**First let me say how stupid most of the people who ASK the questions are. I'm talking dumber than snake shit.
Wagoner Highlights
—I think they like what Barksdale did in 2013 but still view that as a position that could be upgraded then you’d have Barksdale as a really strong swing tackle. If indeed he hangs on to the job in 2014, it would be a big year for him in determining whether he’s a starter long term or not. Regardless, he did a solid job in 2013 and Paul Boudreau should be commended for his work with him and the rest of the line.
—Well, I think Jenkins and Johnson are actually better suited to playing more press man than zone but I also don’t think that necessarily means the secondary is equipped to do it. As you reference, a team like Seattle can do so much of it because it has a safety in Earl Thomas who can cover up any miscues on the back end. The Rams don’t have that. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the Rams use some early picks on another top corner and/or a rangy safety. My early read is that the draft offers more corners worthy of going early than safeties but we’ll see how it all plays out.
—Players on injured reserve still count against the salary cap so at any given time, you can have more than 53 counting against the cap if you have players on injured reserve. Now, more often than not, the player replacing the injured guy is going to cost league minimum but it still means you have to have some flexibility as you go through the year.
—Starter at Center in ’14? I believe the Rams would like it to be Barrett Jones but there’s a lot that must take place between now and then for that to happen.
—Any chance the Rams cut ties with Bradford and look at a QB at 2? No
—Trade Chris Long? Trading Long would be silly for a number of reasons. I realize his sack numbers were down a little this year but he was still one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the league, just like he has been for the past four years or so. That doesn’t even factor in the fact that trading him would be of no help financially.
—Kevin Demoff does a great job managing the cap for the Rams and he is always planning multiple years in advance. I believe he’s got the team well positioned to handle the cap in the coming years.
—Finnegan is due $6 million in base salary, $3 million in roster bonus and $1 million in signing bonus (from the $5 million signing bonus spread out over his contract) next year. That brings his cap number to $10 million for 2014. If the Rams chose to release Finnegan outright, they’d only be on the hook for the remainder of the signing bonus in terms of accelerated cap space, so they’d realize a net savings of $7 million next year so long as any move was made before the roster bonus is due.
—The Rams seem to believe they can do what they need to do without touching Bradford’s contract. It’s highly unlikely that anything changes with Bradford this offseason aside from him rehabbing his knee in anticipation of returning as the starter in 2014.
—I’m not sure there’s a safety worth that 13th pick in this draft. Some good players but none that really really jump off the page to me. I really enjoy watching Florida State CB/S LaMarcus Joyner and thing he’d be a great fit in a Honey Badger type of role as a safety and slot corner but as far as rangy free safety types, I think you can find a guy later than 13th in the draft. That’s just my initial impression. I’ll have more after the combine.
—Pead? Many of his issues have been self-inflicted. Remember, he was suspended for a game for violation of the league’s policy on substance abuse. A lot of succeeding in the NFL is about being a professional every day.
—I do think a top OT would and should be a priority for the Rams. Whether they draft one and he plays RT or guard or wherever in year one, setting themselves up for the future makes a lot of sense. For what it’s worth, I like Robinson’s upside more than any OL in the draft and think if he had to play guard in year one, he’d be absolutely lights out at that spot.
—By no means was I saying the Rams should ignore free agency. There’s nothing wrong with finding a starter or two there and paying mid level type of money. Guys like Kendall Langford are worthwhile moves. The point was that they should be out of the business of handing over huge contracts to free agents as they get closer to the time where they have to re-sign their own guys. There aren’t many teams that have handed out huge contracts that have worked out for the long term. Finding mid level and young guys with upside to supplement the roster is the way to go. Nothing wrong with the Rams doing what they did the past two years, they needed to do that to be competitive but if they believe in the young guys they have as much as they say they do, there’s no need to hand out large chunks of guaranteed money to more free agents who may or may not work out.
—Add A Vet WR? I strongly doubt it. The Rams aren’t going to take reps away from any of their young wideouts unless it’s a guy they believe can be a top receiver. A vet minimum guy doesn’t bring that.
—If Saffold leaves, I think it would be pretty wise for the Rams to invest at guard. Again, not breaking the bank but a solid mid level contract similar to the one Harvey Dahl got a few years ago would make sense for a veteran, especially on the interior of the line. If they let Wells and Dahl go, they’ll be awfully young between the tackles.
—I think ultimately Saffold will get a better offer to go elsewhere and likely will. The Rams likely will make a push to keep him and should but as I mentioned earlier, the free agent market is going to thin out with extensions and tags and Saffold’s value is only going to rise.
—Is there a scenario that makes sense in which the Rams would draft Johnny Football and cut Bradford to save money for other defensive studs who will be coming off their rookie contracts soon? Nope
—I think the Rams will add another corner one way or another. I think there’s a chance Finnegan stays but almost none that he stays under the same cap number for next year.
—Dunbar? Don’t think he’s too expensive. He did have a down year after coming back from the suspension. I think he still has something to offer and bringing him back would make sense, especially with Williams in place. But I’m a bit skeptical that it happens.
—I think the Rams like McGee’s potential. He has speed that can’t be taught. But it was tough sledding for him the time he got on the field for defense. He’s a bit raw but potential is there. I don’t think Rams would be comfortable with him as the nickel entering the season, at least not without competition first. I wouldn’t be.
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Wagoner Highlights
—I think they like what Barksdale did in 2013 but still view that as a position that could be upgraded then you’d have Barksdale as a really strong swing tackle. If indeed he hangs on to the job in 2014, it would be a big year for him in determining whether he’s a starter long term or not. Regardless, he did a solid job in 2013 and Paul Boudreau should be commended for his work with him and the rest of the line.
—Well, I think Jenkins and Johnson are actually better suited to playing more press man than zone but I also don’t think that necessarily means the secondary is equipped to do it. As you reference, a team like Seattle can do so much of it because it has a safety in Earl Thomas who can cover up any miscues on the back end. The Rams don’t have that. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the Rams use some early picks on another top corner and/or a rangy safety. My early read is that the draft offers more corners worthy of going early than safeties but we’ll see how it all plays out.
—Players on injured reserve still count against the salary cap so at any given time, you can have more than 53 counting against the cap if you have players on injured reserve. Now, more often than not, the player replacing the injured guy is going to cost league minimum but it still means you have to have some flexibility as you go through the year.
—Starter at Center in ’14? I believe the Rams would like it to be Barrett Jones but there’s a lot that must take place between now and then for that to happen.
—Any chance the Rams cut ties with Bradford and look at a QB at 2? No
—Trade Chris Long? Trading Long would be silly for a number of reasons. I realize his sack numbers were down a little this year but he was still one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the league, just like he has been for the past four years or so. That doesn’t even factor in the fact that trading him would be of no help financially.
—Kevin Demoff does a great job managing the cap for the Rams and he is always planning multiple years in advance. I believe he’s got the team well positioned to handle the cap in the coming years.
—Finnegan is due $6 million in base salary, $3 million in roster bonus and $1 million in signing bonus (from the $5 million signing bonus spread out over his contract) next year. That brings his cap number to $10 million for 2014. If the Rams chose to release Finnegan outright, they’d only be on the hook for the remainder of the signing bonus in terms of accelerated cap space, so they’d realize a net savings of $7 million next year so long as any move was made before the roster bonus is due.
—The Rams seem to believe they can do what they need to do without touching Bradford’s contract. It’s highly unlikely that anything changes with Bradford this offseason aside from him rehabbing his knee in anticipation of returning as the starter in 2014.
—I’m not sure there’s a safety worth that 13th pick in this draft. Some good players but none that really really jump off the page to me. I really enjoy watching Florida State CB/S LaMarcus Joyner and thing he’d be a great fit in a Honey Badger type of role as a safety and slot corner but as far as rangy free safety types, I think you can find a guy later than 13th in the draft. That’s just my initial impression. I’ll have more after the combine.
—Pead? Many of his issues have been self-inflicted. Remember, he was suspended for a game for violation of the league’s policy on substance abuse. A lot of succeeding in the NFL is about being a professional every day.
—I do think a top OT would and should be a priority for the Rams. Whether they draft one and he plays RT or guard or wherever in year one, setting themselves up for the future makes a lot of sense. For what it’s worth, I like Robinson’s upside more than any OL in the draft and think if he had to play guard in year one, he’d be absolutely lights out at that spot.
—By no means was I saying the Rams should ignore free agency. There’s nothing wrong with finding a starter or two there and paying mid level type of money. Guys like Kendall Langford are worthwhile moves. The point was that they should be out of the business of handing over huge contracts to free agents as they get closer to the time where they have to re-sign their own guys. There aren’t many teams that have handed out huge contracts that have worked out for the long term. Finding mid level and young guys with upside to supplement the roster is the way to go. Nothing wrong with the Rams doing what they did the past two years, they needed to do that to be competitive but if they believe in the young guys they have as much as they say they do, there’s no need to hand out large chunks of guaranteed money to more free agents who may or may not work out.
—Add A Vet WR? I strongly doubt it. The Rams aren’t going to take reps away from any of their young wideouts unless it’s a guy they believe can be a top receiver. A vet minimum guy doesn’t bring that.
—If Saffold leaves, I think it would be pretty wise for the Rams to invest at guard. Again, not breaking the bank but a solid mid level contract similar to the one Harvey Dahl got a few years ago would make sense for a veteran, especially on the interior of the line. If they let Wells and Dahl go, they’ll be awfully young between the tackles.
—I think ultimately Saffold will get a better offer to go elsewhere and likely will. The Rams likely will make a push to keep him and should but as I mentioned earlier, the free agent market is going to thin out with extensions and tags and Saffold’s value is only going to rise.
—Is there a scenario that makes sense in which the Rams would draft Johnny Football and cut Bradford to save money for other defensive studs who will be coming off their rookie contracts soon? Nope
—I think the Rams will add another corner one way or another. I think there’s a chance Finnegan stays but almost none that he stays under the same cap number for next year.
—Dunbar? Don’t think he’s too expensive. He did have a down year after coming back from the suspension. I think he still has something to offer and bringing him back would make sense, especially with Williams in place. But I’m a bit skeptical that it happens.
—I think the Rams like McGee’s potential. He has speed that can’t be taught. But it was tough sledding for him the time he got on the field for defense. He’s a bit raw but potential is there. I don’t think Rams would be comfortable with him as the nickel entering the season, at least not without competition first. I wouldn’t be.
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