The start free agency is less than a week away as NFL teams gear up to make their best offers to some of the top players available. The Los Angeles Rams have been preparing for the new league year by making a whirlwind of trades, beginning the remaking of their defense.
With so much happening in Thousand Oaks, we’re here to answer your biggest questions regarding the Rams’ offseason – from free agency to the draft.
I do. Any time you free up $5.2 million in cap space, it’s going to affect your plan in free agency. Watkins is obviously a player the Rams want to bring back, and I’d expect them to make an effort to between now and March 14, but they still won’t break the bank for him.
Ideally, the Rams will sign him to a one-year, $10-11 million deal before free agency begins, thus keeping him away from other teams. That $5.2 million they’re saving by trading Ogletree could be the difference in paying him $8 million and $12 million next season.
Not sure if the Rams are accepting applications, but I’ll refer you to Mr. Wade Phillips on Twitter: @sonofbum. Perhaps he can help.
Minkah Fitzpatrick or Bradley Chubb.
All jokes aside, there’s a wide array of prospects in consideration at No. 23. A few of my top (realistic) options are Rashaan Evans, Jaire Alexander, Harold Landry, Leighton Vander Esch and Vita Vea.
Now, there’s no guarantee all or any of those players will be available when the Rams go on the clock, but I’m fairly confident at least one of them will be. In other words, the Rams will be in good shape if they’re able to land one of those defensive playmakers.
Before the trade, Ogletree was set to count $11.6 million against the cap in 2018. That was the result of the Rams giving him a four-year $42.75 million extension back in October.
After the trade, his cap hit will drop to $6.4 million, thus saving the Rams $5.2 million this year alone. The real savings will come in the following three years when the Rams will save $33.8 million total.
As for the Rams’ plan, it’ll be a mix of both. Moving Ogletree opens up space for guys like Aaron Donald and Lamarcus Joyner, but it also allows the Rams to pursue someone like Avery Williamson or Dontari Poe, too.
The free agency class isn’t strong at the top when it comes to pass rushers, but there are a few lesser-known players worth considering. Aaron Lynch and Alex Okafor will be affordable and nice additions for Los Angeles on the edge.
In the draft, Harold Landry, Josh Sweat, Kemoko Turay and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo are some good options, as well.
Inside, Avery Williamson is the cream of the crop. He’s just 25 years old, and although he’ll cost nearly $9 million per year, the Rams can now afford that sort of price. Jon Bostic is another free agent option, as is NaVorro Bowman.
The draft is where the Rams are likely to find their replacement for Ogletree, however. Rashaan Evans, Leighton Vander Esch and Micah Kiser are all great run defenders and should get plenty of consideration.
Easley is a difficult player to project because of how many injuries he’s battled over the course of his career. The Rams had high hopes for him in 2017, but he wasn’t able to play a single snap due to another knee injury.
I think the Rams will give him another chance to prove he can stay healthy by signing him to a one-year, sub-$1 million contract. At the very least, he can rotate in at defensive end, pushing Michael Brockers inside on passing downs.
- I like Littleton a lot. He’s an explosive athlete who was probably the Rams’ best inside linebacker this past season. He makes plays on the ball, is comfortable dropping into coverage and is a punishing blitzer. As for whether he’s a starter, I wouldn’t give him that role in Week 1. I’d work him in on sub-packages and let him get more comfortable.
- Yes. I don’t see the Rams going after an Allen Robinson or Jarvis Landry-type, but the second tier of receivers is strong with those players you mentioned. Richardson is a really intriguing player with his speed, which could help the Rams stretch the field without Watkins.
- Dontari Poe would be a nice addition in free agency, as would Vita Vea in the draft. Both would greatly improve the Rams’ run defense.