OT: Aaron Donald agrees to 6-year, $135M deal with Rams

[LoyalRam]

Still great to see the lambs have to shell out huge money to keep just one player.

Yeah, but he is the GOAT..So there's that..

 

[CardsFan88]

The Rams will have more CAP room next year than 20 other NFL teams, after the Aaron Donald deal, per Joe Curley, Ventura County Star

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They have 58 million or so because many guys are dropping off the cap and then need to be re-signed or replaced.

58 million to spread amongst the draft picks, any free agent signings/trades, cushion for in-season signings due to injuries and decisions about these guys (Bold indicates starter or expected starter and their 2018 cap hit and 2019 cap hit if signed through 2019)...

Suh (14.5 m)
Roger Saffold (7.875m)
Jamon Brown (1.865m)
LaMarcus Joyner (11.287m)
Matt Longacre (1.907m)
Cornelius Lucas
Ethan Westbrook
Dominique Easley
Ryan Davis
Ramik Wilson
Bryce Hager
Sam Shields
Troy Hill
Isaiah Johnson
Plus a few others

Corey Littleton RFA (0.635m)

And again, Goff's extension at some point next year or the year after. Unless they go the nuclear option and franchise tag him (which will be quite high given all the QB signings lately and those that still might come between now and then, like Wilson)


Then in 2020
Pharoh Cooper (0.768m and 0.858m)
Tyler Higbee (0.775 and 0.865m)
Andre Witwhorth (now it's likely Rams will need a replacement, but LT replacements aren't cheap) (9.174 and 15.909m)
John Sullivan (6.374m and 4.25m)
Michael Brockers (11m and 10.75m)
Aqib Talib (11m and 8m)
Marcus Peters (1.741m and 9.069m)
Greg Zuerlien (3.55m and 2.575m)


So what you have a bunch of starters who want to get paid, and a bunch of guys who will want to get paid again. That money will go quickly. 5 starters + 1 RFA starter in 2019 and 7 starters + Kicker in 2020. Many at key expensive positions such as LT, DE, DT, CB. >50 percent of the 22 off+def starters need to be re-signed or replaced by the game 1 2020.

As I've said before, it's hard to get into cap hell with 10 mill raises per year, but the Rams are quickly approaching rubber meeting the road territory.

God forbid for Rams fans if they have to replace some of their high priced guys due to injuries or ineffectiveness.

It's not about cap hell. Cap hell, is when you have to start outright releasing people from contracts in order to get under the cap. It's more about soft hell as in you won't be able to re-sign guys or replace guys other than with draft picks, UDFA, and bargains.

We also forget that the Rams had to part with Robert Quinn and Alec Ogletree this offseason.

I get why they're doing it, and they have a good shot as long as egos/injuries don't get in the way. I'm not saying they are in a dire situation. They have some money to play around with to pick and choose, but some will have to go.

It's beter to be in this position then to have a bunch of cap and no one worth spending it on and none of this will impact what they do in 2018.

 

[Arz101]

Yeah, but he is the GOAT..So there's that..

I understand that Rams had to pay Aaron Donald. I also think other 31 teams are happy it was not them who had to pay 135 million for a DT (again) though it's Aaron Donald..

 

[mojorizen7]

We also forget that the Rams had to part with Robert Quinn and Alec Ogletree this offseason.

Had to get rid of? No. They wanted to move on from both. They are not a fit in Wade's 3-4 defense. Mark Barron is also a questionable fit as an ILB in a 3-4. Rams will likely move on from him as well next season....freeing up yet more cap.

Kevin Demoff is a cap genius. Even through the Fisher years the team remained extremely flexible and was able to hand out big contracts. Granted, not always to the right players but that doesn't reflect on K.Demoff.

It's very difficult for teams to cripple themselves in
the NFL cap-wise and be a terrible football team because of it.

To be honest, the best way to cripple your team is to consistently draft poorly and overspend in FA. The Rams don't fit that model.

I'm looking forward to revisiting all this cap crippling talk in a few years. I'm not buying it.

 

[mojorizen7]

To the Cardinals fans:

Why did the Cardinals go from 10, 11, 13 win seasons to a pair of 7 and 8 win seasons? Not patronizing. Sincere question.

Key injuries to Palmer was a factor a year ago but IMO it was primarily sub par drafting going back to those three winning seasons.

 

[Chopper0080]

This thread is so funny. Rams are in a great play right now. Rams have plenty of cap flexibility to keep running things and stay competitive. This signing is only a good thing dfor the Rams franchise. The Cardinals will need to have hit on Wilks and Rosen if they are going to have a chance to close the gap.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Wow, they already had 168 mill committed to the 2019 season, and now that will jump up higher because of this and the Havenstein extension (4yrs ~32 million). They still have the Goff deal to do eventually.

Rams have a huge list of talented players at key and expensive positions coming up in 2019 and 2020. Most are going to be gone.

2018 is their peak talent year. The exodus begins next year, then more in 2020, and with the Goff deal they are going to be tight against the cap for years. Even before these deals (Donald and Havenstein) and all the players coming off over the next couple of seasons they already have 52 million accounted for the 2021 season (and that's likely going to be around 80 million once Donald and Havenstein are added).

They'll not have to worry about Goff. He'll flop and revert to his rookie prominence... and do not dismiss my wishful thinking lol

 

[Jetstream Green]

This thread is so funny. Rams are in a great play right now. Rams have plenty of cap flexibility to keep running things and stay competitive. This signing is only a good thing dfor the Rams franchise. The Cardinals will need to have hit on Wilks and Rosen if they are going to have a chance to close the gap.

Agree, you look for stars to pay and when they are as good as Donald you pay because then you will be only searching for another with the price then being even more hefty. One pays the likes of Donald, Chandler Jones and Peterson and are luck to have one

 

[Chopper0080]

We have like 4 or 5 players who would start on the Rams...

Justin Pugh RG
Larry Fitzgerald WR
Chandler Jones OLB/DE
Patrick Peterson CB

maybe Budda Baker at S

 

[GatorAZ]

Who cares about cap hell if you’re good. I always thought of that term pertaining to Snyder’s Redskins for all those years when they were mediocre and overpaying everyone.

 

[Rams1Fan]

They have 58 million or so because many guys are dropping off the cap and then need to be re-signed or replaced.

58 million to spread amongst the draft picks, any free agent signings/trades, cushion for in-season signings due to injuries and decisions about these guys (Bold indicates starter or expected starter and their 2018 cap hit and 2019 cap hit if signed through 2019)...

Suh (14.5 m)
Roger Saffold (7.875m)
Jamon Brown (1.865m)
LaMarcus Joyner (11.287m)
Matt Longacre (1.907m)
Cornelius Lucas
Ethan Westbrook
Dominique Easley
Ryan Davis
Ramik Wilson
Bryce Hager
Sam Shields
Troy Hill
Isaiah Johnson
Plus a few others

Corey Littleton RFA (0.635m)

And again, Goff's extension at some point next year or the year after. Unless they go the nuclear option and franchise tag him (which will be quite high given all the QB signings lately and those that still might come between now and then, like Wilson)


Then in 2020
Pharoh Cooper (0.768m and 0.858m)
Tyler Higbee (0.775 and 0.865m)
Andre Witwhorth (now it's likely Rams will need a replacement, but LT replacements aren't cheap) (9.174 and 15.909m)
John Sullivan (6.374m and 4.25m)
Michael Brockers (11m and 10.75m)
Aqib Talib (11m and 8m)
Marcus Peters (1.741m and 9.069m)
Greg Zuerlien (3.55m and 2.575m)


So what you have a bunch of starters who want to get paid, and a bunch of guys who will want to get paid again. That money will go quickly. 5 starters + 1 RFA starter in 2019 and 7 starters + Kicker in 2020. Many at key expensive positions such as LT, DE, DT, CB. >50 percent of the 22 off+def starters need to be re-signed or replaced by the game 1 2020.

As I've said before, it's hard to get into cap hell with 10 mill raises per year, but the Rams are quickly approaching rubber meeting the road territory.

God forbid for Rams fans if they have to replace some of their high priced guys due to injuries or ineffectiveness.

It's not about cap hell. Cap hell, is when you have to start outright releasing people from contracts in order to get under the cap. It's more about soft hell as in you won't be able to re-sign guys or replace guys other than with draft picks, UDFA, and bargains.

We also forget that the Rams had to part with Robert Quinn and Alec Ogletree this offseason.

I get why they're doing it, and they have a good shot as long as egos/injuries don't get in the way. I'm not saying they are in a dire situation. They have some money to play around with to pick and choose, but some will have to go.

It's beter to be in this position then to have a bunch of cap and no one worth spending it on and none of this will impact what they do in 2018.

Ok. Lets go thru these

Cooper. Really a bit of a jag. Not a key player
Higbee. Another mediocre player
Sullivan. Too old. Will be gone. We may have his replacement on team (Allen or Blythe).
Whitworth. Very good but old player. Again we may have his replacement on team (Noteboom)
Brocker. Stud. He would be missed.
Talib. NRC our slot will replace him
Peters. We will resign him assuming he is a good citizen
Greg Z. A kicker is not an indispensible player,

Quinn was a loss but was always a health risk with his back.
Ogletree will not be missed.

Also. As I stated in another post if the Rams are in "soft hell" in 2020 then by the numbers so are the cards.

 

[LoyalRam]

Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh in the interior, ready to eat.

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[BigRedRage]

Still great to see the lambs have to shell out huge money to keep just one player.

I'd be happy to Shell out money for Aaron Donald

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[BigRedRage]

Yeah, but he is the GOAT..So there's that..

Slow down there cowboy

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[DVontel]

Ok. Lets go thru these

Cooper. Really a bit of a jag. Not a key player
Higbee. Another mediocre player
Sullivan. Too old. Will be gone. We may have his replacement on team (Allen or Blythe).
Whitworth. Very good but old player. Again we may have his replacement on team (Noteboom)
Brocker. Stud. He would be missed.
Talib. NRC our slot will replace him
Peters. We will resign him assuming he is a good citizen
Greg Z. A kicker is not an indispensible player,

Quinn was a loss but was always a health risk with his back.
Ogletree will not be missed.

Also. As I stated in another post if the Rams are in "soft hell" in 2020 then by the numbers so are the cards.

Idk, he was a very good return man last season which earned him All-Pro.

 

[Rams1Fan]

Idk, he was a very good return man last season which earned him All-Pro.

Also muffed a pair in playoffs. In any event Cooper did do well as a return guy last year but I do not view him as a Devin Hester. Not super fast or quick twitch. Also he has not done a whole lot as a WR. I just don't think he is someone you spend a bunch of money on.

 

[AZ Native]

Happens to all teams. You draft great players you have to pay them. That or always be and 8-8 team.

Ram know about 8-8.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

This thread is so funny. Rams are in a great play right now. Rams have plenty of cap flexibility to keep running things and stay competitive. This signing is only a good thing dfor the Rams franchise. The Cardinals will need to have hit on Wilks and Rosen if they are going to have a chance to close the gap.

I think you're right Chopper, that signing a superstar like Donald is the correct move.

But he had to hold a gun to the head of the Rams front office to get that contract. Doesn't that tell you that maybe the Rams GM thought it wasn't such a great deal for their team long term? Maybe?

I'm not saying the Rams won't be good for a long time. Maybe they will, maybe they won't.

I'm just saying it takes 22 players (really more) to get a team to the superbowl, and when you start putting that much of your available resources into just one of them, it is inevitable that other positions will have to be ignored financially. When teams commit to mega-contracts like this one it's fine, as long as all the other parts of the process work almost perfectly.

For example, now the Rams MUST draft well. They'll need the cheap, skilled labor. If they don't, other teams will catch up to them fast.

 

[Chopper0080]

I think you're right Chopper, that signing a superstar like Donald is the correct move.

But he had to hold a gun to the head of the Rams front office to get that contract. Doesn't that tell you that maybe the Rams GM thought it wasn't such a great deal for their team long term? Maybe?

I'm not saying the Rams won't be good for a long time. Maybe they will, maybe they won't.

I'm just saying it takes 22 players (really more) to get a team to the superbowl, and when you start putting that much of your available resources into just one of them, it is inevitable that other positions will have to be ignored financially. When teams commit to mega-contracts like this one it's fine, as long as all the other parts of the process work almost perfectly.

For example, now the Rams MUST draft well. They'll need the cheap, skilled labor. If they don't, other teams will catch up to them fast.

Was the Cardinals signing Patrick Peterson to a huge deal a franchise killer? No.

Larry Fitzgerald...not really.

When David Johnson holds out next year, is he holding the team hostage? No.

This is how these deals get done.

In regards to the rest...the Rams roster is fine.

Cheap QB

Suh, who was always a short term fix will be gone or re-sign for less.

They have a RB and WR to support their young QB.

They have two years to draft and develop a LT after Whitworth.

If they choose not to re-sign Marcus Peters and Suh, they are in line for high comp picks.