Los Angeles Rams stand to lose significant talent over free agency

The Los Angeles Rams went all in to win a Super Bowl this February. They came close. They lost.

Los Angeles loaded up like few teams we’ve seen in the recent past. With quarterback Jared Goff on a rookie deal, general manager Les Snead went for broke by trading for Brandin Cooks, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. Snead then went out and signed Ndamukong Suh after placing the franchise tag on LaMarcus Joyner to keep the safety around for another season. Finally, at the trade deadline, the Rams sent multiple picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars for edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr.

The message was clear, and the end result was the proverbial close, but no cigar. Now it’s time to pay up.

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Los Angeles has approximately $24.7 million in cap space, leaving it precious little room to retain most of its stars. With major contracts already handed out to Cooks, Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley, the Rams have to be judicious with who they pay moving forward, knowing that Goff’s bill comes due either within the next two years.

Looking at their situation, there’s maybe one or two players that can be brought back. With Suh and Talib both on the wrong side of 30 years old, it’s borderline unimaginable that either will be re-signing.

After playing on the tag and the Rams already having a star safety in John Johnson, there’s reason to believe Joyner will be playing elsewhere in 2019 and beyond. Then there’s Rodger Saffold, a quality left guard who was originally drafted by the Rams. Losing him would hurt, especially if veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth decides to retire. Finally, Fowler could be retained considering the somewhat hefty price that was paid to acquire him, although notching four sacks in 15 games last season doesn’t equal great player.

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If the Los Angeles Rams do watch all or most of the aforementioned free agents walk, it’s tough to argue they will be back in the Super Bowl in 2019. Los Angeles is also without its second and original seventh-round picks in the upcoming draft, although it does have compensatory selections in the third and seventh rounds to help lessen the damage.

In a league where the margin between good and great is increasingly thin, Snead and the Rams will need to be creative. As for head coach Sean McVay and his charges, they need to improve from within, specifically with Goff’s continued development and the ability to shut down tight ends.

It won’t be simple, but for the Los Angeles Rams, it’s the only way back to the top.