Running Backs: Pay them or replace them?

[Ram65]

Replace.

I love K-Will - St. Louis kid and all - but when his contract ends, we shouldn't re-sign him. Corum is another back who is good, but older and has a lot of mileage for a back, and when his rookie contract has a year left, I'd deal him for a good pick. But still, we can find running backs in the second and third days of the draft (and even as UDFAs, occasionally); we've proven that with our current top backs.

It will be interesting to see what they do with Corum. The word is(D Farr or MJD) said this is the first offseason he is not working out with Kyren. Also, that he looks great, so the competition is going to heat up. I know he was a workhorse in college, but over the two years with the Rams, he hasn't been worked hard. I don't know what they will do, but I lean toward letting him play out his last year or even resigning him in season. It's hard to know that far away—injuries or someone like Hunter stepping up can change management's thinking.

 

[OldSchool]

Depends on the team and the RB IMO. If you're a SB contender and have the cap for it I'd think keeping a proven RB is a bonus. Atlanta? I'd trade Bijan because you're nowhere close to winning though I can understand wanting him there for a rookie QB next year.

Overall I'm all for replacing though.

 

[PARAM]

It will be interesting to see what they do with Corum. The word is(D Farr or MJD) said this is the first offseason he is not working out with Kyren. Also, that he looks great. I know he was a workhorse in college, but over the two years with the Rams, he hasn't been worked hard. I don't know what they will do but, I lean to letting him play out his last year or even resigning him. It's hard to know that far away. Injuries or someone like Hunter stepping up.

A cap hit of 1.5 this year and 1.8 next season.....I'd keep him. Resigning him? Kyren is an 12 mil hit this year, 11 mil next year and 2028 (with a dead money hit of 1.2). I could see a world where Corum was kept and Kyren gone after 2027. Depends on both of them and anybody else in or who might enter the RB room.

 

[Merlin]

I think it was a between the ears problem with those 2 RBs. Neither one caught on anywhere else. Sure O'Connell gave Akers a couple of shots in Minnesota but replaced him.

Probably a safe assumption but in the end the scouting of the RBs includes sitting them down and determining whether they're the right dude for your offense. So either way it's on the Rams, their staff and scouting teams, in struggling to find backs who can do the job.

I'd even add that McVay isn't exactly a great coach for a RB to play for. Not unless you're so good that he won't forget about you. But he seemed to forget he had Gurley too in some games.

I think they need to keep deep diving that position and figure out where their dysfunction stems from. Though if Corum has a strong year then maybe we can say they already did that to some extent, since they did hit on Williams.

 

[PARAM]

Probably a safe assumption but in the end the scouting of the RBs includes sitting them down and determining whether they're the right dude for your offense. So either way it's on the Rams, their staff and scouting teams, in struggling to find backs who can do the job.

Agree 100%. Talent can be intoxicating if appears to be there in spades. I don't know where Akers and Henderson were ranked. In any event they were the highest drafted RBs in the McVay era (#52 & #70), so the Rams thought something was overwhelming. Their talent. Their fit. Both.

I'd even add that McVay isn't exactly a great coach for a RB to play for. Not unless you're so good that he won't forget about you. But he seemed to forget he had Gurley too in some games.

I know what you're talking about but it wasn't very often. A time or two. Zeke was the only RB close to Gurley in touches or carries in 2017-18. McVay rode him hard. Who wouldn't?

I think they need to keep deep diving that position and figure out where their dysfunction stems from. Though if Corum has a strong year then maybe we can say they already did that to some extent, since they did hit on Williams.

I'll go out on a limb and say, they figured it out with Kyren and Corum. They've done okay with shorter RBs. They seem to be 2 of 3 there and O-fer with the other 5 they drafted.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

What rb are we talking about? 2017 Todd Gurley? Pay him.

.

 

[Memphis Ram]

View: https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2084609882393620576

 

[PARAM]

Prior to Bijan's deal, the #1 paid RB (28 yrs old) in the NFL finished #10 in rushing yards. The #2 (29 yrs old) finished #8. I guess the lesson there is, "get it while you can". There aren't any 30 or older (besides Henry) getting that kind of money.