Welcome to 32 teams in 32 days. To get us through the offseason, we’ll be taking a closer look at every team in the league, in order of projected 2023 win totals. Up next: the Rams.
It’s tough to tell what the Rams are striving for in 2023 after tearing down the roster around quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Aaron Donald.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports (left, right); Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports (center)
There could be a case to be made that the Rams are planning on tanking after parting with many starters from last year’s disappointing 5–12 team. But on the other hand, not many teams can say they have a core trio as talented as Stafford, Kupp and Donald—and that group, when healthy, can certainly lead a team to at least five wins, which might take Los Angeles out of the race for college quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
It’s also tough seeing Rams coach Sean McVay putting his TV analyst aspirations on hold for a long-term rebuild project. Perhaps L.A. is thinking of a quick fix, by repairing the salary cap this year to make a splash next offseason, which would mean taking its lumps this season.
But if the Rams find themselves out of the playoff race before Halloween with an aging trio, they might make draft positioning their top priority. Los Angeles currently has a first-round selection next year, something it hasn’t had since taking Jared Goff at No. 1 in 2016.
Before the Rams can focus on the 2024 draft, they’ll need to make it through the ’23 season. And it might be a long one, considering their many roster holes, especially on the defensive side.
Biggest gamble this offseason: Parting with defensive starters
Donald will be surrounded by many inexperienced players after the team said goodbye to cornerback Jalen Ramsey, linebacker Bobby Wagner and edge rusher Leonard Floyd. Donald is seen as a football superhero with what he can do on the field, even with two or three players attempting to block him. But with a defensive roster that’s filled with unfamiliar names to the average football fan, it could be a long season for the defensive tackle—and you can’t help but wonder whether the Rams would consider trading him if the season quickly gets out of hand. Donald, a generational great, probably won’t complain about playing with rookies and undrafted free agents, especially after winning the Super Bowl in 2021 and making more than $30 million this season, but he might get tested if this starting unit ends up being the worst defense in the league.
Toughest stretch of the season: Weeks 1 to 5
The NFL schedule-makers didn’t care about the Rams parting with several starters in a potential rebuild year, giving them a brutal first five weeks to the 2023 season. McVay’s squad opens the season against the two best teams in the NFC West, starting in Seattle against the Seahawks and Wagner, who left Los Angeles to return to his former team. That’s followed by a Week 2 matchup at home against the 49ers—and it’s looking like the McVay–Kyle Shanahan rivalry might be lopsided this season. The Rams do have a winnable game in Indianapolis in Week 4, but that’s before a road matchup against the Bengals and followed by a home game vs. the Eagles. If the Rams are staring at an 0–5 or 1–4 record, they might not be looking to win vs. the Cardinals in Week 6, given that game could have draft implications down the line.
Breakout player to watch: CB Cobie Durant
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports
Unfortunately, Durant doesn’t play on the defensive line to help Donald, but the Rams have high hopes for him in the secondary after he flashed as a rookie. Durant, a 2022 fourth-round pick, earned respect from the coaching staff by quickling grasping the position of slot cornerback. He’s a bit undersized at 5'11" and 180 pounds, but he proved last season he’s capable of a bigger role and could make the move to outside cornerback this season. The ball hawk also had three interceptions in ’22 and returned one for an 85-yard touchdown.
Position of strength: Wide receiver
There’s probably not a position of strength on this roster, but the Rams do have Kupp and a few promising players at wide receiver. Kupp was on pace for another dominant season, but an ankle injury forced him to miss the final eight games last season. A quality No. 2 target, Van Jefferson caught the memorable game-winning touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield vs. the Raiders on a Thursday night last season, but he’s been inconsistent throughout his career. Ben Skowronek does the dirty work in the blocking game, and maybe this is the year Tutu Atwell finds his footing as a downfield threat.
Position of weakness: Edge rusher
The Rams’ top edge rushers on the depth chart are Byron Young, a rookie third-round pick, and Michael Hoecht, a 2020 undrafted free agent who started last season as an interior defensive lineman. But Hoecht’s play on the outside was one of the few bright spots for the Rams last season: He recorded 4.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits in six starts. Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will need Hoecht to continue improving, and Young to make an immediate impact, or it might be another season of Donald doing most of the work among the pass rushers. Offensive line could have also been mentioned here, but the unit might be in decent shape with the second-round draft selection of guard Steve Avila and the return of second-year guard Logan Bruss, who missed all of his rookie season with a torn ACL and MCL.
X-factor: RB Cam Akers
Akers had a roller-coaster 2022 season. After a slow start, he was sent home for nearly a month due to coaching differences with McVay, and was later welcomed back after the team failed to trade him before the deadline. The running back, however, made the most of his second opportunity by ending the season with three consecutive games of at least 100 rushing yards. The Rams are at their best offensively when Akers sustains a rhythm in the backfield. With him entering the final year of his rookie deal, Akers will be motivated to deliver a career season, but he’ll also need to create holes for himself at times. The Rams’ offensive line was a mess last season due to injuries.
Sleeper fantasy pick: WR Van Jefferson
Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports
The Rams traded away Allen Robinson and didn’t make any splash adds at wide receiver in free agency or the draft. That leaves Jefferson to be the No. 2 wideout in the passing game behind, of course, Cooper Kupp. He’ll be worth a late-round flier in many redrafts. —Michael Fabiano, SI Fantasy
Best bet: Cooper Kupp will go over 1250.5 receiving yards
Kupp averaged 90.2 yards per game in 2022, even with poor play from Stafford. If he misses three games, he still eclipses this mark. Before his injury last season, he commanded a whopping 31.3% target share. Expect more of the same. —Jennifer Piacenti, SI Betting
