Wow, this is great

Quote
dzrams
Doing this early at Speed's request...

Usually, I post an offseason plan every year after working through various scenarios and having an idea of what the salary cap for the next year will be. I typically try to be as realistic as possible - to project or guess what I think they will actually do. If you’re curious here was my plan last year.

Dzrams' 2020 Offseason Plan

This year I’m just starting out on playing with various scenarios and it’s really tough to project anything because we don’t know how much the salary cap will go down. And with the QB controversy, I have no idea what direction they will go. Can’t say I think they’ll be this bold.

Basically, I make major changes to the offense and keep the defense largely intact. And for those who care, with this plan they do get under the current proposed cap of $181M. They also would have a TON of money available in 2022 to build the team with no major impending free agents.

On to the plan....


RESTRUCTURES:

Aaron Donald – Free up $14M from 2021 and push into 2022-2024. These both make a ton of sense and prolly happen
Jalen Ramsey – Free up $13M from 2021 and push into 2022-2025.


TRADES:

This is where we shake things up!

Goff – Saves $12.75M on the cap (may save a little less if we decide to restructure his contract, lessen his salary for the new team, and get more draft compensation.) – Traded for 2021 and 2022 2nd round picks. Goff is not a bad QB. He is good when the three P’s surrounding him (playmakers, play-caller, protection) perform at high-tier levels but if any of those break down, he falters too. Interesting, you trade him pre 6/1 to free up 2022 cap. I like it. Like you said, they probably aren't this bold, but I like it

When building around a QB I ask two questions: 1) Can we be a perennial playoff team with this guy leading the offense? and 2) am I confident that this guy can consistently get me through the tough playoff games and lead us to a SB win? If the answer is no for either of those questions, I wouldn’t build my team around him. I say no to the Eli Manning, Flacco, Alex Smith, Foles types even if they do occasionally get a SB win when the stars align. IMO, Mr. Goff fails on question #2. Unfortunately, he’s paid the same amount of money as the big-time QBs who do pass the question #2 test. Since he’s not the answer, I get out from his contract asap. It’s bad value; reinvest the money elsewhere.

Havenstein - Saves $5.17M on the cap. Havenstein played pretty well this year and revitalized his trade value. But both Noteboom and Bobby Evans can play RT making him expendable. Remember, with the salary cap decreasing every penny counts. Noteboom, as the likely starter, would improve the pass pro but would be a downgrade in run blocking. Yeah, never ben a big fan of his, he's been ok, but that cap number...

Acquire Gardner Minshew – Trade 2021 4th round comp pick from Littleton. Jacksonville is drafting Trevor Lawrence which makes Minshew expendable.This is where alot of the trade Goff guys and I will go our separate ways. I get Minshew's appeal. He's a gunslinger with swagger. But he is physically limited. Whats my point? I think if you are going to jettison Goff, you a) better have a good QB to replace him, or b) are confident you can get 1 in the draft or c) Ride with the Wolf. The reason I say those are your options is because you might lose that team if you trade Goff and bring in Minshew and draft Kellen Mond. It looks like you aren't trying to win. Whats my solution? I'd ride with Wolford next year and draft your QB in the 1st next.


RE-SIGN:

Leonard Floyd – 3 years at $13M per year - Floyd actually cost $3.333M if they let him leave because of the creative way they structured this year’s contract. And since he’s such a big part of the defense they manage to find a way to sign him to another creative contract that keeps 2021’s cap hit in the same range as if he walked and pushes most of the money into 2022-2023.

Darious Williams – 1 year at $4.873M – Williams is a restricted free agent who is brought back on the 1st round tender.

ERFAs – Travon Howard, Natrez Patrick, and Coleman Shelton are all good depth and are cheaply retained for one more season before they become restricted free agents.

cannot argue with any of those

CUTS:

Brian Allen - This cut saves approx. $1M on the cap. This guy’s a bust and every penny counts this year. He's gone, they might keep him until the draft to make it look like they don't need a center, but he's gone pre June 1st


PLAYERS LET GO:

Johnson, Reynolds, Everett, Blythe, Hill, Brown, McQuaide, Rivers, Fox, Ebukam, Mundt. Maybe I keep Fox or Hill in a normal year but with the Covid salary cap reduction, they’re all given pink slips. Johnson probably gets a big offer which nets us a high comp pick in 2022.

I'd keep Fox and McQuade, McQuade will be cheap and Fox is vastly under rated IMO. McQuade made a mil last year, vet min isn't much less than that. And he is good.


FREE AGENTS:

Ben Garland, C – 1 year, $2million –Snead doesn’t like heading into the draft with acute needs so they bring in a cheap, vet center to train or backup whoever we draft.




DRAFT:

Our draft picks would look like this:
2nd (Goff trade)
2nd (Rams original)
3rd (Rams original)
3rd (Comp pick from Fowler)
3rd (Comp pick from Brad Holmes)
6th (Rams original)
7th (Rams original)

I would target QB and Center early. Maybe they get a Mac Jones with the first 2nd to compete with Minshew. And then draft Humphrey, C, with the second 2nd. I would target edge, ILB, CB, and deep threat WR with the three 3rd round picks.

If I cannot get a top 4 QB, I'm pulling the chute, because Trask and Jones don't do it for me. Unless Jamie Newman tears it up.

I'd go ILB/Edge and OC in the 2nd, unless a talent slides thats too hard to pass up like a deep threat WR or a OT. The 3rd is then ILB/Edge and whatever else works.

Really nice job, a ton of effort that is really appreciated. I cannot find any real issues at all. A fun read and it will be fun to revisit often as FA and the draft come around.