Assuming this Group really makes it to Free Agency?
| February 17, 2017 10:50AM |
The annual Free Agent Lists and Rankings are always up for debate depending on the players age, durability history, projected cost/market value and how well they fit within the scheme of the teams interested in their services etc...
Another annual question is how many of the Unrestricted Free Agents will actually make it to the open market bidding war? We all know every year a handful of the listed UFA's could likely end up resigning with their current teams.
March 7: Teams can begin negotiating with "impending" unrestricted free agents, though contracts cannot be completed until March 9
March 9: The league year and free agency begin at 4 p.m. ET. Also, all teams must decide whether to exercise 2017 contact options for all players who have them and must be under the 2017 salary cap. Teams also must submit qualifying offers to their respective restricted free agents should they want to retain right of first refusal/compensation.
Put me in the group that prefers the Rams get aggressive with O-LINE and WR/TE UFA's before any other position group.
(I won't pretend to know exactly how strong each player best fits McVay's offensive scheme but I sure hope the Rams are way more aggressive this year than recent ones.
I'm also in the group that wouldn't mind if McVay and his staff agree to cut bait with these players to free up room to get available UFA's
OL Rodger Saffold $6,190,983 2017 cap hit
TE Lance Kendricks $4,250,000 2017 cap hit
CB Trumaine Johnson $7 to 14 million 2017 cap hit? (depending on him signing a multi-year contract or 1 year franchise tag) Is Tru worth letting walk if it means the Rams could sign an extra UFA on offense and settle for a lesser talented replacement like a 47. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Cincinnati Bengals or 49. Captain Munnerlyn, CB, Minnesota Vikings? Just thinking out loud and pondering the compensation risk-reward scenarios....
Going off of PFF's Top 50 rankings... and assuming none on this list are resigned by their current teams, I would be very disheartened if the Rams can't find a way to get 1 or 2 of them if they were willing to play for Los Angeles for a respectable offer.
9. Kevin Zeitler, G, Cincinnati Bengals (Turns 28 on 03/07/2017)
10. T.J. Lang, G, Green Bay Packers (Turns 30 on 09/20/2017)
13. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears (Turns 28 on 02/14/2018)
16. Andrew Whitworth, T, Cincinnati Bengals(Turns 36 on 12/12/2018)
20. Terrelle Pryor, WR, Cleveland Browns (Turns 28 on 06/20/2017)
21. Larry Warford, G, Detroit Lions (Turns 26 on 06/18/2017)
23. Ronald Leary, G, Dallas Cowboys (Turns 28 on 04/29/2017)
28. Martellus Bennett, TE, New England Patriots (Turns 30 on 03/10/2017)
29. DeSean Jackson, WR, Washington Redskins (Turns 31 on 12/01/2017)
32. Pierre Garçon, WR, Washington Redskins (Turns 31 on 08/08/2017)
35. J.C. Tretter, C, Green Bay Packers (Turns 27 on 02/12/2018)
36. Ricky Wagner, T, Baltimore Ravens (Turns 28 on 10/21/2017)
48. Stefan Wisniewski, C/G, Philadelphia Eagles (Turns 28 on 03/22/2017)
Another annual question is how many of the Unrestricted Free Agents will actually make it to the open market bidding war? We all know every year a handful of the listed UFA's could likely end up resigning with their current teams.
March 7: Teams can begin negotiating with "impending" unrestricted free agents, though contracts cannot be completed until March 9
March 9: The league year and free agency begin at 4 p.m. ET. Also, all teams must decide whether to exercise 2017 contact options for all players who have them and must be under the 2017 salary cap. Teams also must submit qualifying offers to their respective restricted free agents should they want to retain right of first refusal/compensation.
Put me in the group that prefers the Rams get aggressive with O-LINE and WR/TE UFA's before any other position group.
(I won't pretend to know exactly how strong each player best fits McVay's offensive scheme but I sure hope the Rams are way more aggressive this year than recent ones.
I'm also in the group that wouldn't mind if McVay and his staff agree to cut bait with these players to free up room to get available UFA's
OL Rodger Saffold $6,190,983 2017 cap hit
TE Lance Kendricks $4,250,000 2017 cap hit
CB Trumaine Johnson $7 to 14 million 2017 cap hit? (depending on him signing a multi-year contract or 1 year franchise tag) Is Tru worth letting walk if it means the Rams could sign an extra UFA on offense and settle for a lesser talented replacement like a 47. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Cincinnati Bengals or 49. Captain Munnerlyn, CB, Minnesota Vikings? Just thinking out loud and pondering the compensation risk-reward scenarios....
Going off of PFF's Top 50 rankings... and assuming none on this list are resigned by their current teams, I would be very disheartened if the Rams can't find a way to get 1 or 2 of them if they were willing to play for Los Angeles for a respectable offer.
9. Kevin Zeitler, G, Cincinnati Bengals (Turns 28 on 03/07/2017)
10. T.J. Lang, G, Green Bay Packers (Turns 30 on 09/20/2017)
13. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears (Turns 28 on 02/14/2018)
16. Andrew Whitworth, T, Cincinnati Bengals(Turns 36 on 12/12/2018)
20. Terrelle Pryor, WR, Cleveland Browns (Turns 28 on 06/20/2017)
21. Larry Warford, G, Detroit Lions (Turns 26 on 06/18/2017)
23. Ronald Leary, G, Dallas Cowboys (Turns 28 on 04/29/2017)
28. Martellus Bennett, TE, New England Patriots (Turns 30 on 03/10/2017)
29. DeSean Jackson, WR, Washington Redskins (Turns 31 on 12/01/2017)
32. Pierre Garçon, WR, Washington Redskins (Turns 31 on 08/08/2017)
35. J.C. Tretter, C, Green Bay Packers (Turns 27 on 02/12/2018)
36. Ricky Wagner, T, Baltimore Ravens (Turns 28 on 10/21/2017)
48. Stefan Wisniewski, C/G, Philadelphia Eagles (Turns 28 on 03/22/2017)
