In a short amount of time, the Rams should be able to elevate a good roster to a great one.
It’s not too early to say that this season’s surprisingly positive results could lead to a faster return to the top tier than anticipated, even though the Los Angeles Rams are far from finished proving how far they can go in 2023. They emerged as a playoff contender despite a roster that was largely constructed out of necessity to react to trading their early draft picks and signing players to contracts that did more harm than good. Based on two factors, if not the playoffs this year, then at least next year:
The Rams have exceeded most people’s expectations.
Compared to the previous offseason, the Rams will have greater advantages in the upcoming one.
The group has more time and resources in the studio, as well as a better lump of clay to mold. The Rams may return to the Super Bowl sooner than expected if they take advantage of these three advantages in 2023 as opposed to 2021.
A first-round draft selection
The Los Angeles Rams will enter an offseason with their first-round draft pick in hand for the first time since 2019. And while it’s too soon to confirm anything—you never know when Les Snead will make a trade—it makes sense that the Rams would select a player with their first-round pick for the first time since selecting Jared Goff in 2016.
The Rams selected Taylor Rapp at 61st overall in 2019 after trading down multiple times with their first-round pick.
The Rams have gone seven drafts without selecting a player in the first round, as has been stated numerous times. It appears that 2024 will mark not only the first time we can mock players to Los Angeles in the first round, but also the first time they actually use it.
The Rams were in position to select sixth overall a few weeks ago. Now that their chances of making the playoffs appear more likely, Los Angeles is projected to finish in the top 20.
Let’s just say that, in contrast to previous Rams rosters, it would be a huge advantage to finally be able to add a day one prospect to the roster. As of right now, no one has a good idea where the Rams will ultimately land in the draft order. If all goes according to plan, that is a potential starter who will provide L.A. with the financial flexibility it needs as a cost-controlled asset for four to five years, giving them a net value against the salary cap.
Just consider how fortunate the Rams are to have rookies like Steve Avila, Jordan Fuller, Kobie Turner, Byron Young, Puka Nacua, and Ernest Jones hitting above their salary cap hits.
But you just can’t rely on landing day three draft steals every year. At some point, shoot your high percentage shots.
That being said, let’s just say that Les Snead does decide to trade it again. It’s actually been since 2015 that Snead has let a year pass without trading his first round pick, since he traded up for Goff. You’d need to go all the way back to Todd Gurley for that.
The Rams receive an advantage that they did not have this season even after trading the pick. The Rams haven’t even had first round picks to trade half the time because they traded two first round picks for Jalen Ramsey and two first round picks for Matthew Stafford. L.A. will now have the option that they haven’t had since 2021 if Snead decides he wants to trade down and raise more money, trade up for a better prospect, or trade it for a veteran.
Assuming that the Rams do select a player, which is certainly what I would recommend at this stage, there’s basically no position that wouldn’t make sense because of how the roster is constructed and the various stages of career that their best players are at right now. Quarterback? Sure. Offensive tackle? Absolutely. Edge rusher? You bet. Cornerback? Why not. Receiver? Yes, that too. Tight end? If he’s the right one.
If you’re concerned about a running back, you don’t need to be because none are projected for the first round, as far as I’m aware.
Regardless of the player the Rams choose to select in the draft, he ought to suit their needs well. Additionally, draft enthusiasts have long needed the opportunity to select a player on the first round.
Space for salary caps
The Rams are on track to have more salary cap space than they have in a long time, even though they may not end up with much. granting Snead the authority to go out and sign additional Rams in addition to re-signing the ones McVay likes.
L.A. is currently projected by OvertheCap with $57.4 million in cap space against a projected $260.3 million salary cap.
That is 12th in the NFL in relation to other teams.
In contrast, the Rams were essentially limited to trading players during the previous offseason, frequently at little or no cap savings. The Rams’ $51.6 million defense is currently the least expensive in the NFL, with Aaron Donald receiving the lion’s share of the salary.
The top three teams in the league all spend more than $100 million on defense, while no other team in the league spends less than $60 million. Once more, Donald earns $26 million on his own, whereas Jalen Ramsey and Leonard Floyd are capped at $20 million each for dead money. This implies that just for Donald, Ramsey, Floyd, and Bobby Wagner, Los Angeles had to set aside more than $70 million in 2023 cap space.
That is significantly more than they are paid for their actual defense.
Snead and his staff had to find cheap players like Ahkello Witherspoon, John Johnson, Demarcus Robinson, and Royce Freeman in addition to holding the highest number of rookies in the NFL in order to field a 53-man roster and practice squad that would fit under the salary cap.
That Los Angeles is 5-6 and has a chance to make the playoffs is AMAZING.
And even though the Rams’ “effective salary cap” (which is calculated by deducting some money that the team will have to pay out of the cap in 2024) is projected to drop to $41.3 million in 2024 (not confirmed), that’s still a significant improvement over what the team had to deal with in 2023. If the Rams maintain their current level of success and continue to view themselves as contenders, Los Angeles will be able to retain Stafford, Donald, and Cooper Kupp without having to consider rebuilding or saving money on the salary cap.
They didn’t choose to do that in 2022 or 2023, and it seems unlikely they will in 2024.
Rams free agents for 2024
Several of Los Angeles’s 2023 steals rank among their top 2024 free agents: After a late-season trade acquisition, Witherspoon became a must-have; Kevin Dotson became a should-be-kept; Carson Wentz and John Johnson could be re-signed; and restricted free agents Michael Hoecht, A.J. Jackson, Christian Rozeboom, and Jonah Williams should not be very expensive to retain.
Actually, Los Angeles ought to be able to retain these players and still have a sizable surplus of cash to experiment with first- and second-wave free agency. We are aware of the Rams’ fondness for swimming in that lake whenever possible.
The addition of even one or two well-known players could have a significant impact on the roster’s composition. Mike Evans and Tee Higgins, two receivers, are expected to become free agents if the Rams decide they need another weapon. Tyron Smith, Mike Onwenu, Jonah Williams, Mehki Becton, and Mike Onwenu are among the tackles available if they choose to push A.J. Jackson and use their first round pick on a different position. They could add Leonard Williams or Justin Madubuike, who would greatly strengthen the defensive line. If the Rams can’t find a cheaper deal for Jonathan Greenard or Danielle Hunter, they might finally close that deal for Brian Burns. Along with corners, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Geno Stone are free agent safeties. Jaylon Johnson and Kendall Fuller
Though free agency can be a red herring and often leads to disappointing results, the Rams have definitely benefited from these big moves in the past. Now they should have the option to try again.
Flexibility in the roster
Lastly, unlike in 2023, the Rams will have roster flexibility in 2024: the capacity to transfer players that they previously wouldn’t have been able to do so with ease.
Again, it makes perfect sense that Los Angeles wouldn’t want to part with Donald, Stafford, or Kupp, but in 2023, they really wouldn’t have had many options. In 2024, all options are available. Don’t get mad at me; I’m not saying they should, but they could trade or release any of them and be prepared to bear the consequences.
In 2023, there wasn’t really much of a choice.
The Rams are in a similar position with Rob Havenstein. He makes $14 million in 2024 and will almost certainly be the team’s right tackle again because of his contract. The recently-extended Tyler Higbee will be the tight end.
However, the options really open up from there.
The Rams could, and almost definitely will, release or trade Joe Noteboom. Either way, the team saves $5 million with $15 million in dead money left on the cap. The other thing they could do is restructure Noteboom, bring his cap hit down to $10.75 million, and keep him in 2025 for about the same amount. Is that good value for a utility backup?
The Rams can release Brian Allen and save $4.9 million.
Make those two moves, releasing those linemen, and the Rams projected cap goes to $67.3 million and over $50 million in effective cap space.
There is even more flexibility if the Rams have complete faith in their star players. They could reorganize Kupp’s contract to free up as much as $12.5 million in cap space in 2024. They have the same options with Stafford and Donald, but they should only take them into consideration if they believe that both players will still be in the league in 2025 and if they absolutely need the money.
In any case, this flexibility wasn’t there before.
Plans for the roster in 2024
The Rams could actually assemble an even stronger team around Stafford, Donald, Kupp, Puka, a few young offensive line starters, Kyren, Turner, Young, Witherspoon, Jones, and other players with these three advantages.
Trades, flexibility, free agency, and the draft.
Regardless of the Rams’ performance this season, what might happen in the future is practically icing on the cake. The opportunities to “rebuild” are emerging far more quickly than first thought.