This second year player is in line for a big-time promotion

Jordan Whittington should have a starting job in 2025… if he isn’t leapfrogged this offseason

When the dust settles on the separation between Cooper Kupp and the Los Angeles Rams, LA will be left with a small and young wide receiver room.

The Rams can bank on the star power of Puka Nacua after two dominant seasons in the NFL. Who will start at receiver next to Nacua remains a significant question; however, second-year receiver Jordan Whittington seems in line for a big-time promotion in 2025.

Blaine Grisak: What could the Rams wide receiver room look like in 2025?

Impressive despite a limited role

It’s not common for a rookie receiver to accumulate 13 catches for 151 in a stretch of two games before Week 7 and then be effectively sidelined for the remainder of the season, but that’s exactly what happened with Whittington.

While Kupp and Nacua were absent because of injury, the Rams simply had no choice but to feed the ball to their sixth round wideout. He rewarded their faith with strong games against the Chicago Bears in Week 4 and the following week versus the Green Bay Packers. His next reception didn’t come until after Christmas.

When the Rams rested their starters in the regular season finale against the Seattle Seahawks, Whittington once again was one of LA’s most productive pass catchers. He caught three receptions from Jimmy Garoppolo for 86 yards, including a long catch and run of 50 yards.

The bottom line is that when Whittington was given the opportunity, he seemed to step up and make the most of his chance.

A clouded path forward

Can the Rams trust Whittington to maintain his effectiveness in a larger role, or was he simply productive out of necessity early last season when there was really no one else healthy enough to catch passes?

Another complicating is the fact that LA needs bodies at the receiver position. It’s certain there will be additions made over the course of the offseason, but how significant these acquisitions are could hint towards how confident the Rams are in Whittington.

If we see the team have rumored interest in the biggest names on the market—like Tee Higgins and Garrett Wilson—we shouldn’t get our hopes up for Whittington to have a significantly expanded role in 2025. However, if LA is measured and signs a veteran in the later stages of free agency and/or chooses to rebuild the receiver room through the draft, it may be safe to read between the lines and assume he’s in line for a lot of work next season.

Whittington has seemingly earned the right to enter 2025 as a starter. Whether the Rams give him that opportunity remains to be seen.