The L.A. Rams approach this offseason is likely something the Chiefs will follow next year when the finances change.
With the 2018 NFL season about to kick into full gear, the Kansas City Chiefs are searching for ways to improve their roster to best have a successful year. However, they are not the only team that is enjoying an offseason of spending. The Los Angeles Rams’ offseason success has been the biggest story in the league this year.
After losing two of their top weapons from 2017 in Sammy Watkins and Trumaine Johnson, the Rams have been shocking the league with additions left and right. With talented, young, and cheap QB Jared Goff, offensive player of the year running back Todd Gurley and the defensive player of the year from the 2017 season in Aaron Donald, the Rams already had a roster built primed for the playoffs again next season. But this offseason they felt the need to trade for or sign seemingly every talented player available.
Here’s every significant move the Ram’s have made thus far:
- Signed CB Sam Shields
- Acquired CB Marcus Peters from Chiefs for 2018 4th round pick and 2019 2nd round pick
- Acquired CB Aqib Talib from Broncos for 2018 5th round pick
- Re-signed CB Nickell Robey-Coleman
- Traded OLB Robert Quinn to Miami for 2018 4th and 6th round picks
- Traded LB Alec Ogletree and 2019 7th round pick to Giants for 2018 4th and 6th round picks
- Re-signed DT Dominique Easley
- Re-signed C John Sullivan
- Signed LB Ramik Wilson
- Acquired Brandin Cooks and a 2018 4th round pick from New England for 2018 1st and 6th round picks
- Signed DT Ndamukong Suh
More from Arrowhead Addict
- Former Chiefs cornerback in legal trouble in Las Vegas
- Chiefs Kingdom: Get ready to break contract news
- Chiefs news: Travis Kelce wants to host fan ‘chug-off’ in Germany
- Podcast: Breaking down the Chiefs biggest roster battles
- KC Chiefs send Dave Merritt to NFL coaching accelerator
If you made it through that whole list without throwing your phone/computer, props to you. That’s quite a long list of excellent moves by an excellent, young football team, and they may not even be done yet.
The Rams have put together an offseason blueprint that not only keeps their core chemistry together but also improves the team overall. From adding veteran help to mentor the younger players to making blockbuster trades, the Rams have done it all.
Before these moves, the Rams had a roster that is quite similar to the roster that the Chiefs will have going into the season. A QB with a flexible contract, an offense with top-of-the-league potential, and a young defense with several question marks such as impending free agents or character issues (Chiefs).
The 2017 Rams had one huge looming question mark that is exactly what the Chiefs are dealing with currently as well. They had a quarterback who needed to prove himself before going all in with him at the helm. Jared Goff had a very disappointing rookie season in 2016, throwing 5 touchdowns to 7 picks in just 7 games. However, in 2017 he proved to be worthy of his first overall pick status, completing 62% of his passes for nearly 4,000 yards passing with 28 touchdowns to just 7 interceptions. Goff also posted a 100.5 passer rating, good for fifth in the league. That is the season that allowed the Rams to trust Goff and go all-in this offseason.
The Future in K.C.
For the Chiefs, much of what they do next offseason rides on what Patrick Mahomes can do this upcoming season. If he lives up to expectations—that is, plays extremely well and leads the Chiefs to a winning season—the Chiefs will be able to go all-in on a Super Bowl run in 2019.
This offseason, the Chiefs have done what they can to load up the offense in order to allow Mahomes to be as successful as possible. The additions of Sammy Watkins, a proven deep-ball threat, Damien Williams and Kerwynn Williams, both pass-catching backs, and Tim Wright, a tight end with 13 career TDs, to an offense that already contains Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt shows that the Chiefs are attempting to make the transition to Mahomes at the quarterback position as seamless as possible.
Looking at the Rams’ situation going into this offseason, they had around $40 million in cap space to start, and used that space to make the above transactions. Looking ahead to next offseason, the Chiefs have similar cap room at around $43 million. This gives the Chiefs a chance to go ahead and make significant additions, just as the Rams did, to improve their odds at a Super Bowl run for the 2019 season.
The Rams not only had a good chunk of cap space, but they also unloaded some of their draft capital as well, surrendering their 1st and 2nd round draft picks in the 2018 draft, and also a 2nd rounder in 2019 as well. The Chiefs gave up their 1st round pick in this years draft in the trade for Patrick Mahomes, however, they still have a good amount of picks, especially in next years draft. Having as many assets as possible is an extremely useful tool, especially for a playoff caliber team looking to improve.
Young Quarterbacks Taking Over
Jared Goff had a breakout season in his sophomore campaign. While he had a rocky rookie season, he put all that in the past, and gave the Rams a reason to go all in. Patrick Mahomes had a great game in the Week 17 win against Denver last year, but it is not enough for the Chiefs to be able to put their trust in him for the future. With a full season coming up with Mahomes as the starter, we will get a better idea of how the Chiefs will approach the following year. Whether they go all-in on a 2019 Super Bowl, or go back to the drawing board and find a new option at quarterback, it all rides on Patrick Mahomes’ ability to be a star in the league .
It is exciting to think about the possibilities that could come up for the Chiefs, especially if Mahomes lives up to expectations in his first full year as a starter. If he has his breakout season, and leads the Chiefs to a winning season as Jared Goff did, the Chiefs just might be mimicking what the Rams did in their 2018 offseason.
All aboard the Patrick Mahomes hype train… he might just be the guy that gets Kansas City over the top, or leaves fans wishing we had drafted Deshaun Watson instead.