LT Alaric Jackson headlines Rams 2025 free agent class
The Los Angeles Rams expect to rest key starters in their regular season finale against the Seattle Seahawks, which allows an opportunity to peek ahead at their 2025 free agency class.
These players are slated to hit the open market at the conclusion of LA’s season according to Sportrac:
- Joe Noteboom, OT
- Alaric Jackson, OT
- Demarcus Robinson, WR
- Jimmy Garoppolo, QB
- Michael Hoecht, OLB
- Tutu Atwell, WR
- Christian Rozeboom, MLB
- John Johnson, DB
- Hunter Long, TE
- Conor McDermott, OT
- Larrell Murchison, DT
- Tyler Johnson, WR
- Troy Reeder, MLB
- Bobby Brown, DT
- Ronnie Rivers, RB (restricted)
- Jake Hummel, MLB (restricted)
- Dylan McMahon, iOL (exclusive rights)
Alaric Jackson headlines LA’s free agent class:
The Rams have a tough decision with Alaric Jackson. LA sorely missed their left tackle when he missed the first two games with injury. The pass protection took a major step forward upon his return and as the rest of the group returned to health around the time of the bye in Week 6.
Jackson is easily having the best season of his career, but the question still remains whether he is a franchise left tackle. The best pass rushers in the NFL can still get the best of him, though that’s the case for all but a handful of blindside protectors. For example, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Jackson’s worst outings of the season came against the San Francisco 49ers (twice), the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Minnesota Vikings all which feature pass rushers such as Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd, Maxx Crosby, Tyree Wilson, Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner.
Los Angeles made a poor decision by extending Noteboom as the heir to Andrew Whitworth. It’s easy to see how their could be weary about extending Jackson, though there’s no telling what their other options are at this point.
Other tough decisions for the Rams:
Michael Hoecht has become a versatile player for LA, though his return is tough to balance because the Rams didn’t seem to interested in bringing him back last offseason. They didn’t apply his restricted free agent tender until the dust settled on the first tiers of free agency and LA was without a starting EDGE defender opposite of Byron Young. The Rams couldn’t have predicted that (1) one of Jared Verse, Latu Latu, and Dallas Turner would have fell to them in the first round at 19th overall and (2) that Verse would turn into the star that he seemingly is. Have the Rams changed their tune on Hoecht? If Chris Shula earns a head coaching job, could Hoecht follow him as a utility player or chess piece?
LA also has tough decisions to make at receiver. Puka Nacua is obviously their WR#1 moving forward, but Cooper Kupp’s future is in question. Tutu Atwell has proved capable in his limited opportunities, and he might be enticed by a team willing to give him feature him in a larger role. Demarcus Robinson is also free agent but is a career journeyman. He’s inconsistent in his offensive production, is on the wrong side of 30, and got into legal troubles midseason.
The Rams need another premier receiver regardless if they move on from Kupp or bring back one of Atwell, Robinson, or Tyler Johnson.
