Based on all the moves the Los Angeles Rams made this offseason, you’d have thought they were tanking. Those in the Rams’ building never saw it that way, but from the outside, it seemed like they were fully committed to rebuilding in 2023 before making a stronger push in 2024 and 2025.
Rams GM Les Snead even admitted the Rams were using this season “to take a pause, so that we can continue being aggressive” in the next couple of years. It was no secret they tried to shed big contracts and take money off the books in 2024, eating more than $80 million in dead money this year alone – a logical strategy for a team with a lot of expensive players.
The story of their offseason was all about departures instead of additions. At one point in April, their list of departures was 17 players long. Their list of additions had just one name on it: Hunter Long, the player acquired in the Jalen Ramsey trade.
The Rams intentionally let go of Ramsey, Bobby Wagner, Leonard Floyd, Allen Robinson, Greg Gaines, Matt Gay, Nick Scott and several others by either trading them, cutting them or letting them walk in free agency. It was almost a complete rebuild on defense, trotting out a collection of mostly unproven players around Aaron Donald, Ernest Jones and Jordan Fuller.
As bad as their offseason looked, it’s actually a big reason they’re in playoff contention. In a year when they had limited assets in terms of cap space and the lack of a first-round pick, Snead and Sean McVay hit a few home runs.
During the summer, the Rams added Ahkello Witherspoon, Demarcus Robinson and John Johnson III. All three have become starters for Los Angeles and played at a high level. Just before the season began, they acquired Kevin Dotson from the Steelers, a trade that went mostly overlooked by everyone outside Los Angeles.
Witherspoon has a team-high three interceptions and has been the Rams’ top corner all year. Johnson ranks second on the team with two picks, tied with Fuller. Robinson has scored a touchdown in four straight games and shined as the Rams’ No. 3 receiver. Dotson is PFF’s fourth-highest-graded guard in the NFL.
Where the Rams really struck gold was in the draft. Puka Nacua is on pace to break the single-season rookie receiving record, putting up 1,327 yards in 15 games so far. Steve Avila has started every game at left guard and been really impressive. Kobie Turner and Byron Young are first and second in sacks by NFL rookies this season, securing 6.5 and 6.0 sacks, respectively.
Nick Hampton has been getting some playing time in recent weeks, Ethan Evans has held onto the punting job all season and Davis Allen scored a touchdown a few weeks ago.
Between free agency, trades and the draft, eight players acquired in the offseason have started games for the Rams this season, with five of them starting at least 12. The contributions from Los Angeles’ offseason acquisitions has been remarkable and it’s a big reason the Rams are in position to make the playoffs.