In the words of Jerry Glanville, NFL stands for Not For Long. When the window is open, you have to make the most of it. While it came with some character risks (some that admittedly down the road blew up in their faces), Tannenbaum's aggressiveness in the trade market was a big reason they made it to back-to-back AFC title games.
It is always situational with the best moves for the roster, the Rams 2 best players were drafted by them. Jalen Ramsey was also a liability today for the Rams, the Stafford trade was a clear win for the Rams. Overall, the Rams had a roster that rounded out well between draft picks, traded players, and FA signings.... it always helps when you hit on all 3 of those.
ftr, I think draft picks are imperative to a championship and I believe in a core foundation. I made this more for the people who constantly cry about having 10,000 draft picks and cry about the salary cap. It's all about balance but some seem to think having 50 draft picks and being 50 million under the cap is the win.
"According to Elias Sports Bureau research, Kupp is the second player all-time with four-plus receptions on a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter or later of a Super Bowl, joining Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII." Kupp was later traded to the Jets, at which point he again defied expectations by turning into an insufferable dick.
Yes, I agree proven players over draft picks. But it's risky to trade for them because they might be system fits and not fit the Jets system. Now Cypress Hill should not have been anywhere near the SB halftime show as they stink. Run-DMC and Grand Master Flash who started the whole rap game should have been there.
The other thing is that the entire process from the year they traded up for Goff to this win has been very shaky. They did get the win and we should commend them for that but there were several points, including Goff's blowout where the whole process could have derailed. We also have no idea what the ultimate cost for them will be in a couple of years when the impact of having no 1sts over a 6 or 7 year period will begin to show up. However they got the win. Many teams would have been less lucky given the strategy.
The two MVP’s of that game were Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp… both drafted players. Without the core of drafted guys I don’t think it’s feasible, you need to have the foundational players. Rams Offense: QB: M. Stafford, Trade RB: C. Akers, 2nd RB: D. Henderson, 3rd WR: C. Kupp, 3rd WR: O. Beckham, FA WR: V. Jefferson, 2nd TE: K. Blanton, UDFA LT: A. Whitworth, FA LG: D. Edwards, 5th C: B. Allen, 4th RG: A. Corbett, Trade RT: R. Havenstein, 2nd Rams Defense: OLB: L. Floyd, FA IDL: A. Donald, 1st NT: G. Gaines, 4th IDL: A. Robinson, FA OLB: V. Miller, Trade LB: E. Jones, 3rd CB: J. Ramsey, Trade S: T. Rapp, 2nd S: E. Weddle, FA S: T. Burgess, 3rd CB: D. Williams, Waiver Claim NK: D. Deayon, FA There are 3 big time trades, but they’re largely made up of drafted players. Also, what if Von Miller, Aaron Donald, and Andrew Whitworth retire after this season? You’d have to replace a LT and 2 elite pass rushers with no 1st round picks for the next 2 years, and no 2nd this year. Im not saying they would be devastated but they’d probably have at least 1 regression year if not 2 or 3.
I'd say the chances are pretty high the Rams will regress next season and not make it back to the Super Bowl. But at the same time I don't think you can knock any strategy that results in a SB ring too much. Those are so hard to actually get and some teams can go decades without even sniffing one.
How often do elite level talents become available midseason at positions of immediate need? Do they even sign OBJ if the Lions hadn't put in a roster claim for Josh Reynolds? Also, a guy that hadn't played in two years stepped in and immediately plugged a massive hole. They literally had no one else. An awful lot of things broke their way this year to make this strategy work.
I think there’s a good chance Whitworth retires although they have Noteboom who was fine when Whitworth got hurt. I doubt Von and Donald retire with the opportunity to run it back although their clocks are ticking. It’ll be interesting to see how much longer Stafford plays as well. He has taken an absolute beating in his career and played through most of it and now has a chronic back injury. He’ll definitely come back to defend the title but I’m not sure how much longer he’s going to play especially since a lot of folks believe he’s now a HOFer (debatable for me).
I just want to see 1 in my lifetime. Whoever brings the Lombardi home to 1JD is a legend forever in my book.
I don’t think Stafford is a HoF guy personally but he has enough time to get there. Donald probably won’t retire, and Miller I suppose not. Whitworth most likely will though. 40 years old, SB win, Man of the Year is a bad ass way to walk out. I think something people don’t realize about the Rams situation is that they created a culture and proved themselves before bringing in all of these players via trade. In McVay’s first 2 seasons, he boasted 24-8 record, 2 Playoff births, and a Super Bowl appearance. It wasn’t until part way through his 3rd season they started making these trades. Drafted players like Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp still set the tone for everyone. You can’t be a 4-13 group and expect moves like that to work the same way. The Jets should probably use most of their picks this year, and if there is major improvement in success in 2022 they can start to consider these big time moves.
I’m only 31 and I want to raise my sons on years of good Jets football, but I understand others who feel differently