Your main point- that you're not 'tanking' if you have McVay, Stafford, Kupp and Donald on your team- is very true. There are few teams with a better HC/QB combination than the Rams. That counts for a lot in this league. And you're right, a year (singular) like this was inevitable. They could not go pedal to the metal forever. You have to decelerate and regroup sometimes in order to advance again. Their cupboard (current and future) is far from bare.
They have holes across the board. Absolutely. But on offense, they're really not far away if (a) they're healthier and (b) they make a couple smart, surgical additions on the OL and at WR/TE.
Defensively, yeah, it's going to be interesting to watch how they do it. Personally, if Gaines commands 4 yrs/$7M+ per year I think he's gone. Between him, ARob, Mayfield (Tampa?), Rapp, Scott and probably Gay I think they're going to (by design) net 4 good comp. picks for 2024. I would really like Shelton back under a two-year deal. Not a great player by any means but certainly a steadier and more reliable presence at center.
They will enter this Draft with 11 picks, They're now
20th in 2023 Draft assets. And I think they'll go into 2024 with 11 more picks- probably 6 of which will be in the top 4 rounds.
They have to draft well. Period. End of story. If they do they'll be competitive for years (through 2026). If not they won't. Because like you said, Stafford and Donald are not likely to be there after 2024. I doubt McVay is either. And I think they know that and will be far less cavalier about some picks (i.e. no Atwell flyers).
But they do have enough existing talent (and I think a better coaching staff than they had in 2022) to be competitive in 2023 and then have a legit shot in 2024 (again, if healthy). Edge rusher becomes that much more critical in this Draft because, as you said, they might have very little pass rush other than Donald returning. And their ability to provide shade for a young secondary hinges on a noticeably better pass rush. I think they'll look for a bargain FA edge guy as well- like Floyd in 2020- that can plug a hole as well.
The NFC is down for sure. And their schedule, frankly, isn't that difficult. Who are the best opposing QBs they will face in 2023? Burrow, Hurts and.... Geno Smith? Derek Carr? Dak Prescott? I really don't think 10 wins is out of the question. Seattle is the early division front-runner. If their 2022 draft picks take steps forward, Smith doesn't regress and they draft well again this April (4 picks in the top 53) they could be pretty loaded. But unless there is another health implosion I have a really hard time seeing less than 8 wins from the Rams. In no way is this some 3 or 4 or 5 win team. Not after winning 5 games with the 2nd most injured roster in the league including most injured OL in league history and starting 4 QBs. Which probably puts their 1st round pick in 2024 somewhere between 14th and 23rd overall. And they
will have money to spend in 2024 as well.
Let's level-set expectations for 2023. But also zoom out and in the longer term, they're in a pretty good position overall. They have to make the right moves to be sure. But the moves are there for them to make.
Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2023 04:18AM by LMU93.
