When it was opined that Rams gave up too much for Stafford and lost the trade, McVay is said to have replied, “This is not about winning trade, it is about winning the Super Bowl.”
There things have happened over the past week, and I believe they are connected.
1. Hav’s contract is restructured, creating cap space.
2. Young is traded, creating cap space.
3. Jackson will either be traded or released. Either way, cap space is created. (BTW, it seems to be assumed by many that Jax approached the Rams about a trade. Perhaps it was the other way around).
Initially I thought the Rams were clearing some space for an incremental move, maybe a TE to replace Mundt, but I now believe the move will be something more than incremental. Here are possible scenarios:
1. Trade for Cooks. This would essentially move Van to the 4th wideout, something they have done by elevating Jackson. While I believe Cooks is better than Jackson, and Cooks at #3 is likely an upgrade over Van (not a knock against Van, BTW), this remains an essentially incremental move. I put the odds at 10%.
2. The Rams make a trade for Myles Jack. This would fill a definite need, and would be more than incremental upgrade. I put the odds at 40%. (Yes, I know the Rams tend to under value linebackers, but this unit is a weakness for a team with SB aspirations. I put the odds at 40%.
3. The Rams trade for Fletcher Cox. A number of thoughts here…better lineman make for bette linebackers, so not only is the line improved, but the backers as well….A playoff run would have the Rams playing some combination of the following : Brady, Murray, Prescott, Rodgers. All quarterbacks are negatively effected by pressure up the middle, and Cox helps with that (and it is critical to contain Murray in the pocket by playing contain on the outside and pressuring up the middle)…Cox makes it more difficult to double/triple Donald. I put the odds at 45%. (That leaves a 5% chance that I am completely wrong on all of this).
The Rams have shown a willingness to make the big moves and they essentially pushed their chips to the middle of the table when the traded for Stafford. If they need more cap room to make the above scenarios work, they will find it. As Sean said, this is about winning the Super Bowl and there next move will be bold.
