Rams key signings in 2019 - 2020 revisited

2019 offseason moves by Rams

Key players involved: Jared Goff - Mark Barron – John Sullivan – Eric Weddle – Dante Fowler Jr. – Blake Bortles – Clay Matthews - Troy Hill - Jalen Ramsey

Rams sign Jared Goff to four-year, $134 million extension, guaranteed money, contract details revealed

Seven months after helping lead the Los Angeles Rams to their first Super Bowl in more than 15 years, quarterback Jared Goff has been rewarded with a four-year contract extension, as NFL Network's Michael Silver first reported.

Goff had already been under contract with the Rams for another two seasons, but the new deal will keep him in Los Angeles another six years, all the way through 2024, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter and later announced by the team.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Goff's extension is worth $134 million and includes $110 million guaranteed. Previously, the Philadelphia Eagles had handed out the most guaranteed money in a quarterback extension when they extended Carson Wentz in a deal that included $107.8 million guaranteed. That record now belongs to the Rams.
[www.cbssports.com]

The Los Angeles Rams have played it relatively safe this offseason when compared to the moves they made in 2018 when they made several trades for big-name players.

This year, they’ve made calculated moves, freed up cap space by moving on from veterans and adding proven players at positions of need.

They’ve filled holes that will allow them to take the best player available in the draft next month, which is typically the goal of free agency for a team as littered with talent as the Rams. Looking back on all the moves they’ve made thus far, the majority can be viewed as wise decisions.

We’ve graded all of their transactions up to this point and only one was somewhat questionable.

Releasing Mark Barron

Savings: $6.33M
The Rams could’ve held onto Barron for another year after seeing him step up in the playoffs, but that would’ve cost them more than $9.6 million in 2019 alone. That’s a big number for a player who not only struggled last season, but also missed time due to injury the last two years.

The best move for the team was cutting Barron, even if it did leave the Rams with a $3.33 million dead cap charge and a hole at inside linebacker. They’ll be able to find a cheaper starter who could also be an upgrade, potentially with second-year player Micah Kiser.

Declining John Sullivan’s option

Savings: $5.5M
Sullivan’s play really fell off in the second half of last season, struggling in pass protection and getting very little push in the running game.

He was set to be on the books for $6.25 million in 2019, which is a manageable number, but by moving on, the Rams save $5.5 million. That savings essentially paid for Eric Weddle’s salary next season.

Sullivan was great in 2017 for the Rams and finally stayed healthy, but there are always concerns about his durability, especially at his age (33). The Rams made this move knowing Brian Allen was capable of stepping in as a starter.

Troy Hill signs two-year contract extension

The Rams signed cornerback Troy Hill to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.

Hill, 27, has appeared in 40 games with 14 starts for the Rams the past three seasons.

Hill was scheduled to make $2.025 million in 2019 as a restricted free agent.
[sports.yahoo.com]

Signing Eric Weddle

Contract: 2 years, $10.5M ($5.2M guaranteed)
All across the NFL, it’s hard to find a better value in free agency than Weddle. He may be past his prime and coming off a year where he didn’t have a single interception, but Weddle can still play at a very high level in the NFL.

He’s a cheaper replacement for Lamarcus Joyner at half the price, bringing leadership and playoff experience to the team.

With the contracts many safeties signed this offseason – Landon Collins, Earl Thomas and Tyrann Mathieu all got at least $13.75 million per year – Weddle’s $5.25 million salary looks tiny.

He doesn’t have the range or athleticism as some younger safeties, but in the Rams’ attacking defense, he’ll be able to utilize his vision and instincts on the back end.

Dante Fowler signs with Falcons

The Falcons, who can’t announce the deal because of NFL regulations, agreed in principle to a three-year, $48 million deal with defensive end Dante Fowler.

Fowler had 11.5 sacks with the Los Angeles Rams last season and has 27.5 sacks over 63 career games. He will reunite with Falcons coach Dan Quinn, who helped recruit Fowler to play college football at Florida.

Signing Blake Bortles

Contract: 1 year, $1M
When you consider the Rams paid Sean Mannion more than $1 million in 2018, there’s no way to look at Bortles’ deal and see anything other than a bargain. He’s an experienced starter who helped get the Jaguars to the AFC championship game two seasons ago.

Bortles has been on a decline since then and his mechanics have regressed, but Sean McVay has a great track record of developing quarterbacks and the Rams’ staff is capable of helping Bortles improve.

At the very least, he’ll help Jared Goff mentally as his backup, considering the two are friends. The relationship between a starter and backup is important, especially when the backup has additional experience and can help as a leader.

Signing Clay Matthews

Contract: 2 years, $9.25M ($5.5M guaranteed)
When the original numbers came out as Matthews’ deal being worth up to $16.75 million, there was overwhelming disappointment among Rams fans.

However, the $9.25 million base salary is a much easier pill to swallow, putting his salary at $4.625 million per year before incentives kick in.

He’s not the pass rusher he once was, but his versatility as an outside linebacker and off-ball defender make him valuable to the Rams.

They need help at both spots with very little production coming at outside linebacker last season and Barron being released to create a void at inside linebacker. It’s hard to argue against a deal for Matthews with only $5.5 million guaranteed.
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Oct 15, 2019 Rams trade for Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey

he Los Angeles Rams have acquired CB Jalen Ramsey from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick, a 2021 first-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick.

The fifth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Ramsey has amassed 210 tackles, nine interceptions, 45 pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 51 career games. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and former first-team All-Pro selection.
[www.therams.com].

2020 offseason moves by Rams

Todd Gurley cut:

Los Angeles cut Todd Gurley on Thursday, bringing a stunning end to the Rams career of a player who was considered a viable MVP candidate as recently as December 2017.

His story is a cautionary tale for teams that want to believe their stars are exceptions to what we know about player value and a reminder of how teams that ignore the economics of the NFL often end up paying for their mistakes down the line.

It's also a reminder of just how hard it is to be a running back in the NFL in 2020.
[www.espn.com]

Re-signing Andrew Whitworth

This was really the Rams’ first major move of the offseason, and it was one that seemingly everyone expected to happen. From the start, Les Snead and Sean McVay made it clear they wanted Whitworth back – and Whitworth reciprocated the feeling with his comments.

Whitworth’s contract looks like a costly one, since it’s worth up to $30 million across three years, but it’s effectively a one-year, $12.5 million deal that the Rams can get out of next offseason if they want to. They kept his cap hit to just $6.67 million in 2020, which was important, allowing them some cap flexibility.

Rams re-sign Morgan Fox

The Los Angeles Rams are bringing back a familiar face along the defensive line and parting ways with another. The team announced on Friday it has re-signed Morgan Fox and released Tanzel Smart.

Fox for Smart isn’t a one-for-one replacement, since they play different positions. Fox is more of a defensive end or outside linebacker in certain packages, while Smart is a defensive tackle, often backing up Aaron Donald at 3-technique.

Fox was a restricted free agent this year, but the Rams opted not to tender him, allowing him to hit the open market. He’s opted to return to Los Angeles, likely seeing not much interest from other teams in free agency.
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Drafting Terrell Lewis and Terrell Burgess in Round 3
Both of these players were great values in the third round, coming at picks 84 and 104, respectively. Each prospect slid in the draft for their own reasons, with Burgess’ inexperience hurting his stock and Lewis’ injury history pushing him out of the first two rounds.

For the Rams, they may have gotten two of the steals of the draft as both players should contribute right away as rookies. Lewis can help fill the void left by Dante Fowler Jr., while Burgess has already been mentioned as a candidate to start at nickel corner.

Sean McVay makes bold bet on unproven defensive coordinator Brandon Staley

McVay informed Phillips early last week that his expiring contract would not be renewed. Four days later, McVay made a surprise hire as he turned to an unknown, unproven and inexperienced coordinator whom the Rams will depend on to take their defense from good, which it undoubtedly was under Phillips, to elite.

Meet Staley, whom the Rams are expected to soon announce as their defensive coordinator.

Never heard of him? You're certainly not alone.

Staley is 37 years old, more than three decades younger than the 72-year-old Phillips, and spent the past three seasons coaching for the defensive-minded Vic Fangio. His first two seasons under Fangio were spent serving as outside linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears, where Fangio was the defensive coordinator.

This past season, Staley held a similar post for the Denver Broncos after Fangio brought him along when he was named Broncos head coach.
[www.espn.com]

Michael Brockers will re-sign with Rams after Ravens deal falls through

MARCH 27, 2020 9:34 AM PT
In January, Michael Brockers posted what all but amounted to a goodbye video to Rams fans on social media.

Before free agency opened this month, he agreed to a three-year, $30-million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

But Friday, after Ravens physicians apparently could not verify the condition of Brockers’ left ankle, he returned to the Rams. Brockers and the team that made him the 14th pick in the 2012 draft agreed to terms on a three-year deal worth up to $31.5 million, according to NFL.com.
[www.latimes.com]

Rams sign Leonard Floyd

Los Angeles Rams landed their first free agent on Wednesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with Leonard Floyd. The news came shortly after Dante Fowler Jr. bolted for the Falcons, coming to terms on a three-year deal with Atlanta.

According to reports, Floyd’s contract with the Rams is worth $10 million with a max value of $13 million. To some, it seems like an overpay. To others, it’s reminiscent of the Rams’ bet on Fowler last offseason.
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Signing A’Shawn Robinson

He will help bolster a defensive line that’s expected to cover up the Rams’ holes at linebacker, playing alongside Aaron Donald.

Robinson can play nose tackle or defensive end, but he’ll probably play more of the former now that Brockers is back. But his position versatility, along with the flexibility that Brockers also possesses, gives the Rams a lot of options up front – and that’s without even mentioning Sebastian Joseph-Day or Greg Gaines.

Robinson will need to play more like the way he did in 2018 than he did last year in order for this work out favorably for Los Angeles. In a new scheme, though, it should afford Robinson the chance to make a big impact against the run.

Bringing back Austin Blythe

This wasn’t viewed as a huge move for the Rams, but it was an important one. Re-signing Blythe to a one-year deal worth $3.9 million was wise by the Rams, keeping around a player who has experience playing guard and center in their scheme.

He’s not the best offensive lineman on the team, but he does bring value thanks to his versatility and experience. And he was pretty darn good in 2018 at guard next to Rob Havenstein and John Sullivan.

With the money he’s making, Blythe should be a starter for the Rams in 2020 – though his position is still to be determined.

2020 NFL Draft: Rams pick Cam Akers

The Rams selected Florida State running back Cam Akers with the No. 52 overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The CBS Sports NFL Draft team breaks down the pick below, including a grade for the pick, how it affects fantasy leagues and more on Akers, including his strengths and weaknesses, his NFL comp and more.
[www.cbssports.com]

Hiring Kevin O’Connell as new OC

Sean McVay has acted as the offensive coordinator since being hired in 2017, but this offseason, he recognized the benefits of having a designated OC on the staff. He hired O’Connell away from the Redskins, bringing yet another bright offensive mind to the Rams.

O’Connell will help develop the quarterbacks, too, while assisting McVay with game planning throughout the week and decision making on game days. There’s really no downside to McVay hiring O’Connell, as it’ll help take pressure off himself to do everything as a head coach.

McVay has expressed a desire to be more involved on defense, which he’ll be able to do now that O’Connell will be there to work with the offense. It’s a win-win for McVay and O’Connell.
[www.nfl.com]