The key to this off season of re-upping guys we want to keep is Joyner.
Get Joyner inked to a long term extension and the rest falls into place.
Why? Because you do NOT want Joyner or Watkins to hit the open market.
Joyner is going to cost a bunch less than Watkins. And, the Rams have no doubts they want Joyner for the long haul.
Watkins is different. There have to be doubts in the Rams FO, just as we see among ourselves. 39 catches and 590 yards is glaring. But....as some argue....he is capable of way more than that and no doubt his presence benefits the other WRs. Yet, are the Rams to commit to say, $58 mil for 4 years to a guy who will hover somewhere around 50 catches and 800 yards the rest of his new contract?
The Rams best moves with Watkins come down to a) applying the Franchise Tag or b) a 2 year prove it deal at around $25mil for 2 years. I think it'll be the Tag. This gives the Rams another year to see what they have. If Watkins produces significantly bigger numbers and stays healthy, then the Rams can feel far better about laying out a big, long term deal with a large guaranteed on the guy.
Tagging Joyner would be a waste. Nothing to prove. Joyner will only cost more to re-sign in 2019. Just get to the right number and ink him.
NRC is next. I'm completely in the dark what he'll be able to demand. Not sure how he'd do outside of Wade's D. He's small for a nickle; not sure how much interest he'll draw. I suspect he'll get a contract from the Rams of around 3 years $16 mil.
After this, they can look at the piggy bank and see what they can do to fill out the D roster with FAs and see how they can structure a re-do of Donald's contract.
However it is getting Joyner inked that pushes over that first domino.
