Does LA Rams' newfound salary cap space mean imminent FA signing? 3 answers - Too hot, too cold, just right

II: Too cold

Of course, there are those who see the $13+ million of available salary cap dollars, and realize that from that amount the LA Rams must still sign their 2023 draft class to contracts. If you take a quick glance at the cost of the Rams draft class, your eyes could focus on the $12.6 million price tag of the draft class, leading you to conclude that the Rams have already spent their 2023 salary cap dollars.

The problem with that quick and dirty assessment is that it ends up giving you the wrong answer. And there are two different reasons for that. The first is simply the fact that the offseason salary cap is based on the Top-51 players on the payroll at any given time. What that means is that for every drafted rookie who is signed to a new contract, the Top-51 is shifted to include the more expensive rookie, and drops off the previous least expensive player from the calculation.

Change back from their salary dollars

Spotrac has already done the heavy lifting and shows that the Top-51 impact of the Rams' entire 2023 rookie draft class is merely a cost of $6.6 million. What that means is that the Rams' salary cap, after signing all of their draft class, would still be well over $7 million. Yet there is even more good news on that front.

The LA Rams have already signed their top rookie, IOL Steve Avilla, as well as Mr. Insignificant, DT Deshuan Johnson, P Ethan Evans, and DB Jason Taylor II. So of the $6.6 million cap hit, the Rams current salary cap reflects the impact of over $1 million of the draft class. That should put the final salary cap after signing drafted rookies on or about $9 million. That's a bit high for 'as is.'