Two Super Bowl contenders?
When and Where: Week 3 at home
Last season: Won the NFC West with a negative point differential, finished the playoffs with a positive point differential.
Added: Coleman Shelton, Davante Adams, Poona Ford, Nate Landman
Lost: Demarcus Robinson, Christian Rozeboom, Cooper Kupp, Michael Hoecht, Bobby Brown
Players added or lost in order of snaps played last season.
Top draft picks: The Rams once again did not make a 1st round selection, though they got the Falcons 2026 1st, which will probably be a really good pick.
Biggest question facing this team: Can the two different timelines the Rams are on meet for one glorious season?
Matthew Stafford is 37, the 2nd oldest starting QB in the league unless Joe Flacco wins the job in Cleveland. Stafford was really good last year, keeping the Rams treading water early in the season when Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp were out, then going 9-3 with a full strength roster. But he’s only got so many good years left, and at his age it is possible he doesn’t have any. Aging out can hit hard in the NFL, and if they need to the Rams can get out of his contract after this season.
Even with a geezer at QB, the Rams had one of the youngest rosters in the league last year. In back to back seasons they have had two players receive top 3 rookie of the year votes: Jared Verse won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, Puka Nacua finished 2nd for Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023; and Kobie Turner in 2023 and Braden Fiske in 2024 were 3rd for DROY. That’s a good starting point for a core.
The Rams are extremely well set up for the future. With two first round picks next year, including a potentially really good one with the Falcons pick, they’re already in play to move up for a QB in 2026 who can sit behind Stafford for a year, then take over the reins of a well coached, ascending team.
Their biggest hurdle may be health. In two of the past three seasons, the Rams have been one of the most injured teams in the league, finishing 23rd in Adjusted Games Lost in 2024, and 31st in 2022. In 2023, they were 1st, the healthiest team in the league. Stafford’s as tough as they come but he’s missed half a season twice in the last six seasons. In college and the pros, Puka Nacua has only been healthy for a full season one time, in 2023.
Saquon Barkley ran all over them in November, but the Rams were the only team that the Eagles did not dominate in the playoffs. This is a good team, and one on the up. If Stafford can keep a high level of play, the Rams could easily be a top team in the NFC.
