Which free agents should Rams bring back in 2025?

Heading into the 2025 offseason, the Los Angeles Rams are set to have $35.7-million in effective cap space. With a couple of moves, that could be close to $50-million. While the Rams would like to save some of that for outside free agents, they will need to decide which of their own players they would like to bring back. They currently have 19 players set to be free agents. Below is what they should do with each of those 19 players.

OT Alaric Jackson – UFA

What the Rams decide to do with Alaric Jackson is going to be a significant turning point in their offseason. If Jackson is not brought back, they would need to spend on the position in free agency or take a left tackle with the 26th overall pick. However, by locking up Jackson for the next three years, they can focus on other positions of need.

When it comes to Jackson, the Rams are going to have a price. If they can bring him back for the Jonah Williams contract which is $15-million per year, the Rams will likely do that. They may even go up to around $18-million. With that said, the Rams front office is going to have a number in mind and likely will not go above that number. At the end of the day, while Jackson has proven himself as a starting quality left tackle, he has never played all 17 games in a season. He also graded as the 15th-best left tackle according to PFF. That doesn’t mean the Rams shouldn’t pay him, but he also shouldn’t get a top-five left tackle contract over $20-million.

• Spotrac Market Value: 3 years, $47.86-million, Avg. Salary: $15.95-million
• PFF Market Value: 4 years, $58-million, Avg. Salary: $14.5-million

Conclusion: Bring back at right price

WR Tutu Atwell – UFA

There is a case to be made that the Rams should bring Tutu Atwell back in 2025. He’s familiar with the offense and when he’s gotten opportunities, he’s produced. Among players who ran at least 200 routes last season, Atwell ranked 20th in yards per route run. However, it’s very clear that these two sides just need to go their separate ways. It’s time.

The Atwell pick didn’t make a lot of sense at the time in 2021. Four years later, it’s hard to see where he fits in the offense. Atwell will be able to go to another team and be a very solid third wide receiver in a rotation. If a team can use him and take advantage of his skillset, there is potential for him to be a good value free agent.

• Spotrac Market Value: 1 year, $4.05-million

Conclusion: Time to move on

EDGE Michael Hoecht – UFA

A year ago, many would have gladly moved on from Michael Hoecht without a second thought. Fast forward to this offseason, and he is arguably a priority free agent that needs to be brought back. Hoecht’s athleticism allows him to be a bit of a Swiss Army knife in the defense. He can be a stand-up edge rusher or line up as the ‘joker’ in an inside linebacker position. The Rams can also line him up as a defensive lineman in a loaded front to one side. He also has the ability to drop into coverage.

Hoecht has value on this defense and has also become a core special teams player. In the case that the Rams do move on from Hoecht, it’s hard to see who they add to fill that role on defense. He’s such a unique player and what he does isn’t necessarily replicable. Still, he is 27-years old and is more of a rotational player than someone who should be featured. Depending on how the Rams feel about Brennan Jackson may affect their decision to bring back Hoecht.

Conclusion: Bring back

OT Joe Noteboom – UFA

Much like Atwell, it is time to move on from Joe Noteboom. An argument can be made that the Rams should have moved on from his contract two years ago and most certainly last year. This is arguably the worst contract that the Rams have put together under Les Snead. While Noteboom will be off the roster, due to void years added to the contract last season, the Rams will be responsible for $10-million next year and another $5-million in 2026.

Since signing his three-year, $40-million extension in 2022, Noteboom has started just 18 games out of a possible 44. He’s played in 24 of those games while spending many of those injured or as a backup. When he has played, a lot of times it hasn’t looked very good. To say it’s time to move on would be an understatement.

Conclusion: Move on

WR Demarcus Robinson – UFA

Robinson is an interesting one, but if the Rams are going to re-build the wide receiver room, it probably makes the most sense to move on. Robinson’s efficiency just wasn’t where it needed to be in 2024. When Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp went out, his production didn’t increase. Down the stretch, he caught just seven of his 21 targets and had a catch rate over expected of -6.7 percent.

There is no doubt that Robinson outplayed his contract. At the same time, he’s much better as a WR3 than as a WR2, which is what the Rams have expected him to be at times. The Rams can upgrade here with a similarly priced free agent or a rookie.

• Spotrac Market Value: 1 year, $3.02-million

Conclusion: Move on

QB Jimmy Garoppolo – UFA

The Rams invested in the backup quarterback position this offseason. While they didn’t need Garoppolo, he played well in his lone performance in Week 18. At the very least, he showed that he can operate a version of the offense and put the team in position to win. If the Rams were to lose Stafford for a game or two, that’s exactly what they would need.

This year’s quarterback class isn’t strong. Taking someone like Jaxson Dart would feel like drafting a quarterback for the sake of it. Kyle McCord would be a good fit, but that would also be relying on a rookie to be the backup. The best option here would be to bring Garoppolo back and keep an experienced player behind Stafford.

• Spotrac Market Value: 1 year, $3.02-million

Conclusion: Re-Sign

LB Christian Rozeboom – UFA

It’s possible that the Rams could bring back Christian Rozeboom because of his experience. When he played next to Omar Speights, he performed well. From Weeks 9-17, Rozeboom ranked seventh in coverage and 12th in passer rating allowed. However, when he did allow a reception, it was typically down the field for a big gain and too many times got blown up in the run game.

With the way that the Rams have approached the linebacker position, they could quietly move on to the next guy. Whether that player is in the draft or an undrafted free agent from last season, they have gone with the ‘next man up’ approach at the position. The Rams may look to upgrade here and even if Rozeboom is brought back, it’s hard to see him starting.

Conclusion: Move on

WR Tyler Johnson – UFA

Again, if the Rams are going to re-build their wide receiver room, it’s going to look a lot different than it did last season. At the same time, it makes sense to keep a veteran player as depth. While that player may not be Robinson, Johnson is someone who made an impact in limited action. Johnson had a higher catch rate, more yards after the catch per reception, and more yards per route than Robinson.

Johnson is just 26 years old and shouldn’t be too expensive to retain. Keeping him as depth and a fourth wide receiver on the depth chart makes a lot of sense. He’s shown to be someone that can be relied on situationally.

Conclusion: Re-Sign

CB Ahkello Witherspoon – UFA

There are several interesting decisions that the Rams will have to make this offseason. Whether or not to keep Ahkello Witherspoon will be one of them. There’s no doubt that Witherspoon was an improvement over Tre’Davious White. At the same time, he had a 23.1 percent missed tackle rate which was the seventh-highest in the NFL.

Witherspoon is an average cornerback who is good to have as depth that can slot in if needed. He tends to take bad angles in coverage and misjudge the ball in the air, especially on vertical routes. The Rams claimed Emmanuel Forbes off of waivers. In order to give him a chance, there isn’t a spot for Witherspoon. If the Rams need Witherspoon again next season and he is available like he was this year, he may be someone that they call.

Conclusion: Move on

DL Bobby Brown III – UFA

Bobby Brown III is likely going to have a market at just 24 years old. While the Rams would like to have him back, they also really like Tyler Davis. Davis may not have the same upside as a pass-rusher, but he got a lot of reps as a rookie. The Rams may promote Davis into a larger role next season while selecting a rotational defensive lineman in the draft.

We’ll see what ends up happening here, but this is how the Rams have typically handled defensive linemen that aren’t featured pieces. Greg Gaines and Sebastian Joseph-Day each moved on to other teams. The same may happen with Brown, and that spot may be Atlanta with Raheem Morris.

Conclusion: Move on

Others to Move on From During Offseason

• S John Johnson III – UDFA
• TE Hunter Long – UDFA
• OL Conor McDermott – UFA
• DL Larrell Murchison – UFA
• LB Troy Reeder – UFA
• RB Ronnie Rivers – RFA

John Johnson III and Hunter Long may be the only real surprises here. Johnson III has been a veteran presence in the secondary but spent most of last season injured.

At tight end, this is another room that could look much different in 2024. Long was a player included in the Jalen Ramsey trade. He’s had some impact as a blocker and on special teams. However, it is a role that is replaceable.

Others to Bring Back

• LB Jake Hummel – RFA
• DL Neville Gallimore – UFA
• C Dylan McMahon – ERFA

Hummel and McMahon are both restricted free agents. They won’t cost much to bring back and are good depth players. With Rozeboom gone, the Rams could look to Hummel at linebacker next year.

The only unrestricted free agent on this list is Neville Gallimore. The Rams brought back Larrell Murchison last year, but he spent most of the year hurt. Gallimore stepped into that role and played as a rotational run-stopping defensive lineman. It’s possible that he’s not brought back, but he’s a good veteran player to have in the rotation at a cheap price.