Prior to this month's draft, 1SBD's Mark Hogan takes an in-depth look into each team's current projected starters and identifies strengths and lingering team needs after the first waves of free agency.
Player stats collected from Pro Football Reference. Base salary information per Over The Cap.
TAKEAWAYS
PROS
- LA used its first two 2018 draft picks - in rounds 3 and 4 - on offensive linemen and it looks like the move is paying dividends now. Guard Rodger Saffold and center John Sullivan are no longer with the team, while center Brian Allen and tackle Joseph Noteboom are projected to fit into the line. The pair saw limited snaps in 2018 but were groomed to start this year. The team could follow the same strategy this year and add another offensive lineman to slot in when 37-year-old Andrew Whitworth decides to step away. Having depth at the position is certainly a luxury.
CONS
- The highest-paid running back in NFL history, Todd Gurley, reportedly has arthritis in his knee. The condition completely changes the Rams' running back need -- despite Gurley only resetting the position's value in July. Gurley became a non-factor in last year's play-offs and it's uncertain what amount of snaps he can handle going forward. The question now becomes how high the team addresses running back in the draft.
- Allowing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to hit free agency leaves last year's fourth round pick John Franklin-Myers as Los Angeles' starter opposite back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald. The Rams might change that by addressing the position early in the draft and selecting a guy that will get some attention away from Donald.
Projected Starters
NOTE:
NAME, Draft Round.Overall Pick (TEAM, year). Starts/Games Played. Age. Cap Hit 2019
QB has an additional 'total yards, number of attempts (yards per attempt)' figure.
RB, WR and TE have an additional ‘total yards / number of touches (yards per touch)’ statistic
Age as of Sunday September 8, 2019 (Week 1)
QUARTERBACK
JARED GOFF, 1.01 (LAR, 2016). 38/38. 9,581 yards/ 1,243 attempts. (7.7 y/a). 24-years-old. $8,889,259
RUNNING BACK
TODD GURLEY II, 1.10 (LAR, 2015). 57/58. 6,430 yards/ 1,229 touches (5.2). 25-years-old. $9,200,000
WIDE RECEIVER
BRANDIN COOKS, 1.20 (NO, 2014). 63/74. 5,376 yards/ 400 touches (13.4). 25-years-old. $15,259,000
ROBERT WOODS, 2.41 (BUF, 2013). 75/85. 4,642 yards/ 370 touches (12.5). 27-years-old. $7,175,000
COOPER KUPP, 3.69 (LAR, 2017). 14/23. 1,460 yards/ 106 touches (13.8). 26-years-old. $1,049,808
Average: 43th overall pick. 152 starts/ 182 games played (83.5%). 11,478 yards/ 876 touches (13.1). 26-years-old. Total cap hit: $23.5M
TIGHT END
TYLER HIGBEE, 4.110 (LAR, 2016). 39/48. 672 yards/ 60 touches (11.2). 26-years-old. $2,170,215
OFFENSIVE LINE
ANDREW WHITWORTH, 2.55 (CIN, 2006). 195/199. 37-years-old. $16,659,168
JOSEPH NOTEBOOM, 3.89 (LAR, 2018). 0/16. 24-years-old. $831,349
BRIAN ALLEN, 4.111 (LAR, 2018). 0/13. 23-years-old. $741,734
AUSTIN BLYTHE, 7.248 (IND, 2016). 18/40. 27-years-old. $2,025,000
ROB HAVENSTEIN, 2.57 (LAR, 2015). 59/59. 27-years-old. $8,300,000
Average: 112th overall pick. 272 starts/ 327 games played (83.2%). 27.6-years-old. Total cap hit: $28.6M
DEFENSIVE LINE
JOHN FRANKLIN-MYERS, 4.135 (LAR, 2018). 0/16. 22-years-old. $683,089
MICHAEL BROCKERS, 1.14 (LAR, 2012). 105/107. 28-years-old. $10,750,000
AARON DONALD, 1.13 (LAR, 2013). 74/78. 28-years-old. $17,108,000
Average: 54th overall pick. 179 starts/ 201 games played (89.1%). 26-years-old. Total cap hit: $28.5M
LINEBACKERS
SAMSON EBUKAM, 4.125 (LAR, 2017). 16/32. 24-years-old. $796,753
CLAY MATTHEWS, 1.26 (GB, 2009). 137/143. 33-years-old. $3,500,000
CORY LITTLETON, undrafted (LAR, 2016). 21/48. 25-years-old. $3,095,000
DANTE FOWLER JR., 1.03 (JAC, 2015). 7/47. 25-years-old. $12,000,000
Average: 103rd overall pick. 181 starts/ 270 games played (67.0%). 26.8-years-old. Total cap hit: $19.4M
CORNERBACK
AQIB TALIB, 1.20 (TB, 2008). 129/143. 33-years-old. $8,000,000
MARCUS PETERS, 1.18 (KC, 2015). 61/61. 26-years-old. $9,069,000
Average: 19th overall pick. 190 starts/ 204 games played (93.1%). 29.5-years-old. Total cap hit: $17.1M
SAFETY
JOHN JOHNSON III, 3.91 (LAR, 2017). 27/32. 24-years-old. $867,214
ERIC WEDDLE, 2.37 (LAC, 2007). 170/185. 34-years-old. $5,751,525
Average: 64th overall pick. 197 starts/ 217 games played (90.8%). 29-years-old. Total cap hit: $6.6M
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