The Los Angeles Rams were in the Super Bowl a year ago. This year the LA Rams are screwed. The NFL changes fast. I should clarify. The Rams aren’t just screwed this year, their entire championship window has closed shut. The Rams Super Bowl window is over and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.
No team in the NFL is worse situated with the salary cap moving forward. Los Angeles is scheduled to pay $108.75 million in cap charges allocated to its five highest-paid players next year. That includes Jared Goff at $36 million, Aaron Donald at $25 million, Todd Gurley $17.25 million, Brandin Cooks $16.8 million, and Jalen Ramsey $13.7 million. That last one is important because Ramsey is only going to command more money. He’s still playing on his rookie contract. No team in the NFL is paying 5 players more money.
What’s worse is they gave Tyler Higbee money who stinks. Why is the team paying Higbee $8.6 million next year. Higbee has 26 catches and 1 touchdown on the entire season. This team continues to overpay for everything. Eventually, the bill is coming. Next year the Rams will have to put together the other 48 players on the roster with $91 million. That’s not including Higbee’s deal among the top 5 players either.
They are so screwed. Dante Fowler, Andrew Whitworth, Michael Brockers, Cory Littleton, and Greg Zuerlein all hit the free agent market next year. How can they afford any of them? LA already has guard issues and have let offensive lineman like Roger Saffold walk. It’s killed their line. This Rams team already stinks. Now they’re going to be less talented next year.
Let’s also add in the fact that the Rams gave away every draft pick known to mankind. They haven’t had a first round pick in 5 years. Now they gave away 2 more for Jalen Ramsey. They don’t have the picks to fill out their roster. Say whatever you want about draft picks. They’re important. Not just because they’re young players but also because it’s cheap labor playing on rookie contracts. LA has no picks to add to their roster.
The Rams are screwed and there’s no way out. The Jared Goff contract was a mistake from the beginning. Give below average quarterbacks elite level money and you have no chance. The Rams had cap issues before the Goff deal. Now they’re really screwed. Todd Gurley’s knees are shot. He’s not the same guy anymore. Brandin Cooks never stays on the field. It’s over for the Rams. No point in watching them. They’re stuck and there is no way out.
