FanPost

Would this work?

Note: Sorry if I get anything wrong. I’m just a rookie trying to get my head around the off-season. The Rams greatest needs are debateable so I’ve used Bernie Miklasz’s ‘needs’ as a template. If someone’s not listed (most likely) I’m assuming he’ll be gone when the Rams draft in that round. I also haven’t put all the backups in but hopefully you’ll get the idea.

"The Rams greatest off-season needs": Cornerback, Safety, Offensive Tackle, Wide Receiver, Outside Linebacker (source: Bernie M.)

Free Agency:

Let Saffold, Wells, Finnegan, & Langford walk. With the $

Sign Jarius Byrd FS

Sign Alex Mack, Center

Sign Matt Slauson, Guard

(& maybe Donald Butler LB)

Draft:

Trade down with Cleveland. 3 x 1st round picks are

(1st Round):

Draft: Jake Matthews / Greg Robinson / Taylor Lewan (OT BPA)

Draft: Sammy Watkins / Marquise Lee / Mike Evans (WR BPA)

Draft: Louis Nix / Ra'Shede Hageman / Timmy Jernigan (DT BPA)

(2nd Round – CB)

Marcus Robinson/Kyle Fuller/ Loucheiz Purifoy (CB BPA)

(3nd Round - OG):

Tre Jackson/Anthony Steen/ Arie Kouandjio (OG BPA)

(4th Round – LB):

Jordan Zumwalt / Jonathan Brown / Ron Powell (OLB BPA)

(5th Round- CB depth):

Jaylen Watkins / Aaron Colvin / Carrington Byndom (CB BPA)

(6th Round – DT depth)


Leon Orr / Danny Shelton / Kerry Hyder (DT BPA)

(7th Round)

Aaron Murray QB / Hakeem Smith SS / Cody Riggs CB/S / Kenny Hilliard RB / (BPA)

Philosophy: To me D & O-lines are paramount so I've added DT as a need. If you have a strong push from the D-line you can sacrifice a little in the secondary. TJ can play FS or SS so there's some flexibility. Free agency is crucial. If they get it right it takes pressure off the draft. Also if the Rams don’t trade for Cleveland’s first two picks I think there’s a chance they could trade down twice and still wind up with 3 picks in the first round, or they could pick up a high 2nd rounder (from Raiders?) and one of the 1st rounders (Mike Evans?) might drop etc.

Rams 2014 Offense:

QB: Bradford / Clemens / Murray

RB: Stacy / Cunningham / Richardson

TE: Cook / Kendricks / Harkey

WR: Watkins(or Evans) /Austin / Bailey / Givens / Quick

OL: Long / Kouandjio / Mack / Slauson / Matthews (backups: Jones /Barksdale /Williams /Dahl)

Rams 2014 Defense:

DL: Long / Brockers / Nix / Quinn

LB: Ogletree / Lauranitis / Ray-Ray (backup: Powell)

CB: Jenkins / Purifoy / Johnson / McGee / Byndom

SS: TJ McDonald / Giordano

FS: Jarius Byrd / McLeod

Final disclaimer: Sorry if I got anything wrong. Sorry if anyone feels there's better FA's or better OLB/CB/OG etc candidates in those rounds. Sorry if anyone feels my trades wouldn't work. Sorry if I've forgotten anybody. Sorry if some players (Dahl?) might be better as starters. Also if my FA pickups/salary cap numbers don’t work maybe they can restructure someones contract (Bradford with an extension?) etc. So would this work? To me getting the right free agents is critical.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/bernie-questions-for-rams-offseason/article_9f924fe5-749e-5978-bd83-19e123ed1db1.html