2020 NFL contracts make LA Rams GM Les Snead’s deals bargains

Goff is actually a bargain

Let’s start with the LA Rams contract for quarterback Jared Goff.  Per a July 2020 article from Sporting News writer Todd Haislop, Goff is the NFL’s fourth-ranked quarterback in terms of average annual salary.  He is the eighth-ranked quarterback in terms of guaranteed salary.  But where has he come in in terms of production?

Well, he was the fourth-ranked passer in 2018.  Despite a 31st-ranked offensive line, and 26th-ranked running game, he actually improved to be the third-ranked passer in 2019. Imagine that, a porous offensive line, no true running game to speak of, defenders with their ears pinned back focused exclusively on rushing the passer, and he is the third-ranked NFL passer.

Seeing is believing

Need proof? Check out this NFL Breakdown video prepared by Weekly Spiral, where Jared Goff is analyzed. Yes, Goff has some things to clean up, but the bad habits sprang from a complete lack of time to deliver the ball to his receivers.  Of course, when Goff had a top offensive line and a strong running game, the Rams had a far more balanced offense.

That’s what makes Goff’s 2019 performance even more special.  NFL Teams no longer feared the Rams running game, and no longer respected the Rams run-pass-option plays. Imagine Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback Dak Prescott without that offensive line and Ezekiel Elliott? And Prescott is due to reset the quarterback market with his deal next season. So what about that NFL tight end market exploding? Snead was already ahead of that one.