LA Rams coaches skipping NFL Combine to plan 2020 miracle

Setting salary budget early crucial

Of course, the LA Rams are somewhat sketchy about some very important details, starting with the amount of available salary-cap space the team will have this off-season.  Per the latest estimates from Spotrac.com, on February 20, 2020, the LA Rams have an estimated $23,287,389 of free salary cap space to work with. From that amount, set aside approximately $7 million for the teams incoming 2020 NFL Draft rookies and UDFAs who will round out the roster.

Now the team has an estimated $16,300,000 to spend in free agency. Right now, the Rams would need to commit at least half that amount to re-sign Andrew Whitworth. With under $10 million dollars remaining, the Rams will not have many options to add via free agency.

So it falls to the front office to negotiate existing contracts to free up salary-cap space.  To truly have any impact in free agency, the Rams will need a minimum of $30 million to truly address some roster needs in 2020.

If the Rams cannot achieve that salary buffer, then the team will likely opt-out of most of the free agency altogether, and instead focus on players with minimal salary cap impacts but who have the raw skills to coach up this season.  In essence, the Rams are looking at players few teams want but the Rams believe they can coach up.