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LMU93
Even assuming the Rams release Barron ($6.33M savings), keeping Fowler for 2019 plus tendering key RFAs- Littleton, Malcolm Brown, Morgan Fox, Blake Countess, Troy Hill, JoJo Natson- would quickly whittle their cap space down to around $23M or so. Account for the draft class and there is less to toss around at any big free agents.
In my opinion the Rams need to focus on maximizing this next Draft and finding some bargain role players. Their stars and nucleus are in place. Fill in gaps around them.
I question whether the nucleus is in place for the D. There are not many difference makers on that side of the ball. We have Donald and.....?
I think Barron gets released for sure. But besides him, there are a few other players I can see on the chopping block. Possibly Brockers and Sullivan. They've already drafted replacements for both and in the case of JFM, he's already playing as well when he gets snaps.
I also doubt they retain all of those RFAs. I think they keep Littleton for sure and possibly Malcolm Brown although an argument could be made that it's time for him to walk since they have Davis and Kelly who are both good behind him. How much sense does it make to spend $2M on Brown when he doesn't get many snaps at all?
Fox, Countess, and Troy Hill could all be allowed to walk. I seriously doubt they spend $2M each on these 3 guys; they may keep 1.
JoJo is an ERFA so he will be inexpensive at 645K.
These guys are aggressive in their moves so I wouldn't assume the status quo on defense will be maintained especially since it's badly under performing.
This is not to say that they will spend big on a free agent but as we've seen the last 2 years, they don't necessarily take the conservative approach.
But seriously...someone convince me. Do we really have the nucleus in place for the defense? Who in the front 7 are must haves besides Donald?
