Rams bold predictions: Offseason edition

What bold moves will the Rams make in 2025?

In just a blink of an eye we are back to the offseason and there are plenty of Rams headlines already thanks to Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford. What bold moves can we expect in 2025?

Matthew Stafford signs a multi-year deal with the Rams

Trade rumors are once again circulating the headlines in regards to Matthew Stafford’s future with the Rams after a comment from Peter Schrager on Pro Football Network questioned what uniform he would be wearing next season.

“I don’t think Stafford’s retiring, but I think there’s a chance he might wear another uniform in the near future, based on what the tea leaves are saying.”

Kelly Stafford’s blurry photo and accompanied post did not help quiet speculation either.

This wouldn’t be the first time Stafford was brought up in a trade scenario with the most recent rumors happening in-season after a slow start. Despite what may have been said behind closed doors LA’s Super Bowl winning quarterback willed his team back to contention and fell just 14-yards short of a NFC Championship game. Last offseason was the same story and yet Stafford still found himself in a Rams uniform.

I believe much will be the same this offseason and predict that Stafford will end up signing a three-year deal that will allow him to a retire as a Ram. The rumors surrounding Stafford have been exhausting and Les Snead will make it his goal to show his commitment to the Pro Bowl quarterback with a contract that everyone is happy with. Stafford has plenty of football left in him despite celebrating his 37th birthday this month and has a chance with a few more tools surrounding him to make another Super Bowl run with Los Angeles.

Snead goes for a running back with his first round pick

The depth chart is much further along than it was going into the 2024 NFL draft after losing Aaron Donald in the offseason. The defense for the most part has been revamped with young talent captured in the last two drafts but there is some work left to do to on the offensive side of the ball. Last year Snead did all he could to land the top tight end, Brock Bowers, but failed to get ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders which would lead one to believe that he would once again go after one of the top tight end prospects this year.

After seeing Kyren Williams struggle to secure the ball and break off explosives this season, the Rams’ tenured General Manager may look for an upgrade at the running back position over a pass-catcher in the first round.

If Williams’ struggles weren’t enough to change course, then the Super Bowl may have been the last straw. The Kansas City Chiefs were blown-out by a run-first offense and the league’s top defense. Saquon Barkley had one of the greatest seasons by a running back in recent memory after famously getting traded by the New York Giants in favor of Daniel Jones.

Williams hasn’t been bad for the Rams by any measure. He is a for-sure option at the goal line and is one of the best pass-blockers in the league, however it is his lack of speed that has hampered his explosiveness in the run game and is something LA’s offense is missing. If Snead has the opportunity to land one of the top running-back prospects in the first round (Ashton Jeanty from Boise State or Omarion Hampton from North Carolina) I believe he will pull the trigger. Williams and Blake Corum make wonderful third-down and short-yardage RB’s but watching what Barkley did this season has given this team a new blueprint to copy.

LA lands one of the top WR free agents

Unless by some miracle Cooper Kupp doesn’t get traded away and works out a deal to stay on the team, in all likelihood the Rams will need to revamp their wide receiver room this offseason. A part from Kupp, they will also be loosing Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell unless a deal is made to keep them on the team for another year. Puka Nacua has quickly risen as the Rams top-option at receiver but pairing him with an elite talent will only improve what he can do on the field.

Tee Higgins headlines the available free agent receivers with Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, and DeAndre Hopkins rounding out the top-5. Diggs will likely be asking for too much and Hopkins may be a little worn down entering his 13th year in the league, but the others would make a huge impact in a receiver room that is a bit underwhelming at the moment.

Higgins should be their main focus to land as he is just entering his sixth year in the league and will be looking for a long-term deal. With Nacua and Jordan Whittington still on their rookie contracts Snead may be willing to shell out $20+ million a year to land an elite receiver.

If it is Higgins or one of the other top prospects, I believe Snead will be able to land one of the game-changing talents this offseason.