FanPost

Quinn, Long, Clowney & Contracts

I been thinking about our Cap situation as of late. I think i speak for everyone when i say that i want to see Quinn in a Rams jersey for a long time. But im also worried that by resigning Quinn, we wreck our cap space for other players. After spending some time with my inner GM, i have compiled a few scenarios below that i think would make me a happy camper.

Chris Long:

YEAR BASE S. BONUS MISC. CAP HIT DEAD
2013 7,050,000 - 1,500,000 8,550,000 13,250,000
2014 13,200,000 - 1,700,000 14,900,000 17,700,000
2015 8,000,000 - 3,500,000 11,500,000 3,000,000
2016 9,750,000 - 3,500,000 13,250,000 1,500,000

William Hayes:

YEAR BASE S. BONUS MISC. CAP HIT DEAD
2013 800,000 1,250,000 - 2,050,000 4,550,000
2014 2,595,000 1,250,000 - 3,845,000 2,500,000
2015 3,105,000 1,250,000 - 4,355,000 1,250,000

Eugene Sims:

YEAR BASE S. BONUS MISC. CAP HIT DEAD
2014 950,000 116,684 150,000 1,216,684 233,369
2015 1,650,000 116,685 250,000 2,016,685 116,685

Robert Quinn:

YEAR BASE S. BONUS MISC. CAP HIT DEAD
2011 375,000 1,340,646 - 1,715,646 -
2012 803,941 1,340,646 - 2,144,587 -
2013 1,232,829 1,340,646 - 2,573,475 5,575,849
2014 1,661,744 1,340,646 - 3,002,390 3,002,390
2015 UFA
  • Fully guaranteed
  • 2015 Club Option available




If there is one thing i know for a fact, its that Robert Quinn will be resigned in 2016. The team has a 2015 option to keep Quinn home, and you better be darn sure the Rams will use it. So the question becomes, where do we get the cap space, and what will Quinn's cap number be? Furthermore how will our D line look? I see one of 2 scenarios playing out.

First scenario: Bradford Busts in 2014

YEAR BASE S. BONUS MISC. CAP HIT DEAD
2010 320,000 - 2,880,000 3,200,000 37,245,000
2011 450,000 3,595,000 8,420,000 12,465,000 36,925,000
2012 6,000,000 3,595,000 6,000,000 15,595,000 32,880,000
2013 9,000,000 3,595,000 - 12,595,000 18,785,000
2014 14,015,000 3,595,000 - 17,610,000 7,190,000
2015 12,985,000 3,595,000 - 16,580,000 3,595,000

We talked about Bradford's make-or-break season last year. The general opinion of Rams fans was that 2013 was too soon. But if 2013 was a failure, then 2014 would be the year.... and here we are. If Bradford bites the dust this year, expect him to be cut in 2015. With a measly 3.5m cap hit via the dead money, and 16.5m worth of savings.... i found Quinn's money. Expect us talking about Rookie Quarterbacks next year!

Second Scenario: Draft Clowney

"What?" you may ask? How does drafting Clowney do anything for Quinn and his contract?

I been reading where fans outside St Louis feel that Quinn has out priced himself from a Rams Contract. They are wrong. Quinn will be paid as the richest DE ever if he performs on the same level for the next two years. Assuming Bradford suddenly turns into a HOFer, where do we get the cap space?

The answer is in Chris Longs Contract.

Mario WilliamsatDefensive End $16,000,000
Greg HardyatDefensive End $13,116,000franchise tag
Charles JohnsonatDefensive End $12,666,667
Chris LongatDefensive End

$12,050,000

Thats right. Chris Long is the 4th highest paid DE in the NFL, and one of those is a franchise tag. We should expect Quinn to be worth over that 16m mark if he gets near 20 sacks the next 2 seasons. The solution would be to cut Chris Long, and take a 1.5m dead money cap hit. This would net the Rams 13m dollars for the 2016 season. This coupled with the new TV deals, should give the rams room to resign Quinn.

And since we would have Clowney going into his 3rd year (with another 2 years left on his contract) to plug in as a full time starter, i like that D Line even more.