As reported earlier the Rams decided to give former Bills wide receiver 5 years and $39 million dollars. It’s understandable that the Rams would overpay a little for a receiver because they are desperate for one and knew full well that they didn’t have a shot at getting a marquee guy like Alshon Jeffrey or DeSean Jackson.
However, there’s a difference between overpaying for a average to slightly above average receiver and blowing money on a below average receiver. Basically, the Rams paid sticker price for the equivalent of a Ford Pinto. Yes, Robert Woods is young and yes he went to USC so the homecoming aspect will make for a nice LA Times feature but what else are they getting with their money?
In his four seasons in the NFL, Robert Woods has caught a total of 12 touchdown passes 203 catches and 2,451 yards which which puts him at 28th, 31st, and 31st respectively. That doesn’t exactly make him Torry Holt or Az-Hakim now does it? Sure, one could argue that his production was limited because the Buffalo Bills have been in a quarterback wasteland since Jim Kelly retired but its not like Goff is going to turn him into a pro bowl player.
What’s worse is the Rams didn’t have to overpay for Woods because its not like they were in a bidding war with anybody. The Bills wouldn’t have paid him that and they are desperate for someone to play opposite Sammy Watkins or fill in during his inevitable injury. Furthermore, there was better, cheaper value elsewhere.
The Eagles signed Torrey Smith for three years at $15 million which is a heck of a lot more value than Woods because at least Smith is a proven deep threat that has a ring. Smith is still young and he’s only tainted by the fact he was chained in a 49ers offense that couldn’t succeed if they had a DeLorean to go get 1987 Jerry Rice.
It’s possible the Rams floated a similar offer to Smith and he said no but even if that were the case just because the person you wanted to leave the bar with rejected you it doesn’t mean you go home with the person at the end of the bar who peed themselves and can barely stand. Desperation causes people to do stupid things but Les Snead really dropped the ball on this one which is exactly what Woods will do every Sunday.
The Whitmore signing earlier was risky because the guy is at the end of the line but at least the deal wasn’t bad financially and he at least provides veteran leadership as long as he’s there. Robert Woods’ best asset is that he’s a pretty good blocker but not 5 years and $39 million good.
The only hope to salvage this off-season for the Rams is if someone offers a nice package for Trumaine Johnson but that might not even come until the summer time if no one bites during this year’s draft. Snead’s goal might have been to reboot the offense but it shouldn’t have to come at this steep a price.
They’d have been better off sticking with Kenny Britt because at least Britt managed to get 1,000 yards, Woods never has. So far, Les Snead is asking Sean McVay to make chicken salad out of chicken s–t and that’s not fair. They’re already paying Tavon Austin 4 years $42 million ($28.5 mil guaranteed) to catch passes out of the backfield and not score touchdowns.
Hopefully, this whole piece is proven wrong and Woods goes out there and shows all he needed was to be back home at the Coliseum but until that day comes, this deal was just plain dumb.
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