The Los Angeles Rams’ aggressiveness helped secure them a spot in the Super Bowl two seasons ago. It has also put them in a difficult spot with regards to the salary cap and their roster-building.
Before cutting Todd Gurley and trading Brandin Cooks, the Rams were extremely top-heavy. Jared Goff, Aaron Donald, Gurley and Cooks were set to count $95.1 million against the cap in 2020 alone, which limited the resources Los Angeles could allocate at other positions such as the offensive line and on defense.
A down year in 2019 has the Rams on the decline, but they still have the talent to make the playoffs and push for a Super Bowl as early as this season. Looking even further ahead, they could be in a good spot if their young players pan out after transitioning from backups to starters.
ESPN isn’t very high on the Rams with regards to the next three years, as evidenced by the team’s placement in future power rankings. ESPN put the Rams 18th in its power rankings, which project how successful teams will be for the next three years.
Here’s an explanation from Field Yates as to why the Rams are slotted where they are.
Why they’re here: Perhaps no team felt like it was more all-in during recent seasons than the Rams, who swung a trade for Jalen Ramsey midway through the 2019 season as the final most notable maneuver. Los Angeles has a small group of players who are already earning huge financial investments (Ramsey will soon too) which limits some roster flexibility, but it’s a squad good enough to be in the playoff mix each year despite a loaded division.
ESPN ranked every team based on five different categories, which were scored by Yates, Louis Riddick, Seth Walder and Jeremy Fowler. The Rams were ranked 16th for overall roster (minus QB), 20th for their quarterback situation, eighth for coaching, 30th for their drafting and 26th for front office.
Overall roster talent was weighted the most heavily at 30%, followed by quarterback (20%), draft (15%), front office (15%) and coaching (20%).
Fowler highlighted that the Rams “need to get Ramsey re-signed, maximize his ability and build the secondary around him.” None of those tasks have been completed yet, but Brandon Staley plans to utilize Ramsey’s versatility in the secondary to get the most out of the All-Pro corner. The Rams have also begun to build around him by drafting Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller this year.
As for signing him to an extension, one would think that’d be coming soon. Ramsey said he won’t hold out even if he doesn’t get a new deal this offseason, but the Rams shouldn’t play with fire and drag their feet on this. He’s a cornerstone of the defense and someone they must keep around for the long haul.
The 49ers (3rd) and Seahawks (8th) were ranked higher than the Rams in these power rankings, but the Cardinals were slotted lower at No. 22.
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