Rams Free Agency (wishlist/predictions)

[KA210927]

DJ Reed as only big FA investment then maybe some cheap fillers

 

[DzRams]

Not sure if this FA period will be big for any tram as it's not a great class. Teams are doing a better job of keeping their top players, especially guys coming off their first contract.

That's probably true. I do see some free agents that I feel could make a big difference like DJ Reed. If we dramatically improve our coverage to pair with the pressure from our young front 7, the D could be elite...despite weakness in the middle with the ILBs.

But Jourdan says they only like to pay one CB in their team-build model and I don't think they have the money for it, so I've given up on that dream.

 

[PhillyRam]

That's probably true. I do see some free agents that I feel could make a big difference like DJ Reed. If we dramatically improve our coverage to pair with the pressure from our young front 7, the D could be elite...despite weakness in the middle with the ILBs.

But Jourdan says they only like to pay one CB in their team-build model and I don't think they have the money for it, so I've given up on that dream.

Fortunately the DB class is one of the better ones so that matches up as does LB, although they likley won't spend big there

 

[Ram Ts]

Approximate 51.5M space
Add: $7.5M for Kupp waiving
Decrease: $17M Stafford (my guess), $10M Tutu, $15M Alaric (approx. guess that's the 1st year hit) and about $4M for draft & cushion.

That leaves about $13M for free agency. Enough for one big hit that keeps the first year lower....or 2-3 smaller moves for depth (i'd go that route).

Could add another $3.16M for Colby cut, $3.8M DWill cut (i'd keep), $3.4M DK cut (everyone seems to want that except Rams FO).

 

[jwing81]

With Free Agency opening Monday, thought it might be a good time to see what everyone is hoping for or predicting that the Rams do this free agency period. We largely errored with last years class:

The Good:
QB Jimmy G - Served as our best back up in years. Only a 1 year deal, now a FA.
S Kam Curl - Pretty solid and still young. Still, likely had his worst season.

The BAD:
CB T.White (8.5m/1yr) - traded to Baltimore for peanuts
CB D.Williams CB (6m/2yr) - Had a pretty average year, not what we had hoped. Played in 12 games, 1 int, 7 PD
G Jonah Jackson - Disaster signing mostly due to injuries. Traded for a 6th round pick.
TE Parkinson - If you are not a Rams fan, you don't even know he was on our team. Had a career year.. with 30 receptions.

My Wishlist:
1. Chris Godwin - WR - Would immediately improve our WR room and give us a top 5 duo in the NFL. Coming off an injury and will not be cheap however (22m/yr)
2. Byron Murphy - CB - only 27 and had a really nice year, sadly likely getting a contract north of 20m/yr.
3. Elijah Moore - WR - Still only 24 and has yet to have a good QB. Showed a lot of promise and had a solid year. Could be steal(4.5m/yr)
4. Asante Samuel Jr - CB - I've been a big fan since his college days. Only 25. Expected to get around 11m/yr
5. DJ Reed - CB - Only 28 and had a good season. (14m/yr)
6. Dre Greenlaw - MLB - Will be hard to wash the stink off him, but, he is not expected to get a huge contract and very productive (6.7m/yr)

Others: WR Slayton, QB Z.Wilson, WR J.Palmer, OT D. Moore Jr (swing), DT Gaines, DT Sebass Joseph Day, MLB Willie Gay

A lot of money tied up in a WR (Godwin) and a CB (Murphy) that could be spread elsewhere , Moore I think has talent but we just basically signed him in Tutu same type of receiver. Now Slayton at the bottom I think would be worth a 1 year deal prove it type deal but again same type as Tutu a stretch the field type of outside threat. Still like him over Moore. Wouldn't mind seeing Gaines back he was pretty good against the run and surprisingly decent as a pass rusher and could be had super cheap as a rotational piece.

 

[DzRams]

Fortunately the DB class is one of the better ones so that matches up as does LB, although they likley won't spend big there

You're right but I forgot to finish my thought. Yes, a lot of this stuff can be obtained in the draft but we have limited resources there. Usually, the picks you can expect to make an immediate difference are the top 100. We have three of those.

I don't see them adding the offensive talent they need to remake the offense and plugging the CB and ILB holes in the draft alone. Not enough resources. If they make no major move in free agency, I will have tempered expectations for next year.

 

[OldSchool]

Do you think the Rams make any splashes in free agency?

They did our LT and our #2 WR.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Lol I'm kinda in on the youth movement so it'll be fun either way. But the percentages say picks 26,90, and 100 won't elevate the roster to a contender in 2025.

I mean, we're a contender now, taking a step back at receiver, we can do it but it's gonna be threading a needle. We need one hit in the draft, Whitt to take a step or more than one hit in the draft.

Going into that Eagles game, we had Puka, DRob an okay #2, and an extremely limited Kupp at receiver. I don't think replacing that is impossible in one offseason but I can see improving it being possible but not likely.

 

[Flatlyner]

Do you think the Rams make any splashes in free agency?

I think they will try. We only have a stud QB for 1 or 2 years max and need to capitalize. Could sign some guys to back loaded contracts.

I'm baffled that we would be low on cap with so few high end contracts, yet the eagles can keep dishing them out like halloween candy.

 

[payote75]

What about Jonah Jax? Locked on rams says it saved the rams a bunch. How does that work if Chicago takes entire contract?

 

[Allen2McVay]

What about Jonah Jax? Locked on rams says it saved the rams a bunch. How does that work if Chicago takes entire contract?

OTC and Spotrac have both been up-dated (for the Rams and Bears) to reflect the Jackson trade.

They currently differ by $2.8M on the 2025 Dead-$ to the Rams.

 

[Jorgeh0605]

In truth it is probably a guessing game now. Lots of moving parts. Jonah Jax leaving, Kupp leaving, Stafford restructure, Tutu resigning, AJax resigning, Kyren's upcoming deal. I bet some of these deals aren't even officially signed, just agreed upon money that can be structured any which way depending how other deals shake out. Really hard to know this time of year.

 

[payote75]

OTC and Spotrac have both been up-dated (for the Rams and Bears) to reflect the Jackson trade.

They currently differ by $2.8M on the 2025 Dead-$ to the Rams.

Ty bro

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

What about Jonah Jax? Locked on rams says it saved the rams a bunch. How does that work if Chicago takes entire contract?

The big savings on Jonah Jackson is that the Rams aren’t paying the remainder of his contract.

 

[Gandalf]

Rams don't generally do very well at FAs anyway.

 

[Ram_Rally]

I think they will try. We only have a stud QB for 1 or 2 years max and need to capitalize. Could sign some guys to back loaded contracts.

I'm baffled that we would be low on cap with so few high end contracts, yet the eagles can keep dishing them out like halloween candy.

Yeah apparently the eagles have some tough years ahead. I love that they were aggressive in getting it done though.

 

[PhillyRam]

I think they will try. We only have a stud QB for 1 or 2 years max and need to capitalize. Could sign some guys to back loaded contracts.

I'm baffled that we would be low on cap with so few high end contracts, yet the eagles can keep dishing them out like halloween candy.

Kupp & Stafford are 80M of cap room.

The Eagles backloaded their contracts where Hurts still only counts as 22M or 25M this year.

They only have $98M available for their 27' cap. Most teams are north of 200M in 27' The Rams currently are sitting at 295M with only the last draft class under contract.

The 27' cap number is essentially all the open cap space trams have over the next 3 years. The Eagles have no restructurable contracts as most of their stars have very low base salaries and high prorated bonuses. Even releasing guys add bigger cap hits or little savings.

So they will be in a tough spot after this year. Not to mention they have young stars due for raises as well.

 

[fanotodd]

I gotta be honest. I haven’t read a name, who we could realistically sign, that moves the needle for me.
Sure, there’s a couple of guys who I wouldn’t be upset with signing at a good price, but I won’t be upset if the Rams go into camp with rookies and a wait and see attitude towards cast offs.

IOW, F them FAs.

 

[fanotodd]

I think they will try. We only have a stud QB for 1 or 2 years max and need to capitalize. Could sign some guys to back loaded contracts.

I'm baffled that we would be low on cap with so few high end contracts, yet the eagles can keep dishing them out like halloween candy.

Weren’t they saying that about the Rams a few years ago?
A day of reckoning is coming for the eagles as it did the Rams. It has gone that way for many teams, but the eagles and Rams accomplished the goal—winning a title.

Edit:
Then you just move into another phase and try again.

 

[DzRams]

I think they will try. We only have a stud QB for 1 or 2 years max and need to capitalize. Could sign some guys to back loaded contracts.

I'm baffled that we would be low on cap with so few high end contracts, yet the eagles can keep dishing them out like halloween candy.

Think about it this way: the Eagles are maxing out their credit card; after this year, the Rams will have paid off all of their credit card debt and likely are not keen to put things on credit right now.