The Los Angeles Rams already made offseason headlines trading for quarterback Matt Stafford. The team won't restructure Stafford's final non-guaranteed years. The former Lions quarterback could net as much as $43 million over the next two seasons.
Still, the Rams could get more surprised by potential cuts before free agency. Los Angeles fields the second-highest salary in the NFL. They are currently $35 million over the projected cap for the upcoming season. L.A. may make several players shocking cap casualties, especially if there is any hope to re-signing their own free agents.
Cap Decrease
Rumors about a major salary cap reduction surfaced last year. Currently, the salary cap is expected to be around $176 million. It is very close to the collective bargaining agreement's salary floor. Thus, the Rams won't be the only team facing tough decisions.
The $22.2 million decrease drops the cap 11.2 percent from 2020. 2021 would be only the second time the cap decreased. In 2011, the cap decreased after the lockout. This year's decrease comes after the league lost money on fan attendance and tv revenue due to the pandemic. L.A. saw its own adversity when they opened their new SoFi stadium without any fans attending all season.
Nonetheless, NFL owners and the NFL Players Association could negotiate a higher salary cap in late February. Usually, the cap goes up around $10 million per season.
Either way, the Rams face several tough roster decisions. Starters like center Austin Blythe, corner Troy Hill, safety John Johnson, edge Samson Ebukam and edge Leonard Floyd could all look for big contracts on the open market. Key contributors also hitting free agency include defensive tackle Morgan Fox, tight end Gerald Everett, corner Darious Williams and receiver Josh Reynolds. The team will have to make cuts elsewhere to keep any of these players off great seasons.
Potential Cap Casualties
A quick scan down the Rams roster does not show any obvious opportunities for cap savings. L.A. can move on from linebacker Kenny Hill who came over in the Marcus Peters' trade a few seasons ago. Hill battled injuries and failed to produce in L.A. The Rams can gain $2.18 million by waiving Hill. That is probably the most obvious cap-saving move.
Otherwise, guard Austin Corbett, defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson, tight end Tyler Higbee, tackle Rob Havenstein, defensive lineman Michael Brockers and tackle Andrew Whitworth are the only other players with more than $2 million in potential cap savings.
Robinson is the only non-starter and lowest-rated player in that group, per PFF. However, the Rams can save $3.75 million by cutting Robinson after June 1. They will save only $75,000 cutting Robinson before then. This should at least pro-long the Rams decision about Robinson's contract.
Cutting Whitworth before June 1 could save the Rams over $5 million. It also makes sense due to Whitworth approaching 40. Yet, the Rams don't have the first round draft picks to select Whitworth's replacement this year or the next few years. Whitworth also proved he can play at a high level as his return from injury last season elevated the entire o-line.
Higbee is also probably safe since the Rams already face a potential loss of Everett.
The Rams Surprise Cut
Again, there's no way around the Rams making a difficult roster move. In this case, the Rams will probably say goodbye to their starting right tackle.
Havenstein finished last year as the 15th best-graded tackle with an 80.5 grade from PFF. His bounce-back season helped the Rams offensive line aided a top-10 rushing attack.
Regardless, L.A. can save $5.17 million by cutting Havenstein before June 1. It will cost them $3.16 in dead money. Still, the dead money decreases and the cap savings increase if Havenstein is released by the Rams after June 1.
Moreover, the Rams roster features guards Bobby Evans and David Edwards with size and experience to play tackle. They are both younger and cheaper than the 28-year-old Havenstein.
Rams fans will also remember Havenstein started playing the NFL as a guard before moving to tackle. Evans and Edwards could replicate that success moving from guard back to tackle.
Unfortunately, all this shows Havenstein's days with the Rams are numbered. His age, success and role with the team all make for a surprising subtraction from L.A.'s roster.
Honorable Mention for Rams' Roster Cuts
Brockers could also be a surprise cut after five sacks last year. The Rams can save $4.66 million by cutting the defensive lineman before June 1 or $7 million after that date.
Los Angeles already saw Greg Gaines and Fox play well in rotational roles. Brockers is also 30-years-old. The Rams drafted him in 2012 and he's been a staple with the team since. He signed with the Ravens in free agency last year before his contract was void due to a physical.
Yet, cutting Brockers will result in at least $3.66 million in dead money after June 1 or $5.17 million before that deadline. The dead money makes it more likely Brockers stays on the roster. His age and past free agency decisions make it less surprising if he does receive his release.
Ultimately, Havenstein would be the Rams' most surprising cap casualty. However, he probably won't be Los Angeles' only surprising roster cut during the 2021 offseason.
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