He might have a market bigger than what the Rams would be willing to do. But at age 31 and coming off a very good 2023 he could fill that veteran stopgap role while the Rams add a CB high in the Draft as well. I think the Rams need to push Kendrick and Durant down the depth chart to the CB4 and CB5 roles with Tomlinson hopefully able to elevate into the top 3.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Rams bounced back well at Tampa that game after losing week 1 at Green Bay. I was at the game the following week in Anaheim vs. PHIL. Then lost in OT to a good Bengals team and blown out at Chicago before putting up 44 vs. Atlanta. For me it wasn't really until the 41-10 MNF loss at Pittsburgh (dropping to 2-5) before I realized they had some big problems.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
The RFA tender is $2.98M. That's a lot for him. But he was 12th in defensive snaps, 3rd in special teams snaps and 4th overall on the team in tackles. He is a nice role player. The veteran minimum salary is $915k. I'd be in favor of bringing him back for something in between. Call it $1.5 or $1.6M.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Not picking on Robinson but one big reason teams fail at the draft is when they see someone run a 40 in .15 seconds more than expected and somehow think that equates to "rising up the draft board." The value of the Combine is 85% about the medical exams and team interviews. The other 15% is to see which players have taken the process seriously enough to show up in shape, help breakby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Via Tankathon:by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
If you're an average player like Coleman Shelton you are not going to make a huge payday. And maybe he is only in the league another 2-3 years, who knows. So he is going to try and squeeze every dollar he can in 2024 and 2025 knowing there might not be more after that. He's doing what he should. Likely wants to remain where he is in a good situation but at fair market price.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I was thinking the same thing. Timmerman in 1999 and Whitworth in 2017 infused huge talent upgrades at their positions while having a big ripple effect across the entire OL.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I just have doubts that Donald will want to play at age 34 (in 2025). Maybe he does, who knows. But I don't see him as a guy that will play until he's a shell of himself. He doesn't need to. Has a ring. Has every accolade a defensive player could ever hope for. Guaranteed first ballot HOFer. Made a ton of money. He's playing because he wants to right now which is great. Same with Stafford. Iby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
The opportunity cost of drafting a center in the top 20 (when they can re-sign Shelton to a moderate deal) and missing the chance to get an impact Edge rusher or CB is way too high. Just the nature of the draft at certain positions- far more likely to get a good center prospect late in the 3rd/early 4th rounds than CB or Edge.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Any hand wringing about Shelton and Dotson is sort of unfounded. They gave Shelton that deal, in part, to give themselves flexibility. I think they legitimately want him back. So they're saying go say what the market says and lets' find a middle ground. And what would they do about Dotson? Franchise him (using more than half their cap space)? It's a free market. He wants to see his value. Soby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I don't see this team as needing to go on some massive spending spree. They have the cap space needed (and will have more if/when Notebook is released) to make the additions, upgrades and retentions they need. I have to think Donald is 50/50 at best to play in 2025. If he retired they'd top $100M in 2025 cap space (as of now). Same with Stafford. They enter a new era if/when both walk awaby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I still can't believe those temporary facilities and trailers at CS Lutheran lasted as long as they did. Supposedly they were literally falling apart this last year. I'm sure the new team HQ and training facilities in Woodland Hills will take into 2025 to complete but they should be in much better facilities come this July.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Came in hyped on a big contract in 2021 and failed to deliver over his two years there.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
True. I'm really optimistic on Davis Allen too. But regardless they won't have Higbee back until midseason and will need a solid, blocking TE2 out of the gate. Maybe Hunter Long comes back healthy. Maybe... But I'd look for a 2nd/3rd tier FA TE to sign. Could also draft a guy in later rounds like the Penn State kid.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Like you, I don't know if he's their long-term LT. Quite possibly not. And maybe they end up drafting who they think IS their long-term LT in late April. Who knows. But in the meantime, as you said, they have a kid who has been reliable and played well (not great) overall and would be well worth bringing back. Team him with Avila (who should ascend in his 2nd year) on that left side. $4.8M foby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
A ways to go, but so far Latham seems to be rated as a consensus top-15 prospect. If so- and if he's there at 19- would certainly have to be a consideration. Could also allow the Rams to trade back too, though, if some others love him and they don't.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
It's early but I would be all for those two in the top 2 rounds....by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
It's a good point. What Robinson returning does is give them flexibility. They still could draft a WR in the top 3 rounds. But they don't have to. Forcing any draft pick at a specific position typically rarely works out. If the value falls to them, great. If not and they draft a WR in the 6th round or something then they're in a good place for 2024. But to your point they would then enterby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I would give a 2nd round tender ($4.89M) to Jackson, offer the standard tender to Williams and not tender to the other three while trying to bring Hoecht and Rozeboom back at lower salaries. Let Johnson leave.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
They are over the hump and in a great place will all three of those contracts. They have the cap space they need for 2024. Don't add unnecessary baggage down the line.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Even if they tender Jackson as a RFA at the 2nd round level, another team could come after him. You never know. So it might simply be a waiting game to get through that RFA period and then release Noteboom in mid-April prior to the Draft. Just like with Robinson at WR, having Jackson back for 2024 takes the pressure off having to draft a LT high. Maybe they still do. If the value presents itsby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I think they want to draft a WR (for 2025) as well. But depending on where they take that WR could impact Atwell. I'm all in favor of keeping Atwell as the WR4/deep threat. He played well the first 4 games when Kupp was out. Only caught 16 passes over their final 12 games but that's what a WR4 will do. And if they draft a WR in the 6th round or something then he's most likely a developmenby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
A quality WR3. Averaged 3.5 catches/game the 2nd half of the year. This takes the pressure off drafting a WR (though I still hope they do) and keeps the group's overall depth in place with Atwell the WR4 and Skowronek the WR5 that can plug into any of the WR spots. Robinson was rated 51st among 128 WR by PFF this year and 48th out of 211 WR by DVOA. For $5M you're not going to do much betby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
The raw number is bigger but so is it for every other team. The Rams were 12th in the league in projected 2024 cap space this morning and they still are now. And agents and players see the increase too- and their demands will shift upward accordingly. Nice to have more wiggle room than less. But really does not change what the Rams can/should or can't do.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Given all the talk about how the latter part of this Draft is much weaker/more shallow than usual I'd like to see them trade a couple of their day 3 picks either to move up on day 2 of the Draft or for player(s). The Rams have seven day 3 picks and this seems like it is not a year to make seven day 3 selections.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Drafting a WR now would be far less about 2024 and much more about 2025- when Kupp will be 32 and Atwell and Skowronek both past their contracts. Hopefully they can re-sign Robinson but I'd still take a WR ideally with one of their 5 picks in the top 3 rounds.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Someone that can get you through 1-2 games and keep you competitive. If you need a backup QB for 4, 6+ games you're out of luck. Just about any team is. I'd be in favor of re-signing Wentz while drafting another project QB in April. I don't think there will be any potential starting QB market for Wentz like Mayfield had a year ago.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
And I mean more than half after they release Noteboom. No way, no how, no thanks.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Agree. Played well throughout 2021 and was a piece of them winning it all.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com