The real story of this offseason for the Los Angeles Rams has yet to be told. While the trade of Jared Goff for Matt Stafford has garnered the most attention and a restructuring of the scouting and coaching staffs will certainly impact the team's future, it's how the Rams manage the salary cap in 2021 that will determine whether or not this team will "sell out" for a ring and let the chips fall as they may thereafter, or if they will take a more reasoned approach to build a dynasty.
While some correctly point to the massive contracts of Ramsey and Donald along with the dead money of Goff and Gurley, combined with the first rounders already jettisoned as evidence that the team has already mortgaged its long term future, the Rams still have an avenue to build the team long term. They can still focus on fleshing the team out with free agent bargains and draft picks while eschewing massive restructures of their most expensive players. If they choose this approach, the impact of their "lost gambles" can be minimized over the next couple years. This approach negates the possibility of acquiring a top FA edge rusher, interior lineman, speed receiver, and/or interior linebacker to truly compete for a Super Bowl in the near future.
However, if the Rams decide the future is now, they can restructure Donald, Stafford, and Ramsey or even trade expensive assets like Havenstein, Kupp, and Woods to shore up other, more pressing, needs. This approach, however ignores the lessons that should've been learned when injuries to Gurley and Cooks derailed what looked at the time like relatively safe bets. Nevertheless, many fans will say you go big or go home and that seems to have been the Rams' mindset for a handful of years now.
While the reality is the Rams will probably do a balancing act with some restructures and some bargain FA contracts on short deals by players willing to sacrifice money for a reset of the market and a ring, the extent they gamble is significant. Another "Big Splash" is possible like when they attempted to acquire Khalil Mack before the Bears win that sweepstakes. Cases could be made that Brandon Scherff or Joe Thuney could move Corbett to center and return the offense to elite status. Hunter Henry could move the needle as well. Imagine Will Fuller V or Kenny Golladay stretching defenses defenses with Stafford in McVay's scheme. How would offense's adapt to facing both Donald and Shaq Barrett or Jadeveon Clowney caving in their backfields? What if our new DCoordinator thinks Lavonte David is the key that makes his scheme unstoppable? Is anyone really sure Snead wouldn't pull the trigger?
Hey, it's the offseason. All we have is speculation. But with this particular administration, all possible moves are on the table.
