Team Needs:

LB, EDGE, DT, CB, FS, OG, C

Available Draft Picks:

1(31), 3(95), 3(100), 4(134), 5(170), 6(205), 7(253)

Starting Cap Space:

$27,386,386

Trades:

Pick 1(31) to NYG for picks 2(37), 4(109), and a 2020 2nd rounder

The Rams would benefit greatly from trading back slightly to add another pick and get some cheap talent on the roster since they’ll have to pay Jared Goff soon, which won’t be cheap at all.

Restructures:

None

Cuts:

LB Mark Barron to save $6,916,666

C John Sullivan to save $4,250,000

The Mark Barron project just never came to fruition in St. Louis or Los Angeles so getting rid of him now helps clear a good amount of cap space to help the Rams be more active in free agency. John Sullivan’s time has come to an end here with the Rams and they can look to move on in-house with Brian Allen or to bring in a free agent or in the draft.

Re-signings:

G Rodger Saffold III for 4 years, $50,000,000

LB Cory Littleton for 1 year, $4,429,000 (1st-round tender)

RB CJ Anderson for 1 year, $2,000,000

S Blake Countess for 1 year, $720,000 (ERFA)

Rodger Saffold has been one of the top guards in the NFL for the past few seasons so retaining him should be one of the top priorities for the Rams this offseason. Cory Littleton is a tackle machine and after making the Pro Bowl this season, placing a first-round tender on him might be the cheapest option to retain him. CJ Anderson excelled in the Rams offense once he joined the team so it would be wise to keep him under contract and he shouldn’t be very expensive. Blake Countess would be coming back on a very cheap deal as an ERFA and showed some flashes of potential so keep him as long as he’s an ERFA or an RFA.

Free Agent Signings:

LB Clay Matthews for 1 year, $3,500,000

DT Steve McLendon for 1 year, $2,000,000

G Quinton Spain for 3 years, $7,200,000

LB Jake Ryan for 1 year, $4,500,000

Bringing in Clay Matthews provides the Rams with a veteran defender and for the price, a good edge rusher. He’s not going to perform at the level that he once could but he’ll still be good enough to get the job done. Steve McLendon would be brought in here strictly as a nose tackle to anchor the defensive line. Quinton Spain would be able to come in immediately and replace Austin Blythe as the starting guard opposite Rodger Saffold. Given the torn ACL that Jake Ryan suffered last year, he should be willing to sign for a cheaper, one-year deal to prove that he can still play at a high level.

Draft Results:

2.37 – Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple

Aqib Talib is approaching the tail-end of his career and his physicality will be missed, but Rock Ya-Sin could be the perfect replacement for him. Outside of having one of the best names in the 2019 draft class, Ya-Sin is one of the most talented and physical corners in the draft.

3.95 – D’Andre Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Sticking to the defensive side of the football, the Rams take an edge defender here who could be an immediate contributor to both the pass and run defense.

3.100 – David Sills V, WR, West Virginia

Sills V would be able to sit behind Cooks, Woods, and Kupp for a season while he continues to learn the position. The former QB is still adjusting to playing receiver and he’s been one of the most productive receivers in college football over the past two seasons, especially in the red zone.

4.109 – Amani Hooker, S, Iowa

Going secondary with two of their first four picks might not be the picks that fans necessarily want here but Hooker could step in immediately and fill the gap left by Lamarcus Joyner. Hooker is a versatile defensive back that can cover and isn’t afraid of coming up to defend the run.

4.134 – Erik McCoy, IOL, Texas A&M

Drafting Erik McCoy here provides the Rams with an immediate starter in the mid-rounds and that’s always a great value pick.

5.170 – Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State

Not the sexy pick here, but taking Rypien to be the backup QB should still be an upgrade over Sean Mannion.

6.205 – Daylon Mack, DL, Texas A&M

Mack was expected to be a superstar coming out of high school but he never really developed into that. Instead, Mack became a stout run defender without a ton of pass-rush ability but he should still be able to find some success as a nose tackle for the Rams.

7.253 – Richard Olekanma, LB, Toledo

Although he’s not a commonly known name, Olekanma could be a 7th round pick or a UDFA but to ensure that he ends up in LA, the Rams could take him here. Olekanma would primarily be an inside linebacker that occasionally works from the edge and would be a special teams contributor at the very least.

Cap Space Spent on Re-signings:

$19,649,000

Cap Space Spent on Free Agents:

$12,400,000

Cap Space Spent on Draft Picks:

$5,698,020

Total Cap Remaining:

$802,032

Backfield Starters

QB: Jared Goff

RB: Todd Gurley

Receiver Starters

WR1: Brandin Cooks

WR2: Robert Woods

Slot WR: Cooper Kupp

TE1: Tyler Higbee

TE2: Gerald Everett

Offensive Line Starters

LT: Andrew Whitworth

LG: Rodger Saffold III

C: Erik McCoy

RG: Quinton Spain

RT: Rob Havenstein

Defensive Line Starters

WDE: Michael Brockers

NT: Steve McLendon

SDE: Aaron Donald

Linebacker Starters

WLB: Samson Ebukam/Clay Matthews

ILB: Cory Littleton

ILB: Jake Ryan

SLB: D’Andre Walker

Secondary Starters

CB1: Aqib Talib

CB2: Marcus Peters

Slot CB: Rock Ya-Sin

FS: Amani Hooker

SS: John Johnson III

Special Teamers

K: Greg Zuerlein

P: Johnny Hekker

KOS: Greg Zuerlein

LS: Jake McQuaide

KR: John Kelly

PR: Cooper Kupp