2026-27 NFL Thread

[Pakuni]

I get what you're saying, but cap management is a skill.  Rams wouldn't be able to build a star power team next year if this year tanks.

Why wouldn't they? As of now, the Rams have the 4th most available cap space heading into 2027, per Spotrac. And they'd be first if Stafford retires after this season.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/_/year/2027

[Uncle Rico]

Why wouldn't they? As of now, the Rams have the 4th most available cap space heading into 2027, per Spotrac. And they'd be first if Stafford retires after this season.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/_/year/2027

Then they've managed the cap well.

[WhiteTrash]

Then they've managed the cap well.

They draft well too.

[MUBurrow]

I wonder if the Rams willingness to trade their first rounder every year is hitting on a dissonance between the value of draft pick cost control vs the crapshoot of talent evaluation. Like, have we reached a place where teams overvalue the star potential of first round picks compared to proven players, and you can just use those as trade bait and pay stars so long as you fill the more fungible positions with low cost draftees?

[Uncle Rico]

I wonder if the Rams willingness to trade their first rounder every year is hitting on a dissonance between the value of draft pick cost control vs the crapshoot of talent evaluation. Like, have we reached a place where teams overvalue the star potential of first round picks compared to proven players, and you can just use those as trade bait and pay stars so long as you fill the more fungible positions with low cost draftees?

I think it depends on the draft year.  But your point might be onto something.  There is a large concern within NFL circles that development at the college level is as bad as it has ever been, especially with the constant roster churn.

[Pakuni]

I wonder if the Rams willingness to trade their first rounder every year is hitting on a dissonance between the value of draft pick cost control vs the crapshoot of talent evaluation. Like, have we reached a place where teams overvalue the star potential of first round picks compared to proven players, and you can just use those as trade bait and pay stars so long as you fill the more fungible positions with low cost draftees?

That's 100 percent the Rams' strategy. I just don't think many/any other teams have matched their talent for finding impact players on days 2 and 3 of the draft (see: Nacua, Lake, Fiske, Young, Turner, etc.).

[WhiteTrash]

I think it depends on the draft year.  But your point might be onto something.  There is a large concern within NFL circles that development at the college level is as bad as it has ever been, especially with the constant roster churn.

This explains the Browns. 

[GB Warrior]

Sure why not, who could have predicted he was coming out of retirement
https://x.com/tompelissero/status/2094229585101467977?s=46

[MU82]

From Yahoo Sports:

Donald's arrival makes LA even bigger Super Bowl favorites (+500 odds). ... Over the past 30 years, the preseason favorite has had title odds of +500 or better 20 times. All 20 of those teams failed to win the Super Bowl.

[GB Warrior]

Taking Kalshi bets on what the announcement is

https://x.com/diehard_chicago/status/2094544459245523248?s=46

[Uncle Rico]

Taking Kalshi bets on what the announcement is

https://x.com/diehard_chicago/status/2094544459245523248?s=46

He's announcing they're renaming Chicago after Mike Ditka

[Pakuni]

Taking Kalshi bets on what the announcement is

https://x.com/diehard_chicago/status/2094544459245523248?s=46

The event is being hosted by the "Brandon Johnson for Chicago" political committee.
Johnson hasn't yet announced whether he's running for re-election.

[WhiteTrash]

He's announcing they're renaming Chicago after Mike Ditka

Ditka is the kind of person you name a continent after; not a city.

[Hards Alumni]

That's 100 percent the Rams' strategy. I just don't think many/any other teams have matched their talent for finding impact players on days 2 and 3 of the draft (see: Nacua, Lake, Fiske, Young, Turner, etc.).

Green Bay, easily.

[GB Warrior]

Green Bay, easily.

True for a long time but hasn't been true for several years in my opinion. You trade for Micah because you can't find impact players elsewhere. They've found depth and a lot of good players. I would not say they've outshot their draft position particularly well, especially along the lines, which used to be their calling card.

They've been consistently highly effective at receiver and struck gold at TE.

[WhiteTrash]

This post could go in the College Football thread also, but here goes.

Does every, literally every, new HC and OC have to talk about how they are "different" because they want to be a run first offense? It is mostly humorous, and a tad bit annoying. Makes me wonder if the new cutting edge coaching philosophy is grounded in "scoring more points than the other team". Of course ESPN will attribute the ground breaking concept of out scoring the other team to Sean McVay. 

[MU82]

It's always been a copycat league. The success of the Seahawks and Rams last season has brought out the copycats ... not that what either did was mega-groundbreaking.

[Jockey]

It's always been a copycat league. The success of the Seahawks and Rams last season has brought out the copycats ... not that what either did was mega-groundbreaking.

They never copycat the players though. Just the system with players that suck.

[GB Warrior]

This post could go in the College Football thread also, but here goes.

Does every, literally every, new HC and OC have to talk about how they are "different" because they want to be a run first offense? It is mostly humorous, and a tad bit annoying. Makes me wonder if the new cutting edge coaching philosophy is grounded in "scoring more points than the other team". Of course ESPN will attribute the ground breaking concept of out scoring the other team to Sean McVay. 

It's in NFL bylaws that you're fired as a DC if you don't say you're going to be aggressive and fly to the football in your opening press conference

[WhiteTrash]

It's in NFL bylaws that you're fired as a DC if you don't say you're going to be aggressive and fly to the football in your opening press conference