Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead has been vocal about trying to down play the current state of the roster.
It is no secret that the Rams fell vastly short of expectations following a 9-7 finish in the 2019 NFL season. As a result, there is now plenty of concern regarding whether or not the bulk of their salary cap and long-term future is tied to the right players.
Their previous investments have left them with little room to work with when it comes to keeping other key starters on the roster or any other future additions that could help spark a resurgence in the 2020 NFL season. Despite all the rumors about a potential big-name trade this offseason, Snead has made it clear that he has no regrets about rewarding players like quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley with lucrative extensions.
Snead doubled down on his confidence in the core Los Angeles has put together, via Stu Jackson of the team’s official website:
“There’s always going to be changes, and there’s changes needed for improvement,” Snead said. “But (I) do think we have a core here of players that are in their prime that can still contribute and help us win like they have the last three years.”
Snead added that they still have Super Bowl expectations with this group:
“That’s that’s our goal, we think we can accomplish that,” Snead said. “I always say there’s nothing ever guaranteed, especially in sports, but that’s what we’re betting on.”
Snead’s comments indicate that while the Rams are in need of some upgrades, he does not feel as though a significant change in the roster will be necessary. While it is encouraging to see that he is still confident in the decisions, the onus will now fall on him to ultimately make it work with the minimal amount of resources he has left for himself because of it.
There is no question that both Goff and Gurley struggled to provide much bang for their buck in the 2019 campaign. Meanwhile, the investment Los Angeles made to secure wide receiver Brandin Cooks still has yet to pay any huge dividends and there are now some health concerns regarding his track record with concussions.
Fortunately, defensive tackle Aaron Donald continues to be worth every penny after once again establishing himself as a frontrunner for NFL Defensive Player of the Year following another spectacular season. The Rams are also in the midst of adding cornerback Jalen Ramsey to this group by making preparations for his looming payday.
