Titans Eyeing Tyjae Spears As RB2
Most of the Titans’ efforts to install a quality back behind Derrick Henry have not proven successful. The only back to qualify as a reliable option throughout his tenure has since changed teams twice.
D’Onta Foreman, who belatedly became the team’s top option to replace an injured Henry in 2021, has signed with the Panthers and Bears in consecutive offseasons. The productive fill-in’s departure prompted the Titans to draft Hassan Haskins in the 2022 fourth round, but the Michigan product totaled just 25 carries as a rookie and was arrested on an assault charge last month.
Haskins is expected to vie for the Titans’ third-string job with Jonathan Ward and Julius Chestnut, per Jim Wyatt of the team’s website. This will leave third-round rookie Tyjae Spears as the primary backup to Henry. The Tulane product is on track to “one-two punch” with the accomplished veteran, Wyatt adds.
Foreman and Haskins are just two of the players to be added since DeMarco Murray‘s 2018 exit (and subsequent retirement). Tennessee gave Dion Lewis a four-year, $19.8MM deal in 2018. While the ex-Patriots back operated as a nice Henry complement that season, he struggled to carve out much of a role in 2019. The Titans released Lewis in 2020. They drafted Darrynton Evans in the 2020 third round, but the Appalachian State product struggled with injuries and could not earn much playing time. Tennessee added Adrian Peterson following Henry’s November 2021 foot fracture and also tried Jeremy McNichols. Foreman, whom the team signed to its practice squad shortly after Henry’s injury, ended up playing the lead replacement role.
Spears will be the latest mid-round pick to receive an opportunity. A four-year Tulane contributor, the 201-pound back broke out with a 1,581-yard rushing season in 2022. He concluded his career with a 205-yard, four-touchdown performance in Tulane’s Cotton Bowl win over USC.
The Titans made Spears, the No. 81 overall pick, this year’s fifth running back selected. Spears ran a modest 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the Green Wave’s pro day, after not running at the Combine. An NFL.com report during draft weekend indicated Spears does not have an ACL in his one of his knees, after two tears, and had battled arthritis. He was not on every team’s draft board due to the medical concern, Daniel Jeremiah noted at the time. When asked about the report during Titans offseason workouts, Spears attempted to brush it off by indicating he was healthy.
The elusive rookie was a full participant in OTAs and minicamp. Considering the Titans’ run-oriented offense and lack of proven wide receivers, Spears may be called upon frequently. And he now represents the team’s top option if Henry, 29, goes down. Henry’s four-year, $50MM deal expires after this season.
Nick Bosa Likely To Stage Hold-In If Unsigned By Training Camp
A Nick Bosa extension has been on the 49ers’ docket for multiple offseasons. The team has long viewed this year as the likely extension window, seeing as the All-Pro defensive end had the fifth-year option in his rookie contract. But Bosa remains unsigned.
It is not too unusual for a first-rounder to enter his fifth training camp still tied to his rookie contract, though other defensive linemen from Bosa’s draft class locked in lucrative extensions earlier this offseason. If Bosa is unsigned by the time the 49ers begin camp, it should not be expected he will participate. A hold-in effort should be viewed as likely in this instance, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News notes.
This should not be taken as a sign animosity exists between the 49ers and their top player. Bosa regularly skips OTAs before reporting to minicamp. This year, the fifth-year veteran did not participate in minicamp. That provided a decent indication of Bosa’s plans for a training camp should he remain on his rookie deal.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year looms as the top candidate to top Aaron Donald‘s defender-record AAV. The Rams gave Donald a $31.7MM-per-year contract in June 2022, moving the future Hall of Fame defensive tackle away from a potential retirement. Bosa does not have that kind of leverage, and the 2020 CBA curbed holdouts by mandating steep fines and the threat of stripping players of an accrued year toward free agency. The latter component would not affect Bosa, if he attempted to stage a holdout, as he has already played four seasons to become a UFA. But he would be hit with substantial penalties for skipping workouts.
Deebo Samuel‘s negotiations were messier than Bosa’s. They featured a trade request and hold-in measures at minicamp and training camp. But the 49ers came to terms with the versatile playmaker on July 31, 2022. That brought Samuel back onto the field early in camp. Bosa’s negotiations might be a bit more complicated, with a possible defense-record salary in play. This situation reminds of T.J. Watt‘s two years ago. The Steelers All-Pro did not practice during the team’s training camp, and his hold-in encompassed the preseason slate and ran up to Week 1. Pittsburgh and the star edge rusher agreed on a four-year, $112MM extension on Sept. 9, 2021.
Watt’s contract set the market for edge rushers; Bosa is likely looking to not only surpass that but move beyond Donald’s deal as well. This would be a bit of a bridge, as there is a $3.5MM AAV gap between those numbers. But the salary cap is back on the rise, after a 2021 regression. Money from the 2021 TV deals will lead to bigger cap spikes, and position salary standards will fall. It will be interesting to see if the 49ers attempt to keep Bosa under Donald’s number or if they will sign off on their dynamic D-end setting the market for all defenders.
If the 49ers and Bosa are not on the same page, the team would still have the defensive end franchise tag at its disposal for 2024. But a Bosa re-up has been budgeted for a while now. The former No. 2 overall pick undoubtedly raised his price after last season’s league-leading 18.5-sack showing, but the team now has the Jimmy Garoppolo contract off its cap sheet and should be amenable to a monster Bosa re-up.
Saints’ Alvin Kamara Pleads No Contest To Misdemeanor Charge
7:07pm: Greene has also resolved his civil case against defensive back Chris Lammons, NewOrleans.football’s Mike Triplett notes (on Twitter). Lammons, who spent last season with the Chiefs and Bengals, was also indicted for his role in the Greene assault.
2:11pm: Greene’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, revealed his client and Kamara reached a private settlement regarding the civil matter, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com tweets. This also came with a public apology from the veteran running back.
“Please accept my sincere apologies for the events of February 5, 2022 in Las Vegas,” Kamara said (h/t Terrell). “I am happy that we were able to get on the other side of this unfortunate incident. I wish you the best for the future.”
The NFL has not rendered any discipline yet, but that should be expected in the coming weeks. The league said in a statement it is “closely monitoring all developments” pertaining to this case.
1:28pm: The NFL now has a clear path to levy discipline against Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who has loomed as a suspension candidate for nearly 18 months.
Kamara reached a plea agreement Tuesday, according to Kyle Paine and David Charms of 8 News Now, who report the perennial Pro Bowler will avoid a felony charge in connection with a February 2022 incident in Las Vegas (Twitter link). Indicted by a grand jury for his role in an assault on a man at a Las Vegas nightclub, Kamara pleaded no contest to a breach of peace charge.
This agreement will force the Saints running back to perform 30 hours of community service, pay a $500 fine and pay the victim $105K, which will go toward medical bills. Kamara, 27, has long expected to be suspended for the incident that led to Darnell Greene being hospitalized. Kamara, who was one of multiple men involved in the assault during the 2022 Pro Bowl weekend, was also hit with a civil suit last year.
The NFL does not need a conviction on a felony or misdemeanor charge to proceed with a ban under the personal conduct policy, as past developments have confirmed. With the league preferring to wait until cases are adjudicated before handing out punishment, Tuesday’s news sets up the likelihood of a Kamara ban — potentially a six-game penalty — occurring before the 2023 season.
Kamara’s case encountered frequent delays, leaving him free to play throughout last season. The Saints were less prepared for a Kamara ban last year, but the team has made preparations this offseason. New Orleans agreed to terms on a three-year, $12MM deal with Jamaal Williams — last season’s rushing touchdowns leader (16) while with the Lions — and used a third-round pick on TCU back Kendre Miller.
Kamara has been one of the best skill-position players in Saints history; he is tied to the league’s second-most lucrative running back extension ($15MM per year). The seventh-year veteran remains New Orleans’ top back, though he is coming off a bit of a down season — one in which he scored just four touchdowns. The team will undoubtedly make Kamara a key player in a now-Derek Carr-led offense, but the additions of Williams and Miller are certainly interesting. While a suspension will void remaining Kamara guarantees, only $1.1MM in guaranteed money remains on Kamara’s five-year, $75MM contract.
Giants LB Jarrad Davis Undergoes Surgery, Facing Long-Term Absence
The Giants authorized this offseason’s second-most lucrative linebacker contract, giving Bobby Okereke a $10MM-per-year deal. However, one of the team’s holdovers had been leading the competition to join the ex-Colt as a starter.
But Jarrad Davis‘ path back to the Giants’ starting lineup has encountered a road block. Davis underwent surgery recently and is believed to be facing a long-term absence, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports. The operation was on Davis’ knee, the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz notes. The Giants re-signed Davis, 28, in March but saw him miss minicamp due to this unspecified injury.
Davis started just one regular-season game for the Giants last season, but the ex-Lions first-rounder played a first-string role in both Big Blue playoff tilts. During Giants OTAs, Davis was running with Okereke on Don Mardindale‘s first unit. The former Colts starter could now be an option at middle linebacker, where Davis was stationed.
Should this knee injury threaten Davis’ regular-season availability, the Giants will be prepared to hold a competition between Micah McFadden and Darrian Beavers. A 2022 fifth-round pick, McFadden started seven games for an embattled Giants linebacking corps last season. The Giants chose Beavers in last year’s sixth round, but he did not play as a rookie due to a torn ACL sustained during the team’s second preseason game. Beavers, whom Sirius XM’s Adam Caplan notes the team remains high on, did not practice in full at minicamp but did side-field work (Twitter link).
If this is a season-threatening injury, it obviously deals a blow to Davis’ career. The Florida alum received extensive playing time during his first go-round in Detroit but did not receive strong reviews for his work. The Lions benched Davis during his 2020 contract year, and while he did receive $5.5MM from the Jets in 2021, he settled for $1.2MM from the Lions last year. The Lions deemed Davis a practice squad-level player during his second stint, leading to the Giants poaching him off that Detroit unit in December. Davis re-signed with the Giants for the league minimum (one year, $1.1MM). His $75K roster bonus will only be due if he makes the team’s 53-man roster.
It would make for a natural transition for the Giants to have one of their recent Day 3 picks win this competition. Both Beavers and McFadden were drafted by the team’s current regime, and each makes low-end money that would complement Okereke’s four-year, $40MM deal. The Giants hosted former Falcons mainstay Deion Jones earlier this offseason, doing so after signing Okereke. Jones could potentially be an option, depending on the severity of Davis’ injury. For now, two second-year players have clearer paths to a regular role.
Largest 2023 Cap Hits: Offense
The NFL’s salary cap once again ballooned by more than $10MM, rising from its $208.2MM perch to $224.8MM. Factoring in the pandemic-induced 2021 regression, the NFL’s salary risen has climbed by more than $42MM since 2021.
This has allowed teams more opportunities for roster additions and opened the door for more lucrative player deals — at most positions, at least. However, it does not look like this season will include a $40MM player cap number. The Browns avoided a record-shattering Deshaun Watson $54.9MM hit by restructuring the quarterback’s fully guaranteed contract, calling for monster figures from 2024-26.
Here are the largest cap hits for teams on the offensive side going into training camp:
- Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs): $39.69MM
- Ryan Tannehill, QB (Titans): $36.6MM
- Jared Goff, QB (Lions): $30.98MM
- Jake Matthews, T (Falcons): $28.36MM
- Trent Williams, T (49ers): $27.18MM
- Dak Prescott, QB (Cowboys): $26.83MM
- Laremy Tunsil, T (Texans): $26.61MM
- Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (49ers): $23.8MM
- Amari Cooper, WR (Browns): $23.78MM
- Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers): $23.69MM
- Ronnie Stanley, T (Ravens): $23.67MM
- Joe Thuney, G (Chiefs): $22.12MM
- Russell Wilson, QB (Broncos): $22MM
- Lamar Jackson, QB (Ravens): $22MM
- Daniel Jones, QB (Giants): $21.75MM
- David Bakhtiari, T (Packers): $21.29MM
- Kirk Cousins, QB (Vikings): $20.25MM
- D.J. Moore, WR (Bears): $20.17MM
- Matthew Stafford, QB (Rams): $20MM
- Brian O’Neill, T (Vikings): $19.66MM
- Taylor Decker, T (Lions): $19.35MM
- Deshaun Watson, QB (Browns): $19.1MM
- Braden Smith, T (Colts): $19MM
- Josh Allen, QB (Bills): $18.64MM
- Courtland Sutton, WR (Broncos): $18.27MM
As should be expected, quarterbacks dominate this list. Mahomes’ number checks in here despite the Chiefs restructuring his 10-year, $450MM contract in March; the two-time MVP’s cap hit would have set an NFL record had Kansas City not reduced it. The Chiefs did not restructure Mahomes’ deal last year, but if they do not address it — perhaps via a complex reworking — before next season, Mahomes’ $46.93MM number would break an NFL record.
The Titans have not touched Tannehill’s contract this offseason, one that included some trade rumors months ago. This is the final year of Tannehill’s Tennessee extension. Mahomes and Tannehill sat atop this ranking in 2022.
Cousins is also heading into a contract year, after the Vikings opted for a restructure and not an extension this offseason. Cousins does not expect to discuss another Minnesota deal until 2024, when he is due for free agency. Two relatively low cap numbers have started Wilson’s $49MM-per-year extension. The Denver QB’s cap number rises to $35.4MM in 2024 and reaches historic heights ($55.4MM) by ’25. The subject of a Goff extension has come up, and it would bring down the Lions passer’s figure. But Goff remains tied to his Rams-constructed $33.5MM-per-year deal through 2024.
Jackson and Jones’ numbers will rise in the near future, with the latter’s contract calling for a quick spike in 2024. Next year, the Giants QB’s cap hit will be $45MM. Watson’s 2024 hit, as of now, would top that. The Browns signal-caller is on the team’s ’24 payroll at $63.98MM. Long-term consequences aside, the Browns can be expected to once again go to the restructure well with Watson’s outlier contract.
The Raiders did not backload Garoppolo’s three-year contract; it only climbs to $24.25MM on Las Vegas’ 2024 cap sheet. The Bills did backload Allen’s pact. Its team-friendly years are done after 2023; the six-year accord spikes to $47.1MM on Buffalo’s cap next year. The Cowboys have gone to the restructure well with Prescott. Like Watson, the Cowboys quarterback is tied to a seemingly untenable 2024 cap number. The March restructure resulted in Prescott’s 2024 number rising to $59.46MM. Two seasons remain on that $40MM-AAV extension.
Another notable cap hold that should be mentioned is Tom Brady‘s. When the Buccaneers did not sign the again-retired QB to another contract before the 2023 league year, his $35.1MM dead-money figure went onto Tampa Bay’s 2023 cap sheet. The Bucs will absorb that entire amount this year. Brady’s 2022 restructure, after retirement No. 1, led to the $35.1MM figure forming.
Were it not for another O-line-record extension, the Tunsil number would have come in at $35MM this year. Matthews signed an extension last year. Moore would have come in higher on this list were he still on the Panthers, who took on $14.6MM in dead money to move their top wideout for the No. 1 overall pick. Sutton came up regularly in trade rumors, with the Broncos wanting a second-round pick for the sixth-year veteran. The former second-rounder’s high base salary ($14MM) hinders his trade value.
No Players Selected In Supplemental Draft
The NFL’s supplemental draft took place on Tuesday, ending a three-year absence of the event. As many expected, no teams took the opportunity to make an addition to their rosters, however. 
Neither Malachi Wideman nor Milton Wright were drafted, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). As a result, both wideouts are now unrestricted free agents, as is the case with players who are not selected in the spring entry draft.
The announcement of the supplemental draft’s return came roughly one month ago, amidst little fanfare. The 2023 edition marked the first since 2019, and instances of notable players being selected have generally been few and far between. Wideman held a Pro Day in an attempt to garner interest from NFL teams, but that effort was not sufficient to earn him a selection today.
Teams acquire players in supplemental drafts by bidding on them; succesful bids cost them a selection in the equivalent round of the subsequent entry draft. Both Wideman and Wright applied for eligibility for the supplemental draft after being deemed academically ineligible for the 2022 college season. That missed time cost them the opportunity to take part in April’s draft, though today’s news demonstrates it was unlikely they would have been selected at that point.
It will be interesting to monitor how much interest either player receives as a free agent with teams not willing to spend draft capital to acquire them. A deal in time for training camp could allow them the opportunity to at least compete for a practice squad role. Failing that, the XFL and USFL have demonstrated in recent years an ability to give players a pathway back to the NFL via impressive play during the spring.
Between 2010 and 2019, a total of eight players were selected in supplemental drafts. That list includes the likes of quarterback Terrelle Pryor and receiver Josh Gordon, along with current Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson. Further additions to the summer draft alumni will have to wait until at least next year, however.
Latest On Colts’ Jonathan Taylor, Shaquille Leonard
Plenty of attention will be paid to rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson heading into the 2023 season. However, much of the Colts’ success will ride on the health of running back Jonathan Taylor and linebacker Shaquille Leonard. 
Owner Jim Irsay provided an update on each of the latter two players during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link). Taylor’s recovery from offseason ankle surgery has been a key talking point, given his importance to the team’s offense. He has remained optimistic about his ability to return to full health in time for the start of the regular season, if not earlier.
Irsay stated that Taylor is indeed “healed up,” a development which should do wonders for the Colts’ ground game. A healthy 2023 campaign from the former rushing champion would also have signficant financial consequences, of course. Taylor has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and negotiations for an extension began last month. Arriving at agreeable contract terms could be difficult for player and team, considering the time Taylor missed last year and the stagnant nature of the RB market around the league.
As for Leonard, the situation is notably different. The three-time All-Pro was limited to just three games in 2022, as he dealt with a recurring back ailment. He underwent a second surgery aimed at addressing it, and later made positive remarks with respect to its effectiveness compared to the first. Still, there is no timetable for his return to the field, and a patient approach would come as no surprise considering Indianapolis’ financial commitment to him. Four years remain on Leonard’s $98.25MM extension signed in 2021.
“He’s working hard,” Irsay said when asked about the status of Leonard’s recovery process. “We’ll see. He has a chance, he’s working really hard. He’s getting a little better each day.”
A season at full strength for both Taylor and Leonard would boost the Colts’ chances of rebounding from a disastrous 2022 campaign, though expectations may be tempered during Richardson’s acclimation to the NFL. At the onset of training camp later this month, the health situation the Colts find themselves in will become clearer, but general optimism on the injury front is certainly noteworthy.
Chiefs Nearing Extension With Chris Jones?
The Chiefs’ efforts to get a new deal worked out with Chris Jones appear to have yielded progress. An extension for the All-Pro defensive tackle may be on the horizon. 
During a Tuesday SportsCenter appearance, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported that Kansas City remains optimistic with respect to finalizing a Chiefs extension (h/t Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk). Jones’ current contract has one year remaining on it, with a scheduled cap hit of $28.3MM. Working out another multi-year pact has been on the Chiefs’ radar since before the new league year began in March.
The 29-year-old skipped out on the Chiefs’ minicamp with contract talks ongoing. Jones’ intention is to place himself second in the pecking order at the D-tackle spot, behind only Aaron Donald‘s $31.6MM AAV. Accomplishing that feat would require leapfrogging a number of interior defenders who have landed massive extensions of their own in recent months. Chiefs GM Brett Veach has struck an optimistic tone regarding the chances of a Jones agreement being worked out at some point this summer.
More specifically, training camp has been named as a logical deadline for negotiations to produce an agreement. Darlington’s report, to no surprise, states that a deal prior to the beginning of camp is “likely.” Kansas City would be well-suited to get a Jones deal on the books not only to ensure cost certainty for future seasons, but also because of the immediate cap benefits it would yield.
Lowering Jones’ cap number would free up spending power for the remainder of the offseason; the Chiefs currently sit at the bottom of the league in available funds with just over $400K. Generating cap space could put Kansas City back into contention for free agent wideout DeAndre Hopkins, who is reportedly waiting on the Jones deal to be finalized before seeing how serious of a push the Chiefs could make to sign him. Clarity on the latter point could emerge soon if a Jones extension is indeed close to the finish line.
DT Christian Wilkins Hopes To Remain With Dolphins
One of the top remaining priorities for the Dolphins this offseason is securing the long-term future of their defensive line. That effort will include continued negotiations with defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. 
The 27-year-old is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2023, which will earn him $10.7MM. Negotiations for a multi-year deal worth much more than that began in March, at the onset of an offseason which has seen the DT position’s value rise substantially around the league. That development has no doubt complicated talks in this situation.
A report from last month indicated that little (if any) progress had been made with respect to extension talks. Wilkins has shown his worth throughout his four-year Miami tenure, and he logged a career-high snap share of 84% in 2022. While his skillset is more suited to run defense, the Clemson product has recorded eight sacks across the past two seasons, a figure which will add to his value on a new contract. Working out an agreement this offseason remains his intention.
“Miami is home,” Wilkins said without delving into the specifics of where negotiations currently stand, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. “That’s where I got drafted. That’s where I love. That’s where I want to be.”
The Dolphins have not only a new deal for Wilkins to work out, but also one for fellow D-lineman Zach Sieler. Finalizing those pacts will require plenty of attention in the remainder of the offseason, though the availability of running back Dalvin Cook represents an immediate concern as well. Miami currently has $13.6MM in 2023 cap space, but their financial outlook for next year is far more bleak at the moment.
There are thus a number of moving parts to consider in the Wilkins situation. His importance to the Dolphins’ defense – a unit which, under new DC Vic Fangio is facing signficant expectations this season – is well understood, though, and he should remain productive for several years to come given his durability to date in his career. With training camp approaching, it will be interesting to monitor how much traction can be found in contract talks in the coming days.
Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Rams
Nothing gold can stay. From Sean McVay‘s 2017 arrival through the 2022 offseason, the Rams treated the football world to a win-now mantra. As draft pick-collecting crusades transpired elsewhere, the Rams’ recovery from a 12-year playoff drought produced two Super Bowl berths and a championship. Evading critics with a George Allen-esque, “eff them picks” M.O. that still leaves Jared Goff as the most recent first-rounder the franchise has drafted, the Rams should be lauded for the effort and ability to craft a championship-caliber roster largely without the cost shortcuts other teams lacking a top-shelf quarterback have relied upon in this era.
Los Angeles’ 5-12 offering last season — unequivocally the worst Super Bowl title defense in NFL history — paused the music, and the McVay-Les Snead duo operated with newfound restraint this offseason. The team that has traded its past seven first-round picks stripped its defense of a few linchpins and stopped its spree of big-ticket contracts after a busy 2022 on that front. The presence of cornerstone holdovers blended with a sudden cost-conscious approach makes the Rams’ 2023 outlook difficult to pin down.
Trades:
- Sent CB Jalen Ramsey to Dolphins for TE Hunter Long, No. 77 overall pick
- Dealt WR Allen Robinson, No. 251 overall pick to Steelers for No. 234
Rumors about a Ramsey Los Angeles exit started in January, and as an updated Rams blueprint became clearer, the trade winds blew in March. Less than four years after sending the Jaguars two first-round picks for Ramsey, the Rams accepted considerably less to move him. The cornerback’s desire for an updated contract, despite being tied to a top-five accord at his position, affected the compensation the Rams were able to fetch. The Dolphins have since adjusted Ramsey’s deal, giving the 28-year-old defender fully guaranteed salaries in 2023 and ’24.
Ramsey did reward the Rams, earning back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods from 2020-21 and anchoring a Super Bowl-winning team’s secondary. One of Snead’s “eff them picks” victories, Ramsey succeeded as a boundary corner and a matchup-based slot stopper. Pro Football Focus rated Ramsey as a top-10 corner in each of his three full Rams seasons, placing him first in 2021 and third overall during last season’s mess. Ramsey, who sought Miami (NBA-style) as a destination, played three seasons on his five-year, $100MM deal; the former top-five pick will tag the Rams with $19.6MM in dead money this year.
The Rams received good health and elite performance from Ramsey, making this a sobering return package. L.A. saw Aaron Donald‘s run of health cease with a high ankle sprain late last season, but Ramsey played all 17 games. The Florida State product delivered for a team that needed to place late-round picks or UDFAs across from him, though slot cog Troy Hill provided some veteran stability. Ramsey, Hill, Darious Williams and David Long are all out of the picture, leaving L.A. with a gaggle of Day 3 picks and Steelers castoff Ahkello Witherspoon at corner.
The Rams were able to recover from disbanding their Super Bowl LIII Aqib Talib–Marcus Peters pair, but Ramsey played the lead role there. Even with Donald, DC Raheem Morris will have a much tougher time assembling a high-end pass defense this season. Two years remain on Hunter Long’s rookie contract; the former third-round pick has one reception in 16 career games.
A 2022 effort to re-sign Von Miller last year failing led to a pivot to Robinson. That contingency plan burned the Rams, whose aggressiveness has involved a few bad contracts during the Snead-McVay years. Robinson was unable to shake off a down 2021, when he underwhelmed on a Bears franchise tag. His 2022 line: 33 receptions, 339 yards, three touchdowns before a season-ending surgery.
After giving Robinson permission to seek a trade, the Rams needed to pay $5MM of the 10th-year veteran’s 2023 guarantee to convince the Steelers to drop 17 spots in this year’s seventh round. This process continued a late-20s decline for the former Pro Bowler.
Cooper Kupp remains the Rams’ receiving anchor, and Robinson’s exit should not affect the team much. He was unable to create much separation and left defenses keying on the 2021 receiving triple-crown winner. But Kupp’s 2023 batch of wingmen either lack experience or present low ceilings. Kupp missed seven games last season; his 812 receiving yards led the Rams by more than 100 and paced all their wide receivers by over 400. Van Jefferson, an 802-yard receiver in 2021, will attempt to shake off a forgettable 2022. Utilityman Ben Skowronek (376 receiving yards last year), underwhelming and undersized second-round pick Tutu Atwell, UFA addition Demarcus Robinson and fifth-rounder Puka Nacua round out L.A.’s top-heavy receiving cadre.
Free agency additions:
- Demarcus Robinson, WR: One year, $1.17MM
- Brett Rypien, QB: One year, $1.1MM
- Sony Michel, RB: One year, $1.1MM
- Ahkello Witherspoon, CB: One year, $1.1MM
All four of the Rams’ notable UFA acquisitions came after the draft. Michel, 28, looms as the most interesting, as the 2021 trade get has led two Super Bowl-winning teams in rushing. Cam Akers‘ July 2021 Achilles tear initially brought the ex-Patriots first-rounder to L.A. Michel proceeded to lead the Rams’ championship edition in rushing (845 yards — the most by a non-Todd Gurley Ram under McVay) and shed the injury concerns that plagued him with the Patriots by playing in all 21 Rams games that year. Michel spent last season with the Chargers but did not make much of an impact, rushing for only 106 yards and being cut before season’s end.
Despite McVay and Akers not being on the same page for much of last season, leading to a trade request and a genuine Rams effort to move him, the former second-rounder will be given another chance. With only 2022 fifth-rounder Kyren Williams and sixth-round rookie (and one-time five-star recruit) Zach Evans residing behind Akers, it would not surprise if Michel emerged as the Rams’ top backup. Akers, 24, is going into a contract year. With the once-promising Florida State talent not looking like himself much since that Achilles injury, this profiles as a crucial year for his NFL future.
Witherspoon started his career in San Francisco, starting 33 games in four Bay Area seasons. The 6-foot-2 defender signed with the Seahawks, but they traded him to the Steelers before the 2021 season began. Injuries impacted Witherspoon in Pittsburgh; he missed 21 games over the past two seasons. This league-minimum deal qualifies as a flier, but Pro Football Focus rated Witherspoon as a top-20 corner in 2020 and ’21.
Going into his age-29 season, Robinson has served as an auxiliary target for Alex Smith, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson in a seven-year career. A backup role might be in the cards for the former fourth-round pick. Robinson, however, has tallied three 400-plus-yard receiving seasons in the past four years. The last of those happened for a Baltimore team forced to trot out Tyler Huntley to close its season; Robinson also scored a touchdown in the Ravens’ playoff loss in Cincinnati.
Re-signings:
- Coleman Shelton, OL: Two years, $4.75MM ($2.38MM guaranteed)
- Michael Hoecht, DL: One year, $940K
Shelton won the Rams’ starting right guard job out of training camp last year. From 2019-21, Shelton had made two starts. Illustrating the Rams’ injury plight last season, he was needed for 13. Having experience at center and guard, Shelton gives the team options. With the injury-prone Brian Allen not a lock to keep his snapping gig, Shelton looms as a backstop. PFF did rank Shelton 30th among centers last season. His profile points to a swing gig, but with Allen struggling to stay healthy, Shelton seeing several starts would not surprise.
With Logan Bruss back from his ACL and MCL tears and second-rounder Steve Avila penciled in as a starter, the Rams are in better shape compared to the blocker infirmary that formed last season.
Notable losses:
- Oday Aboushi, G
- Chandler Brewer, OL
- Malcolm Brown, RB
- Riley Dixon, P
- David Edwards, G
- Leonard Floyd, OLB (released)
- Greg Gaines, DL
- Matt Gay, K
- Jacob Harris, WR/TE
- Troy Hill, CB
- David Long, CB
- Baker Mayfield, QB
- Ty Nsekhe, T
- Matthew Orzech, LS
- Bryce Perkins, QB (nontendered as RFA)
- Brandon Powell, WR
- Taylor Rapp, S
- A’Shawn Robinson, DL
- Nick Scott, S
- Matt Skura, C
- Bobby Wagner, ILB (released)
- John Wolford, QB
Nine regular starters, the team’s season-ending QB1 and both its specialists are no longer in the picture. In their place: mostly rookies. Edwards, Gaines, Scott, Rapp, Wolford and Long played out their rookie contracts. The Rams have let role players walk following the expiration of their rookie deals in the past. But this offseason brought a different goal compared to when the likes of Cory Littleton, Austin Corbett, Gerald Everett or Darious Williams were made expendable to afford higher-priced talent. Stafford, Donald and Kupp keep the stars-and-scrubs blueprint alive, but the Rams said goodbye to more core performers than usual.
