Here’s Allen2McVay...
This is kind of interesting to me (what my mind considers interesting can be kind of disturbing but that’s a topic for another time).
Baltimore may be in a tough spot because it has an elite LT in Ronnie Stanley who was just paid a market-contract. The Ravens could feel the need to move Brown at some point; and, if he is a pain, maybe sooner than later.
Now the Ravens are thinking Super Bowl, so a high draft choice would be nice but dealing Brown does not help them in 2021.
The Rams could offer a very solid veteran RT, on a reasonable contract, to replace Brown. A down-grade but not a big one. However, Havenstein would not be near enough.
What else could the Ravens ... particularly Lamar Jackson ... need that the Rams could offer?
Baltimore has backs and TEs, and an outstanding deep threat in Hollywood-Brown. Do they have a starting WR that would be a perfect compliment? Someone who runs great routes and has terrific hands, that could be a huge asset to Jackson?
Wouldn’t Cooper Kupp fit perfectly?
Now it’s not the type of trade typically made in the NFL. Would have to be proposed by an aggressive Front Office and Organization that thinks out-of-the-box when it comes to making moves.
The Rams are that type of team.
Why would the Rams do it?
Well, short-term, it’s an up-grade at RT. A Brown extension would not kick-in until 2022 when he could move to his preferred position at LT; and when Whitworth finally retires (I believe Andrew can begin to collect Social Security in 2022, so he should be fine financially).
The Rams have Jefferson to step-up. The possible need for a deep-receiving option remains but the Rams can now offer that role as a #2/#3 WR role to a free agent/draft choice. Currently, the Rams top three WRs are Woods, Kupp and Jefferson; and a deep option would likely slot-in behind them.
Then there’s the cap implications for the Rams. They NEED to create cap space. Look at Kupp’s contract. Most of his money is ‘salary’ and not ‘bonus’. Deleting Havenstein and Kupp; and adding Brown’s fourth-year rookie contract creates somewhere between $14-$17M of cap relief in 2021.
Should the Rams then restructure Donald and Ramsey, they may be in a position to add free agents.
I am NOT saying this will happen, or even should happen. In fact, Kupp is one of my favorite Rams.
Just saying it’s interesting ... and Free Agency is still a couple weeks away ... so I am bored.
