Why Every NFL Team Shouldn't Act Like the Rams
There's a difference between a team that won a Super Bowl aiming for another and a team that keeps chasing after one.
The Los Angeles Rams have become known for doing all the moves you're not supposed to do in order to build a Super Bowl team.
Traditionalists believe in the idea of drafting and developing a quarterback, continuing to build through the draft and using free agency to fill holes.
The Rams have gone a different route, in which they have been aggressive in acquiring players through trades, giving up high draft picks in the process. They are coming off a Super Bowl win, have recently extended multiple players and, now, lots of fans think that the Rams' method is the way to get it done.
What these fans aren't looking at is the long-term picture, in which you need to demonstrate that your method is going to result in multiple Super Bowl trips and wins, not just winning one Super Bowl and never returning to the big game.
Ever since Sean McVay took over as the head coach, the Rams have been a playoff contender, but they initially thought they could keep getting Super Bowl appearances with Jared Goff and Todd Gurley as part of the equation. But over the long term, neither player proved to be part of it.
The Rams went through the pain of a lot of dead money after cutting Gurley and they were fortunate that the Lions agreed to take Goff's contract in the Matthew Stafford trade -- and by including Goff's contract, having to give up an additional first-round pick.
But what the Rams did was they were quick to move on from mistakes as soon as they realized things weren't working out. They didn't continue to dive head first into free agency or restructure contracts, over and over, with the hopes that things would work out at some point.
It's true the Rams were aggressive in trading away draft picks for proven players, but they were careful not to go "all in" further than giving up the picks. While the picks given up would indicate they would need to extend the player, they didn't do so right away.
More importantly, the Rams have determined who they believe to be their core players going forward. They are betting on Stafford, Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp as their primary guys, then doing what they can to find players to put around them.
If they don't win the Super Bowl after the 2022 season, the Rams might try that one free agent signing or that one trade involving their 2024 first rounder that they believe will help them win it after the 2023 season. But if they fail to win it again, now comes the time for the Rams to re-examine their position.
Assuming the Rams don't restructure any contracts in 2023, they are likely to look at the roster and figure out who they need to release, even if it comes with a lot of pain. It's at that point they could look at players like Leonard Floyd, Bobby Wagner and Allen Robinson and decide it's better to either cut or trade them, rather than keep chasing after Super Bowls.
The teams that actually run their franchises well are the ones that work to build a roster that can win a Super Bowl, but avoid doing two things:
1. Assume they are going to win a Super Bowl in a given season and keep going "all in" before they know how the season will unfold.
2. Assume that, because they just missed a Super Bowl trip two seasons ago, and are coming off a one-and-done playoff season, that they can keep the entire roster together -- and all they need is this one big move that will put them over the top.
It’s not hard to spot the first example, as you can look at teams like the Jaguars, who keep spending money but get little in return, or teams like the Browns, who bet the farm on one player but have yet to prove they can win a Super Bowl.
But the second example may be harder to spot. That’s the type of team that has talent in place, but experiences too many “one and done” seasons but thinks it will get that Super Bowl by keeping the roster intact while making headlines with a big signing or notable trade. It’s the headlines that distract you, because you aren’t looking at what lies beneath the headlines.
The Saints are the prime example, because they tried too hard to keep everyone together, even after Drew Brees called it a career. But other teams could fall into these traps if they aren't careful. Among them:
* Buccaneers: Tom Brady is back, but if he decides that the 2022 season will be his last, it will be time to re-assess. They cannot restructure every player and be content with winning a division with two teams stuck in rebuild mode and a third that just keeps kicking the can down the road so they can get that No. 7 playoff seed.
* Packers: They were fortunate to get additional draft capital with the Davante Adams trade, but if they don't win a Super Bowl this year, it's time to re-examine the roster. Like the Bucs, they shouldn't assume all is well because they keep winning the division with two teams in rebuild mode and a third chasing the No. 7 playoff seed.
* Titans: Notice a theme here? They are another team that won a division with two teams that seem to be stuck in rebuild mode, while the third chases a No. 7 playoff seed. However, in this case, there's a chance the Titans fail to win the division -- and if that doesn't tell them it's time to re-think their strategy, it's time to change the regime.
* Bills: While they have a talented quarterback and a good roster around him, they've had one seasons with a significant "all in" move and, this offseason, have made another. The trade for Stefon Diggs helped, but it wasn't enough to put them into the Super Bowl. If the Von Miller signing doesn't put them there, they'll have to ask themselves which players are really worth keeping, rather than assume they can keep everybody and find that one "all in" move that finally breaks down the door.
The Bills aren't in as precarious of a position as the other three teams, but the point remains that you have to know when it's time to be as aggressive as possible, and when it's time to re-evaluate.
Everyone wants to win a Super Bowl, but one shouldn't assume that if you don't win one in a given year, the trick is to just do another "all in" move while keeping the rest of the band together. Choices have to be made each year, regardless of how deep your owner's pockets may be.
When you do win the Super Bowl, you can certainly work to keep everyone together -- that is, unless your quarterback decides it's time to call it a career. But if your QB will return, by all means, swing for the fences to go for another Vince Lombardi trophy.
However, if you keep swinging and missing, it's time to make those difficult choices -- especially if your division is weak or your best hope is the No. 7 playoff seed. It's not worth going "all in" season after season if all you get in return is another “one and done” playoff result.