With OTAs set to begin, here are five key Rams storylines to follow
The Los Angeles Rams will have three weeks of Organized Team Activities prior to the start of minicamp and eventually training camp in the summer. This part of the offseason is when the Rams will begin installing their new ideas for 2025 which is extremely important to the process. This is a team looking to contend. Getting things right at this point in the offseason will go a long way in the team’s performance in the early portion of the season.
1. When will the Rams trade for Jalen Ramsey?
Until Jalen Ramsey is traded from the Miami Dolphins, there is going to be a lot of speculation on the cornerback joining the Rams. The Rams are the team that makes the most sense and during the draft general manager Les Snead noted that there have already been discussions.
From a financial standpoint, it makes the most sense for a trade to happen after June 1. There could be other teams involved which may inflate Ramsey’s price. However, if Ramsey has a say, it wouldn’t be surprising if he pushes for a move to Los Angeles. The sooner that the Rams are able to get this done the better. Ramsey is at a point where he doesn’t necessarily need OTAs, but having him for minicamp would be beneficial.
2. What does the connection between Davante Adams and Matthew Stafford look like?
This is a very important part of the offseason when it comes to the connection between Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams. If Stafford can build a level of trust with Adams now, that will carry over into the rest of the summer and therefore the season. Throughout his tenure with the Rams, Stafford has tended to dial-in on his favorites. In 2021, it was Cooper Kupp which led to him ignoring or forcing targets to Robert Woods. After the team signed Allen Robinson in 2022, he was traded as he and Stafford never got on the same page. Puka Nacua has been that player in 2023 and 2024.
It’s very important during this initial phase of the offseason for Stafford and Adams to begin building a connection that is more than just back corner fades in the red zone. That’s something that Adams can certainly help unlock. However, for Adams to be successful with the Rams, he and Stafford need to be on the same page in every aspect of the passing game.
3. How does the offense evolve in 2025?
It became very clear towards the end of last season that the offense needed to evolve in some aspect heading into 2025. The offense became less explosive and at times felt hard. From Weeks 10-17 last year, Matthew Stafford’s average depth of target was 7.7 yards down the field. That ranked 21st among qualifying passers. His yards per pass attempt also ranked 14th. Stafford remained efficient, but it was harder to get the ball downfield by passing. While Kyren Williams ranked 11th in yards per carry, his explosive run percentage was just 2.6 percent. Again, it remained efficient, but not explosive.
There has been some speculation that the Rams could look to use more 12 personnel. That’s especially the case after the team drafted Terrance Ferguson in the second round. They also surprisingly brought back Tutu Atwell and also drafted Jarquez Hunter. What ideas has McVay been drawing up this offseason to have a more explosive unit in 2025?
4. Who starts the offseason at linebacker?
Ideally, most would like to see Chris Paul Jr. and Omar Speights at linebacker to start OTAs with Shaun Dolac rotating in. With that said, that is probably not a likely combination to begin the offseason program. The Rams signed Nate Landman in free agency and also have Speights from last year. They also brought back Troy Reeder. Those three may start the offseason as the primary rotation. That could very likely change, but it wouldn’t be surprising if that’s how the rotation starts.
If Paul can prove that he can handle the defensive workload next to Speights or behind Landman, he may begin to work in more as the offseason progresses. At the end of the day, this is going to be a position group that many are watching throughout the summer. The Rams improved on the defensive line, but it’s still up to the linebackers to fill the gaps behind them. That is something that they struggled with at times last year.
5. Will Kyren Williams contract be a distraction?
The Kyren Williams’ contract may not become a distraction, but it is going to be something that lingers. Early in the offseason, Williams was talked about as a player that the Rams would like to extend. Closer to the draft, it was reported that the Rams and Williams weren’t close on numbers. Last week, Williams said that he was feeling good about a contract extension. Still, the Rams also drafted Jarquez Hunter in April after taking Blake Corum in last year’s draft.
This will be a topic of conversation as much as Williams or even the Rams try to downplay it. There won’t be a holdout, but given Williams’ role in the offense, there may be some pressure to get something done. We’ll see how the Rams handle this and if they are able to find a compromise on something that is fair for both sides. Still, the most likely scenario here is that Williams’ contract expires at the end of the year and the Rams allow him to find his value.
