[PARAM]

I think the die was cast before the draft. It's why I knew that RB was going to be a priority. Williams has had a ton of usage. Then factor in his untimely fumbles and now expecting premium money, I don't see it happening. If he wants to stay with the Rams he has to lower his salary expectation. Like I've been thinking he's worth more to the Rams as trade bait. They don't have the cap to spend on a RB with both Hunter and Corum behind him. Blake proved he's a decent backup RB last year.

The Rams gave in to Gurley and it cost them bigtime. I don't see Snead or Kroenke wanting to go down that road again.

But you claim the Rams are gonna be moving on, so it's not up to him is it?

FWIW, EVERYBODY knew they would draft a RB......mainly because McVay/Snead draft one EVERY YEAR. You believe that's a priority? Sure, an annual priority.

2018; John Kelly, 6th round (#176)
2019; Darrell Henderson, 3rd round (#70)
2020; Cam Akers, 2nd round (#52)
2021; Jake Funk, 7th round (#233)
2022; Kyren Williams, 5th round (#164)
2023; Zach Evans, 6th round (#215)
2024; Blake Corum, 3rd round (#83)
2025; Jarquez Hunter, 4th round (#117)

I'd say the guys in RED might have been "priorities" but then isn't every draft pick? The easy take is Kyren Williams should be threatened by Jarquez Hunter in the 4th round. Why not Blake Corum? Or better yet, why either? Ironically, to date, seeing all those guys perform, Kyren Williams in the 5th round was the best of the lot, though I'll wait to see how Corum and Hunter pan out. Corum didn't prove anything last year IMO.

Here's a question.....has anybody heard what Williams and his agent are asking? Everybody says, "he wants to get paid 'accordingly'" but what is that? With Corum on a rookie deal for 3 more years and Hunter 4 years, they can invest in the RB room without killing the cap. It's not like there's a huge impasse. Williams is in camp.

[AltiTude Ram]

[Elvis]

McVay sounds like an extension is pretty likely to get done.

[actionjack]

McVay sounds like an extension is pretty likely to get done.

My same read, sounds like Kendrick maybe one of the dominoes, will see. Signing Kyren to a fair contract is good for both sides. Rams could use the continuity particularly with Stafford likely last two years ish.

[Dare]

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2025/06/30/rams-kyren-williams-rushing-stats-explosiveness-metric/84415144007/

This is why I knew they would look to upgrade their starting RB. Williams is a good RB but this offense needs a RB that the defense must account for on every snap that he's on the field. Williams lack of explosiveness is why they "play run on their way to Stafford". You only need to look as far as the Eagles to see the difference in how defenses must play when Barkley is on the field.

I like Williams more than Corum but not at the expense of a large cap hit. There are other offenses geared to moving the chains that would love Williams. This offense is evolving which is why I see this year as Atwell audition for a big contract elsewhere next year. When they drafted him he was a scheme fit but he took too long to develop and now I don't see him long term unless McVay changes the offense back in some aspects. But that would make Atwell a role player which would be a waste.

I think Williams has value in a trade. You look at teams like the Colts they are definitely in the market for quality depth at RB and they have two LT's. Their backup looks promising in his limited exposure. I'm simply pointing out that with AJ perhaps down for the season the Rams might be looking to trade for a LT. Teams like the Colts have a good starter at LT who is still young. But the guy behind him doesn't look like a scrub. So could a team like that be interested in Williams? My bet is that someone would be.

[PARAM]

He can't break tackles. He doesn't have breakaway speed. He's near the bottom of these newly invented metrics. But he has trade value?

Sure, because he's like Chris Carter of Buddy Ryan's Eagles, which Ryan complained....."all he does is score touchdowns" (and make first downs)!

This newly invented metric is "why" you "knew" the Rams would look to upgrade their starting RB? With a 4th round pick.....after using a 3rd round pick in last year's draft? It couldn't be they were looking to diversify the running back room, replacing Ronnie Rivers with Jarquez Hunter?

Well, now that we can see this new metric, that you saw prior to it's invention, we can add 'upgrading STARTING RB' to the long list of things you were right about. New RB, Sam Darnold and a first or second round rookie QB shows we're well on our way to another Lombardi! As soon as we find a trade partner for Kyren that is.

[Elvis]

This is why I knew they would look to upgrade their starting RB

Did Kyren lose his starting job when i wasn't paying attention?

8th best back in the NFL according to these guys:

[AltiTude Ram]

Good discussion on Kyren.

[/zn/]

He can't break tackles. He doesn't have breakaway speed. He's near the bottom of these newly invented metrics. But he has trade value?

Sure, because he's like Chris Carter of Buddy Ryan's Eagles, which Ryan complained....."all he does is score touchdowns" (and make first downs)!

I posted this in a different thread but it belongs here so I am moving it.

I've said this before, but I like repeating it. Kyren's superpowers are all evident in the backfield before he hits the LOS. Past the LOS he has great contact balance, is a fierce and determined runner, but is not particularly quick or fast or powerful or elusive. He's not bad past the LOS, just a bit above average. On the other hand, behind the LOS he is a great RB--he knows how to set up LBs, has a nice quick initial burst, has great vision, reads his blocks and is very good at using his blockers, has great anticipation, and is pretty much always hitting the exact right spot at exactly the right millisecond.

He keeps you in play. He moves the chains. It's not just that he does that, he's superior at it.

To drive this point home. He may just be above average past the LOS, but he is superior behind the LOS ie. running toward the LOS. Just find any series where they run him a lot, watch him, and this becomes very visible. Beyond the LOS he's good, but while he is obviously not Faulk, or Gurley, or Dickerson, or Bettis past the LOS, behind the LOS, from the point of the hand off to hitting his lane at the LOS, he is their equal if not in some subtle ways maybe even better than a couple of those guys.

Which is why he was 3rd in the league in 2024 in rushing yards before contact.

Also, in 2024 he was 7th in the league in yards after contact per attempt. 3rd in broken tackles. 2nd in 10+ yard runs.
https://www.fantasypros.com/nfl/advanced-stats-rb.php

To quote PFF (which repeats 1 stat I just gave), KW ranks

in the top five on a per-game basis in rushing yards (87.3), yards after contact (57.9), rushing touchdowns (0.93), rushing avoided tackles (3.8) and PPR fantasy points (18.8).

https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/kyren-williams/97118

The issue with KW is fumbles. If he can fix that (and he indicated he's working on it) then he is a very valuable back.


...

[Joe Pendleton]

great analysis Zn, i love the way that Kyren plays with an attitude and attacks the hole/los .. and i'm a huge fan. But, man those fumbles are "game changers" and cannot continue (smh).. hope he "get's her right" (as we say in boatspeak).. hold onto the darn rock KW !!!