Trade up Mock

[lynyrdsghost]

I recently got into a discussion with a fellow draftnik about the Rams QB situation and he tried to convince me that the Rams must trade up for QB Jared Goff. He had a hard time as I haven't wanted the Rams to trade up in years. The last time was the year they moved up and got Orlando Pace. After telling him why they will never do it, this all out Titans fan got me to at least consider the possibilities. Is it doable? Is Goff worth the exceedingly high price of moving up? Would the move help or hurt the Rams in the long run?

Anyway, I'm still not convinced that Goff is/will be a FRANCHISE QB, but I now believe it is doable. It wouldn't be easy to pull off and if Goff fails it would hurt the team for years but after reviewing everything, I am no longer dead set against it if the Rams are sure Goff can be special. The Free Agent QBs are not great. Trading for an established QB kills the cap and is even harder to do than trading up. If Goff could do for the Rams what Winston did for Tampa, it just might be worth the outrageous cost.

Although I don't think Fisher would risk his job by going all in on a rookie QB, I could see it if Kroenke wants to make a big splash. It would show the Cali fans that SK truly wants to win and will stop at nothing to get the Rams back on top. One thing is for sure, it would get Ram fans more excited than Case Keenum.

That said, here's the mock:

Rams let go, trade or cut: Nick Foles, Sted Bailey, Wes Welker, Chase Reynolds, Jared Cook, Chris Long, Eugene Sims, Nick Fairley, James Laurinaitis and Greg Zuerlein.

Rams re-sign, tender: Case Keenum (1.750 mil), Benny Cunningham (1.750 mil), Cory Harkey (1.750 mil), Brian Quick (1.750 mil), Tim Barnes (2.000 mil), Will Hayes (6.000 mil), Mark Barron (5.000 mil), Daren Bates (.600), Tru Johnson (10.000 mil), Rod McLeod (5.000 mil) and Janoris Jenkins (10.000 mil).

Late re-signs after TJ and JJ are locked down: Chris Long (6.000 mil) and James Laurinatis (4.000 mil).

New Free Agents: None

Trades:

Rams trade #1(15), #2(45) and Tre Mason to Baltimore for #1(6). Titans fan assured me Tennessee would not drop lower than this and it makes sense. Baltimore has lots of holes and trade a lot. It's doable if Rams are intent on going after Goff and second part of trade up goes through.

Rams trade #1(6), #2(43), #1 in 2017, Conditional #1 or #2 in 2018 and OL Rodger Saffold to Titans for #1(1). I know...outrageous right? But consider the Skins traded three 1st rounders and a 2nd to move up from #6 to #2 to get RG3. Titan fan wanted Saffold since they need OL help and his cap hit would be less than 3 mil to the Titans.

Draft:
#1(1) Jared Goff QB California
#3(76) Nick Vannett TE Ohio ST.
#4(??) Geronimo Allison WR Illinois
#6(??) Kaimi Fairbairn PK UCLA

Final Roster:
Rookie cap hits are estimations

Goff (5.000), Keenum (1,750), Mannion (.739)
Gurley (3.142), Cunningham (1.750), Watts (.600), Brown (.525)
Kendricks (4.500), Harkey (1.750), J. Cunningham (.525), Vannett (.900)
Britt (4.850), Austin (4.058), Quick (1.750), Marquez (.528), Allison (.600)
Robinson (5.805), Reynolds (1.200), Barnes (2.000), Brown (.765), Havenstein (.903)
Battle (.525), Wichmann (.548), Rhaney (.612), Donnal (.650), Williams (.528)
Fairbairn (.600), McQuaide (.875), Hekker (2.374)
Long (6.000), Donald (2.765), Brockers (6.146), Quinn (11.158)
Hayes (6.000), Trinca-Pasat (.525), Worthington (.600), Longacre (.525), Westbrooks (.607)
Barron (6.000), Laurinaitis (4.000), Ogletree (2.337)
Ayers (3.000), Hager (.543), Bates (.600)
T. Johnson (10.000), McLeod (5.000), McDonald (.893), Jenkins (10.0000)
Gaines (.627), Bryant (.525), Alexander (.717), Roberson (.605), Joyner (1.372)

Combined dead money: 17.953 (maybe less...not for sure what Foles dead money will be)
Misc and emergency: 3.000
QBs: 7.489
RBs: 6.017
TEs: 7.675
WRs: 11.786
OL: 13.536
ST: 3.849
DL: 34.326
LBs: 15.480
DBs: 29.739

total: 150.850 mil on a salary cap that should be somewhere between 150-155 mil.

This leaves the Rams very weak on depth at DT and basically the same group of WRs. Not good but they could be okay if Goff is truly worth the price and Rams don't have major injury issues. Rams D would still be excellent and despite losing a lot of draft picks, the team might win more games if Goff plays well. I still can't see it happening but as I said, it could be an option if SK wants to make a big splash.

[SK Ram]

That is a bad trade. Scouts say that Goff is not NFL ready now.

[CalRamFan]

Too much for a QB who is rated lower than Winston at this point. I would rather trade our two second routers to move up in the first for Wentz.

[rammingithard]

Rams are essentially giving up their current #1, two #2's, 2017 #1, and 2018 #1or2 for Goff?? No Ty, unless Goff is a prospect like Luck, which I don't believe he is, that's too much to give up. trading up to #6 if lynch is there I can live with, but rather take BPA at #15 or trade down. I don't believe the Rams are "a qb away" from being perennial contenders. WR and TE are weak and LOT is a question mark. Im hoping the Rams focus on WR and TE this draft and give GRob another year at LOT to see if he's capable or not

edit: Nvrm, lynch's stock is falling. At #6 Treadwell makes the most sense, or do a slight trade up for Wentz/Lynch

[NN1Badboy]

Personally, I think that's a completely dumb idea. For two reasons. 1. What's the point in drafting a QB who, by the way, isn't going to be ready to start right away when we have no one for him to throw to? Austin is a gadget player. A good one, but he doesn't have the best hands, and is too small to be a #1 target. Cook has butter fingers and is overpaid, and Britt, is old and slow. He finally started to show at the end of the season, but it's not enough in my opinion. 2. We have way too many other needs to be giving up draft picks. Now if we trade Saffold, and Mason, I could see moving up a bit.

I think the smarter move may be down. If Treadwell is gone, then the next best receiver in this class is a TE. Trade down a few spots, pick up an extra 3rd, and take Hunter Henry. The guy doesn't drop the ball. With two 2's and 2 3's we then take (in no particular order) WR, MLB, C, FS, DE, or CB. Or we could always do the Snead thing and double down at TE. Then we can take a flier on a late round QB, and another WR or OLB.

[neil039]

It's a mock,so treated as such. The loss of picks would kill this team due to the other needs it (IMO). Respect your effort on current player moves and freeing up space.

But overall, I hope nothing like this happens.

[Rampager66]

Let Lauranaitis and Jenkins walk and use that 14 million on other needs. They imo, are the 2 weak links on an otherwise stellar D. And they are also the 2 most exploited by opposition Offensive Coordinators.

[Macnasty357]

None of these QBs are worth that. Goff is also a project not ready to start. You guys are giving away draft picks. We need 2 stud wrs. TE, QB Prescott and MLB. In that orders