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3 Best Offseason Moves From the Los Angeles Rams

By michael obermuller

The Cooks trade in amongst the best offseason moves made by the Rams.
The Cooks trade in amongst the best offseason moves made by the Rams. / Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
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It has been a hard, cap-starved offseason for the Los Angeles Rams. Not only has cap space seemed thin, LA ownership has seemed a tad light in the pocket this spring with new stadium costs and general penny-pinching on players. Veterans Todd Gurley and Clay Matthews were both cut despite monster cap losses.

With Dante Fowler, Cory Littleton, Nickell Robey-Coleman and Greg Zuerlein also walking in free agency, the subtractions have outweighed the additions by a good margin. However, it hasn't been all bad, here are the most positive moves the Rams have made this offseason.

3. Signing DT A'Shawn Robinson

A'Shawn Robinson could have a big year next to Aaron Donald.
A'Shawn Robinson could have a big year next to Aaron Donald. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Coupled with the return of Michael Brockers, who had a deal fall through with the Baltimore Ravens, adding former Detroit Lion A'Shawn Robinson alongside Aaron Donald shores up a defensive line that had holes in 2019 after Ndamukong Suh's departure. Robinson is a former second-round pick out of Alabama that has had more success as a run stuffer than quarterback menace in his NFL career, but that's exactly what the Rams need after getting run all over last year. This trio could be one of the most dominant groups in the NFL in 2020 if everyone stays healthy (playing next to Donald makes everyone else's job much easier).

2. Trading WR Brandin Cooks

The Brandin Cooks deal with Houston was the best the Rams could hope for this late in free agency.
The Brandin Cooks deal with Houston was the best the Rams could hope for this late in free agency. / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

This move can be considered addition by subtraction for Los Angeles. It is becoming clear around the NFL that if you want to get a bargain on the trade market, you contact Bill O'Brien and the Texans. After all the recent injury history and inconsistency Brandin Cooks is just not the same player he once was. The Rams do eat a large amount of cap space on Cooks in 2020, but the franchise's financial future is better off because of this deal, and that second round draft pick could be used to replace the wide receiver if need be.

1. Re-Signing OL Andrew Whitworth & Austin Blythe

The Los Angeles Rams offensive line is one of the few things that will remain the same in 2020.
The Los Angeles Rams offensive line is one of the few things that will remain the same in 2020. / Christian Petersen/Getty Images

With all the unnecessary cap hits, it will be really tough for the Rams to compete in a tough NFC West division in 2020, but if they are going to have any chance of doing so they'll need their offensive line intact. Jared Goff is not the type of quarterback that can succeed behind a lousy O-line (not many can), he's a pocket passer at heart. Re-signing veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth and guard/center Austin Blythe was paramount in these efforts.

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Michael Obermuller is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Michael Obermuller also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username king_mizzard. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.