Rams Free Agency (wishlist/predictions)

[Flatlyner]

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.

Good. Hope they end up like the whiners and have to dump all their guys

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.

This is probably a very accurate depiction. Which is why I'm stating they could sign some FA this year and back load it. Honestly, they need to. They don't have enough top 100 picks to not address some holes in FA.

 

[DzRams]

...and back load it...

I got the credit card analogy from Snead. Backloading free agent signings is the definition of using the credit card.

FWIW, my preference is in agreement with you on going all in for these next two years to go for it while we have Stafford. The Rams apparently have decided that they would rather maximize 2027 and beyond with the young, upcoming core of players.

I can't say I agree with their decision because I don't feel all of them are worthy of being a foundational piece. I see Puka, Turner, and Verse as obvious, worthy core components. The rest such as Avila, Williams, and Young, I don't think it would be the end of the world if they spent money now and didn't have funds to retain those guys.

 

[Flatlyner]

I got the credit card analogy from Snead. Backloading free agent signings is the definition of using the credit card.

FWIW, my preference is in agreement with you on going all in for these next two years to go for it while we have Stafford. The Rams apparently have decided that they would rather maximize 2027 and beyond with the young, upcoming core of players.

I can't say I agree with their decision because I don't feel all of them are worthy of being a foundational piece. I see Puka, Turner, and Verse as obvious, worthy core components. The rest such as Avila, Williams, and Young, I don't think it would be the end of the world if they spent money now and didn't have funds to retain those guys.

Not to mention, who is the QB in 2027? All we have now is a hope and a prayer to have a good QB in 2027.

 

[Spider2YB]

View: https://x.com/rapsheet/status/1898160907663950252?s=46

 

[DzRams]

Not to mention, who is the QB in 2027? All we have now is a hope and a prayer to have a good QB in 2027.

My current working theory is that they will make a big move - i.e. trade up, package multiple 1sts, whatever it takes - for a future QB next off-season/draft.

 

[DzRams]

What the hell @So Ram. My first chill ever. Why do I need to chill?

 

[So Ram]

What the hell @So Ram. My first chill ever. Why do I need to chill?

Well- it’s your wish list,not my place to tell you any different.

-your a champ - thanks

My thoughts though aren’t drafting a QB.I’ll enjoy the process.Right now The Rams are really impressing me if there offseason SO far.

 

[PhillyRam]

Good. Hope they end up like the whiners and have to dump all their guys

This is probably a very accurate depiction. Which is why I'm stating they could sign some FA this year and back load it. Honestly, they need to. They don't have enough top 100 picks to not address some holes in FA.

I wouldn't spend just to spend. They need to find their Zac Baun this year. A young vet who didnt play to his potential due to circumstances that may not have been with in his control. Add a guy or two like that on a prove it deal and hope he has a big year.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I got the credit card analogy from Snead. Backloading free agent signings is the definition of using the credit card.

FWIW, my preference is in agreement with you on going all in for these next two years to go for it while we have Stafford. The Rams apparently have decided that they would rather maximize 2027 and beyond with the young, upcoming core of players.

I can't say I agree with their decision because I don't feel all of them are worthy of being a foundational piece. I see Puka, Turner, and Verse as obvious, worthy core components. The rest such as Avila, Williams, and Young, I don't think it would be the end of the world if they spent money now and didn't have funds to retain those guys.

Rams got hubris, they really do want to thread this needle of being competitive, not going all in, and keeping the forward thinking for the team.

If any team can make it work...

 

[Merlin]

With FA they need to be asking why they have missed on these players they have signed, and then change their process accordingly.

They did this with the draft, honing in on what seems like the combo of role plus character, and their drafts jumped in potency. Need to do that now with FA.

 

[OntarioRam]

With FA they need to be asking why they have missed on these players they have signed, and then change their process accordingly.

They did this with the draft, honing in on what seems like the combo of role plus character, and their drafts jumped in potency. Need to do that now with FA.

100%. Our pro scouting both via trade and free agency used to be the best in the NFL bar none, and the best I think I have ever seen in the NFL over a ~5 year period. Or for that matter, the best in pro sports as I do follow a few leagues closely. Many acquisitions ended up being massive home runs given what we paid in free agency money / trade capital. Those that were not, still were fine-to-good. No busts, nobody performing below par, no bad contracts. That is literally unheard of in the NFL with such a big sample size.

Andrew Whitworth. Robert Woods. Jalen Ramsey. Matthew Stafford. Von Miller. OBJ. Aqib Talib. Matt Gay. Sammy Watkins. Brandin Cooks. Dante Fowler. Leonard Floyd. Marcus Peters. Austin Corbett. John Sullivan. Clay Matthews. Steve Shields. Robey Coleman. Ashawn Robinson.

That list literally defies NFL reality. It's well on its way to building an entire roster.

Since our Super Bowl run, our pro level aquisitions have generally been ineffective, with many awful contracts on the books. We are lucky our past 2 drafts have been spectacular. If they were poor, or even average, the Rams would be in rough shape given how their pro scouting has completely collapsed. Allen Robinson. Tre White. Parkinson. Jonah Jackson. Our endless parade of kickers. Almost every pro acquisition has been poor. Even our internal pro scouting has been awful, giving Noteboom that massive contract. Demarcus Robinson and Akhello Whiterspoon were good acquistions but are not players that move the needle much.

I would be curious if the pro scouting department has seen any turnover over the years? Hopefully the explanation is not that Brad Holmes was not the driving force behind it

 

[Flatlyner]

I wouldn't spend just to spend. They need to find their Zac Baun this year. A young vet who didnt play to his potential due to circumstances that may not have been with in his control. Add a guy or two like that on a prove it deal and hope he has a big year.

This is one reason I'm hopeful they take a chance on Willie Gay. Was a beast in KC, still young, and cheap. Same with Elijah Moore. All the talent, terrible QB's, young, and cheap.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

With FA they need to be asking why they have missed on these players they have signed, and then change their process accordingly.

They did this with the draft, honing in on what seems like the combo of role plus character, and their drafts jumped in potency. Need to do that now with FA.

Jourdan said that the Rams are planning to revamp their free agency department. She said not the people but how they evaluate players and the whole process

 

[Flatlyner]

Well, they had the right idea last year, they just lost out on their top 2 guys. We'd be talking a lot differently about the FA class last year had Evans and Van Ginkle actually signed with us. Hell, we offered Evans more $ then the Bucs.

 

[DzRams]

Well, they had the right idea last year, they just lost out on their top 2 guys. We'd be talking a lot differently about the FA class last year had Evans and Van Ginkle actually signed with us. Hell, we offered Evans more $ then the Bucs.

They may need to revamp their process of how they pivot when plan A doesn't work. Bad pivoting is how we ended up with Jonah Jackson and Allen Robinson a few years back.

It's like they panic when plan A fails.

 

[DzRams]

Rams got hubris, they really do want to thread this needle of being competitive, not going all in, and keeping the forward thinking for the team.

If any team can make it work...

I don't think it's wise. Choose a path. That's usually what works best rather than straddling the fence. But we shall see and of course hope for the best.

 

[PhillyRam]

I don't think it's wise. Choose a path. That's usually what works best rather than straddling the fence. But we shall see and of course hope for the best.

I think they believe avoid cap hell, but be competitive every year. In any given year if close, make trade deadline deals like in 21', to put you over the top. FA spending will vary depending on the quality of the class.

 

[Loyal]

OTC and Spotrac still have them 9th but you have to consider those two cap sites do not yet reflect the Stafford restructure, or the signings of Alaric Jackson and Atwell.

Depending how deals are structured, the Rams are probably in the 20s now.

killjoy!!!

 

[Allen2McVay]

killjoy!!!

That's very hurtful ... and maybe I was wrong.

Given how the 3-year deals Dotson and Jonah Jackson signed last March were structured (high Year 1 cap hits), I assumed Alaric Jackson's contract would also have a high cap hit in its first year (I was thinking $14M-$16M).

Appears I was wrong (Yeah!). Per OTC, Jackson's 2025 cap hit is a mere $7M.

Depending how Stafford's restructure is set-up (void years?), maybe the Rams are in much better shape.

 

[Merlin]

FA starting this week (12th). Gotta say this offseason has moved fast. Hoping they go get CB Reed, but I think his size is not what they're looking for.

C Kelly is long in the tooth but offers what would be a clear upgrade in pass pro for this line. Also he may not be too expensive, represents the safe type of FA investment the Rams may be looking for and even if Limmer beats him out would be a good room addition. Thing is we have a ton of money wrapped into the line already.

CB Douglas is my bet for the CB the Rams chase, if they do chase a corner in the market. He adds size that we badly need, first off. And with our rush his ability to provide good coverage early in a snap plus a bit of playmaking ability jive well with how our defense is shaping up.

ILB Sherwood would be the guy I'd look at if they want to upgrade the offball group. He might get more action than Bolton on the market, as well, but if they're thinking of investing in that position he's the one I'd bring in.

Safety they just signed last year, so I don't see them looking at them, but if they do one buy-low option is Hufanga.

DL seems unlikely with the depth of this DL class but maybe that means some of the lesser options are very cheap. DL Campbell for example would be great in a mentorship and depth role in this unit.

It's a real shame WR Diggs tore that ACL. Rams otherwise would have been all over him I am sure. Would they roll the dice on him? Normally I'd say why not, but their recent FA failures insinuate to me that they will go with more stable signings.