Rams Face Many Off-Season Decisions
By Rams Nation's Will Milano
With the heartbreaking loss to Carolina in the playoffs now more than a month
in the past, Rams’ front office staff and coaches are now well into off-season
high gear. The 2003 Rams were a team with a significant amount of rookies and
young players, many of which came through and shined as well or better than
expected. The team fought through more than its share of injuries and an early
season quarterback change to finish 12-4 and win their 3rd NFC West title in
five years- a feat not matched since the Rams won three straight division titles
from 1977-1979.
As the Rams push into 2004 there are many key decisions to make and optimism
about the team’s future and ability to make themselves better. Much of
the improvements can come from within- young players like Marc Bulger, Lamar Gordon, Jimmy Kennedy, Pisa Tinoisamoa, and Jeremitrius Butler taking their
games to the next level.
But the 2004 free agency and NFL Draft can and will have a major impact on
this team’s ability to build on their success of this past year and make
another serious run at the Super Bowl.
Part One: Free Agency:
The good news is that the Rams are, as of now, $17.6 million under the salary
cap. Only five teams are currently in better salary cap situations- an incredible
testament to the disciplined work of the front office (especially Jay Zygmunt
and Charlie Armey) and scouting staff. Rarely in the modern free agency era
can a team sustain the success that the Rams have for this long and not have
to release key contributors just to stay afloat.
The bad news is the team has two major free agency/salary cap situations to
address. First is Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Pace. Pace is the lynch pin to
free agency for the Rams (and in some ways the NFL) this year. He played under
the franchise tag a year ago and is now an unrestricted free agent again. Pace
and Jonathan Ogden of the Ravens, numbers 1 and 1A among NFL left tackles, are
among the marquee names in free agency this year and will command premium contracts.
But just how much of a premium? Pace’s agents reached incredibly high
(over $80 million over seven years) for a new, long-term deal for Pace a year
ago and there is little reason so far to expect those demands to change much.
The Rams appear to be holding firm to their desire to pay Pace in line with
other stars on the team- in the range of $40-45 million over seven years, barely
half of what his agents demanded last season.
Should the Rams designate Pace as a franchise player again, he would eat up
$7 million (over 40%) of the Rams available salary cap funds- and almost certainly
hold out of training camp and preseason again. Offensive line cohesiveness is
critical for the Rams, and not having Pace until days before the 2003 season
opener clearly hurt the line’s development early in the season. The Rams
have three options- pay Pace the long –term deal he desires (and risk
major cap hits in later years), offer Pace the franchise tag designation again,
or trade Pace (under a sign-and-trade deal similar to Kevin Carter’s in
2001) for high draft picks and look elsewhere for a cheaper left tackle. There
are definitely many teams who would love to acquire Pace- but whether any of
them can and will pay that much more than the Rams remains to be seen.
The other major situation relates to Kurt Warner. Rams Park has offered a myriad
of options and rumors related to Warner (who will count over $9.4 million against
the cap this year). Some say he will be back to compete for the starting quarterback
job again. Others say he will be handed the job back.
And major media members close to the team still think trading Warner could
be a viable option- and in the best interest of the team long term. Recent statements
from Warner in public are making it increasingly difficult to believe that having
Warner as a Ram in 2004 in any way would be beneficial. Still, league opinion
is that Warner could rebound and regain much of his pre-2002 success and for
the right price may be interested in acquiring him. The Washington Redskins
are close to trading a 2nd round pick for Jaguars’ quarterback Mark Brunell,
and it is said that Dallas, San Diego and Miami all were interested in trading
for him as well. Does Brunell going to the Redskins now mean those three (and
other) teams will turn their attention to Warner and the Rams? Perhaps.
Trading Warner would net an additional cap hit of just about $600,000- so if
the Rams can afford to keep him on the roster they can also afford to trade
him. The real question is what is the market for Warner? A high 1st round pick
in the Draft (as the Rams received for Trent Green in 2001) is unlikely. But
considering the Rams currently have just two picks in the first three rounds
of this Draft, should a team offer a 2nd round pick and either a later round
selection or a conditional 2005 selection, the Rams would have to strongly consider
it. If the Rams do deal Warner they will need to find a veteran backup for Bulger,
while also looking hard at a prospect to develop in this year’s Draft.
There are also several other key free agents on the team to address. Guard
Adam Timmerman, defensive end Grant Wistrom, and defensive tackle Brian Young
are all unrestricted and ranked toward the top of available free agents at their
respective positions. With Timmerman turning 33 soon and his play on the decline,
it’s doubtful the Rams would offer him any type of large, long term deal.
It’s possible the Rams approach Timmerman as they did Ricky Proehl a year
ago- with a one year, veteran minimum offer. But other teams are certain to
offer Timmerman a more lucrative deal. Other free agents like Jason Sehorn,
David Loverne, Scott Covington, and Fred Weary will almost certainly not be
back.
Grant Wistrom is only 27 and in the prime of his career. But he is not a superstar
player (38.5 sacks in his five seasons as a starter) and the Rams can’t
and won’t pay him as such. Wistrom supposedly would like to return to
the Rams and won’t try to break the bank.
Brian Young played well this year, as he did in 2001, even earning the starting
spot from Damione Lewis in the 2nd half of the season. But a clear liability
for the Rams was interior run defense, and new defensive coordinator Larry Marmie
may prefer that the Rams get bigger at defensive tackle. Young is a quick, but
undersized defensive tackle, and with the Rams needing to get 2003 1st round
pick Jimmy Kennedy on the field more next year, Young may get better opportunities
and contract offers elsewhere.
The Rams also have several restricted free agents this year, most of which
should receive offers to return for 2004. Marc Bulger should get a first rounder
tender ($1.4 million) to ensure he remains with the team, and if Warner is traded
could get a longer term contract before training camp. While it may not help,
Bulger certainly didn’t hurt his value by earning the MVP honors at the
Pro Bowl last week in Hawaii. Cornerback Jeremitrius Butler and defensive end
Bryce Fisher should receive fair offers to return as well.
The Rams were very disappointed in their overall play at tight end, and it
is likely that the Rams will let both Cameron Cleeland (unrestricted) and Brandon Manumaleuna (restricted) walk while trying to upgrade the position elsewhere.
Free agent tight ends Jimmy Kleinsasser of the Vikings (who can also play fullback)
and Erron Kinney of the Titans are players that could interest the Rams for
the right price, while this year’s NFL Draft also offers several attractive
tight end options. Look for the Rams to make moves in both free agency and the
Draft at the position.
Cornerback is the deepest free agent position in the NFL this spring and another
area the Rams could pursue in free agency. Adding a veteran corner like Troy Vincent, Chris McAlister, Shawn Springs, or Fernando Bryant could allow Aeneas Williams to stay at free safety full time, while providing a veteran presence
at corner to go along with Travis Fisher, Butler, and 2nd year players DeJuan Groce and Kevin Garrett.
Punter Sean Landeta was adequate in 2003 but turns 42 soon and may not be re-signed,
even for the veteran minimum, depending on if the Rams can find a younger option
with a stronger leg.
Up next in Part Two- the 2004 NFL Draft.