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Los Angeles Rams Are Banking Everything On a 2018 Run

By Erik Lambert

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 13: Brandin Cooks #14 of the New England Patriots carries the ball after a catch as he is defended by Adoree' Jackson #25 of the Tennessee Titans in the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 13: Brandin Cooks #14 of the New England Patriots carries the ball after a catch as he is defended by Adoree' Jackson #25 of the Tennessee Titans in the second quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Rams have officially put the biggest stamp on the 2018 off-season. No team has done more to position themselves for a Super Bowl run.

From a simplistic point of view, it’s easy enough to see why. They were 10-6 last season and made the playoffs for the first time in over 10 years. They have a young Pro Bowl quarterback who is still on his rookie contract. The time for big spending and big moves is now and GM Les Snead has taken the full plunge on that side of the pool.

The sheer number of big moves is rather staggering. It started with the trade for All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters from Kansas City. Then Aqib Talib quickly followed from Denver. If that weren’t enough they saw fit to lure in Ndamukong Suh to pair with star defensive tackle Aaron Donald. There was still something missing though.

Sammy Watkins had left the team hanging in free agency, forcing Snead’s hand. So the Rams dealt their 1st round pick to New England for Brandin Cooks. Suddenly the Philadelphia Eagles have reason to sweat. This may be their biggest threat in the NFC, but it comes with a dark secret.

Rams are built to win in 2018 and that may be it

Los Angeles will have loads of cap space in 2019. That’s the good news here. Unfortunately, that cap space is going to disappear at a frightening clip with all the star talent that needs to get paid. Donald, Peters and Todd Gurley alone will command huge new deals. Then it becomes a matter of how much the Rams will look to save for the inevitable blockbuster their young quarterback will command soon.

Next: New England Patriots: Belichick the Reason Gronk Wants Out

It’s not a foregone conclusion that they’ll be able to retain Suh or Lamarcus Joyner. Not when they likely aim to secure Cooks for the long-term after just giving up a 1st rounder for him. This is a highly complicated situation and the odds are strong that the Rams won’t ever have a better chance to go get the Lombardi trophy than they do this year. That’s how they’ve set things up with their off-season blitz.

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