LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-6)

OPEN CAMP: July 26 Marcus Foligno Jersey , UC Irvine, Irvine, California

LAST YEAR: Coach Sean McVay led one of most remarkable single-season transformations in recent NFL history. Rams ended their streaks of 12 consecutive non-playoff seasons and 13 straight non-winning seasons with rampage to first NFC West title since 2003. Franchise with NFL’s worst offense in 2016 became league’s highest-scoring team, racking up 478 points after scoring 224 in previous year. Quarterback Jared Goff emerged as solid starter in second season, and running back Todd Gurley was NFL’s top offensive player with relentless year. Coordinator Wade Phillips’ defense also took quantum leap, with NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald leading makeover into versatile, hard-nosed group. Despite tepid home playoff loss to Atlanta, Rams captured city’s attention in second year back in LA, shrugging off competition from relocated Chargers.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Marcus Peters, CB Aqib Talib, WR Brandin Cooks.

IMPORTANT LOSSES: LB Robert Quinn, CB Trumaine Johnson, LB Alec Ogletree, WR Sammy Watkins, WR Tavon Austin, LB Connor Barwin, offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur.

CAMP NEEDS: Donald skipped all of last season’s training camp, and is likely to hold out again while he attempts to land one of biggest contracts in NFL history. His absence didn’t hurt much last season, but every day he waits to begin partnership with Suh is missed opportunity. Rams acquired four elite veteran talents in offseason, and they all must connect with teammates quickly. Defense must adjust to styles of Talib and Peters, its two new aggressive cornerbacks. New starting middle linebacker must be chosen after Ogletree’s cap-related departure Zach Parise Jersey , with Cory Littleton likely to get first shot. Goff and Cooks must build chemistry to keep McVay’s high-octane passing game in top form.

EXPECTATIONS: Rams all-in on pursuit of first Super Bowl berth since the 2001 season, and have talent to get there. They’ve brought back almost every important part of last season’s excellent offense, and added three game-breaking stars to defense. Even if they still haven’t written gargantuan check necessary to make Donald happy, Rams intend to contend for championships for next several years, starting now.

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SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7)

OPEN CAMP: July 26, Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Renton, Washington

LAST YEAR: Seattle missed postseason for first time since 2011 and injuries and depth issues caught up with aging core. Once-vaunted defense took significant step back and offense that had been best at running was downright dreadful. Seattle had one rushing TD last year by running back and QB Russell Wilson again spent large portions running for his safety. That Seattle won nine games and was in playoff conversation into late December was remarkable.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Rookie RB Rashaad Penny, WR Brandon Marshall, WR Jaron Brown, TE Ed Dickson, OL D.J. Fluker, DT Tom Johnson, DT Shamar Stephen, rookie DE Rasheem Green, LB Barkevious Mingo, rookie LB/DB Shaquem Griffin, K Sebastian Janikowski, K Jason Myers, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, offensive line coach Mike Solari, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.

IMPORTANT LOSSES: RB Eddie Lacy Youth Derek Grant Jersey , WR Paul Richardson, TE Jimmy Graham, OL Luke Joeckel, DE Cliff Avril, DE Michael Bennett, SS Kam Chancellor, CB Richard Sherman, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, offensive line coach Tom Cable, defensive coordinator Kris Richard.

CAMP NEEDS: Happy Earl Thomas is good place to start. Thomas held out from offseason activities and has said he will not take part in team functions until contract situation is addressed. Thomas’ deal expires after season. Who will be Seattle’s No. 2 wide receiver? Tyler Lockett, now fully healthy after broken leg suffered late in 2016? Veteran Brandon Marshall after injury-filled 2017? Seattle must also find pass rush after departures of Bennett and Avril. Frank Clark can’t do it alone.

EXPECTATIONS: Different than they’ve been since first couple years of Pete Carroll’s tenure. Seattle clearly decided to refresh locker room this offseason. Gone are big personalities of Sherman and Bennett. Also gone: lots of talent, a void that may not be filled immediately. There is optimism about Seattle’s rookie class, but for first time since 2013 Seahawks don’t go into season as one of favorite.

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ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-8)

OPEN CAMP: July 27, Glendale, Arizona

LAST YEAR: Cardinals dealt with myriad injuries but managed to pull out win in Seattle in finale to finish 8-8 in coach Bruce Arians’ final game. He announced retirement next day. Arians finished with franchise-record 50 wins, but his teams failed to make playoffs in last two years. QB Carson Palmer, after another season shortened by injury, also announced retirement. 8-8 record came despite loss of standout running back David Johnson when he dislocated wrist in opener. It was another standout year for Larry Fitzgerald: In 14th NFL season, he finished second in league in receptions with 102. Outside linebacker Chandler Jones led NFL with 16 sacks.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Coach Steve Wilks, QB Sam Bradford, QB Josh Rosen, QB Mike Glennon Alex Burmistrov Jersey , RT Andre Smith, RG Justin Pugh, WR Brice Butler, WR Christian Kirk, CB Jamar Taylor, RB Chase Edmonds.

IMPORTANT LOSSES: Arians, Palmer, S Tyrann Mathieu, WR John Brown, WR Jaron Brown, QB Drew Stanton, OT Jared Veldheer, CB Justin Bethel, OG Alex Boone, DT Frostee Rucker, ILB Karlos Dansby, DT Josh Mauro, TE Troy Niklas, OT Earl Watford.

CAMP NEEDS: With new coach and new systems on offense, defense and special teams, plen

The initial, albeit technically erroneous Mikko Rantanen Jersey , reports regarding Odell Beckham‘s new contract pegged the deal at $95 million over five years, giving the deal an average value of $19 million. But that’s not what the deal is worth.

Yes, the new-money average of the base deal sits at $18 million per year (five years, $90-not-95 million). And that puts him north of Steelers receiver Antonio Brown‘s new-money average of $17 million annually.

But Camp Beckham eschewed the new-money analysis when arguing that the Giants had offered Beckham less than the $16 million per year obtained on the open market by Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins, the highest paid player at the position for deals analyzed from the moment of signing. As to Beckham, who already was due to make $8.459 million in 2018, he didn’t sign a five-year, $90 million deal that gets stapled onto the back of his current contract but a new deal that covers six years and has a base value of $98.459 million.

That’s an average from the moment signing of $16.4 million per year. And it makes him the highest paid receiver, by $400,000 per year. And that’s hardly the kind of bump over the prior high-water mark that a supposedly “transcendent” player should have gotten.

So why did Beckham take that instead of $20 million per year or more at signing? Because Beckham wisely realized that the bird in the hand had grown more than fat enough to justify not waiting for the proverbial two in the bush. With the Giants reportedly guaranteeing $41 million at signing and providing an injury guarantee of $65 million, it would have been foolish for Beckham to say no.

Ultimately, that’s how to get these deals done, from the team’s perspective. What the player wants is roughly as relevant as Spaulding’s laundry list of desire foodstuffs before starting the back nine at Bushwood. What the player will or won’t refuse is what really matters. Beckham wouldn’t, and couldn’t, refuse the offer that the Giants made, even if it only (only?) pays him $16.4 million per year over six years, committing him to the team until he’s on the brink of 32.