Here is what is considered the Rams key losses going into the 2020 season:
Brandin Cooks
Clay Matthews
Cory Littleton
Dante Fowler
Eric Weddle
Greg Zuerlein
Nickell Robey-Coleman
Todd Gurley
Of that list, how many did the Rams actually want to keep?
Well, they cut Gurley, traded Cooks, released Matthews, and declined the option on NRC: clearly they would all be Rams if that's what the Rams wanted.
Weddle was under contract with the Rams for 2020 but opted to retire. I think the Rams were happy to see him go: as far as I know they didn't make an effort to talk him into playing this year.
IMO Zuerlein would still be a Ram if the Rams wanted him: the Rams were just ready to move on.
Fowler's 2020 cap hit with the Falcon's is $6.67M. Could the Rams have done that? Yeah, it seems so: Leonard Floyd's 2020 cap hit is *exactly* what Fowler's is ($6.67M). IMO the Rams simply chose to go in a different direction.
Which leaves only Littleton. I have a hard time with this one: yes, the Rams could have kept him (even if they had to tag him) but it seemed like the cost was too high for what the Rams want to pay for an ILB. I am consoling myself that the Rams might have a better run D now, and the 3rd round comp pick will be nice. Even still ...
Turning to the coaching staff: is there any doubt that Wade and Fassel would still be on the staff if McVay wanted them back?
So yeah, a lot of turnover from last year to this year. But as RFS69 points out: it's pretty much all intentional.
AlbaNY_Ram
