[mike schad 1st rd]

Rams Have Opened Exploratory Trade Talks For Quarterbacks & Possibly Moving Jared Goff | NFLTradeRumors.co
https://nfltraderumors.co/rams-have-ope ... ared-goff/

[St. Loser Fan]

From behind The Athletic's paywall that is the source.

https://theathletic.com/2355103/2021/01 ... ared-goff/
Rams exploring Jared Goff trades with multiple teams: Source

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's your one freebie this month.)

[Elvis]

Goff getting more motivated by the minute...

[aeneas1]

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.

plus $9 million for gurley, so $31 million in dead 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.

[69RamFan]

What would be so laughable,

To what ever team the RAMs traded him to...

If he won a SB before the RAMs do,,,,

There would be some pissed off RAM fans...

Be careful for what you wish for.... the grass is not always greener on the other side....

[CanuckRightWinger]

Echoing aeneas1's lament of Los Ramos sad 2021 Salary Cap situation....

there were those of us that warned about having too much of a Salary Cap percentage wrapped up in just our top 10 or 12 guys.

The constant put down of that Top Heavy Salary Cap warning was :
"Relax you ChickenLittles, Demoff is a Salary Cap genius."

Gurley dead money millions + Brandin Cooks dead money millions + Goff dead money millions......
pretty soon you start talking about Real Money, eh!!!!

[69RamFan]

When the RAMs sign Goff to that extension....

No body knew what was going to happen with this Covid crap,

So basically its hurting because of the salary cap is being cut where the whole NFL was expecting a salary cap raise....

I still say,,, McVay and Goff should talk this out and make up...

We would be better off in drafting help for the OL and a speedy WR or pickup as FA...

We still could reconstruct Goff's contract,,,, but it would have to be with more guarantee money but stretched out, to sign some possible good FA... yeah there would be some pissed off fans,,, but it would make this team better in the long run...

Just remember,,,, there are going to be some Cheap FA available because of the cut salary cap...

Thats just my opinion....

[ramsman34]

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.

[Indrid Cold]

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.

Rams are $28M over with Goff counting for $34.6M. Trade him and his number goes down to the $22.2M, so they save $12.4M. That gets the cap number to -$15.6M.

The $33M number for Stafford is what he'd cost Detroit. Traded before 3/21/21, his cap number would be $20M for the new team. That would put the Rams at -$35.6M. (If the Lions pay the $10M roster bonus he's due on 3/21/21, and then trade him, his cap number would only be $10M. But they aren't eating $10M.)

So $22.2M for Goff and $20M for Stafford, we'd be using $42.2M on QB, up $7.6M from having Goff on the roster. That same figure is what gets added to the cap deficit for the -$35.6M above.

Current situation is kind of bad enough...-$28M with only Whit, Brockers, and Hav as options to release and save money ($5-6M apiece). That opens up more holes and still leaves us short. There'll be significant restructures to the Goff, Donald, or Ramsey contracts, I'd imagine. Hard to see getting far enough over the cap to sign really anyone significant, but they probably have some ways. And Stafford would add less than $8M, so it's well within in the realm of possibility.

[69RamFan]

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.

That is exactly my point...

McVay and Snead are messing up big time by throwing Goff underneath the bus out to the media and the RAM Fans instead of keeping this behind close doors...

Here is the problem,,,,
The RAMs need to get a power center & guard with a speedy WR...

If I can see the simple fix,,,
and then after the game I watch the post game shows...

I listen to the both Jackie Slater and Vince Ferragamo,
and they basically say the same thing... then you know that is the problem...

If you look at the games we lost this past season,,,, it was because of the middle of the OL..... against the Jets, Miami(cover zero), the 9ers and the second game against the Hags... the lost against the Bills, that was the Defense fault...

Fans want to complain about Goff's TO....
Fix the OL and that problem will be solved...

Goff was ranked 13th in the league of being the most pressured....

If for not McVay playing the short game in play calling, we would definitely be ranked
in the bottom tier being the most pressured....

Guess the best OL with the least amount of pressures...
in ordered,,, GB, Mia, NO, Indy, AZ, Pitt, Dal, TB, Cle, Chi, Car, LVR, then the RAMs

Now if you want to go fake news PFF and let them make you believe that we had a top 3 offensive line,,, then let me sell you the Brooklyn bridge....
I'll sell it to you dirt cheap....