NFL
By George Lopez
The Los Angeles Rams ended their 2022 season much sooner than they expected, missing the playoffs after finishing the season at 5-12. There are many questions the Rams face this offseason. Their biggest question, who would be the head coach, was answered when Sean McVay announced that he will return as coach of the Rams. GM Les Snead and the Rams front office face tough decisions as they look to build the roster and get the team under the 2023 salary cap. There are potential moves the Rams can make that would free up salary cap space to allow the Rams to bring in free agents to help improve the team. The Rams could look to restructure existing contracts as well as cutting or trading players post-June 1st which would free up cap space.
McVay will be looking for a new offensive coordinator this offseason as OC Liam Coen returned to the University of Kentucky to be their offensive coordinator. Reports have been out stating McVay will be looking for a veteran coach to fill as OC. The team has been linked to multiple coaches. Two of the biggest names the Rams have been linked to are former Jets OC Mike LaFleur and former Colts head coach Frank Reich. Bringing in an OC with their experience would help alleviate some of the responsibilities for Coach McVay.
The Rams are expected to pick up quarterback Matthew Stafford’s 2023 option bonus as well as his 2024 salary. This move will pay Stafford a combined $62 million in guaranteed money over the next 2 seasons. Losing Stafford injury this season, emphasized the need for a solid backup quarterback. The Rams will look at the possibility of resigning Baker Mayfield to be their backup quarterback. Resigning Mayfield looks unlikely as Mayfield has stated he wants to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. If Mayfield signs with another team, the Rams will need to look at which quarterbacks will be available in free agency.
The Rams may look to move on from TE Tyler Higbee this off-season. Higbee did have a career-high 72 receptions this season but his yards per catch decreased. If the Rams make the decision to cut ties with Higbee, the team would save $6.75 million in cap space if the move is made after June 1st.
Edge rusher Leonard Floyd is a player to keep an eye on this off-season. Floyd carries a cap hit of $22 million for the 2023 season and cutting or trading him post-June 1st would free up $15 million in cap space. The Rams lost their top edge rusher in Von Miller to free agency this past off-season. Cutting ties with Floyd would mean they would lose their top edge rusher 2 years in a row. Look for the Rams to restructure Floyd’s contract. The Rams will look to find an edge rusher to play opposite of Floyd through free agency. The Rams have been linked to players via trades. During the past season, the Rams inquired about trading for Jacksonville Jaguars LB Josh Allen. This offseason, the Rams may revisit a potential trade for Allen. The Rams could also look to restructure the contracts of WR Cooper Kupp, DT Aaron Donald, and CB Jalen Ramsey. Combined, the trio has a cap hit of approximately $79 million.
Starting safety Taylor Rapp is an unrestricted free agent. Under Snead, the Rams have allowed their safeties to leave via free agency rather than giving them a new contract. It’s a high probability the Rams will continue this trend and allow Rapp to sign with another team. The Rams have safeties Jordan Fuller and Russ Yeast under contract and could look to those players to step in for Rapp.
The biggest need the Rams need to address is their offensive line. Injuries decimated the line this season as RT Rob Havenstein was the only starter to play the entire season. The Rams have not drafted a quality offensive lineman in a number of years and having only 2 picks in the first 4 rounds of this year’s draft makes it highly unlikely they will draft a quality offensive lineman this year. The Rams may look to cut or trade current members of their offensive line to free up salary cap space. With the freed-up cap space, the Rams will then look to improve their offensive line via free agency.
The Rams have been under the win now mantra. They have traded first-round draft picks to bring in players to help them win immediately. That approach did work as the Rams won the Superbowl after the 2021 season. That success did come with a hefty price tag that is coming due. On the outside, the thought is the Rams will have to go through a year long rebuild. The Rams are not looking to rebuild, they are looking to reload. Under Les Snead, the Rams have been able to make moves to get under the salary cap that would allow them to bring in key free agents. Look for the Rams to do that this offseason as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2022 season and return to Superbowl contention.
