The Price of a Super Bowl.

[Raminec]

Rams went all in for 2021. The Von Miller trade probably sealed the deal as he was instrumental in the playoff stretch and the Super Bowl. The cost of the Miller trade was expensive a 2nd and 3rd round pick but the trade got immediate results. I give the front office credit for making the deal despite the fact that they were unable to resign Miller.

The decisions made by McVay and Snead after the Super Bowl in my opinion are the reason that the Rams organization is in the mess they are in right now.

The Signing of Allen Robinson- One of the worst signings in NFL history because of the price and production. Robinson had trouble immediately in the first game of the season because he made no effort to go for a 50/50 ball and Stafford never looked his way the remainder of year. Robinson’s signing also led to the give away of a productive player in Robert Woods.

The extension of Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford.- AD and Kupp are my favorite Rams players and while they both had great 2021 seasons ( Kupp’s was historic) they were under contract and still being paid top market value. AD apparently was considering retiring. Love AD but if he’s got one foot out the door then as hard as it would have been to see him go and replace him that would have been the right business decision in retrospect.

As for Kupp he had already had his contract sweetened the year before and was under contract for another couple of years. I understand the desire to reward him for 2021 but they had plenty of time to do that in the future. He gets a huge contract and unfortunately is lost to an injury early in the season.

Finally Matthew Stafford’s new deal. - Again you want to reward him but he was still under contract for another year and under team control with options like the Franchise Tag if necessary available. He gets a big deal and immediately gets beaten to a pulp because the brain trust in the Rams organization decided that a shiny toy like Allen Robinson was much more flashy than just trying to resign Austin Corbett. That decision along with the misguided belief that Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen were NFL quality offensive lineman effectively made sure that their newly extended veteran QB was not going to finish the season.
Rams solution to the 2022 failure was to double down and extend both Noteboom and Allen. WTF!

My point and I know it’s long is that the price that this organization is paying this year and last year wasn’t because they went all in for the Super Bowl Win but rather because the team has be terribly mismanaged by Snead, McVay and the entire Rams front office SINCE that Super Bowl Win.

[SoCalRam78]

It is what it is. Rams traded a 2 and a 3 for Miller. Wo him we don’t win that Bowl. Rams ripped the band aid off with cap dead space this year. It is what it is.

Rams made those moves thinking their window would be open longer than it was. In reality that team was a one off with a ton of vets (Miller, OBJ etc).

Rather have my team make a plan and follow through than hang around trying be mediocre. I’ll take 4-13 over 8-9 middling team. They realized they had no window. That was then. This is now.

[Cornell29]

If the rams aren't going to make the playoffs, which they won't, they might as well lose and improve their draft position. It's a retool year anyway. It's clear the rams aren't trying to win. This is McSnead we are talking about. They have been aggressive every trade deadline until now. The difference is they aren't trying to win. They don't even want to spend anything over the minimal for a backup qb.

Les said it was all about 2024, and he wasn't kidding.

4 of the last 6 SBs were won by two generational qbs, (Brady and Mahomes), Stafford and Foles (who had a great SB performance)

Not bad company to be in and proves that winning a SB is hard. Top qb play is needed.

[Truth]

Trading future draft picks for current stars when your QB is cheap is certainly an all in strategy. It can work for 5 years at most. But when you have to pay the QB (if they aren’t a top tier superstar) it all comes crashing down and the Rams are on the hook for an expensive (non-elite) QB thru 2025. Then the next rookie cheap QB can come on the books in 2026.

The Rams basically traded a 2021 Super Bowl, in exchange for as many as 4 non-competitive seasons (22,23,24,25).

It’s not a trade off I’d have made. Even though the GSOT era was a similar time frame, the Rams were killed back then by just poor drafting even when lucking into 1 great cheap QB (Warner) and 1 good cheap QB (Bulger). They didn’t go all in but still wound up terrible in the end.

We don’t know where the current Rams will end up but I don’t have much faith in Les’s drafting. McVay was the ace in the hole but even he’s looked lackluster the last 2 years. Very Martz like.

[crazy-legs]

Great post. You nailed it. The reason why we're in the situation we're in is because Snead gave out a lot of big contracts when he didn't need to. There are too many to freaking count. Then signing players like Wagner and then we cut him the next year. I mean WTF is that? Floyd is another one...

As I say all the time - it's easy to make a trade. What's hard for a GM is drafting and knowing when\who to give a contract too. IMO Snead fails at both...

[SoCalRam78]

If you remember the GSOT era, they lost a ton in FA. London Fletcher? Was a massive loss.

[Raminec]

It is what it is. Rams traded a 2 and a 3 for Miller. Wo him we don’t win that Bowl. Rams ripped the band aid off with cap dead space this year. It is what it is.

Rams made those moves thinking their window would be open longer than it was. In reality that team was a one off with a ton of vets (Miller, OBJ etc).

Rather have my team make a plan and follow through than hang around trying be mediocre. I’ll take 4-13 over 8-9 middling team. They realized they had no window. That was then. This is now.

The problems they have right now were exacerbated by the decisions that they made AFTER the Super Bowl win. AD bent them over when it was time to get his first extension but he had zero leverage other than to threaten retirement after the Super Bowl. They should have gone ahead and let him walk. It would have hurt them no doubt but they couldn’t be much worse than what they have been the past two seasons. Kupp deserved a new deal eventually but they had sweetened his deal already going into 2021. I get taking your lumps but despite the fact that the Rams will have lots of cap room in 2024 they still have 3 huge contract liabilities in Stafford, Kupp and AD hanging over their heads for the foreseeable future for players that have downhill trajectories when it comes to availability and production. The issues that are clouding the Rams future were made in the offseason AFTER the Super Bowl win. Rams are paying a price for the trades and deals that got them a Super Bowl but I think they are paying a much bigger price for the decisions and contracts they signed well AFTER the Super Bowl was already won.

It’s too late to change that now but I sincerely hope that Stan has learned that Les Snead and Sean McVay need someone to answer to and get approval from going forward when it comes to trades, player personnel and contracts because lately they have really struggled in this area. I give you the performance of Brett Rypien today as exhibit number 1 concerning their judgment deficit.

[Truth]

If you remember the GSOT era, they lost a ton in FA. London Fletcher? Was a massive loss.

I remember being sold on Lovie thinking Jamie Duncan was better and an upgrade. Big mistake. And Rams lost Dre Bly then too.

But the real culprit was some just terrible drafts even when they had high picks. In 2001-2003 when we should have been restocking the team as it contended, we used 1st rd picks on:

2001- Lewis, Archuleta, Pickett (THREE 1sts!!!)
2002- Thomas
2003- Kennedy

Those picks were why the GSOT died. You can’t miss that much and not have it kill you

[malibu]

Trading future draft picks for current stars when your QB is cheap is certainly an all in strategy. It can work for 5 years at most. But when you have to pay the QB (if they aren’t a top tier superstar) it all comes crashing down and the Rams are on the hook for an expensive (non-elite) QB thru 2025. Then the next rookie cheap QB can come on the books in 2026.

The Rams basically traded a 2021 Super Bowl, in exchange for as many as 4 non-competitive seasons (22,23,24,25).

It’s not a trade off I’d have made. Even though the GSOT era was a similar time frame, the Rams were killed back then by just poor drafting even when lucking into 1 great cheap QB (Warner) and 1 good cheap QB (Bulger). They didn’t go all in but still wound up terrible in the end.

We don’t know where the current Rams will end up but I don’t have much faith in Les’s drafting. McVay was the ace in the hole but even he’s looked lackluster the last 2 years. Very Martz like.

Way off on Les. He got Witherspoon, Dotson, Avila, Young, Turner, Yeast, Lake, Kupp, Jones, and who can forget Puka the best rookie wr in the league. Not sure how you can say that. Do I disagree with the OP on some of the deals not really because I was pissed that they didn't lock up Von upfront so those 2 draft picks would net us longer term value. Resigning Stafford early that's debatable they did that with Goff and I wrote at least 5 threads on that how upset after year 3 we resign him only to toss him at the end of year 4 which made me absolutely nuts very poor decision. I said the Ben ett decision is questionable in light of his current status.

If we can get a very high pick hopefully we get a top LT, CB or OLB depending what we do in FA we will not draft high enough to get the top 2 QBs unfortunately that will go to Chicago via Carolina or AZs own pick neither team are going on a huge win streak 3-4 games for the Rams to nab the 1zt overall pick.

[Truth]

Trading future draft picks for current stars when your QB is cheap is certainly an all in strategy. It can work for 5 years at most. But when you have to pay the QB (if they aren’t a top tier superstar) it all comes crashing down and the Rams are on the hook for an expensive (non-elite) QB thru 2025. Then the next rookie cheap QB can come on the books in 2026.

The Rams basically traded a 2021 Super Bowl, in exchange for as many as 4 non-competitive seasons (22,23,24,25).

It’s not a trade off I’d have made. Even though the GSOT era was a similar time frame, the Rams were killed back then by just poor drafting even when lucking into 1 great cheap QB (Warner) and 1 good cheap QB (Bulger). They didn’t go all in but still wound up terrible in the end.

We don’t know where the current Rams will end up but I don’t have much faith in Les’s drafting. McVay was the ace in the hole but even he’s looked lackluster the last 2 years. Very Martz like.

Way off on Les. He got Witherspoon, Dotson, Avila, Young, Turner, Yeast, Lake, Kupp, Jones, and who can forget Puka the best rookie wr in the league.

Puka and Kupp look like great picks

Witherspoon- JAG
Dotson-JAG
Avila- too early to tell
Young- too early to tell
Turner- too early to tell
Yeast- JAG
Lake- JAG
Jones- Solid Starter

For the Rams to be good, we need the GM to acquire Good to great players. Just having a few guys on the roster that you don’t think completely suck or should be cut isn’t going to do it

[RAMFAN71]

Well. Most teams are full of JAG types, and a certain amount of real play makers. Thinking about all this....it's SO difficult to have it all right to win a ring. Some teams are always good, but no ring. Some are never good, which is a front office issue. We are rebuild mode. Everyone knew that. Seattle game turned heads, but we are still depleted of seasoned players. Gonna take some time, but shouldn't take forever if our guys know how to replace a team.

[Guest]

I didn't read the entire thread just the original post and agree 100%. And I have been saying the same thing forever. The reason we are this bad is not because we rented von Miller and obj for our super bowl run. It is because of bad Drafting from 19-22 and some contracts that were given. Those are the real reasons we look like shit since the SB.

8-18 as of now since the SB win.

[brasilrams]

It is what it is. Rams traded a 2 and a 3 for Miller. Wo him we don’t win that Bowl. Rams ripped the band aid off with cap dead space this year. It is what it is.

Rams made those moves thinking their window would be open longer than it was. In reality that team was a one off with a ton of vets (Miller, OBJ etc).

Rather have my team make a plan and follow through than hang around trying be mediocre. I’ll take 4-13 over 8-9 middling team. They realized they had no window. That was then. This is now.

The problems they have right now were exacerbated by the decisions that they made AFTER the Super Bowl win. AD bent them over when it was time to get his first extension but he had zero leverage other than to threaten retirement after the Super Bowl. They should have gone ahead and let him walk. It would have hurt them no doubt but they couldn’t be much worse than what they have been the past two seasons. Kupp deserved a new deal eventually but they had sweetened his deal already going into 2021. I get taking your lumps but despite the fact that the Rams will have lots of cap room in 2024 they still have 3 huge contract liabilities in Stafford, Kupp and AD hanging over their heads for the foreseeable future for players that have downhill trajectories when it comes to availability and production. The issues that are clouding the Rams future were made in the offseason AFTER the Super Bowl win. Rams are paying a price for the trades and deals that got them a Super Bowl but I think they are paying a much bigger price for the decisions and contracts they signed well AFTER the Super Bowl was already won.

It’s too late to change that now but I sincerely hope that Stan has learned that Les Snead and Sean McVay need someone to answer to and get approval from going forward when it comes to trades, player personnel and contracts because lately they have really struggled in this area. I give you the performance of Brett Rypien today as exhibit number 1 concerning their judgment deficit.

EXACTLY!!!

[brasilrams]

I didn't read the entire thread just the original post and agree 100%. And I have been saying the same thing forever. The reason we are this bad is not because we rented von Miller and obj for our super bowl run. It is because of bad Drafting from 19-22 and some contracts that were given. Those are the real reasons we look like shit since the SB.

8-18 as of now since the SB win.

[GoldenRam]

Rams went all in for 2021. The Von Miller trade probably sealed the deal as he was instrumental in the playoff stretch and the Super Bowl. The cost of the Miller trade was expensive a 2nd and 3rd round pick but the trade got immediate results. I give the front office credit for making the deal despite the fact that they were unable to resign Miller.

The decisions made by McVay and Snead after the Super Bowl in my opinion are the reason that the Rams organization is in the mess they are in right now.

The Signing of Allen Robinson- One of the worst signings in NFL history because of the price and production. Robinson had trouble immediately in the first game of the season because he made no effort to go for a 50/50 ball and Stafford never looked his way the remainder of year. Robinson’s signing also led to the give away of a productive player in Robert Woods.

The extension of Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford.- AD and Kupp are my favorite Rams players and while they both had great 2021 seasons ( Kupp’s was historic) they were under contract and still being paid top market value. AD apparently was considering retiring. Love AD but if he’s got one foot out the door then as hard as it would have been to see him go and replace him that would have been the right business decision in retrospect.

As for Kupp he had already had his contract sweetened the year before and was under contract for another couple of years. I understand the desire to reward him for 2021 but they had plenty of time to do that in the future. He gets a huge contract and unfortunately is lost to an injury early in the season.

Finally Matthew Stafford’s new deal. - Again you want to reward him but he was still under contract for another year and under team control with options like the Franchise Tag if necessary available. He gets a big deal and immediately gets beaten to a pulp because the brain trust in the Rams organization decided that a shiny toy like Allen Robinson was much more flashy than just trying to resign Austin Corbett. That decision along with the misguided belief that Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen were NFL quality offensive lineman effectively made sure that their newly extended veteran QB was not going to finish the season.
Rams solution to the 2022 failure was to double down and extend both Noteboom and Allen. WTF!

My point and I know it’s long is that the price that this organization is paying this year and last year wasn’t because they went all in for the Super Bowl Win but rather because the team has be terribly mismanaged by Snead, McVay and the entire Rams front office SINCE that Super Bowl Win.

I was just thinking about Miller. He took off landed a HUGE deal from the Bills. Missed part of 2022 with a knee and just came back recently. Bills are 5-4 just 2 games better than we are. Allen in his prime, but not much running game to speak of, and probably where Dalvin Cook should have been targeting.

My main point is though, the Rams gave up a good but for a half season rental, but at the end of the day the slot hit triple 7 and the SB trophy was ours. The Bills got him, figuring that might help get them over the top. Now he's a couple years older, even less healthy and the Bills, who one week look unstoppable and the next like "how did they win those games", are barely better than we are, with all the rooks and low money players, and this coming offseason we have a chance to flip that script and Buffalo still has that contract as a bit of an albatross.

The Rams have indeed been their own worst enemy with their spendthrift ways, and you have to hope that they've learned at least some semblance of a lesson. We can at least be glad of the win, the dumping of dead money in on season and the fact that we have no one who could possibly warrant that sort of excessive stupidity at the given moment, so the URGE isn't there

[Cornell29]

Missing out on Von was a good thing. Rams won a SB with the rental do the picks was worth it.

Waiting on Von to make a choice was a huge mistake by the Rams FO. Should have gave Von a offer and a deadline. Once the deadline was over the rams could have signed a Edge like Reddick (Eagles). By the time Von made his choice all the top edge and other guys were gone which lead to tbe rams signing the likes of Wagner and A Rob which were leftovers and a huge mistake.