Tag: los angeles rams news

Why Chargers make sense for WR Cooper Kupp

Add Cooper Kupp to the list of possible wideout targets for the Chargers this offseason, as the Rams are set to trade the 2021 Pro Bowler.

There has been some big trade news out of the NFL this week. First, it was Myles Garrett who requested a trade.

Next, Cooper Kupp made a social media post about how the Rams will be trading him this offseason. Surprisingly, the veteran has only made one Pro Bowl in his eight-year career, which was in 2021, when he went off for an incredible 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.

He’s eclipsed 1,000 yards just twice in his injury-plagued career. Kupp will be 32 years old by the time the 2025 season kicks off, so his best days seem to be behind him.

We identified why Garrett could be a fit in Los Angeles, so can the same thing be said for Kupp? Well, let’s identify some reasons why it could work out.

Chargers need a wide receiver badly

It’s the most significant offseason need for the Chargers, evident throughout the 2024 season. Time and time again, Ladd McConkey was the only guy who could get open for Justin Herbert.

Kupp is among the best in the NFL in finding the soft spot in his opponents’ coverage. Health is a concern, as he’s played in 33 games over the last three years. That said, when he’s on the field, Kupp is a massive upgrade over anything the Chargers have right now other than McConkey.

Kupp won’t cost much in terms of assets

As aforementioned, Kupp is set to turn 32 years old, and he isn’t the 2021 version of himself. With cap hits of $27+ million each of the next two years, it’s hard to imagine that the Rams will get anything significant in return.

This gives the Chargers a potential low-risk, high-reward trade. With just two years left on his contract, they have little downside to acquiring Kupp. The Chargers can afford him, too, as they have the sixth-most cap space entering this offseason.

Locker room presence

On top of the on-field play, Kupp brings veteran leadership to the locker room. The Chargers have a solid locker room with Jim Harbaugh leading the squad, but you can never have too many veteran leaders.

Kupp has won a Super Bowl, so he knows what it takes to get the job done. He would be a perfect mentor for McConkey, who is set to enter his second NFL season in 2025.

It would be interesting to see how Kupp and McConkey fit together in the same offense. Both of them spend the majority of their snaps in the slot, so one of them would have to revert to the outside.

According to DraftKings, the Chargers are tied for third (+600) in terms of odds for Kupp’s next landing spot. This is a move that the Bolts should at least have discussions on this offseason.

Rams Wire Exclusive: Josh Wallace talks rookie season, lessons learned and more

Rams CB Josh Wallace joins Rams Wire for an exclusive interview about his rookie season and differences between Sean McVay and Jim Harbaugh

Los Angeles Rams rookie cornerback Josh Wallace was among the team’s biggest surprises in 2024. An undrafted free agent who made the 53-man roster, Wallace contributed both on defense and special teams. He appears to be a building blocker for Sean McVay moving forward.

Wallace recently spoke exclusively with Rams Wire. Wallace discussed his rookie season, making the roster, being coached by McVay and Jim Harbaugh, winning a National Championship, and so much more.

Justin Melo: It was a whirlwind of a rookie season. You signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent and made the 53-man roster right out of training camp. What will you best remember about that period?

Josh Wallace: Mostly the relationships I built along the way. Of course that training camp period was my first time meeting the veterans, and also the rookies that came in with me in our class. The relationships I built throughout that brief period of time, that’s what I’m going to remember the most.

JM: What’s the biggest lesson you learned throughout your rookie season?

Josh Wallace: I really learned the importance of taking care of your body throughout an NFL season. Your best ability is availability. That was definitely the biggest lesson I learned this past season.

JM: You didn’t just make the roster. You immediately contributed.  You played a ton of defensive snaps throughout the season, starting right away in Week 2. What do you think it was about your mindset that allowed you to play right away?

Josh Wallace: I stayed ready for my opportunity. That’s all it really was. You can’t always control what happens in this league, what happens in front of you. When your opportunity comes, no matter how hard you’re playing, you have to be prepared for the moment.

I feel like I did a great job staying prepared this season. I started a handful of games as a rookie. Being ready when your number gets called, that’s what it comes down to in this league. That’s what it’s about at the end of the day.

JM: It wasn’t the first time you handled a step up in competition with ease. You went from UMass to Michigan in 2023 and won a National Championship. Being on that stage, is that when you felt like there was no doubt you could play at the NFL level?

Josh Wallace: I mean, I’ve always had that confidence in myself, even when I was at UMass. I’m sure there were a lot of people that didn’t believe in me until I did it at Michigan, but I always believed in myself. I believed I would make it to the NFL one day even when I was a freshman at UMass. I made it happen for myself.

JM: You’ve been blessed in recent years, being coached by Jim Harbaugh and Sean McVay.  How are they similar, and how are they different?

Josh Wallace: They’re both player coaches at the end of the day. Us as players, you want to play for both McVay and Harbaugh. They’re great people off the field. They have great relationships with their players, and with their families. They care about their family, and that’s important to me as well, because family is everything. That made me want to play for them. That’s why I love playing for them.

I would actually say they’re not too different from each other, besides the age gap (laughs). That’s the biggest difference.

JM: No doubt (laughs). You also contributed a bunch on special teams this season. Did you have to acclimate and adjust to that role? It certainly helped you make the roster, and be active all year long.

Josh Wallace: Coming in as an undrafted guy, I knew playing special teams gave me my best shot to make the team. I heard that from a few of my older friends around the league, guys who came in under similar circumstances.

I did what I had to do to make the team. Whenever my opportunity came, I was ready to make splash plays, even on special teams. 

JM: We’ve appreciated your time today. What are your goals for this offseason as you prepare for your sophomore season?

Josh Wallace: My goal is to continue building on the rookie season I had in 2024. I want to develop and earn a bigger role on the team. I’m spending the offseason with my family. I’m going to continue taking great care of my family. I’m working on self-improvement. That’s all I can do.

I’m going to keep controlling what I can control.

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Sean McVay loved Cooper Kupp’s ‘gutsy’ and outstanding performance vs. Lions

Cooper Kupp had himself a night against Detroit and Sean McVay loved to see his top receiver back to full health

Cooper Kupp took an opportunity on Sunday to remind everyone that he’s still one of the league’s best pass catchers. In the loss to Detroit, Kupp had a signature performance, hauling in 14 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. He also had two carries for 10 yards.

Speaking Monday about Kupp’s performance, Sean McVay had this to say about his star wideout.

“I’d say it just reiterates the way that I felt after the game: gutsy,” McVay said. “[He] was all over the field. [It] was what we needed just based on the circumstances. There were a lot of opportunities to be able to stretch people vertically, but the situation didn’t enable that. He had 14, did a good job competing without the ball, affected and influenced coverage. I think just his demeanor and disposition throughout the game, some of the things that he’s doing in between series with the guys that did have to step up. You can’t say enough about what he means to our football team. I thought he was excellent. He gave us a chance to be able to come away with a win.”

When you consider Kupp’s performance with a damaged offensive line, his play becomes even more impressive while the thoughts of the future should make Rams fans salivate.

Browns sign former Rams kicker Lucas Havrisik

Former Rams kicker Lucas Havrisik is getting another opportunity with the Browns

After trading away Cade York to the Washington Commanders, the Cleveland Browns announced this morning that they have signed former Rams kicker Lucas Havrisik.

An undrafted free agent out of Arizona, Havrisik spent the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Rams where he appeared in nine games for the franchise.

During his time in LA, Havrisik went 15-for-20 on field goal attempts with a long of 52 yards. He would also convert 19 out of 22 extra points.

Havrisik’s time with the team came to an end when he was waived on January 1, 2024, and replaced by Brett Maher. This will be Havrisik’s third stint with the Browns.

DC Chris Shula says Rams’ edge rushers are a ‘special group’

The Rams’ edge rushers may be young, but Chris Shula loves the group Les Snead has assembled from top to bottom

There’s no doubt that the Rams have one of the younger pass-rushing duos in the NFL with second-year man Byron Young and rookie Jared Verse. However, youth does not determine ability as Young and Verse have both.

This was backed up by defensive coordinator Chris Shula. The Rams’ first-year defensive coordinator took an opportunity to praise his edge rushers after Wednesday’s practice, complimenting the team’s top four outside linebackers.

“One of the things we knew, when we drafted Jared, we’d heard the reports about him and it’s exactly what we wanted,” Shula said. “He’s brought a great energy to that group. Byron’s coming out of his shell from last year, having some success. Obviously, Mike Hoecht brings great leadership and [Nick] Hampton’s like the silent assassin of the group. So, it’s a special group that’s just growing day to day and it’s been fun to watch.”

With a seemingly perfect mix of youthful enthusiasm and veteran experience, Shula has an arsenal of weapons at his disposal.

Tre’Davious White’s football IQ helping Rams’ receiving corps

See what Puka Nacua had to say about how All-Pro DB Tre’Davious White has helped the Rams’ receivers in training camp

As the old adage goes, iron sharpens iron and for Puka Nacua, he’s being sharpened by All-Pro corner Tre’Davious White. White, a representative of LSU’s fierce reputation as “DBU,” came to Los Angeles after seven years with the Bills.

Over that time, White has earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors while leading the NFL in interceptions in 2019. White has everything a corner needs to be successful. His cerebral approach to the game and his feared athleticism allow him to be a shutdown corner when healthy.

When asked about White and if he’s given the team any teachable moments, Nacua had this to say.

“He’s really smart. Pre-snap stuff, he understands. He understands the motions, wherever we’re going, alignment, and things like that,” Nacua said. “So, he’s super aware of it. Depending on where we’re lined up, he knows he can eliminate certain routes, so it’s been fun. Because there are things that I feel… I know my strengths and they don’t really work against him because he’s thinking [about] the mental game before I ever get to be a physical player with him. So, it’s been super fun because now I get to work on some of the different tools that me and Coop are working on.”

If Nacua expects to surpass his rookie year production, being a student of the game must be his No. 1 priority in training camp. With a player like White to compete with and learn from, Nacua may already be ahead of the curve.

2024 represents a prove-it year for Rams special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn

The Rams’ kicking game was awful in 2023. Here’s why 2024 could be a make-or-break year for special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn.

2023 was an abysmal year for the Rams’ special teams unit and the man who is on the hottest of hot seats entering the 2024 season is special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn.

The kicking game was a massive issue for the Rams last season with the team having the third-lowest field goal percentage in the NFL at 74.4 percent. While short-range attempts gave the team no problems, 40-yard attempts and beyond were an Achilles’ heel for the Rams in 2023.

They totaled 11 misses from 40-plus yards, including a 50-percent make rate from beyond 50 yards. The team’s longest field goal was from 54 yards. Only five other teams had shorter kicks.

The Rams’ kicking woes made them so desperate, that they signed 39-year-old Mason Crosby to their practice squad. Crosby was never activated as the Rams went with Brett Maher and Lucas Havirsik for kicking duties.

Maher missed six field goals and Havirsik missed five last season. They combined for five missed extra points. The Rams 86.5 extra point conversion percentage ranked second-worst in the NFL, only 1.5 percent ahead of Carolina.

Rookie Joshua Karty was the best kicker in college football last year. He has a career long of 61 and in 45 field goal attempts under 50 yards, he’s only missed twice in his career.

If Blackburn’s poor 2023 was a result of the lack of talent, 2024 should prove that Blackburn has what it takes to take the Rams’ kicking game to the level it used to be at. If not, some difficult questions will be asked pertaining Blackburn’s future with the franchise.

Why the over on Matthew Stafford’s passing yardage is a great bet in 2024

The oddsmakers have expressed doubt in Matthew Stafford. Here’s why you and your money should be behind the Super Bowl champion in 2024.

Entering 2024, Matthew Stafford looks invigorated and excited in his offseason workouts. Considering he has a retooled offensive line and two of the best pass-catchers in football, betting the over on Stafford’s passing yards in 2024 may be one of the best bets of the season.

Right now, Stafford’s over/under sits at 3,840.5 passing yards, according to BetMGM. That comes out to 226 yards per game if he plays all 17, or 240 yards if he plays 16.

In 2023, Stafford exceeded the 240-yard mark in nine of 15 games. In the games that he didn’t hit at least 240 yards, all came in a six-game stretch in which the team was out of sorts and Stafford was dealing with injuries.

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Last season, Stafford threw for 3,965 yards in 15 games. The sportsbooks are giving up 120 yards and allowing us to at least assume we have one game in hand. I’m taking that bet all day of the week.

Odds sit a -125. If you bet $125 on the over and it hits, you win $100. If you’re ready to wager big cash, this is the bet for you.

Demarcus Robinson named one of the NFL’s most underappreciated players

Rams receiver Demarcus Robinson was selected as one of the NFL’s most underappreciated players, and for good reason

Tom Blair of NFL.com recently released a list of players that have generally been underappreciated by fans and members of the media. The instructions were simple: Select one player from each team that matches the criteria above.

For the Rams, it was one of the pleasant surprises of 2023 that made the list. Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was named the Rams’ most underappreciated player, and for good reason. Robinson, a Super Bowl champion for the Chiefs, wasted no time making his mark. His hard work paid off as he pushed himself into the Rams’ starting lineup to end the season.

This offseason, Robinson re-upped in L.A. on a one-year deal. So the stage is set for him to finally, in his ninth pro season, establish himself as an essential supporting member of a capable passing game. If he’s about to level up from yeoman status playing alongside star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, now’s the time to put Robinson on this list.

Robinson re-signed with the team this offseason. Part of the reason he was brought back was his performance once he gained a starting job. In two of the biggest games of the Rams’ 2023 season, Robinson shined. A home matchup with the Saints on Thursday night and a road game against the Giants the following week would define the season.

A late playoff push by the Rams led the team to victories in both matchups, victories that Robinson played a massive role in. In those two games, Robinson combined for 12 receptions, 174 yards and one touchdown. Robinson also went on a four-game streak where he scored a touchdown in each matchup.

His talent is clear but what also makes Robinson so underrated is his veteran experience and guidance. Robinson has championship experience, played with high-level quarterbacks including the last two MVPs and he has the physical ability to command respect from his teammates.

I’ve also met Robinson during his short tenure with the Raiders. Despite only being in Las Vegas for a couple of months, Robinson took a UDFA out for an appropriate night on the town when ours paths crossed. My interaction with him was like his play on the field: nice.

He was relaxed, funny and in his element. A player that sets and enforces the standard. He’s certainly among the NFL’s most underappreciated players.

Highlighting Rams legends: Ricky Proehl, an unsung hero

Placing the spotlight on another former Ram, Ricky Proehl and his big catches are on display this week on Highlighting Rams legends.

If NFL teams could make a midgame call for a clutch catch, Ricky Proehl’s phone would be ringing off the hook. A third-round pick in the 1990 NFL draft, Proehl entered the league with his name littered in the Wake Forrest record book.

However, success in the NFL didn’t come easy for the pass catcher from the Bronx. Drafted by the Cardinals, Proehl put up solid numbers for the team. The Cardinals, however, were awful and during Proehl’s five years with the franchise, they never had a winning season. Proehl spent the next three seasons with the Seahawks and Bears, combining for only 17 starts during that time.

At the end of the 1997 season, Proehl had eight credited seasons. Considering the average career lasts around 3.5 years, Proehl had a good run, and perhaps his NFL journey was winding to an end.

That was until a call came through from the Rams and off to St. Louis he went. In 1999, Proehl’s career took a massive turn. The struggling Rams rehired former assistant Mike Martz to be their new offensive coordinator and The Greatest Show on Turf was born.

Proehl would have to wait his turn to shine. Considering there’s only one football and Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, and Az-Zahir Hakim’s targets all taking priority over Proehl’s, he finished the 1999 season with 33 catches for 349 yards.

However, Proehl was a factor in the Rams’ Super Bowl XXXIV run. Despite his lack of stats in the regular season, Proehl proved that his production came in producing iconic moments. In the 1999 NFC championship game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers marched up to St. Louis with a clear agenda: Defense, defense, defense.

Sporting their iconic Tampa 2 defense, head coach Tony Dungy and DC Monte Kiffin stifled the Rams’ explosive offensive attack. Future Hall of Famers Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber held Faulk to 17 carries for 44 yards. They also held Faulk, Holt, Bruce and Hakim to a combined 15 catches for 122 yards and no scores. Warner threw three picks on the day.

But as they say, it’s the unsung heroes that make the critical play and that’s what Ricky Proehl did. With the Bucs leading the Rams 6-5 with five minutes left in the game, Proehl made the defining play of the game. A 30-yard strike by Warner was hauled in by an even more impressive endzone catch by Proehl for the game-winning touchdown – Proehl’s only score of the season.

Proehl finished the game with six catches for 100 yards and the game’s lone touchdown. On a roster full of superstars, No. 87 shined bright. Proehl punched the Rams’ ticket to the Super Bowl. Seven days later, Proehl was a world champion.

Proehl’s iconic moments didn’t end there. In Super Bowl XXXVI, Proehl caught a game-tying touchdown with 1:30 remaining in the game. Unfortunately, that ended in a Rams defeat to the Patriots, 20-17. In Super Bowl XXXVIII as a member of the Carolina Panthers, Proehl caught a game-tying touchdown pass with 1:08 remaining. Again, Proehl would fall victim to the Patriots on another last-second field goal.

Proehl played 16 years in the league, five of which he spent with the Rams. An unselfish player, Proehl’s play directly resulted in a championship and an unprecedented era of success for the Rams. Without Proehl, there is no Greatest Show on Turf. Without Proehl, there is no title. Without Proehl, the narrative on those great Rams teams is completely different.

Proehl would play once again in the Super Bowl and would end his playing career as a champion. Despite being retired, he was called into service by the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. As a member of Colts, Proehl’s and Tony Dungy’s paths would cross once again. Now on the same side, they would win Super Bowl XLI together.

In retirement, Proehl got into coaching and player development. He spent six years with the Panthers as an offensive assistant and then as wide receivers coach. He helped the Panthers reach Super Bowl 50.

Proehl has since returned to St. Louis as the wide receivers coach for the XFL’s Battlehawks. His son Austin was a wide receiver on the team and both were in action when the Battlehawks broke the record for home attendance in a spring football game.

Proehl also owns his own sports performance center titled Proehlific Park.

He’s always been a man on a mission to make it happen. Whether he was operating as a teammate, coach, trainer or playmaker, football is in blood and it showed by what he did on the field.