It’s an exciting time for the Los Angeles Rams, which might sound ridiculous since the team is 4-9 and heading to a sure ass-whipping in Seattle Thursday, but there is still much rejoicing at the firing of Jeff Fisher. The future is bright and the Rams will have their pick of head coaches as I detailed here, here and here.
But what kind of situation is that new head coaching coming into?
The Rams will open 2017 with $41,166,064 in salary cap space. With that space comes a couple of easy decisions. Los Angeles has two restricted free agents they need to tender, both defensive tackles. Ethan Westrbooks and Dominique Easley came to the Rams on completely different ends of the spectrum. Westrbooks is a hard-nosed undrafted free agent. Easley was a former first round pick of the New England Patriots. Both are currently back ups in the Rams’ rotation and neither will be expensive to keep. Westbrook can be tendered at $516,667 and Easley $600,000. Those are some easy checks to write for the Rams.
https://twitter.com/Cianaf/status/808066573965688832
The decisions have to be made with the unrestricted free agents, specifically cornerback Trumaine Johnson, Kenny Britt, Brian Quick and T. J. McDonald. Los Angeles screwed up last offseason letting Janoris Jenkins walk haggling over pennies after using the franchise tag on Johnson. Johnson has proven his worth and the Rams can’t afford to let another elite corner walk.
The wideouts are another issue altogether. Neither guy, Britt or Quick, is irreplaceable, but losing them both at the same time guts the Rams’ receiver corps. Quick is finally having the break-out season he always promised before injuries derailed him and should be the focus to sign before he hits free agency.
Britt is a keeper too, but might be harder to keep. He’s having a career season amidst the Rams’ dumpster fire and is just 63 yards away from his first career 1,000-yard season. The issue with Britt isn’t that the Rams can’t afford to keep him, they certainly can with that much cap space. The problem is he might just want to go play somewhere else for the $7-10 million a year he’s worth. Still, I wouldn’t let him walk out the door without a fight. Not when I’m paying Tavon Austin $10 million a year.
https://twitter.com/thejackwang/status/804796207818117120
Lastly, we have McDonald at strong safety. McDonald is a solid NFL starter and the Rams’ hardest hitter in the defensive backfield. He probably maxes out around $4-5 million on the open market and the Rams would have to pay at least that to replace him.
Great technique vs the back shoulder fade!! Turn to the WR and play through the hands!!! pic.twitter.com/NR0i7LuaK9
— WeAreDBnation (@WeAreDBNation1) December 4, 2016
The other Los Angeles UDFAs are all guys you could let walk out the door without much of a fight with maybe the exception of back up running back Bennie Cunningham and kicker Greg Zuerlein, though I’d let both test the market first. Back up QB Case Keenum, running back Chase Reynolds and defensive end Cam Thomas are complete non factors.
Every other key player on the Rams roster is under contract, most for multiple years, so there’s some real money to play with here for the new coach and whoever the General Manager turns out to be. There will also be some relatively high profile players available in trades as teams look to rebuild.
With Rex Ryan all but surely being fired from the Buffalo Bills, that organization may not be willing to throw down a franchise tag on its prized UDFA coming out, which should make cornerback Stephon Gilmore the No. 1 free agent priority for the new Rams regime. If Gilmore is off the table with a franchise tag, which is doubtful, Morris Claiborne probably won’t be and he would be choice No. 2.
Filed this late last night re: Bills and Stephon Gilmore contract situation. Details on expectations from both sides: https://t.co/oG3brQWWvH
— Sal Capaccio 🏈 (@SalSports) October 28, 2016
At wide receiver, there are two very real options for a significant upgrade as they work on getting Britt signed. I’d be shocked if the Chicago Bears will use the franchise tag on Alshon Jeffrey again, especially after a PED suspension. The Bears are in complete rebuild mode as well, so anyone willing to write a $12 million a year check can probably land the big-play receiver.
Playing on the franchise tag, that is a major hit to Alshon Jeffery's wallet. Suspension will cost him $3,435,058.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) November 14, 2016
Who else might be available? How about Brandon Marshall from the New York Jets? Marshall has battled on a losing team all season and the Jets are looking at an entire offensive rebuild this offseason. Marshall is coming into the final year of his contract and will make $7.5 million. The Jets could be willing to move him for a reasonable price, specifically a draft pick. This year Los Angeles has a second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounder. They probably wouldn’t part with the second, considering it should be pretty high, but a fourth in 2017 and a third in 2018 for Marshall seems like a solid deal.
Next: More player moves and the draft
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