| News |
|---|
|
Matthew Stafford Matthew Stafford Extension or trade both possible
Fri, Feb 21, 2025, 3:37 PM
The Rams hope to reach a contract agreement with Stafford (ribs) but may try to trade him if the two sides can't agree on numbers, Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire reports.
Analysis: NFL Network's Tom Telissero reported Friday that the Rams recently gave Stafford's agent permission to talk with other teams to help assess the QB's value. The idea, it would seem, is for the Rams to figure out if they're willing to pay Stafford as much as another team would, which can move negotiations forward (or not). His contract was also an issue last offseason, when Stafford had three years remaining without any guaranteed money. The Rams adjusted his contract in July, but now they have a similar situation at hand, with Stafford scheduled to make $27 million and $31 million for the final two years of his contract. Those figures are way below market value for a competent starting QB, but that's partially because Stafford received a huge signing bonus in 2022 and a restructure bonus in 2024, which is reflected in his cap hits for the next two seasons ($49.7 million and $53.7 million). An extension would allow the Rams to lower those cap hits while making Stafford happy, but it would also mean adding to the eventual dead-money cap charge when he's retired or released. Stafford turned 37 earlier in February, and right now it's not clear he'll be back in Los Angeles for 2025. |
|
Cooper Kupp Cooper Kupp Says team plans to trade him
Mon, Feb 3, 2025, 6:39 PM
Kupp announced Monday evening that the Rams informed him they will be looking to trade him in the immediate future.
Analysis: "I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships," Kupp wrote Monday. "I don't agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA." He said after the Rams' divisional-round loss to the Eagles that he planned to continue his playing career, but it always felt like it was headed this direction, with the Rams and Kupp parting ways. Kupp turns 32 years old in June and is coming off an extremely slow finish to the 2024 season, one in which he was clearly overtaken as the Rams' WR1 by Puka Nacua. Kupp has two years left on his current contract, one that is set to pay him $12.5 million and $14.85 million salaries the next two seasons. It may be a difficult contract to move, but the acquiring team would likely look to restructure Kupp's deal. The Rams may envision Jordan Whittington as Kupp's much cheaper replacement out of the slot. |
|
Xavier Smith Xavier Smith Used primarily as return man
Fri, Jan 31, 2025, 1:59 PM
Smith caught two passes for six yards, rushed twice for 30 yards and logged 155 yards as a kick returner and 178 yards as a punt returner during the 2024 regular season.
Analysis: After spending all of 2023 on the practice squad, the Rams brought Smith on to serve as a return specialist, and he accrued a total of 333 yards in the role. Smith is under contract with the Rams for one more season, and with Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell and Tyler Johnson all unrestricted free agents, a more expanded role may be in the cards for Smith in 2025. |
|
Tyler Johnson Tyler Johnson Modest numbers as a backup
Fri, Jan 31, 2025, 1:58 PM
Johnson caught 26 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown during the 2024 regular season.
Analysis: Given the Rams' injury woes for much of the season, Johnson's second season with the team bore more fruit, as he was on the field for 345 snaps on offense and held his own when pressed into significant action, including a 5-79-0 line in the Week 1 opener against the Lions. The Rams have a lot of questions in the offseason at wide receiver, with Cooper Kupp a candidate for trade or release and Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell and Johnson all unrestricted free agents, but Johnson's budding role may entice the Rams to give him another shot to work alongside Puka Nacua, Jordan Whittington and Xavier Smith. |
|
Jimmy Garoppolo Jimmy Garoppolo Logs single start in backup role
Fri, Jan 31, 2025, 1:57 PM
Garoppolo completed 24 of 41 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and an interception during the 2024 regular season, adding two rushing attempts for five yards.
Analysis: In his lone appearance of the season Week 18, Garoppolo showcased his abilities to potential suitors and performed well, completing touchdown passes to Tyler Higbee and Tyler Johnson with mostly backups on the field for the Rams. Head coach Sean McVay may be inclined to bring the 31-year-old Garoppolo, an unrestricted free agent, back for another round as the primary backup to Matthew Stafford if the price is right, as third-stringer Stetson Bennett has yet to take a snap in a regular-season game and had a miserable preseason with five interceptions and a lost fumble over two starts. |
|
Matthew Stafford Matthew Stafford Had cracked ribs
Thu, Jan 23, 2025, 9:31 AM
Stafford played through four cracked ribs from Week 15 onward, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.
Analysis: Stafford sustained the injury in Week 15 against the 49ers but continued to play without missing a beat, though he was rested along with other key Rams starters in the Week 18 regular-season finale. He aggravated the injury early in the 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles but didn't miss a snap. Stafford said after the loss to Philadelphia that "it sure feels like" he has more football left in him, per Nick Shook of NFL.com. Retirement doesn't seem to be on the 36-year-old quarterback's mind, and assuming he plans to resume his NFL career, Stafford will have plenty of time for his ribs to heal in the offseason. |
|
Cooper Kupp Cooper Kupp Plans to continue playing career
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 6:47 PM
Kupp said Monday that he plans to continue his playing career next season but admitted he's not sure if it will be with the Rams, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: "I feel like I've got a lot of good football left in me," Kupp said. "I'll be playing football next year. That much I know. ... I don't have any clarity on what that's going to look like or anything like that. So yeah, obviously would love to be in L.A., but I don't know what that's going to look like." Kupp turns 32 years old in June and is coming off a slow finish to the 2024 season, as he ceded the clear WR1 role to Puka Nacua. Kupp is under contract through 2026, but the Rams could opt to cut him before a $5 million roster bonus is due in March. Designating Kupp as a post-June 1 cut would clear $15 million in cap space and leave behind $14.78 million in dead money. If he's not designated as a post-June 1 cut, the Rams would eat $22.26 million in dead cap hit, clearing just $7.52 million. In pure cash terms, releasing Kupp saves Los Angeles $15 million. If the Rams opt to move on from Kupp, Jordan Whittington makes for a natural in-house replacement out of the slot. |
|
Davis Allen Davis Allen Held without a catch
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 6:39 PM
Allen played seven snaps on offense and 13 snaps on special teams during Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles.
Analysis: The second-year tight end never got going during the 2024 campaign, managing just six catches for 39 yards despite increasing his number of snaps on offense from 182 in his rookie year to 292. Colby Parkinson, who was brought in to act as the starter, eventually slid into a timeshare with Allen and Hunter Long, before Tyler Higbee returned from ACL and MCL injuries to take over as the starter for the final few games of the season. Long is an unrestricted free agent, which will leave Allen and Parkinson vying for the backup role behind Higbee in 2025. |
|
Quintez Cephus Quintez Cephus Inks futures deal with Rams
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 6:35 PM
The Rams signed Cephus to a reserve/future contract Monday, Stu Jackson of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Cephus signed with the Rams' practice squad Sept. 18 after he failed to make the Texans' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. The 2020 fifth-round pick was not elevated to the Rams' active roster during the regular season or playoffs, but by signing a futures deal he'll have a spot on the 90-man roster when the new league year starts March 12. Cephus will have the opportunity to participate in OTAs and minicamp during the offseason and put himself in a position to earn a spot on the active roster for the 2025 campaign following training camp. |
|
Drake Stoops Drake Stoops Staying in LA
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 6:25 PM
The Rams signed Stoops to a reserve/future contract Monday, Stu Jackson of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Stoops signed with the Rams in early May as an undrafted free agent. The Oklahoma product spent the entire 2024 regular season on the Rams' practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp, but he wasn't elevated for a single contest. By signing a futures contract, Stoops will be on the Rams' 90-man roster when the new league year begins March 12, and he'll work with coaches during OTAs, minicamp and training camp in the hopes of earning a roster spot for the 2025 campaign. |
|
Hunter Long Hunter Long Held without a catch
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 6:17 PM
Long played six snaps on offense and 24 snaps on special teams during Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles.
Analysis: Long's tenure with the Rams was mostly forgettable, and his stat line during the divisional-round loss echoed his stats for the majority of the regular season. Despite entering a timeshare with Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen for much of the season, Long managed only seven catches for 60 yards despite playing in all 17 regular-season contests. The Rams have significant investments in Tyler Higbee and Parkinson for 2025, and with Allen still on his rookie contract, Long looks to be the odd man out as he becomes an unrestricted free agent. |
|
Colby Parkinson Colby Parkinson Scores TD in limited action
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 6:11 PM
Parkinson secured both of his targets for nine yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles.
Analysis: Outside of his four-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter, it was another forgettable performance for the veteran tight end. The four snaps that Parkinson played in the divisional round was the least of any of the Rams' tight ends, and the first year of his three year, $22.5 million dollar contract with the Rams has turned out to be mostly a bust. Signed to be the starter while Tyler Higbee recovered from a torn ACL and MCL, Parkinson didn't hold the starting job long, slipping into a three-way timeshare with Davis Allen and Hunter Long before Higbee's return made it a four-way split in snaps. Parkinson finished the season with a modest 30-294-1 receiving line and will almost certainly fall behind Higbee on the depth chart to begin the 2025 campaign. |
|
Jordan Whittington Jordan Whittington Earns 11 snaps on offense
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 3:04 PM
Whittington secured his only target for 12 yards during Sunday's 28-22 divisional round loss to the Eagles.
Analysis: Notably, Whittington easily outpaced fellow backup Tutu Atwell, who only recorded two snaps on offense, in playing time. The sixth-round rookie carved out a small role on offense in the 2024 campaign, putting up a 22-293-0 receiving line while tacking on a pair of rushing attempts for 12 yards. Whittington's role may increase in 2025, as both Demarcus Robinson and the aforementioned Atwell are unrestricted free agents, and Whittington's production when pressed into the starting lineup was solid, including seven catches for 89 yards in a Week 5 loss to Green Bay. |
|
Tutu Atwell Tutu Atwell Only two snaps in defeat
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 2:59 PM
Atwell secured his only target for 18 yards during Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles.
Analysis: The two snaps on offense actually doubled his number from the wild-card round, and Atwell's 18-yard catch in the fourth quarter led to a Colby Parkinson touchdown. Despite a career-high 42 receptions and 562 receiving yards, Atwell failed to record a touchdown and saw his role reduced significantly once Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp returned to the lineup from injury. Atwell, along with teammate Demarcus Robinson, are unrestricted free agents heading into the offseason, and the Rams will have a decision to make on bringing one or both of them back or relying on Nacua, Kupp and rookie Jordan Whittington to anchor their wide receiver room in 2025. |
|
Demarcus Robinson Demarcus Robinson Second on team in receiving yards
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 2:43 PM
Robinson secured three of seven targets for 74 yards in Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles.
Analysis: The veteran wideout was able to make a huge play in the first quarter, ripping a deep ball from Matthew Stafford out of the hands of cornerback Isaiah Rodgers for a 48-yard gain that led to a Joshua Karty field goal. It was a tale of two halves of the season for Robinson, as the majority of his career-high 505 receiving yards (on just 31 catches) came between Weeks 1 and 9. A second-half swoon saw four consecutive games where he was held without a catch, a troubling trend for Robinson, who enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. |
|
Ronnie Rivers Ronnie Rivers Blanked in playoff loss
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 2:29 PM
Rivers played all 16 of his snaps on special teams in Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles.
Analysis: Head coach Sean McVay didn't deviate from starting running back Kyren Williams at all on Sunday, leaving him in for all 71 snaps on offense. On the season, Rivers compiled 22 rushing attempts for 99 yards and tacked on five catches for 34 yards, and he's set to become a restricted free agent in the offseason. Rookie Blake Corum (forearm) established himself as the backup to Williams by season's end, but Rivers has a key role on special teams, which may entice the Rams into bringing him back in 2025. |
|
Tyler Higbee Tyler Higbee Stands out in playoff loss
Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 5:38 PM
Higbee caught seven of 10 targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles.
Analysis: Higbee continued his strong postseason with a four-yard touchdown catch on the first Rams possession, and he ultimately led the team in catches in the season-ending loss while finishing second in targets behind Puka Nacua (14). The veteran tight end didn't make his season debut until Week 16 after tearing his ACL during last season's playoffs, but Higbee proved that he still has some gas left in the tank at age 32 by racking up 12 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown across two playoff games. He should be back for the final year of his contract with the Rams in 2025. |
|
Matthew Stafford Matthew Stafford Season-high 324 yards not enough
Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 5:37 PM
Stafford completed 26 of 44 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles. He added two rushing attempts for five yards and fumbled twice, losing one.
Analysis: Stafford connected with Tyler Higbee for a four-yard touchdown on the Rams' first drive, then set up a field goal in the second quarter with a 48-yard deep ball to Demarcus Robinson. Both offenses slowed down for a while after that as the snow started coming down, and Stafford had the Rams' second lost fumble in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter as the Eagles built a 28-15 lead before Stafford responded with a four-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 2:48 left. Los Angeles got the ball back just 25 seconds later, and Stafford drove the team down to the 13-yard line before a sack and incomplete pass ensured the comeback bid came up short. Stafford exceeded his previous single-game season high in passing yards Sunday, but his campaign still came to an end after he posted 3,762 yards and a 20:8 TD:INT in the regular season and added 533 passing yards with a 4:0 TD:INT in the postseason. Barring the scenario of Stafford deciding to retire, he'll be back in Los Angeles for his age-37 season in 2025. |
|
Cooper Kupp Cooper Kupp Five catches in playoff defeat
Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 5:35 PM
Kupp caught five of seven targets for 61 yards in Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles.
Analysis: Kupp's 30-yard catch in the third quarter exceeded his receiving yardage total from each of the previous four games, but his season-ending touchdown drought reached five games as the Rams were knocked out of the playoffs. There is a potential out in Kupp's contract prior to the 2025 season, and the Rams will have to consider using it rather than bringing the veteran wide receiver back for his age-32 season at a $29.78 million cap hit given Kupp's poor finish to the campaign. Kupp caught 67 of 100 targets for 710 yards and six touchdowns in 12 regular-season appearances but added only six catches for 90 yards in two playoff games. |
|
Kyren Williams Kyren Williams Costly fumble in playoff exit
Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 5:33 PM
Williams rushed 19 times for 106 yards and caught one of two targets for minus-1 yard in Sunday's 28-22 NFC divisional-round loss to the Eagles. He also lost a fumble.
Analysis: Williams set the tone early by picking up a fourth-and-1 from Philadelphia's 10-yard line with a four-yard run on the opening drive to set up a Tyler Higbee touchdown catch three plays later. The standout running back added a 30-yard run in the third quarter to set up a Joshua Karty field goal that tied the game at 13-13, but Williams lost a critical fumble with the Rams driving for a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, kicking off a run of 12 consecutive Eagles points that proved too much for LA to overcome. Williams is scheduled to play the final season of his four-year rookie contract in 2025, but the 2022 fifth-round draft pick is an offseason extension candidate after racking up 2,831 scrimmage yards and 31 total touchdowns across the last two regular seasons. |
Connect With Us:
