Merlin's Thanksgiving Offseason Mock

[Merlin]

Current Roster Free Agents:

I figure both Rozeboom and Johnson are cheap, and both should be affordable. If any of the green up arrows not named Jackson are pricey, they can be replaced quite easily with role players in FA. If Jackson is too pricey, tag him.

Incoming Free Agent Additions:

WR Tee Higgins. This is a huge need for the Rams and Higgins would be plugging directly into an offense he knows with two possession wideouts who would make defenses choose. Rams whiffed on Evans last year. It is still a need to add that dynamic size and athleticism package outside the hash. Bengals are likely going to let him test the market so they can focus on Chase. Rams need to be a top bidder on Higgins. Go get him.

RB James Conner. This is me wanting a physical back for facing certain fronts. McVay loves him some passcatchy type backs, the small and shifty little bastards are his huckleberry. But I'd balance them with a RB that I have thought is underrated for some time now. He would be a quality addition that rounds out our backfield nicely.

DL Calais Campbell. Dude is old and this has to be a short term contract. But like Conner this is a player I have appreciated for years. He can play 5T for us for a year, and add the vet leadership these young guns can benefit from as first DL off the bench or as a spot starter. Sign him on a two year deal. Still plan on going NT in the draft but this guy makes us better and the rotation is deeper.

Draft (using the 2025 PFF big board rankings for player value range matching where I take them):

Round 1 TE Tyler Warren. Not going to fuck around here so no trade down. People gonna say this is a reach, but this class is not deep and the Rams never find themselves sitting in a spot to get a TE of this quality. Trade down too much and dickhead teams like GREEN BAY will take the TE you want. Rams need to surround Stafford with targets and we have never really had an elite TE so this gets rectified big time. Now Stafford has Higgins > Nacua > Kupp > Higs > Warren as big and nasty redzone weapons. Offense will be a threat in 12 sets too.

Round 3 CB Mello Dotson. Was gonna go Zy here but he's probably gonna rise. Dotson has good size and a penchant for pick sixes, assuming he doesn't run too insane he should be in this range and juice our CB room.

Round 3 OT Blake Miller. Good size and raw tools, looks a bit lean so he should be able to grow and make for an excellent tackle project.

Round 4 CB Chandler Rivers. Adding some quality to the slot role here. Lots of options and slot can be had later but I like Rivers and getting the secondary finished by this point in the draft.

Round 6 NT CJ West. Stout meatplug for the middle.

Round 6 NT Cam Horsley. Another stout meatplug for the middle.

Round 6 QB Dillon Gabriel. I don't like short QBs but for round 6 he's worth a look and McVay can move him around. Not sure whether he'll beat Bennett out but either way we got a QB3 battle in camp and entertaining preseason games.

Round 6 SS Hunter Wohler. I think he has the frame to grow into and have a shot as an ILB at this level. He slots in behind Speights.

UDFAs the priority would be returners, ILBs, and DBs.

Depth Chart:

WR Higgins > Smith
WR Nacua > Johnson
WR Kupp > Whittington
TE Higbee > Warren > Allen > Parkinson
QB Stafford > Garoppolo > Gabriel
RB Williams > Corum > Conner
LT Jackson > Miller
LG Avila > Dedich
C Limmer/Jackson
RG Dotson > McMahon
RT Havenstein > McClendon

DE Fiske > Johnson
NT Davis > West > Horsley
DT Turner > Campbell > Gallimore
LOLB Young > Jackson
ROLB Verse > Hampton
LILB Speights > Wohler
RILB Rozeboom > UDFA
SS Curl/McCullough
FS Kinchens/Lake
LCB Williams >
RCB Durant > Dotson
NB Wallace > Rivers

 

[RamsinNV]

Rams should lock up Alaric Jackson now but he won’t be cheap. He’s a top 4 free agent at the position and still young.

 

[Ramhusker]

Current Roster Free Agents:

View attachment 68492

I figure both Rozeboom and Johnson are cheap, and both should be affordable. If any of the green up arrows not named Jackson are pricey, they can be replaced quite easily with role players in FA. If Jackson is too pricey, tag him.

Incoming Free Agent Additions:

WR Tee Higgins. This is a huge need for the Rams and Higgins would be plugging directly into an offense he knows with two possession wideouts who would make defenses choose. Rams whiffed on Evans last year. It is still a need to add that dynamic size and athleticism package outside the hash. Bengals are likely going to let him test the market so they can focus on Chase. Rams need to be a top bidder on Higgins. Go get him.

RB James Conner. This is me wanting a physical back for facing certain fronts. McVay loves him some passcatchy type backs, the small and shifty little bastards are his huckleberry. But I'd balance them with a RB that I have thought is underrated for some time now. He would be a quality addition that rounds out our backfield nicely.

DL Calais Campbell. Dude is old and this has to be a short term contract. But like Conner this is a player I have appreciated for years. He can play 5T for us for a year, and add the vet leadership these young guns can benefit from as first DL off the bench or as a spot starter. Sign him on a two year deal. Still plan on going NT in the draft but this guy makes us better and the rotation is deeper.

Draft (using the 2025 PFF big board rankings for player value range matching where I take them):

Round 1 TE Tyler Warren. Not going to fuck around here so no trade down. People gonna say this is a reach, but this class is not deep and the Rams never find themselves sitting in a spot to get a TE of this quality. Trade down too much and dickhead teams like GREEN BAY will take the TE you want. Rams need to surround Stafford with targets and we have never really had an elite TE so this gets rectified big time. Now Stafford has Higgins > Nacua > Kupp > Higs > Warren as big and nasty redzone weapons. Offense will be a threat in 12 sets too.

Round 3 CB Mello Dotson. Was gonna go Zy here but he's probably gonna rise. Dotson has good size and a penchant for pick sixes, assuming he doesn't run too insane he should be in this range and juice our CB room.

Round 3 OT Blake Miller. Good size and raw tools, looks a bit lean so he should be able to grow and make for an excellent tackle project.

Round 4 CB Chandler Rivers. Adding some quality to the slot role here. Lots of options and slot can be had later but I like Rivers and getting the secondary finished by this point in the draft.

Round 6 NT CJ West. Stout meatplug for the middle.

Round 6 NT Cam Horsley. Another stout meatplug for the middle.

Round 6 QB Dillon Gabriel. I don't like short QBs but for round 6 he's worth a look and McVay can move him around. Not sure whether he'll beat Bennett out but either way we got a QB3 battle in camp and entertaining preseason games.

Round 6 SS Hunter Wohler. I think he has the frame to grow into and have a shot as an ILB at this level. He slots in behind Speights.

UDFAs the priority would be returners, ILBs, and DBs.

Depth Chart:

WR Higgins > Smith
WR Nacua > Johnson
WR Kupp > Whittington
TE Higbee > Warren > Allen > Parkinson
QB Stafford > Garoppolo > Gabriel
RB Williams > Corum > Conner
LT Jackson > Miller
LG Avila > Dedich
C Limmer/Jackson
RG Dotson > McMahon
RT Havenstein > McClendon

DE Fiske > Johnson
NT Davis > West > Horsley
DT Turner > Campbell > Gallimore
LOLB Young > Jackson
ROLB Verse > Hampton
LILB Speights > Wohler
RILB Rozeboom > UDFA
SS Curl/McCullough
FS Kinchens/Lake
LCB Williams >
RCB Durant > Dotson
NB Wallace > Rivers

So you have confidence in the same OL we have now plus Hav. I hope you are right.

 

[Merlin]

So you have confidence in the same OL we have now plus Hav. I hope you are right.

I don't think we have a choice. We need to add gamebreaker pieces. If we need to retool the OL then we might as well trade Stafford and make this a real rebuild.

So my attempt to meet in the middle would be to tag Jackson and draft an OT who can develop.

 

[Memento]

It's a solid offensive line class at tackle. I think it would be a smart idea to double-dip over a quarterback, especially if you're thinking of likely franchising A-Jax.

I also don't think Zy Alexander is going to rise above where you're taking Dotson; he got a knee injury earlier this year that knocked him out of commission, and he already has a thin frame. Talented ballhawk with lots of potential, but not enough video on him at LSU.

One more minor thing: Andrzej Hughes-Murphy was an early cut years ago (I think because of character problems; he had them at Washington State.), but his dead cap is still on the team.

 

[Merlin]

One more minor thing: Andrzej Hughes-Murphy was an early cut years ago (I think because of character problems; he had them at Washington State.), but his dead cap is still on the team.

Yeah good catch, marked all the RFA types with up arrows and forgot to check them.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Love the draft, but not a fan of the incoming free agents.

All good players, but I'd hate for the team to let a young developing DT go for a soon to be 39 year old DL in Campbell.

James Conner will be hitting the 30 year old timeline that would make me a bit weary.

And Tee Higgins being the #1 WR on the free agent market is probably about to become the highest paid WR in the league. Might just be my soapbox, but I simply don't believe in paying so much money at the position when WRs are plentiful in just about every draft class nowadays. If Stafford/McVay are worth their salt they should be able to have success without so much of an expenditure (including Kupp's contract) at the position, IMO.

 

[Merlin]

All fair points @Memphis Ram. They're just two players I think help us without being too costly. And I am goddamn tired of lacking speed and size outside that hash. Trotting out JAG after Jag in that role. I think chasing Higgins is a requirement for us if we're going to try to make a run with Stafford. The offensive need for playmakers is profound. Kupp and Nacua are great possession wideouts. Add Higgins and a young TE who can help quickly in the pass game and this offense will be in business.

 

[DzRams]

Love the draft, but not a fan of the incoming free agents.

All good players, but I'd hate for the team to let a young developing DT go for a soon to be 39 year old DL in Campbell.

James Conner will be hitting the 30 year old timeline that would make me a bit weary.

And Tee Higgins being the #1 WR on the free agent market is probably about to become the highest paid WR in the league. Might just be my soapbox, but I simply don't believe in paying so much money at the position when WRs are plentiful in just about every draft class nowadays. If Stafford/McVay are worth their salt they should be able to have success without so much of an expenditure (including Kupp's contract) at the position, IMO.

I get the hesitancy to pay a top WR, but if X WRs were so plentiful in the draft and easy to obtain, the Rams would have better filled that position years ago.

They've struggled mightily filling that spot. All of their attempts in the draft have failed.

 

[Memphis Ram]

I get the hesitancy to pay a top WR, but if X WRs were so plentiful in the draft and easy to obtain, the Rams would have better filled that position years ago.

They've struggled mightily filling that spot. All of their attempts in the draft have failed.

Attempts in the draft?

In the past 7 years the Rams have drafted about 4-5 WRs, three of which were selected in the 6th round or later. And none of which would qualify as a X.

 

[DzRams]

Attempts in the draft?

In the past 7 years the Rams have drafted about 4-5 WRs, three of which were selected in the 6th round or later. And none of which would qualify as a X.

Since 2020, they've used two 2nd round picks on Jefferson and Tutu. Surely, you haven't forgotten that?

Both were attempts to fill the X WR position.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Since 2020, they've used two 2nd round picks on Jefferson and Tutu. Surely, you haven't forgotten that?

Both were attempts to fill the X WR position.

I remember, but I never saw selecting a kid about 150 or so pounds or Van Jefferson as serious attempts to address the X WR position.

 

[DzRams]

I remember, but I never saw selecting a kid about 150 or so pounds or Van Jefferson as serious attempts to address the X WR position.

That's strange! They were 2nd round picks. I'd say all premium picks are serious attempts to address the position (weight notwithstanding. Remember Cooks wasn't big either.)

Also, Jefferson and Tutu have gotten the majority of their snaps at the X WR position.

 

[Memphis Ram]

That's strange! They were 2nd round picks. I'd say all premium picks are serious attempts to address the position (weight notwithstanding. Remember Cooks wasn't big either.)

Also, Jefferson and Tutu have gotten the majority of their snaps at the X WR position.

Cooks was about 30 lbs. more heavy that Atwell. IMO, if you have to have a player go in motion or run in bunch sets in order to ensure releases you don't have a true X WR. And if the Rams truly believed that's what they were getting in Atwell, then that's just drafting malpractice.

 

[dieterbrock]

30 mill + per year for Tee Higgins?
Cue the Zac Stacy...
Yikes

 

[OldSchool]

Think that's more than it'll take for Higgins and I'm not a huge fan of the signing but I get it. Not sure what route I want the Rams to go in the draft tbh but you addressed some of the needs we have so right on!

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Current Roster Free Agents:

View attachment 68492

I figure both Rozeboom and Johnson are cheap, and both should be affordable. If any of the green up arrows not named Jackson are pricey, they can be replaced quite easily with role players in FA. If Jackson is too pricey, tag him.

Incoming Free Agent Additions:

WR Tee Higgins. This is a huge need for the Rams and Higgins would be plugging directly into an offense he knows with two possession wideouts who would make defenses choose. Rams whiffed on Evans last year. It is still a need to add that dynamic size and athleticism package outside the hash. Bengals are likely going to let him test the market so they can focus on Chase. Rams need to be a top bidder on Higgins. Go get him.

RB James Conner. This is me wanting a physical back for facing certain fronts. McVay loves him some passcatchy type backs, the small and shifty little bastards are his huckleberry. But I'd balance them with a RB that I have thought is underrated for some time now. He would be a quality addition that rounds out our backfield nicely.

DL Calais Campbell. Dude is old and this has to be a short term contract. But like Conner this is a player I have appreciated for years. He can play 5T for us for a year, and add the vet leadership these young guns can benefit from as first DL off the bench or as a spot starter. Sign him on a two year deal. Still plan on going NT in the draft but this guy makes us better and the rotation is deeper.

Draft (using the 2025 PFF big board rankings for player value range matching where I take them):

Round 1 TE Tyler Warren. Not going to fuck around here so no trade down. People gonna say this is a reach, but this class is not deep and the Rams never find themselves sitting in a spot to get a TE of this quality. Trade down too much and dickhead teams like GREEN BAY will take the TE you want. Rams need to surround Stafford with targets and we have never really had an elite TE so this gets rectified big time. Now Stafford has Higgins > Nacua > Kupp > Higs > Warren as big and nasty redzone weapons. Offense will be a threat in 12 sets too.

Round 3 CB Mello Dotson. Was gonna go Zy here but he's probably gonna rise. Dotson has good size and a penchant for pick sixes, assuming he doesn't run too insane he should be in this range and juice our CB room.

Round 3 OT Blake Miller. Good size and raw tools, looks a bit lean so he should be able to grow and make for an excellent tackle project.

Round 4 CB Chandler Rivers. Adding some quality to the slot role here. Lots of options and slot can be had later but I like Rivers and getting the secondary finished by this point in the draft.

Round 6 NT CJ West. Stout meatplug for the middle.

Round 6 NT Cam Horsley. Another stout meatplug for the middle.

Round 6 QB Dillon Gabriel. I don't like short QBs but for round 6 he's worth a look and McVay can move him around. Not sure whether he'll beat Bennett out but either way we got a QB3 battle in camp and entertaining preseason games.

Round 6 SS Hunter Wohler. I think he has the frame to grow into and have a shot as an ILB at this level. He slots in behind Speights.

UDFAs the priority would be returners, ILBs, and DBs.

Depth Chart:

WR Higgins > Smith
WR Nacua > Johnson
WR Kupp > Whittington
TE Higbee > Warren > Allen > Parkinson
QB Stafford > Garoppolo > Gabriel
RB Williams > Corum > Conner
LT Jackson > Miller
LG Avila > Dedich
C Limmer/Jackson
RG Dotson > McMahon
RT Havenstein > McClendon

DE Fiske > Johnson
NT Davis > West > Horsley
DT Turner > Campbell > Gallimore
LOLB Young > Jackson
ROLB Verse > Hampton
LILB Speights > Wohler
RILB Rozeboom > UDFA
SS Curl/McCullough
FS Kinchens/Lake
LCB Williams >
RCB Durant > Dotson
NB Wallace > Rivers

Higgins is my number one free agent target also. I’m not too far into draft eligible players yet but it looks good.

 

[DzRams]

Cooks was about 30 lbs. more heavy that Atwell. IMO, if you have to have a player go in motion or run in bunch sets in order to ensure releases you don't have a true X WR. And if the Rams truly believed that's what they were getting in Atwell, then that's just drafting malpractice.

You're right. Neither Jefferson or Atwell are prototypical X types, but that's where the Rams played them. Cooks doesn't have typical size for X but he excels there. It may be fair to consider their plan for Atwell as drafting malpractice because it failed spectacularly.

That's also why I feel they should solve the problem by signing someone.

 

[Merlin]

One note is I was wrong about the TE group being weak. I have not went through the players for the record. I was commenting off memory re: the PFF draft preview I posted a week or so ago and confused a couple positions in my mind.

But I still covet Warren. Hope McVay does too.

 

[DzRams]

I can get on board with this plan.

I would sign a different RB and DL in free agency, but your options are solid.

The only tweak I'd make on the draft is to add an explosive, dynamic RB in the mid rounds.