For the Rams, this offseason will likely be more about departures than additions – which was the case last year, too. Very simply, the Rams aren’t in great shape when it comes to the salary cap and they could be forced to move some of their most valuable assets to get under the limit and construct a more well-rounded roster.
That doesn’t mean they’re going to trade Matthew Stafford or cut Cooper Kupp, but three other big-name defenders could be on the move. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN talked to executives around the league to forecast the offseason and some believe the Rams could move Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey or Leonard Floyd.
One executive from the AFC said Ramsey “is one I think the Rams will at least explore (moving),” saying he “could use a change of scenery.” Fowler notes that they could restructure some contracts in order to get in better shape financially, but that only kicks the can down the road and doesn’t solve all of their problems.
For Los Angeles, the reason is clear: The Rams are nearly $14 million over the salary cap and have six players with cap hits of $20-plus million. Two of those players, wide receiver Cooper Kupp ($27.8. million) and quarterback Matthew Stafford ($20 million), aren’t going anywhere. The other three — defensive tackle Aaron Donald ($26 million), cornerback Jalen Ramsey ($25.2 million) and pass-rusher Leonard Floyd ($22 million) — might be.
It’s hard to fathom the Rams trading Donald, or him even being open to that without threatening to retire. He’s under contract for two more years but there’s an option in 2024, which would allow him to walk away having made $65 million in 2022 and 2023 alone.
Ramsey has three more years left on his deal, while Floyd only has two. Not only are both important players on defense, but they play positions where the Rams would be dangerously thin without them. Ramsey was their only reliable cornerback and Floyd was the only source of pressure besides Donald.
Trading Ramsey post-June 1 would clear $17 million in cap space and moving Floyd the same way would free up $15.5 million in 2023. That factor alone makes a trade possible for the Rams.
