After a disappointing end to the season, losing the NFC Championship 31-27 against the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams enter the offseason with two first-round picks and $56M of cap space. This can be a deadly combination for fixing things fast and building a Super Bowl team.
The first priority is to get help in the secondary. A few defensive backs on the roster have contracts expiring, including Kamren Curl, Cobie Durant, Ahkello Witherspoon, Derion Kendrick, and Roger McCreary. The secondary was the biggest weakness in the NFC Championship Game and with players about to hit the free-agent market, this could be a good place for change.
The good news is the Rams have already locked in a key piece by extending safety Quentin Lake. But even with Lake extended, the Rams still need more players to fill their needs.
The Rams have the 13th pick thanks to a trade last season with the Atlanta Falcons. The Rams should prioritize taking a cornerback who could start immediately. The ideal fit would be Mansoor Delane from LSU or Jermod McCoy from Tennessee. Another option is trading up to potentially draft star safety Caleb Downs from Ohio State, who would be a difference maker on day one.
With their own first-round pick, the 29th pick, LA should look to draft a safety or linebacker who could be used in disguise, like safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo, in case Downs doesn’t fall.
Since so many Rams defensive backs are on the market, the Rams need to use free agency to haul in reliable defenders that can strengthen the secondary and provide experience to the younger players. Some players to look at are cornerbacks Cam Taylor-Britt and Greg Newsome and safety Jaquan Brisker.
The Rams also need to bring back safety Kamren Curl and cornerback Cobie Durant, both of whom came up clutch multiple times in the NFC Divisional Round against the Bears.
There are still a lot of questions offensively, especially with MVP favorite quarterback Matthew Stafford. He is going to turn 38 this offseason, and his retirement could be in question. If Stafford decides to retire, the Rams have to pivot one of their draft picks to draft a quarterback, but it seems unlikely Stafford will retire after putting up a career year.
Los Angeles should also have conversations with wide receiver Davante Adams about restructuring his contract. If they do, the Rams have $28 million to fill with multiple significant players.
Another talking point is to extend key players. Wide receiver Puka Nacua, guard Steve Avila, defensive tackle Kobie Turner and linebacker Byron Young are all eligible for extensions. They have become crucial to the roster, and keeping them on for the long haul is extremely important.
Not every offseason goes the way people say it will. At the end of the day, whatever happens is up to the general managers and the players. The Rams need defensive help; it’s part of the reason why they aren’t preparing for the Super Bowl right now. They also need to evaluate Stafford’s timeline, restructure some contracts and extend players like Nacua to turn this team into a Super Bowl-contending team.