My 2023 Rams UFA Re-Sign Priority List

[AvengerRam]

This is my priority list for signing 2023 Rams UFAs (so ERFAs such as Mike Hoecht and Marquise Copeland are not on the list).

I’m considering value, age and anticipated market price in this analysis.

1. Greg Gaines
Easy choice. Gaines is a consistent player who anchors our run defense, which has performed well this year (4th in yards/game and yards/carry allowed). He’s also shown some improvement as a pass rusher (4 sacks). A very successful draft pick for the Rams.

2. Matt Gay
Its easy to take kickers for granted, but you notice when you don’t have a solid player at the position. Gay has been consistent and has a strong leg. At 28, he’s got plenty of good years left. Don’t want another parade of kicking candidates.

3. Baker Mayfield
There are a lot of caveats here. Bringing Mayfield back only makes sense if (1) he’s willing to take a back-up role, and (2) he’s willing to take back-up money. He might have better options, but if not, I think he could become a better QB working with Sean McVay for a while.

4. Nick Scott
Scott is a solid player who will likely be very affordable. I’m certainly hoping that others (Russ Yeast, Quentin Lake) push him to a nickel/dime role in the future, but he’s a guy I think is worth keeping in the meantime.

5. David Edwards
Edwards did not play well before his concussions, and there is a medical question that must be answered before any decision is made about his future. If, however, he’s projected to be ready to go next year, I would not be so quick to jettison him. Again, price is a big factor. If he’s willing to take a modest contract to compete for a role (potentially a back-up), I’d welcome him back. After all, he was a starter on a championship team a year ago.

6. A’Shawn Robinson
Robinson was a beast in the Super Bowl last year, and I’d really like him back, but I’m not sure we can afford to pay him and Gaines. From a health standpoint, his torn meniscus should not hinder his free agency prospects, so he may command a significant price. If his market is not so strong, though, I’d keep his number on speed dial.

GROUP MAYBE (i.e. sign them only if they’re willing to take minimal deals): Taylor Rapp, Troy Hill, Malcolm Brown, Brandon Powell, Oday Aboushi

GROUP SEE-YA (seen enough, time to move on): Bobby Evans, Matt Skura, Riley Dixon, David Long, Ty Nsekhe

 

[Loyal]

GROUP ONLYFANS: Bobby Evans found McVay's OnlyFans account. "I'm a starter again!," says Bobby.

 

[den-the-coach]

I'm good with the exception of David Edwards. Rams can do better IMO and I believe they will get comp picks in the 5th round and with one of those picks draft Nick Broeker Guard Ole Miss. 6'5 315lbs plug & play at LG.

Nick Broeker - Football - Ole Miss Athletics

Nick Broeker (64) OL - CAREER HIGHLIGHTS • 2022 Midseason All-American (ESPN, Sporting News) • 2022 Midseason All-American Second

olemisssports.com

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

Avenger,
I'm going to agree with den on David Edwards. Just didn't look good at all this year pre or post injury.
I believe we have to improve the OL and that might begin with moving on from Mr. Edwards.

Not so fast on Ty Nsekhe. He's a career backup for sure but from what I have seen I like his pass pro and his experience.
Also, he won't cost us much and will bring some depth to our paper thin offensive line.

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[Haden]

Agree with your keepers except that Edwards is the question mark. He has a serious concussion history. I think its time to move on unless the staff thinks he can perform spot duty as a back up. I feel the same way about Allen. Oft-injured folks just cant be relied upon.

 

[Riverumbbq]

While I'd like to include Nick Scott, A'Shawn Robinson & Troy Hill as re-signed UFA's, I believe the cost may prove prohibitive.


Priority Re-Signings :

QB - Baker Mayfield
DT - Greg Gaines
K - Matt Gay
P - Riley Dixon
CB - Grant Haley
WR/R - Brandon Powell
LS - Matt Orzech


Returning ERFA's :

DL - Marquise Copeland
ILB - Christian Rozeboom
DL - Michael Hoecht
RB/QB - Bryce Perkins
CB - Shaun Jolly
RB - Ronnie Rivers
OT - Zach Thomas
WR - Jacob Harris


Futures Contracts & returning contracted Practice Squad players :

WR - Austin Trammell
WR - Jaquarii Roberson
WR - JJ Koski
TE/FB - Roger Carter
TE - Jared Pinkney
OLB - Kier Thomas
OLB - Brayden Thomas
DT - Khalil Davis
DE - Zach VanValkenburg
DE - Earnest Brown IV
OT - Max Pircher
OT - A.J. Arcuri
OL - Chandler Brewer
OL - Ty Nsekhe
C - Matt Skura
OG - Okay Oboushi
OG - Cole Toner
S - Richard LeCount


Rams Players lost to Free Agency :

DT - A’Shawn Robinson
CB - Troy Hill
OT/OG - David Edwards
S - Nick Scott
S - Taylor Rapp
CB - David Long
RB - Malcolm Brown
S/LB - Jake Gervase
OG/OT - Bobby Evans

 

[BonifayRam]

I would agree with AvengerRam's post.

However, all those new signings with only an estimated $3.5 million in available Cap Space before the 2023 rookie draft class enters the discussion? I would wish.

Has anyone looked at the amount of future cap $$$ funds pushed forward to give us this present 2022 roster? I do not think they can afford to push more into the next decade.

2023 Los Angeles Rams Cap Table

The Los Angeles Rams 2023 salary cap table, including team cap space, dead cap figures, and complete breakdowns of player cap hits, salaries, and bonuses.

www.spotrac.com

 

[AvengerRam]

There are always ways to create space. In terms of potential cap casualties, Tyler Higbee ($3.4M savings) and Brian Allen ($2.6M savings) are a couple of possibilities. Then there’s restructures, trades, etc.

The question is…are we still playing a “short game”? With Stafford and Donald nearing the end, I certainly hope we are.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I would agree with AvengerRam's post.

However, all those new signings with only an estimated $3.5 million in available Cap Space before the 2023 rookie draft class enters the discussion? I would wish.

Has anyone looked at the amount of future cap $$$ funds pushed forward to give us this present 2022 roster? I do not think they can afford to push more into the next decade.

2023 Los Angeles Rams Cap Table

The Los Angeles Rams 2023 salary cap table, including team cap space, dead cap figures, and complete breakdowns of player cap hits, salaries, and bonuses.

www.spotrac.com

I look at them all the time, this is why I believe Higbee, Floyd, Hill, Van Jefferson & Brian Allen are at extreme risk for sticking with the Rams in 2023. While individually the savings isn't great, they collectively not only offer a reduced overall CAP next year, but also a few future draft picks. The Havenstein, Noteboom, Allen Robinson & Wagner contracts also make them quite vulnerable for 2024 imo.
I'm not really sure how much 'next decade' planning the Rams are doing as our older vets like Donald, Stafford, Allen Robinson & Ramsey may be on more of a 2 year plan than anything much beyond.
One benefit of re-signing more expensive guys like Gaines and Mayfield to long-term contracts is the first year discounts, so they are not likely to be much of a price burden until 2024.

 

[AvengerRam]

I look at them all the time, this is why I believe Higbee, Floyd, Hill, Van Jefferson & Brian Allen are at extreme risk for sticking with the Rams in 2023. While individually the savings isn't great, they collectively not only offer a reduced overall CAP next year, but also a few future draft picks. The Havenstein, Noteboom, Allen Robinson & Wagner contracts also make them quite vulnerable for 2024 imo.
I'm not really sure how much 'next decade' planning the Rams are doing as our older vets like Donald, Stafford, Allen Robinson & Ramsey may be on more of a 2 year plan than anything much beyond.
One benefit of re-signing more expensive guys like Gaines and Mayfield to long-term contracts is the first year discounts, so they are not likely to be much of a price burden until 2024.

Cutting Floyd this year only saves us $3M, if I’m reading Spotrac correctly. I’d keep him if that is the case.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Cutting Floyd this year only saves us $3M, if I’m reading Spotrac correctly. I’d keep him if that is the case.

When you're up against the CAP wall, you look for savings where you can find it. If and only if the Rams were to trade for someone like Brian Burns and get him signed long-term, I'd then be more than pleased to sacrifice Floyd for a future talent. Floyd is another aging player that may have some current trade value, after next year, who knows ?

 

[AvengerRam]

When you're up against the CAP wall, you look for savings where you can find it. If and only if the Rams were to trade for someone like Brian Burns and get him signed long-term, I'd then be more than pleased to sacrifice Floyd for a future talent. Floyd is another aging player that may have some current trade value, after next year, who knows ?

I agree with that. And I do think we’ll be looking for splash trades this offseason.

 

[Rams43]

While I'd like to include Nick Scott, A'Shawn Robinson & Troy Hill as re-signed UFA's, I believe the cost may prove prohibitive.


Priority Re-Signings :

QB - Baker Mayfield
DT - Greg Gaines
K - Matt Gay
P - Riley Dixon
CB - Grant Haley
WR/R - Brandon Powell
LS - Matt Orzech


Returning ERFA's :

DL - Marquise Copeland
ILB - Christian Rozeboom
DL - Michael Hoecht
RB/QB - Bryce Perkins
CB - Shaun Jolly
RB - Ronnie Rivers
OT - Zach Thomas
WR - Jacob Harris


Futures Contracts & returning contracted Practice Squad players :

WR - Austin Trammell
WR - Jaquarii Roberson
WR - JJ Koski
TE/FB - Roger Carter
TE - Jared Pinkney
OLB - Kier Thomas
OLB - Brayden Thomas
DT - Khalil Davis
DE - Zach VanValkenburg
DE - Earnest Brown IV
OT - Max Pircher
OT - A.J. Arcuri
OL - Chandler Brewer
OL - Ty Nsekhe
C - Matt Skura
OG - Okay Oboushi
OG - Cole Toner
S - Richard LeCount


Rams Players lost to Free Agency :

DT - A’Shawn Robinson
CB - Troy Hill
OT/OG - David Edwards
S - Nick Scott
S - Taylor Rapp
CB - David Long
RB - Malcolm Brown
S/LB - Jake Gervase
OG/OT - Bobby Evans

Really like your lists with very few exceptions, River.

Not sure Grant Haley is a ‘must keep’.

I would make a good effort to extend Nick Scott. Great intangibles and I don’t think he’s yet hit his ceiling.

That’s it, man.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Really like your lists with very few exceptions, River.

Not sure Grant Haley is a ‘must keep’.

I would make a good effort to extend Nick Scott. Great intangibles and I don’t think he’s yet hit his ceiling.

That’s it, man.

Our depth at CB is a bit of a concern for me. Grant Haley seemingly came out of no-where and was performing quite well prior to his injury, and while I expect David Long & Troy Hill will be gone after this season, I suspect we'll at least draft 1 mid-round CB to compete with Rochell, Durant, Kendricks, Jolly & Haley for snaps. Perhaps I should have created a 'desired' return list to go with the 'must keep' group, but I really like what Haley brought during his brief playing time, ... and he should be more than affordable.
As for Nick Scott, I'd love to see him return, although he has likely earned himself a bigger paycheck than the Rams can match. jmo.

 

[Merlin]

They're not going to be feeling pressed to bring guys back from this team. Gaines is the only one who has consistently played up to snuff and he is probably going to cost too much. Our DL is all about AD. Henderson is a fantastic DL coach. So reload with young and cheap kids, next man up, and focus on the secondary which is going to be much more important for our defense. Safety in particular, and a corner. So Scott, as much as I like him, is simply not a difference maker. We need guys who can play different looks intelligently pre-snap and swoop on balls in the air and give us turnovers, not guys who are going to stand there and then break once the ball is on the way for a completion. Anticipation is required at safety.

Gay they will undoubtedly prioritize of that list. He should be the top priority of the holdovers. But after him the only other priority will be trying to get Baker locked up on a short deal that benefits both parties. Rest of these clowns can go. I don't hate them or anything but their time in horns is over IMO.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Cutting Floyd this year only saves us $3M, if I’m reading Spotrac correctly. I’d keep him if that is the case.

If OTC is correct, releasing Floyd with a pre-June 1 designation only saves $3M of cap space and burdens the Rams with $19M of Dead-$. However, a post-June 1 designation results in a significant cap savings of $15.5M, with $6.5M of Dead-$.

For similar reasons, I could see them releasing Tyler Higbee and Brian Allen, with post-June 1 designations. Combined cap relief of $11.25M, with Dead-$ of $4.175M.

 

[Jacobarch]

Players that need to go
Rapp
Long Jr
Evans

Players on the fringe
Edwards
Allen
Boom (I know we can't cut him) But he should be riding the bench and the rams will just have to bite that bullet.
Robinson

Players that should be prioritized
Gay
Gains
Mayfield
Scott

I believe some of these players on the Oline are playing out of position. Take Edwards for example. I think he's a better Tackle than Guard. The man cannot anchor to save his life. A lot of his mistakes or limitations were minimized by having Big Whit next to him. Now he has/had Boom and Jackson... Which are mediocre at best.

 

[dang]

GROUP ONLYFANS: Bobby Evans found McVay's OnlyFans account. "I'm a starter again!," says Bobby.

Evans being on the roster next year would be a big red flag for the OL. Time to move on.

 

[fearsomefour]

I agree with the list with the exception of Edwards.
I am keeping Ty and Skura as I have said before.
I am (assuming there is some savings to be had by doing it) letting Edwards, Akers, Rapp, Evans, Brown, Gervase go.
I am assuming it would not make sense cap wise to let Allen Robinson go, otherwise, Id probably let him go as well

 

[Riverumbbq]

Evans being on the roster next year would be a big red flag for the OL. Time to move on.

Red flag ? More like we would necessitate a Black Flag formula to eliminate both him and the fool that re-signs him here.