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As top team officials said they would, the Rams are exploring all of their options when it comes to their desire for improvement at quarterback.
A source said Friday that the Rams have started exploratory talks with multiple teams, both in regard to trading Jared Goff and about bringing a new quarterback to the Rams.
That means if the Rams deem a quarterback worth trading for and are able to execute such a transaction, they would be willing to eat $22.2 million in dead-cap money, plus the new quarterback’s salary. They also could trade Goff after June 1 (an extremely rare scenario, though there is league precedent) for a relatively small total of $6.8 million in dead money in 2021 (plus $15.4 million in 2022).
Head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead both were noncommittal about Goff’s future during exit interviews over the last two weeks, signaling their desire for optionality at quarterback during the offseason. By doing so, they sent a message across the league that they were open for business, and dialogue began between the Rams and other teams.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Friday afternoon that longtime Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford deemed the Rams to be a suitable possible destination, after he requested a trade this month, and that the Rams had explored the possibility as well.
Brad Holmes, formerly the Rams’ director of college scouting, recently got hired as the Lions’ general manager. Holmes, who is expected to field multiple offers for Stafford, also has familiarity with San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan, so the 49ers are expected players in the Stafford sweepstakes, as well. Stafford turns 33 on Feb. 7, and his current contract runs through the 2022 season.
It’s not totally clear why the Lions would take on Goff, whose four-year, $134 million contract includes $43.3 million in fully-guaranteed payments due in 2021 and 2022, but Goff is only 26 and has been remarkably durable since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2016. The Lions have this year’s No. 7 overall draft pick, and (unless they trade for one) are expected to draft a quarterback to replace Stafford. Goff’s deal over the next two seasons doesn’t lend toward him being a “gap year” quarterback, one who would start while the younger quarterback is developed. But Holmes’ familiarity with Goff — the good and the bad — can’t be ignored.
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has also been a popular potential match for the Rams in the current news cycle, after Watson requested a trade. Watson and Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey share an agent and are good friends. New Texans general manager Nick Caserio was adamant to reporters on Friday morning that the team does not plan to deal Watson, but Watson could hold out of team activities to help force a trade (with some financial ramifications).
A trade involving Watson would merit a serious haul for Houston, including multiple first-round picks. The Rams do not have one in 2021, but first-round picks can be traded up to four years in advance. And the Rams are not shy about trading their first-round picks.
It’s possible that a lack of a 2021 first-round pick could be a dealbreaker when it comes to Watson, because the Texans do not have a first- or second-round pick in 2021 and would ask for multiple of each, including this year. Packages for Stafford might fall into a more reachable realm — even a future first-round pick plus a couple of mid-round picks this year.
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has even been linked to the Rams by some, after he seemed to express some doubt about his future with the Packers.
But as dominoes across the league continue to fall, the Rams will do their due diligence on all possible options if they believe an available quarterback who is perhaps under the radar would be an improvement over Goff. Trades can’t officially be processed until the start of the new league year in mid-March.
Keep in mind, though, that the Rams also must fill important holes this offseason, pending the loss of a couple of free agents, and they must improve their offensive line. It will be hard to do that — especially with quality players — via free agency amid a shrunken salary cap. The Rams have been successful in the last few years in drafting in the middle rounds, finding starting-caliber players and developing them around core roster pieces.
The Rams also are prepared to hold a quarterback competition this offseason if they can’t pull off a trade this spring or if none of the players who might be available to them are considered to be an upgrade over Goff.
As previously noted, that competition would be between Goff and John Wolford, who impressed McVay in his limited opportunities. Wolford started two games for the Rams after Goff underwent thumb surgery, but he took a hit to the neck/shoulder area on a designed run and had to leave in the first quarter of the Rams’ wild-card game at Seattle. Goff entered and was steady, despite having surgery 12 days earlier. Goff then started against Green Bay in the divisional round, with Wolford ruled out early in the week. That was not enough to stop McVay from being intentionally noncommittal about Goff’s future after the game (and the next day), and Snead followed suit a week later.
There is belief that Goff could rise to the occasion in a competition and get back on track next season. His clear displeasure with the Wolford situation at the end of the season seemed to be a motivating factor in his improved performance in the playoffs.
Whether it’s via improvement from Goff, or a new era with someone else, the Rams are very much in the quarterback market this offseason.
That means if the Rams deem a quarterback worth trading for and are able to execute such a transaction, they would be willing to eat $22.2 million in dead-cap money, plus the new quarterback’s salary.
aeneas1 wrote:plus $9 million for gurley, so $31 million in dead for cap for the two guys in 2021, which practically equates to the rams paying both goff and stafford in 2021...
hopefully @indrid cold can weigh in, but it appears that, in effect, it would cost the rams $55 million in cap money for stafford's services in 2021 - $22 mil in dead cap for goff plus stafford's 2021 $33 mil cap hit that the rams would have to take over from the lions.
currently the rams are $28 mil over the 2021 cap - assuming the above is true, that number would jump to $49 mil over the cap if the rams traded for stafford... how in the hell will they be able to sign floyd, or is that just not in the plan? personally, between stafford and floyd, i'd take floyd.
ramsman34 wrote:This shitshow will soon turn into a full category 5 shit storm. I have a bad feeling that our team is not going to be as good on either side of the ball this upcoming season, if they move Goff and bring in a so-called top vet QB. There won’t be any cap room to get anyone resigned or bring in any quality F/As. And, we might have to cough up draft picks this year as well.