While two other teams have jettisoned their head coaches, the Los Angeles Rams job opening remains the most appealing and intriguing in the league. You don’t have to believe me. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer said this two weeks ago.
Despite what people think about Jared Goff and what’s gone on here with Jeff Fisher, the Los Angeles Rams opening will the the most sought-after, attractive, coveted job opening in the National Football League. There are coaches right now under contract thinking, how do I get out of here and get over to the Los Angeles Rams. …They look at Jared Goff as a huge positive. …There will be some huge names throwing themselves into the race for the head coaching position for the L.A. Rams.
A couple of days after Glazer spilled the beans on Fox, the rumors of those coaches trying to get out of their contracts began with two names rising to the surface; Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints and Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers.
Why #Saints coach Sean Payton has been paying attention to the #Rams job… and why his current team may let him go https://t.co/psOuNFZmOL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 24, 2016
Payton is the perfect move, so that’s something to monitor over the next week. The sooner the Rams and Saints could make it happen, the better. For us, it’s time to look at what the Rams could do with player acquisition and the NFL Draft. You can read my previous missives on the Rams’ potential offseason moves (pre and post Fisher firing) here, here, here and here.
Before I get to new business, I mentioned a possible Brandon Marshall trade with the New York Jets as a possibility and I’m feeling even better about it this week. Marshall and the rest of the Jets had some sort of locker room problem last week where Marshall tried to fire his team up, and just ended up pissing everyone off. His time in New York is probably over.
The Rams have invested a lot in the offensive line, but that’s no reason with nearly $22 million in cap space, not to cut bait on some of these guys, though I think with real coaching this line can come together quickly. Dallas Cowboys back up guard Ron Leary should be one of the first free agents the Rams sign. Reserve right tackle Menelik Watson from the Oakland Raiders should get a good look too.
Name to watch for the #Rams HC opening: #Panthers coach Ron Rivera. With a large Hispanic population in LA & a young team, it would fit.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 24, 2016
On defense, the Rams need an outside linebacker and while they have some young talent, they have the money to bring in a veteran starter like Melvin Ingram from San Diego. Akeem Ayers will be a free agent too and the new head coach can fix one of the Fisher screw ups this season. Chad Greenway and Jarvis Jones would probably be inexpensive outside linebacker upgrades.
If the Rams get a compensatory pick, and everyone expects them to, they’ll have a pick in every round but the first. These will be Top 10 picks in each round, so Los Angeles can still pull in a solid draft.
Looking at how the draft might fall, these are some potential picks they can make at those positions.
Withe second round pick you have to take Adoree’ Jackson, CB from USC, if he’s there. Otherwise Pat Elflien, Center from Ohio State, would be a nice pick. The Rams have needed a center upgrade for a decade.
Coach trades are complicated. One involving Ron Rivera & #Rams would be hard. But would imagine Norv Turner, who lives in CA could join him
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 24, 2016
In the third round, Tyrone Crowder, OG from Clemson, Dion Dawkins, OT from Temple or Jordan Willis, OLB from Kansas State would all help.
Fourth round? If he’s still there I turn in the card with Malachi Dupree’s name on so fast I go backward in time.
Fifth round? Conor McDermott, OT from UCLA or Jake Eldrenkamp, OG from Washington.
Sixth round? Julie’n Davenport, OT from Bucknell or Danny Isidora, OG from Miami
Seventh? Obi Melifonwu, Safety from UConn, Davon Godchaux, DT from LSU or Deatrick Nichols, CB from USF.
If the Rams got Jackson, Crowder, Dupree, McDermott, Davenport and Godchaux/Nichols in this draft, I’d be ecstatic. Especially if paired with solid trades and free agent moves.
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