their defense.)
DRAFT:
#56 overall - Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green.
(Would I select Fannin, even though I already took Mayer? Yes, but only because McVay's used more 12 personnel than ever before during this year. He's slowly evolving his offense, and Fannin would bring much needed speed as what Gerald Everett was envisioned to do for our offense.)
#62 overall - Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State.
(Royals can flat out fly; he's run a 4.29 before. He has excellent YAC ability. And he's much bigger than Atwell (6'0", 205 lbs.) and is a better receiver. I'm a huge fan of him with a trade down.)
#77 overall - Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State.
(Judkins is the K-Will replacement, and yes, I'm dead serious with this. He's a physical, punishing runner who has untapped potential in the receiving game. More than that, he can fly as well; he's posted 4.49 times at 220 lbs.)
#85 overall - Anthony Belton, OT, North Carolina State.
(Have been a fan of Belton. He will absolutely bury you in the running game, and his pass protection notably improved. I think he could be a solid eventual replacement for A-Jax, just in case.)
#90 overall - Roc Taylor, WR, Memphis.
(Taylor's been drawing rave reviews lately. Huge (6'3", 215 lbs.), fast (4.39 time) receiver with great hands. Needs work away from the ball, but this is a potential value pick.)
#107 overall - Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse.
(I'd love Jaxson Dart, but let's face it: he's a first-round pick in the making, and someone I think could (and should) go top five over Sanders and Milroe (especially Sanders). McCord could have a similar rise. He reminds me a bit of 2021 Stafford, actually; big, accurate arm, not entirely mobile (but not averse to taking what he can get), solid processing time, gunslinger, etc.)
#125 overall - Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State.
(Porter is a big (6'4", 200 lbs.) former wideout who is very raw, but well worth a shot at development. Had three interceptions and two passes defensed in limited time, and he's very fast for a corner (has Iowa's 4A 400 meter track's record.)
#130 overall - Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College.
(Trapilo caught my eye at the Mizzou/Boston College game, so I looked more into him...and the more I looked, the more I saw Havenstein. 6'8" is impossible to teach, and he has superb leverage and technique. Not the best feet, but he wins the same way Big Rob does.)
#154 overall - Rocket Sanders, RB, South Carolina.
(Sanders is a big back (6'2", 230 lbs.) who lives up to his name; he can absolutely fly (has recorded 4.44). Hasn't had the best years since his sophomore year, but is an underrated speed/power threat whom, at his best, can dominate in a similar fashion to S-Jax. I'd love to see him on kickoff returns with Schrader to start.)
#202 overall - Simeon Barrow Jr., DE/DT, Miami (Florida).
(Count me as more concerned about Fiske's health and lack of pass-rush inside behind him than adding nose tackle beef. Barrow can get after the quarterback (career of sixteen sacks), but is also a dedicated run stuffer who has a keen grasp of leverage. I could see him well outperforming this draft slot.)
#226 overall - Zakhari Franklin, WR, Illinois.
(Loved him at UTSA. Franklin is a silky-smooth route runner with excellent hands, really sneaky speed (runs a 4.49) and underrated YAC ability. He's very slight, but he could end up being a solid receiver.)
#229 overall - Garrett Dellinger, OG, Louisiana State.
(Solid-sized guard (6'5", 325 lbs.) who - along with Leveston - could be the backup that J-Jax wasn't for cheaper.)
#245 overall - Keondre Jackson, SAF, Illinois State.
(Big (6'3", 215 lbs.) safety who is built for the big nickel position. Was Illinois State's heart and soul on defense with 98 total tackles (58 solo), three picks (one of them a pick-six), 1.5 sacks (three the year before), and two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.)
Roster:
QB: Matt Stafford, Kyle McCord.
(No more Stetson Bennett IV! We finally have a succession plan behind Stafford, and I hope he teaches McCord everything he knows.)
RB: Blake Corum, Quinshon Judkins, Cody Schrader (KR), Rocket Sanders.
(Yes, I'm keeping Schrader over Rivers, particularly because of the KR position, what of it? Corum gets the starting job for now, but Judkins will get carries, and Sanders and Schrader will factor in as well.)
WR: Puka Nacua, Jalen Royals, Jordan Whittington, Tyler Johnson, Xavier Smith (PR), Roc Taylor, Zakhari Franklin.
(Yes, Whittington finally takes the slot that was meant for him all along! Seriously though, there's speed to kill, and we've gotten Stafford some solid weapons. I could imagine Franklin way outperforming his draft slot, much like Nacua or Whittington, and Taylor is an absolute freak at receiver who could add even more speed.)
TE: Tyler Higbee, Michael Mayer, Harold Fannin Jr.
(Finding a blocking tight end might be a need down the line, but with Mayer and Fannin (and Higbee teaching them the ropes), I can't imagine a better starting group for us.)
OL: Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Beaux Limmer, Kevin Dotson, Anthony Belton, Justin Dedich, Dylan McMahon, KT Leveston, Ozzy Trapilo, Garrett Dellinger.
(I'm assuming that McClendon is dealt along with a 2026/2027 pick for an earlier 2026/2027 pick, unless there's injury concerns. We'll see how A-Jax fares under the franchise tag, but Belton and Trapilo at least give us options if he does fail. I'm sticking with Limmer at center because he was a rookie thrust into a competitive roster, and he will improve. Dedich, Leveston, and McMahon provide depth behind him, Avila, and Dotson, just in case.)
DL: Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Leki Fotu, Desjuan Johnson, Tyler Davis, Simeon Barrow Jr.
(I think Fotu has the capability of starting for a long time; he'll only be twenty-six. But just in case, I think D-John and Davis (and possibly even David Olajiga) could fill the role of NT if he's hurt or ineffective. Barrow is here in case Fiske's injury is more severe than we think, but I think he could carve out a solid role.)
LB: Jared Verse, Byron Young, Nick Bolton, Omar Speights, Michael Hoecht, Brennan Jackson, Nick Hampton, Jake Hummel.
(No real surprises. I think B-Jax takes a much bigger role behind Hoecht, and there's a lot of edge rushers available around if he's not. Hampton and Hummel are special teams.)
DB: Eric Stokes, Emmanuel Forbes, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Kam Curl, Cobie Durant, Elijah Molden, Jaylen McCollough, Darien Porter, Keondre Jackson.
(Stokes and Forbes win the battle in this one, but Durant and Molden could easily factor in. I could see McCollough taking a real role at inside linebacker/big nickel along with Lake on obvious passing downs. Porter and Jackson are basically taking a redshirt year. Wallace, Woods, and Lampkin could factor in if one of the veteran corners falters, or, at the very least, could be necessary practice squad candidates or trade candidates. As the saying goes, you can never have too many corners.)
ST: Joshua Karty, Ethan Evans, Alex Ward.
(Absolutely no issues with this group. Right now? We're set.)
Fire away.
Cut:
Colby Parkinson
Darious Williams
(Shamelessly stealing from @jrry32 - although he stole from me first (with Hollin Pierce of Rutgers, haha. Just kidding, but I did post about him first in a mock draft, for serious.) Parkinson was a horrible signing, and D-Will's play fell off a cliff.)
Our Re-signings:
Alaric Jackson - franchise tag
Michael Hoecht - two years, 5.5 million
Tyler Johnson - one year, 3.5 million
Dylan McMahon - ERFA
(Assuming everyone else is gone, and I'm thinking to use the tag on A-Jax on a prove-it contract. I like Robinson as a player, but I can't get behind a drunk driver as a starter for personal reasons (that have very recently been made especially personal). Sorry, D-Rob, but Johnson is younger and has no off-the-field issues.)
Free Agent Signings:
Nick Bolton, ILB, Chiefs - five years, 50 million total. (8 million first year).
(There, we've solved our inside linebacker problem, and didn't even have to spend a pick. Bolton will be thirty at the end of the deal, but I think it's worth it to improve our defense.)
Eric Stokes, CB, Packers - two years, 9.5 million total.
(Taking a chance on Stokes, who fits our system and is still quite young. He's had injury and inconsistency concerns, but he has great potential as a man-cover corner. Competing with Durant and Emmanuel Forbes.)
Elijah Molden, CB, Chargers - one year, 4.5. million.
(Another chancy signing, but I've always liked Molden, and he's only twenty-five. He's had injury concerns, and he's on the smaller side, but is a solid tackler and a threat to pick off passes. Competing with Durant, Forbes, and Stokes.)
Leki Fotu, NT, Jets - two years, five million (second year can void).
(Big-bodied nose tackle (335 lbs.) to replace BB3. Has injury concerns, but liked him a lot in college, and has shown flashes. Even on a two-year contract (which is really a one-year deal for 2.5 million), he could very well be worth it.)
TRADES:
Cooper Kupp to the New England Cheatriots for #77 overall.
(I know we're losing a veteran and someone people should be a Ram for life. I'll remind you that we were shopping Kupp this season, and teams had interest. I have an idea on what to do with this pick.)
Kyren Williams to the Denver Broncos for #85 overall.
(Yeah, I've admittedly soured on K-Will, and I have a better idea on what to do with our running back position as a whole. Denver badly needs a good running back. It fits.)
Rob Havenstein and 2027 fifth to the Minnesota Vikings for 2027 fourth.
(Before you shoot the messenger, please note that I'm all for keeping Havenstein in most of my mocks. But let's face facts: he's thirty-three, costs a fair bit of our cap, and we should be having real talks about his successor. Why not now?)
Jonah Jackson and #191 to the New York Giants for #154 overall.
(Yes, shamelessly stealing from Jerry again because it makes sense.)
Derion Kendrick and #203 overall to the Detroit Lions for #226 overall, #229 overall, and #245 overall)
(Sorry, not sorry, DK fans. He's gone. He's gone, and he's never coming back. I don't care that I'm giving up the sixth for a bunch of sevenths to get rid of his ass. His shit attitude would fit perfectly with Captain Caveman and the Ankle Biting Kittens.)
#100 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders for Michael Mayer.
(Fixed the tight end problem. Mayer was rated quite highly as a receiver and blocker, and he's been killed by poor quarterbacking play from the Raiders. Imagine what he could do with Stafford.)
#26 overall to the Buffalo Bills for #56 overall, #62 overall, #107 overall, and #130 overall.
(Trading the first-round pick to Buffalo for two late-seconds and an early fourth and a late fourth. Figure that fits the trade chart, especially since Buffalo trades up for an edge rusher to help their defense.)
DRAFT:
#56 overall - Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green.
(Would I select Fannin, even though I already took Mayer? Yes, but only because McVay's used more 12 personnel than ever before during this year. He's slowly evolving his offense, and Fannin would bring much needed speed as what Gerald Everett was envisioned to do for our offense.)
#62 overall - Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State.
(Royals can flat out fly; he's run a 4.29 before. He has excellent YAC ability. And he's much bigger than Atwell (6'0", 205 lbs.) and is a better receiver. I'm a huge fan of him with a trade down.)
#77 overall - Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State.
(Judkins is the K-Will replacement, and yes, I'm dead serious with this. He's a physical, punishing runner who has untapped potential in the receiving game. More than that, he can fly as well; he's posted 4.49 times at 220 lbs.)
#85 overall - Anthony Belton, OT, North Carolina State.
(Have been a fan of Belton. He will absolutely bury you in the running game, and his pass protection notably improved. I think he could be a solid eventual replacement for A-Jax, just in case.)
#90 overall - Roc Taylor, WR, Memphis.
(Taylor's been drawing rave reviews lately. Huge (6'3", 215 lbs.), fast (4.39 time) receiver with great hands. Needs work away from the ball, but this is a potential value pick.)
#107 overall - Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse.
(I'd love Jaxson Dart, but let's face it: he's a first-round pick in the making, and someone I think could (and should) go top five over Sanders and Milroe (especially Sanders). McCord could have a similar rise. He reminds me a bit of 2021 Stafford, actually; big, accurate arm, not entirely mobile (but not averse to taking what he can get), solid processing time, gunslinger, etc.)
#125 overall - Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State.
(Porter is a big (6'4", 200 lbs.) former wideout who is very raw, but well worth a shot at development. Had three interceptions and two passes defensed in limited time, and he's very fast for a corner (has Iowa's 4A 400 meter track's record.)
#130 overall - Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College.
(Trapilo caught my eye at the Mizzou/Boston College game, so I looked more into him...and the more I looked, the more I saw Havenstein. 6'8" is impossible to teach, and he has superb leverage and technique. Not the best feet, but he wins the same way Big Rob does.)
#154 overall - Rocket Sanders, RB, South Carolina.
(Sanders is a big back (6'2", 230 lbs.) who lives up to his name; he can absolutely fly (has recorded 4.44). Hasn't had the best years since his sophomore year, but is an underrated speed/power threat whom, at his best, can dominate in a similar fashion to S-Jax. I'd love to see him on kickoff returns with Schrader to start.)
#202 overall - Simeon Barrow Jr., DE/DT, Miami (Florida).
(Count me as more concerned about Fiske's health and lack of pass-rush inside behind him than adding nose tackle beef. Barrow can get after the quarterback (career of sixteen sacks), but is also a dedicated run stuffer who has a keen grasp of leverage. I could see him well outperforming this draft slot.)
#226 overall - Zakhari Franklin, WR, Illinois.
(Loved him at UTSA. Franklin is a silky-smooth route runner with excellent hands, really sneaky speed (runs a 4.49) and underrated YAC ability. He's very slight, but he could end up being a solid receiver.)
#229 overall - Garrett Dellinger, OG, Louisiana State.
(Solid-sized guard (6'5", 325 lbs.) who - along with Leveston - could be the backup that J-Jax wasn't for cheaper.)
#245 overall - Keondre Jackson, SAF, Illinois State.
(Big (6'3", 215 lbs.) safety who is built for the big nickel position. Was Illinois State's heart and soul on defense with 98 total tackles (58 solo), three picks (one of them a pick-six), 1.5 sacks (three the year before), and two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.)
Roster:
QB: Matt Stafford, Kyle McCord.
(No more Stetson Bennett IV! We finally have a succession plan behind Stafford, and I hope he teaches McCord everything he knows.)
RB: Blake Corum, Quinshon Judkins, Cody Schrader (KR), Rocket Sanders.
(Yes, I'm keeping Schrader over Rivers, particularly because of the KR position, what of it? Corum gets the starting job for now, but Judkins will get carries, and Sanders and Schrader will factor in as well.)
WR: Puka Nacua, Jalen Royals, Jordan Whittington, Tyler Johnson, Xavier Smith (PR), Roc Taylor, Zakhari Franklin.
(Yes, Whittington finally takes the slot that was meant for him all along! Seriously though, there's speed to kill, and we've gotten Stafford some solid weapons. I could imagine Franklin way outperforming his draft slot, much like Nacua or Whittington, and Taylor is an absolute freak at receiver who could add even more speed.)
TE: Tyler Higbee, Michael Mayer, Harold Fannin Jr.
(Finding a blocking tight end might be a need down the line, but with Mayer and Fannin (and Higbee teaching them the ropes), I can't imagine a better starting group for us.)
OL: Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Beaux Limmer, Kevin Dotson, Anthony Belton, Justin Dedich, Dylan McMahon, KT Leveston, Ozzy Trapilo, Garrett Dellinger.
(I'm assuming that McClendon is dealt along with a 2026/2027 pick for an earlier 2026/2027 pick, unless there's injury concerns. We'll see how A-Jax fares under the franchise tag, but Belton and Trapilo at least give us options if he does fail. I'm sticking with Limmer at center because he was a rookie thrust into a competitive roster, and he will improve. Dedich, Leveston, and McMahon provide depth behind him, Avila, and Dotson, just in case.)
DL: Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Leki Fotu, Desjuan Johnson, Tyler Davis, Simeon Barrow Jr.
(I think Fotu has the capability of starting for a long time; he'll only be twenty-six. But just in case, I think D-John and Davis (and possibly even David Olajiga) could fill the role of NT if he's hurt or ineffective. Barrow is here in case Fiske's injury is more severe than we think, but I think he could carve out a solid role.)
LB: Jared Verse, Byron Young, Nick Bolton, Omar Speights, Michael Hoecht, Brennan Jackson, Nick Hampton, Jake Hummel.
(No real surprises. I think B-Jax takes a much bigger role behind Hoecht, and there's a lot of edge rushers available around if he's not. Hampton and Hummel are special teams.)
DB: Eric Stokes, Emmanuel Forbes, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Kam Curl, Cobie Durant, Elijah Molden, Jaylen McCollough, Darien Porter, Keondre Jackson.
(Stokes and Forbes win the battle in this one, but Durant and Molden could easily factor in. I could see McCollough taking a real role at inside linebacker/big nickel along with Lake on obvious passing downs. Porter and Jackson are basically taking a redshirt year. Wallace, Woods, and Lampkin could factor in if one of the veteran corners falters, or, at the very least, could be necessary practice squad candidates or trade candidates. As the saying goes, you can never have too many corners.)
ST: Joshua Karty, Ethan Evans, Alex Ward.
(Absolutely no issues with this group. Right now? We're set.)
Fire away.
