Two moves this offseason highlighted the unique approach the St. Louis Rams have taken to constructing their roster.
The first was taking a one-year flier on former Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley, an immense but inconsistent talent during his tenure in Detroit. The second came during the first night of the 2015 draft, as the Rams -- sitting at No. 10 -- made what most considered the first surprise selection in the proceedings, nabbing former Georgia running back Todd Gurley.
Each player represented a potentially significant value from a production vs. investment cost standpoint, and both can be legitimate contributors for a team that poses one of the fearsome young defensive nuclei in the NFL and an offense that appears ready to be built through a ground-based approach.
In a lot of ways, the team seems ready to take the next step in terms of contending for a playoff spot -- but uncertainty at the quarterback position remains. Here's a look at how the Rams have built up a very strong roster overall, and whether they have enough to make the postseason in 2015.
Drafting for need versus value -- and both
The Rams' roster approach traces back to 2012, the first year that head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead were on the job. With the second overall pick in tow (and a young quarterback they were still invested in, Sam Bradford), the Rams had unique leverage to auction their pick during a draft that featured two coveted quarterback prospects. The Rams hauled in four selections (including three first-rounders) from Washington, eventually maneuvering those picks to make eight total selections.
Coming off a two-win season in 2011, it was clear the Rams had an abundance of needs to fill. But with souped-up draft capital, the team also had flexibility, which can allow teams to take some risks -- or address value over need.
In 2012, the Rams used the second-round pick acquired in the trade with Washington to select cornerback Janoris Jenkins 39th overall -- a player with top-10 talent but character concerns. In 2014, equipped with two first-round selections, the Rams first took former Auburn left tackle Greg Robinson with the intentions of using him at left guard (due to veteran Jake Long's grip on the left tackle spot at the time).
And then, the Rams hit a grand slam with the 13th pick by drafting former Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald -- the eventual defensive rookie of the year and a Pro Bowl player. Defensive tackle was not the team's top need, but Donald was simply too good to pass up.
Fast forward one year, and the Rams found themselves in a similar spot: A player regarded by some as the top prospect in the class was there for the taking. Coupling the Gurley pick with the signing of Fairley (to a one-year deal worth $5 million) to a loaded defensive front illuminates the Rams' commitment to value transactions that contribute to their roster blueprint.
How the roster takes shape
Despite public comments earlier this offseason about the team's dedication to Bradford as its quarterback going forward, St. Louis eventually traded him to Philadelphia for a package that included Nick Foles. And although it's not clear if Foles -- under contract for one more season -- is the long-term answer at quarterback, the team's roster has taken shape in a way to alleviate the pressure on whoever is under center.
"They're young and athletic along the offensive line, with depth at running back," one NFL assistant coach noted.
The Rams have selected at least one running back in each of the past four drafts, including Gurley this year despite the emergence of Tre Mason (a third-rounder a year ago) in the latter part of 2014. With just two players entrenched as starters along the offensive line -- Robinson and guard Rodger Saffold -- the team added four offensive linemen in this year's draft (led by second-round pick Rob Havenstein, a likely right tackle out of Wisconsin) who boast an average size of 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds.
But the strength of this team -- and the biggest reason for optimism going forward -- is a defensive front seven that could stack up against any in the NFL.
Said one NFL assistant coach: "They have talent and depth on defense. They can certainly rush the passer." He added: "In their division, Seattle and San Francisco also have the running game and great defense thing going the past few years. That may contribute to their philosophy."
With five first-round picks drafted between 2011 and 2014 entrenched on the current roster along the front seven, perhaps no team has worked harder to develop a formidable group in that area.
We saw that from St. Louis at points during the 2014 season, as during a four-game stretch the Rams held three opponents -- including the Peyton Manning-led Broncos -- to just seven total points. St. Louis generated 15 sacks in those three games and rushed for 144.7 yards per contest, winning all three tilts.
Can it be sustained?
While the framework of both Seattle and San Francisco (during their recent runs of success) is similar to what St. Louis is aiming for, the critical difference between those two teams and the Rams was certainty under center. The Seahawks' Russell Wilson is among the best young signal-callers in the league, and although the 49ers' Colin Kaepernick struggled last season, he was electric during most of the previous two seasons.
So the question becomes: Can the Rams -- catalyzed by their ferocious front seven and running game -- sustain that formula we saw at times last season and narrow the gap in the NFC West?
"The defense will be good enough to keep them in games, but I still don't think they have enough skill players on offense to be explosive," one NFL defensive coach said. "Foles not having the best run game in the NFL anymore [like he did with Philadelphia in 2013], let's see how he does without that. I think he will struggle. Gurley is the wild card. If he's real deal, they will be above 500. If not, they finish below 500."
"The offensive talent is OK," added another NFL defensive coach. "Tavon Austin was disappointing to me. Tight end Jared Cook is a good receiver, but other than that I didn't think too much of the offense, whoever was playing quarterback."
The hurdle for the Rams to clear, as is the case for many teams in the NFL, is finding a quarterback to navigate the offensive huddle and play at a high level. That's easier said than done, but if St. Louis can find that missing piece, the roster is ready to take off. What the Rams have built up around the QB position might still be enough this season, if Foles can perform at an average or slightly above-average level.
Notes
• Smith's payday with Niners: When 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith restructured his contract for the 2015 season, the deal was structured in a way that put it on Smith to earn the $9.754 million that the fifth-year option at his position called for. He lowered his base salary to just $1 million, with the potential to earn the remaining money through incentives, workout and roster bonuses. One of those roster bonuses came due on Monday, as Smith earned $200,000 for being on the team's roster after earning $200,000 on both April 1 and May 1. The most substantial payout for Smith -- who was suspended for nine games last season -- will come if he stays on the field during the 2015 season, as he is set to earn $322,150 for each week that he is on the 53-man roster during the regular season and another $2 million if he plays 50 percent of the defensive snaps or reaches eight sacks.
• Good news for Carolina, Miami: When the Panthers and Dolphins released running back DeAngelo Williams and linebacker Philip Wheeler, respectively, earlier this offseason, they each did so with a post June-1 designation. That means that both teams will be the recipients of some new cap space to use effective on Tuesday. For the Dolphins, they'll earn $3 million in cap space, while the Panthers will collect north of $2 million. That brings Miami to about $12 million in total cap space for this season and Carolina to close to $9 million. With each team having already signed all of its draft picks, this move puts both in a healthy spot entering the summer and the regular season, as teams often like to have an allotment of cap space for roster flexibility in the event of signing new players or extending current players.