2016 Free Agency Talk

[ANGELAKERAMS]

Yea shopson. Maybe Johnny Hekker's utility had the FO thinking they could add another multi-skilled player to keep defenses guessing. Problem is, unlike Hekker, this guy is pretty small by NFL standards. Maybe they wanted to forget the Manziel idea? Who knows.

If that's what it takes to keep Johnny Boozball off the Rams, then I'm all for it.

 

[RamsFan88]

What about Mario Williams to replace Long?

 

[GNG]

I'm very interested to see who we spend the franchise tag on.

None are worth using the Franchise Tag on.

 

[shopson67]

What about Mario Williams to replace Long?

I'm not sure what to make of Mario. He basically just pouted his way off the Bills (and did that before with the Texans). He's going to be big money too.

 

[Retroram52]

Nope, Williams is the defensive equivalent of Jake Long although Long didn't do much pouting; He just couldn't stay healthy. We don't need that kind of dogging player on defense. We have way too many on offense to start that trend on defense.

 

[Battlelyon]

Jared Cook's salary might make him a cap cut

Nick WagonerESPN Staff Writer

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- We're moving closer to the start of the new league year and, along with it, the start of free agency. Which means over the next few weeks, the Los Angeles Rams will be taking a long look at the players already on the roster and determining whether they're worth their projected salary cap numbers.

Some teams have already begun the process of releasing high-priced veterans to create salary cap room. So this week, we'll take a look at some players who will come under the microscope for the Rams. (All numbers courtesy of ESPN Stats & Info)

Jared Cook

Contract status: Signed through 2017.

2016 cap hit: $8,300,441

Potential savings: $5,699,558

Why he could go: For the most part, Cook's production as a Ram falls in line with what he did for the Tennessee Titans. That would be fine except for the fact that the production hasn't met the high price the Rams have paid him. Cook has also drawn criticism for his issues with drops and struggles as a blocker. Perhaps more than that, though, is the fact that Cook isn't really a fit for what the Rams want to be offensively. When the team signed him in 2013, it did so with the intent of spreading things out and throwing the ball all over the field. One Rams personnel executive said at the time that Cook was the perfect oversized slot receiver for what the Rams were trying to become. But that experiment only lasted four games before coach Jeff Fisher scrapped it and went back to his running game roots. In doing so, it put Cook in a spot where he was asked to perform as an inline blocker more than he had at any point in his career. It's a role that doesn't really fit Cook's skill set and has left him miscast in the Rams offense. The Rams also spent a good chunk of money to re-sign Lance Kendricks last year and have Cory Harkey set to hit free agency this year. Add all of that to a salary that makes him the 13th highest paid tight end in the league, a team that could use some extra funds to re-sign its own free agents and you have the recipe for a potential parting of ways.

Why he could stay: Since Cook signed in 2013, he's been the team's most productive receiving target. He's posted 142 catches for 1,786 yards and eight touchdowns in that time, with the first two numbers representing the highest numbers on the team. While the Rams should undoubtedly be in the market for a pass-catcher or two who can put up much better numbers than those, Cook has been durable and his overall production puts him in the top half of tight ends in the league. Cook ranks 13th in receiving yards and 14th in receptions among all tight ends since 2013 (though he's also tied for second in drops). And while he's still not a consistent blocker, his coaches believe he showed improvement in that regard as 2015 wore on. If the Rams release Cook, they'll need to find a pass catching tight end to replace him, which means they'd be creating yet another need on a roster that could have many.

 

[zeke2829]

Jared Cook's salary might make him a cap cut
View attachment 89250
Nick WagonerESPN Staff Writer

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- We're moving closer to the start of the new league year and, along with it, the start of free agency. Which means over the next few weeks, the Los Angeles Rams will be taking a long look at the players already on the roster and determining whether they're worth their projected salary cap numbers.

Some teams have already begun the process of releasing high-priced veterans to create salary cap room. So this week, we'll take a look at some players who will come under the microscope for the Rams. (All numbers courtesy of ESPN Stats & Info)

Jared Cook

Contract status: Signed through 2017.

2016 cap hit: $8,300,441

Potential savings: $5,699,558

Why he could go: For the most part, Cook's production as a Ram falls in line with what he did for the Tennessee Titans. That would be fine except for the fact that the production hasn't met the high price the Rams have paid him. Cook has also drawn criticism for his issues with drops and struggles as a blocker. Perhaps more than that, though, is the fact that Cook isn't really a fit for what the Rams want to be offensively. When the team signed him in 2013, it did so with the intent of spreading things out and throwing the ball all over the field. One Rams personnel executive said at the time that Cook was the perfect oversized slot receiver for what the Rams were trying to become. But that experiment only lasted four games before coach Jeff Fisher scrapped it and went back to his running game roots. In doing so, it put Cook in a spot where he was asked to perform as an inline blocker more than he had at any point in his career. It's a role that doesn't really fit Cook's skill set and has left him miscast in the Rams offense. The Rams also spent a good chunk of money to re-sign Lance Kendricks last year and have Cory Harkey set to hit free agency this year. Add all of that to a salary that makes him the 13th highest paid tight end in the league, a team that could use some extra funds to re-sign its own free agents and you have the recipe for a potential parting of ways.

Why he could stay: Since Cook signed in 2013, he's been the team's most productive receiving target. He's posted 142 catches for 1,786 yards and eight touchdowns in that time, with the first two numbers representing the highest numbers on the team. While the Rams should undoubtedly be in the market for a pass-catcher or two who can put up much better numbers than those, Cook has been durable and his overall production puts him in the top half of tight ends in the league. Cook ranks 13th in receiving yards and 14th in receptions among all tight ends since 2013 (though he's also tied for second in drops). And while he's still not a consistent blocker, his coaches believe he showed improvement in that regard as 2015 wore on. If the Rams release Cook, they'll need to find a pass catching tight end to replace him, which means they'd be creating yet another need on a roster that could have many.

This is the best news that I've read in a long frickin time!........Please Lord let it happen! ....Dump his sorry azz!

 

[shopson67]

Nope, Williams is the defensive equivalent of Jake Long although Long didn't do much pouting; He just couldn't stay healthy. We don't need that kind of dogging player on defense. We have way too many on offense to start that trend on defense.

The whole defensive line had issues with Rex's defensive system, but it was only Mario that really went public with it. With only Kyle Williams have injury issues, there is no good reason for such a drastic reduction in sack totals other than Rex's system.

 

[RamsFan88]

I wonder how much Danny Trevathan is going to cost? He'd be a nice upgrade at MLB

 

[Retroram52]

If you believe the pundits through several articles as SE has posted, the Rams are seriously considering cutting Cook because they don't want to pay his salary when he remains consistently around the 13th to 14th positions in production since 2013. This is sort of what went on with Sammie and we all know what occurred there. The money they are paying Cook to get what they got and are getting, regardless of the fact that Fisher changed the game-plan from the reason he brought Cook here in the first place, is driving the idea. AS Zeke stated, let this happen like YESTERDAY!

 

[RamsFan88]

If you believe the pundits through several articles as SE has posted, the Rams are seriously considering cutting Cook because they don't want to pay his salary when he remains consistently around the 13th to 14th positions in production since 2013. This is sort of what went on with Sammie and we all know what occurred there. The money they are paying Cook to get with they got and are getting, regardless of the fact that Fisher changed the game-plan from the reason he brought Cook here in the first place, is driving the idea. AS Zeke stated, let this happen like YESTERDAY!

We can find a TE that better fits the scheme or is a better playmaker than Cook in the draft. Hopefully Cook is done here.

 

[Retroram52]

Yea RamsFan88. The Yardbarker and SBNation have put out articles indicating that the Rams are really taking a hard look at all of the TEs. Kendricks has not done much either and his salary has increased. About the only guy that is really playing in the run game-oriented offense to any good production is Harkey and he is a FA. We may end up picking up several TEs in the draft and free agency.

 

[Red_Chaos]

I feel bad for harkey, all he does is preforms when given the chance and 2 idiots are still in front of him

 

[Smed55]

I'm surprised Cook was a top 13 TE, I wouldn't have thought he'd crack the top 20? I can live with Kendricks, he at least did more with his opportunities, which were far less than Cooks, and he can block "a little"

 

[RamCub]

Let's see how Hunter Henry does at the combine.

 

[Vitamike]

I'm surprised Cook was a top 13 TE, I wouldn't have thought he'd crack the top 20? I can live with Kendricks, he at least did more with his opportunities, which were far less than Cooks, and he can block "a little"

Considering our WR corp, he might be much higher than 13 on TE targets.

That could explain his catch & yards totals.

Anybody know where he stands for TE targets?

 

[Smed55]

Considering our WR corp, he might be much higher than 13 on TE targets.

That could explain his catch & yards totals.

Anybody know where he stands for TE targets?

Good question, so I just looked. For 2015 Cook finished 28th in yards per game, 26th targets per game, and 31st in catches per game! 2014 he was 16th in rec yards per game, 8th in targets, and 18th in rec per game? Now the earlier post was over the last three years I think? But the numbers from last year don't justify keeping him at all?

 

[Retroram52]

Correct Smed. The stat I posted is the average in those categories since 2013. You are spot on, His recent numbers do not justify keeping him on a number of levels especially his huge salary the Rams are going to fork over this year if they keep him. Sound familiar?!

 

[RamsFan88]

Cousins and the Redskins break off contract talks. They might not use the franchise tag according to Schefter.

 

[Retroram52]

I suspect he wants too much money according to the Redskins!