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PFR Glossary: Injured Reserve

September 16th, 2016 at 9:29am CST by Zachary Links

As has been the case throughout the preseason and season so far, we saw several key players moved to teams’ injured reserve lists this week. Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and Browns QB Robert Griffin III are among the players who landed on the IR recently, opening up a spot on their clubs’ active rosters for their teams to replace them.

The injured reserve designation is generally – though not always – used for players who will be out for the season. That’s not the case for every player who lands on injured reserve though. Particularly during the preseason, we see players who weren’t part of their teams’ long-term plans hit the IR list, only to be cut several days later. Generally, these cases involve players who aren’t suffering from season-ending injuries, and receive injury settlements from their respective clubs in order to release those clubs from any liability.

For instance, let’s say a player is injured during the final week of the preseason with a high ankle sprain, and the player and team both agree that the injury will sideline him for three weeks. The club could place that player on injured reserve, then cut him with a two-week regular-season injury settlement (since the final preseason week is also taken into account). That would allow the player to receive 2/17ths of his season salary, and allow him to look for work with a new club when he gets healthy. If the club were to keep the player on injured reserve rather than removing him with a settlement, it would be required to cut him when he gets healthy.

Teams who release a player from IR with a settlement are eligible to re-sign that player later in the season, if they so choose. But they must wait three weeks, on top of the time of the initial settlement. In that previous example then, a club would have to wait until after Week 8 to re-sign the player with the high ankle sprain.

Players who remain on their clubs’ injured reserve lists all season continue to receive their full salary, which also counts against their teams’ salary caps. The Browns, for example, have tons of traditional dead money on the books thanks to the contracts of Dwayne Bowe, Barkevious Mingo, Donte Whitner, Johnny Manziel, and others. But, they’re also effectively carrying dead money for Griffin, who carries a $5MM+ cap number for the 2016 season.

In some instances, players agree to “split contracts” when they sign with a club, which means that the player will receive a smaller salary if he lands on injured reserve. Split contracts, which are worth less than the active roster minimum salaries, are fairly rare, and are primarily signed by undrafted rookies or veterans with injury histories.

One additional quirk related to the injured reserve list is the option each team has to bring one player back from the IR list. Previously, the rule stipulated that a team had to designate one specific player for return later on in the season. Thanks to a rule change proposed by the Bills this offseason, however, the IR-DTR spot is no more. Instead, a team can bring any player back from IR, though that player must be on IR for a minimum of six weeks before practicing and can return to game action after a total of eight weeks. Once a team uses this designation once, it can’t use it again that season.

Note: This is a PFR Glossary entry, modified from an earlier post by PFR editor emeritus Luke Adams. Our glossary posts explain specific rules relating to free agency, trades, or other aspects of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Poll: Who Will Win The AFC East?

September 15th, 2016 at 7:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Of all the NFL’s divisions, the AFC East has offered the least in terms of parity during the 2010s. Every other NFL division has featured at least two teams claiming a title and this one still features a Patriots team that will deploy the Bill Belichick–Tom Brady duo for a large chunk of the season.

The Patriots have won seven straight AFC East crowns and 13 of the past 16. New England is set to return its 39-year-old future Hall of Fame quarterback in Week 5, where he’ll again team with one of the best tight ends in NFL history. Still, Rob Gronkowski has yet to make his 2016 debut yet and the Pats still have questions on defense due to injuries, suspensions, and the trade of Chandler Jones. However, the Jimmy Garoppolo-led outfit still showed enough to beat one of the league’s best teams in Week 1 despite a host of key inactives.

Both the Jets and Dolphins upset the Patriots last season to deprive them of home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs, and each played a returning playoff team close in Week 1. Last season’s second-place finisher, the Jets bring back arguably the best defensive line in football and, after some arduous negotiations, they have Ryan Fitzpatrick back on the other side of the ball.

The most recent non-Patriots division champion (in 2008), the Dolphins continue their first season under offensive wunderkind Adam Gase with a trip to Massachusetts on Sunday. The Fins haven’t made the playoffs since that ’08 campaign but added veterans in Arian Foster and Mario Williams, and drafted once-projected No. 1 pick Laremy Tunsil in Round 1.

Despite finishing with at least eight wins the past two seasons, the Bills own the longest playoff drought in football at 17 years. Their offseason extension for Tyrod Taylor and re-signing of Richie Incognito became overshadowed by a host of suspensions, injuries, and cuts.

So, in advance of the AFC East’s first matchups, who will win the division this season?

Who Will Win The AFC East?

New England Patriots 76.11% (1,274 votes)

New York Jets 14.34% (240 votes)

Miami Dolphins 7.47% (125 votes)

Buffalo Bills 2.09% (35 votes)

Total Votes: 1,674

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

PFR’s Impact Rookies Series

September 15th, 2016 at 1:49pm CST by Zachary Links

All summer long, longtime scouting consultant Dave-Te Thomas of The NFL Draft Report has been breaking down the draft class of every team in the league and identifying the players that can immediately make a difference. The Impact Rookies series, which wrapped up today with a look at the Seahawks, provides unique insight to this year’s NFL freshman class from a veteran guru who worked closely with several teams around the league leading up to the draft.

Here is the full rundown of the Impact Rookies series:

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

Impact Rookies: San Francisco 49ers

September 15th, 2016 at 9:18am CST by Zachary Links

The old adage that defense wins championships may or may not be true, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a title-winning team that didn’t build heavily through the draft. Rookie classes, naturally, are evaluated on the perceived upside of the NFL newcomers, but which rookies are ready to contribute right out of the gate? And, how do they fit in with their new team schematically?

To help us forecast the immediate future of these NFL neophytes, we enlisted the help of draft guru Dave-Te Thomas who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades.

Out of eleven selections, we here at The NFL Draft Report only see one 49ers draft pick making a significant mark in 2016.

First Round – DeForest Buckner, DL (Oregon, No. 7 overall)

A “tall drink of water” at a shade over 6:07, Buckner entered the 2015 bowl season having produced 225 tackles (104 solos) that included seventeen sacks (eleventh on the school career-record chart) for -118 yards. His 34.5 stops-for-loss ranked ninth in Oregon history, good for losses of 154 yards. Additionally, he registered thirty quarterback pressures, with six of those hurries causing interceptions, as Oregon converted those turnovers into touchdown drives. He also caused three fumbles and recovered two others that led to Ducks scores.

Buckner has outstanding size and a developing frame, adding fifteen pounds of solid muscle mass to it during the 2015 off-season. He has a solid upper body frame, with a wide back, long arms, good lower body strength and room on his frame for additional growth. He has broad shoulders, good bubble, thick thighs and a tight waist. He has a very long torso, arms and legs. A well-proportioned athlete with good upper body muscle development, he has good shoulder size and width, large hands, good bubble, thick thighs, and calves.

The Oregon standout has incredible moves off the edge and can change direction immediately. Buckner shows very good hip strike on contact and is a normal strider who plays with leverage and above average body quickness. He has the burst to penetrate and balance much like a linebacker. Buckner can be an “elephant” (hybrid rush end/linebacker) or just a tenacious defensive end with a high motor and excellent intensity.

From a sheer strength point, Buckner has more natural power than you would expect. He generates a good jolt in his hips and hands to rock the offensive tackle back on his heels during the bull rush. He has more than enough speed and explosion to get an edge. Despite his size, he is stronger than he looks, as he plays with leverage and keeps his pads down, making it tough to block him head-on. He rarely ever gets washed by some down blocks, as he can simply overpower his opponent when heading up the gut (see 2015 Washington, California, Arizona State, and Stanford games). He is best coming off the edge, but he has that long reach and strong hand punch to play off the offensive tackle and quickly locate the ball in backside pursuit. In 33 games of film view, he has never been widened or steered away from the play in any phase.

Last season, Buckner honed his wrap-up tackling technique and became more explosive in that area. The 6’7″, 287 pound athlete is fun to watch as he stalks, chases, wraps, and drags down the ball carrier, as he looks like a spider engulfing the ball carrier to get a piece of the opponent’s body. When he is closing on the quarterback, he shows even more explosion. He is best in open quarters, but he has more than enough power to battle in-line.

As a rookie, Buckner is being slotted in as a starting defensive end in the Niners’ 3-4 alignment. With 2015 first-round pick Arik Armstead at the other bookend and 26-year-old Quinton Dial in the middle, this is a young defensive line that will grow together. Expect Buckner to impress right out of the gate and show the world why he was a Top 10 pick in this year’s draft.

Dave-Te Thomas owns and operates The NFL Draft Report, a service providing insight to league scouting departments for over 40 years. All year round, you can read Thomas’ in-depth reviews of both blue chip prospects and diamonds in the rough by visiting the NFL Draft Report blog.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Impact Rookies: Seattle Seahawks

September 14th, 2016 at 12:41pm CST by Zachary Links

The old adage that defense wins championships may or may not be true, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a title-winning team that didn’t build heavily through the draft. Rookie classes, naturally, are evaluated on the perceived upside of the NFL newcomers, but which rookies are ready to contribute right out of the gate? And, how do they fit in with their new team schematically?

To help us forecast the immediate future of these NFL neophytes, we enlisted the help of draft guru Dave-Te Thomas who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades.

My hat is off to the Seahawks tireless college scouting staff. Yes, that was quite a bounty, drafting ten players, but they also deserve credit for their UDFA discoveries.

Second Round – Jarran Reed, DT (Alabama, No. 49 overall)

Reed’s tenure at Alabama lasted just two seasons, but the highly coveted recruit out of East Mississippi Community College proved to be an invaluable performer for the Tide. Now, he is being slotted in as one of the Seahawks’ starting defensive tackles right out of the gate.

Reed is a quick and explosive run container who plays with non-stop effort. He is a short stepper who does a very good job of using his upper body strength and lower frame power to collapse the offensive line and occupy multiple blockers. He gets into the blockers with good urgency and shows adequate hip flexibility and lower body quickness to make plays moving down the line (see 2015 Middle Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana-Monroe games). He plays stout at the point of attack and uses his hands well to keep blockers away from his chest. When he stays low in his pads, he gains leverage and shows strength and explosion coming off the snap.

Reed is a “never back down from anything” type. He sacrificed personal success to play the role of “trash man” for the Tide, using his power and frame to constantly take on double teams in order for a freed-up teammate to make the play. He is an all-out battler in tight quarters and shows enough functional quickness to make plays outside the box while also generating good urgency in pursuit. When he gets in a groove, he simply overpowers and wears down the blockers with his leg drive and combative nature.

The Alabama product might not have the 330-pound frame you look for in a three-tech, but he has above average upper body strength and that strong anchor to split double teams and collapse the offensive line. The youngster has become more conscious of using his hands to play off blocks and keeps them active when working across the face of an offensive lineman. He will engage and shed with good force and shows a surprising motor in short area pursuit. When he gets into the hole, he delivers that strong hand punch to clog the rush lanes and push back the lead blocker as evidenced by teams recording just four first downs on 52 rushing attempts against him in 2015.

Reed has long-term upside, but he also figures to pay dividends for the Seahawks D-Line right away in 2016.

Continue reading about the Seahawks’ rookies..

Impact Rookies: Los Angeles Rams

September 13th, 2016 at 12:04pm CST by Zachary Links

The old adage that defense wins championships may or may not be true, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a title-winning team that didn’t build heavily through the draft. Rookie classes, naturally, are evaluated on the perceived upside of the NFL newcomers, but which rookies are ready to contribute right out of the gate? And, how do they fit in with their new team schematically?

To help us forecast the immediate future of these NFL neophytes, we enlisted the help of draft guru Dave-Te Thomas who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades.

Even Stevie Wonder could see that the biggest problem for Los Angeles/St. Louis was their quest to find Kurt Warner’s replacement. They finally feel they found that answer in-state, drafting Jared Goff after a trade for the rifle-armed passer. The front office then used four of their next five selection to add weapons to the receiving corps for their new signal caller. Still, all that attention led to two glaring omissions – help for both lines.

Goff is expected to be brought along slowly this year and based on his exhibition performances to date, it seems like a wise idea to have him observe, rather than being thrown to the wolves. The Rams offensive line is mediocre, if even that, and will be breaking in two new guards this season, along with trying to figure out the tight end and wide receiver crowd. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft may prove to be a solid quarterback down the line, but you won’t see him listed as an “Impact Rookie.” In fact, there’s only one member of the Rams rookie class that we can envision making a mark this year.

Fourth Round – Tyler Higbee, TE (Western Kentucky, No. 110 overall)

At one point this summer, Higbee was running with the first team and it looked like he might be Los Angeles’ primary tight end. Instead, Higbee is No. 2 on the TE depth chart behind Lance Kendricks. In the Rams’ season opener, Higbee caught one pass for two yards. That’s hardly superstar production, but he did draw four targets while Kendricks saw only three.

If the Rams can figure out their offensive line issues, then Higbee could have a chance to break out a bit in his frosh campaign. There is no doubt that Higbee is an NFL caliber tight end. The big question is – will he mature enough to stay out of trouble off the field?

For a tight end, Higbee displays good quickness and timed speed. He has above average agility, flexibility, and burst and displays the ability to adjust on the run. The WKU product stays on his feet with good balance, flexibility and change of direction agility. He makes good adjustments on the run, doing a nice job of spotting coverage while running routes. He has the speed to get open after the catch and shows good hustle getting out on the edge to cut block.

Higbee might not be bulky, but he does not step away from b fourthlocking assignments down field. He needs to be more physical in his in-line blocking approach, though. He is a well-coordinated athlete with good speed and quick feet for his position. He shows good balance in his routes and has enough speed to threaten the defenses on deep patterns, but is more comfortable on controlled routes. Higbee runs with a normal stride and builds quickly to top speed. He is not really explosive, but has the balance and body control to make proper adjustments on the move.

Higbee has soft hands and is very good with hand placement on the ball. He will catch in his hands, extend and pluck outside the framework and look natural doing both. The thing you notice on film is his ball concentration skills. Once he gets the ball within his grasp, it will result in a clean catch. When in stride, he catches the ball smoothly, showing the hand/eye coordination to make proper body adjustments and will extend some to catch out of the body’s framework.

As a fourth-round pick, Higbee may make some GMs regret passing him up. But, he’ll need the offense around him to get it together.

Dave-Te Thomas owns and operates The NFL Draft Report, a service providing insight to league scouting departments for over 40 years. All year round, you can read Thomas’ in-depth reviews of both blue chip prospects and diamonds in the rough by visiting the NFL Draft Report blog.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Rams

September 12th, 2016 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

The Rams had the top pick in this past year’s draft. They added a number of veteran defensive free agents. They signed their top wideout to a lucrative extension.

Still, despite all of these headlines, the biggest “move” by the Rams was their relocation to Los Angeles. After 20 years (and a Super Bowl championship) in St. Louis, the organization is returning to the City of Angels.

Following a 2015 season that featured a 7-9 record and plenty of promise from Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley, the assumption would be that the team would take another step forward in 2016. The Rams will undoubtedly be in a bigger spotlight, but did the front office do enough to bring a contender to Los Angeles?

Notable signings:

Mark Barron, LB: Five years, $45MM. $15MM guaranteed.
Trumaine Johnson, CB: One year, $13,952MM. Fully guaranteed. Accepted franchise tag.
William Hayes, DE: Three years, $17.5MM. $10MM guaranteed.
Coty Sensabaugh, CB: Three years, $14.5MM. $5.5MM guaranteed.
Tim Barnes, C: Two years, $5.5MM. $3.25MM guaranteed.
Eugene Sims, DE: Three years, $10MM. $3MM guaranteed.
Cory Harkey, TE: Three years, $5.7MM. $2.5MM guaranteed.
Brian Quick, WR: One year, $1.75MM. $1.5MM guaranteed.
Cody Davis, S: Two years, $2,916,666. $805K guaranteed.
Greg Zuerlein, K: One year, $1.25MM. $675K guaranteed.
Chase Reynolds, RB: One year, $875K. $200K guaranteed.
Case Keenum, QB: One year, $3.635MM. Signed first-round RFA tender.
Benny Cunningham, RB: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Cam Thomas, DT: One year, minimum salary benefit.
Dominique Easley, DT: One year, $600K.

The Rams were clearly encouraged by their step forward in 2015, so the front office spent their offseason re-signing many of their key free agents.

Mark Barron, a former first-round pick, may be the most notable signing. After having revived his career in St. Louis last season, the 26-year-old inked a five-year contract to remain with the organization. Barron set career-highs in tackles (76) and forced fumbles (three) in 2015, and he’ll presumably remain as the team’s starting outside linebacker, providing some experience to a youthful unit.

Cornerback Trumaine Johnson will also remain with the team. The 26-year-old ultimately accepted his franchise tender, keeping him in Los Angeles for at least one more season. The starting cornerback had his most productive season in 2015, establishing career-highs in tackles (58), interceptions (seven), and passes defended (17). The defensive back will be joined by Coty Sensabaugh, who joined the Rams this offseason following four seasons with the Titans. The 27-year-old started 15 games last season, compiling 42 tackles and a pair of interceptions.

Elsewhere on defense, defensive lineman William Hayes will be sticking around for three more seasons. The 31-year-old has split his eight-year career between the Titans and Rams, and the veteran finished with at least four sacks in each of his four seasons in St. Louis. Veteran lineman Eugene Sims will also be returning to the organization, and the front office brought in a former first-rounder in lineman Dominique Easley to round out the defensive line.

On the other side of the ball, the team’s big re-signing was center Tim Barnes, who has appeared in 61 of a possible 64 games since going undrafted in 2012. The 28-year-old should be the veteran leader of the Rams’ offensive line, as the other four starters are all 24-years-old or younger.

Barnes will be blocking for quarterback Case Keenum, who signed his restricted free agent tender with the squad. The 28-year-old has 15 career starts through four NFL seasons, and the coaching staff felt comfortable making the journeyman their starter, even over first-overall pick Jared Goff. In five games last season, Keenum completed 61-percent of his passes for 828 yards, four scores, and one interception.

The organization held on to wideout Brian Quick, who has yet to breakout after being selected in the second round of the 2012 draft. The 27-year-old had his least productive season in 2015, hauling in only 10 catches for 102 yards. The Rams also retained a pair of running backs in Benny Cunningham and Chase Reynolds.

Continue reading about the Rams’ offseason…

Notable losses:

Akeem Ayers, LB: Released
Daren Bates, LB
Jared Cook, TE: Released
Nick Fairley, DT
Nick Foles, QB: Released
Janoris Jenkins, CB
James Laurinaitis, LB: Released
Chris Long, DE: Released
Rodney McLeod, S
Wes Welker, WR

While the Rams did an admirable job of retaining many of their defense free agents, they also cut bait with a number of notable veterans. Former second-overall pick Chris Long was perhaps the most notable release, as the 31-year-old had spent the previous eight seasons with the organization. Long, who ultimately landed with the Patriots, has started only 11 games over the past two seasons, but his veteran leadership could have benefited a young defensive line.

Akeem Ayers‘ tenure with the franchise also came to an end after only one season. Following a breakout second-half of the 2014 season, Ayers was expected to play a significant role on the Rams defense. Instead, the 27-year-old ended up starting only 12 games while compiling underwhelming statistics. Veteran linebacker James Laurinaitis was also released by the Rams following seven seasons with the team. The former Ohio State star has started 16 games in each of his seven NFL seasons, although his tackles and sacks count did drop a bit in 2015.

Defensive backs Janoris Jenkins and Rodney McLeod were both starters on last year’s Rams squad, but the duo ended up getting lucrative contracts from the Giants and Eagles, respectively. Having combined for four interceptions and 20 passes defended, the team is looking to replace their production with E.J. Gaines, T.J. McDonald, and Cody Davis.

The team lost a trio of veterans on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Nick Foles was let go following one season with the Rams. The former Pro Bowler was disappointing in his 11 starts, completing only 56-percent of his passes while throwing seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Veteran tight end Jared Cook was also released after having spent several seasons with the organization. The 29-year-old (who ultimately landed on the Packers) was productive throughout his tenure in St. Louis, averaging 47 receptions, 595 yards, and nearly three touchdowns a season. Finally, veteran wideout Wes Welker struggled to stay on the field, but he still managed to collect 12 receptions in 2015.

Trades:

Acquired a 2016 first-round pick (No. 1), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 113), and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 177) from the Titans in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick (No. 15), two 2016 second-round picks (Nos. 43 and 45), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 76), a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2017 third-round pick.
- Rams will also acquire a 2017 seventh-round pick if they send their own 2017 third-rounder to the Titans, rather than a third-round comp pick.
Acquired a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 117) and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 206) from the Bears in exchange for a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 113).

The Rams’ biggest move of the offseason was the acquisition of the top-overall pick in this year’s draft. We’ll analyze the actual picks below, but let’s see how the Rams actually fared in their trades (using the classic, Jimmy Johnson Draft Trade Chart):

Rams acquired 3,088.6 points worth of value:

No. 1 pick (3,000 points)
No. 113 pick (68 points)
No. 177 pick (20.6 points)

Rams gave up at least 2,886 points worth of value:

No. 15 pick (1,050 points)
No. 43 pick (470 points)
No. 45 pick (450 points)
No. 76 pick (210 points)
2017 first (at least 590 points)
2017 third (at least 116 points)

While it would seem like the Rams gave up an absolute haul for the first-overall pick, the trade chart indicates that the front office may have made off with a minor steal. Of course, the team traded for (what they believe to be) a franchise quarterback, and you can’t necessarily determine that value from a chart.

Draft picks:

1-1: Jared Goff, QB (California)
4-110: Tyler Higbee, TE (Western Kentucky)
4-117: Pharoh Cooper, WR (South Carolina)
6-177: Temarrick Hemingway, TE (South Carolina State)
6-190: Josh Forrest, LB (Kentucky)
6-206: Mike Thomas, WR (Southern Mississippi)

With that top overall pick in the draft, the Rams selected California quarterback Jared Goff. While the 21-year-old may be sitting third on the QB depth chart for the start of the season, there’s no denying that the California-native is the future of the franchise. Goff has been praised for his arm strength, size, mobility, and his on-field attitude, although some have questioned his decision making.

Of course, the rookie will begin to limit those mistakes as he gets more experience in the NFL. Goff certainly showed that he belonged in the league during his junior season at Cal, where he completed 64% of his passes for 4,714 yards, 43 touchdowns, and only 13 interceptions. There’s no denying that production (especially in a division as competitive as the Pac-12), so fans shouldn’t be pessimistic about Goff’s current spot on the depth chart.

After having dealt off a wealth of picks to acquire the quarterback, the Rams didn’t select again until the fourth round. With their two fourth-rounders, the team opted for a pair of future offensive weapons: tight end Tyler Higbee and wideout Pharoh Cooper. While it will take the rookies some time to rise up the depth chart, the preseason should give the team some reason for optimism. Higbee hauled in seven catches for 66 yards, while Cooper caught a pair of passes for 30 yards and a touchdown.

The Rams’ trio of sixth-round picks all managed to make the final roster. When it comes to the 2016 squad, linebacker Josh Forrest may have the best opportunity to contribute to the team.

Extensions and restructures:

Tavon Austin, WR: Extended through 2021. Four years, $42,222,004. $17MM guaranteed.

Tavon Austin hasn’t necessarily performed like a top-12 wideout since entering the league as a first-rounder in 2013. Either way, the Rams decided to pay him like one. Having already picked up his fifth-year option, the front office signed the 25-year-old Austin to a four-year, $42MM extension. The contract ranks 11th among wideouts in total value and total guaranteed money, ahead of names like Antonio Brown, Jordy Nelson, and Brandon Marshall.

Austin certainly hasn’t been a disappointment since being selected in the first-round, especially since the unconventional Rams offense doesn’t rely on your standard “number-one” option in the passing game. Austin had his best season in 2015, compiling career-highs in receptions (52), receiving yards (473) and touchdowns (five). Austin also contributed in the running game (compiling 434 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 52 carries) and the punt game, making him a useful offensive weapon.

Other:

Relocated to Los Angeles.
Hired Bears WRs coach Mike Groh as WRs coach/passing game coordinator.
Exercised 2017 fifth-year option for WR Tavon Austin ($12.268MM).
Exercised 2017 fifth-year option for LB Alec Ogletree ($8.369MM).
Signed, and then released, DE Quinton Coples. Rams will carry $750K in dead money.
Signed 19 undrafted free agents following the draft.

The biggest story of the Rams’ offseason was their return to Los Angeles after two decades in St. Louis. The franchise had previously played in California for nearly 50 years, and their move will finally bring back professional football to Los Angeles. The last time a team relocated was in 1997, when the Houston Oilers moved to Memphis (and then to Nashville) and became the Tennessee Oilers/Titans. That Tennessee team (which also featured Jeff Fisher as their head coach) finished that season 8-8.

The Rams brought in receivers coach Mike Groh to replace Ray Sherman. Groh, who has been coaching since 2000, helped Alshon Jeffery evolve into one of the NFL’s top wideouts in Chicago. The hope is that Groh will help improve a unit that finished last in the league in passing yards last season.

Besides picking up Austin’s option, the Rams also exercised linebacker Alec Ogletree‘s fifth-year option. The former first-rounder has established himself as one of the leaders of the Rams defense, even after playing only four games in 2015. In his first two seasons in the league, Ogletree averaged 114 tackles, five forced fumbles, and 11 passes defended. After having extended Austin, the team will surely be looking to lock up the 24-year-old linebacker.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Trumaine Johnson, CB: $13,952,000
Robert Quinn, DE: $11,157,373
Nick Foles, QB: $8,750,000
William Hayes, DE: $7,000,000
Michael Brockers, DT: $6,146,000
Mark Barron, LB: $6,000,000
Greg Robinson, T: $5,804,754
Rodger Saffold, G: $5,626,250
Kenny Britt, WR: $4,850,000
Coty Sensabaugh, CB: $4,850,000

The Rams did show some promise in 2015, and the front office spent plenty of money to retain many of their top free agents. Conventional wisdom would indicate that the young roster would take another step forward in 2016.

Of course, that team also finished with only seven wins last season. Even if they have a two-win improvement, it might not be enough to emerge in the competitive NFC (especially in a division that features two possible Super Bowl contenders in the Seahawks and Cardinals). Plus, Jeff Fisher has yet to finished better than 7-9 in each of four seasons with the team.

After pairing Jared Goff with Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley, there’s no denying that the future is bright in Los Angeles. However, it still might take a few seasons for the Rams to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Information from Over the Cap, Spotrac, and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

PFR Originals: 9/4/16 – 9/11/16

September 11th, 2016 at 3:15pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The original analysis and content produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

After Tim Tebow signed with the New York Mets in order to pursue his dream of a baseball career, Zach Links joined the ensuing conference call with Tebow and Mets general manager Sandy Alderson. Alderson, for his part, emphasized that signing Tebow was not a public relations move, while Tebow revealed that he’s actually been interested in trying out baseball for more than year.
The PFR staff made its predictions for the 2016 season, projecting postseason teams, Super Bowl winners, and individual awards. The Cardinals, Seahawks, Panthers, and Patriots are among the favorites to win the championship in our opinion, while many of our writers think that Aaron Rodgers can return to form and capture the MVP crown.
PFR has continued to look back at the offseasons for all 32 clubs, examining the major signings, departures, trades, and other notable offseason events for each team. We covered two clubs over the past week:
- Carolina Panthers
- Washington Redskins
Zach rounded up the best of the football blogs in the latest edition of Pigskin Links.

Offseason In Review: Carolina Panthers

September 8th, 2016 at 6:00pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The defending NFC champion Panthers were in the midst of a quiet offseason until general manager Dave Gettleman made the shocking decision in late April to remove the franchise tag from star cornerback Josh Norman, with whom long-term contract talks weren’t progressing. The 28-year-old offered to sign his franchise tender for 2016, but the Panthers had already filed the paperwork to rescind it, thereby allowing Norman to hit the open market and quickly ink a massive deal with Washington.

With most worthwhile free agents off the board by the time Carolina waved goodbye to Norman, the club wasn’t able to make any notable veteran additions to replace him. As a result, the Cam Newton-led Panthers are left to hope a group of less established corners will step up in the wake of Norman’s departure and help them reach even greater heights than they did last season.