Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are tight now at $15.2M in room (25th in the league), but a massive $91.1M opening arrives next season, making the short-term squeeze a temporary constraint rather than a structural problem.

29 contracts expiring

Madden Tools Analysis

Three starting spots have weak depth behind the starter.

With only four picks this cycle, including no first-rounder this year after forfeiting it to the Browns, the Rams are drafting lean and must prioritize wisely in rounds four through seven.

• Acquired: Round 7 from Browns, next draft
• Traded away: Round 3 to Browns, the third draft
• Traded away: Round 2 to Browns, next draft
• Traded away: Round 1 to Browns, this draft
• Traded away: Round 7 to Chargers, this draft
• Traded away: Round 3 to Chiefs, this draft

The roster's top strength is a defensive front anchored by a 99-overall Garrett and a 95-overall Donald, while the weakest spot is the tight end room, where the starter ranks 26th in the league.

• RTmedium

  Warren McClendon Jr is the starter at right tackle but ranks 24th among starters league-wide, making an upgrade here a clear priority.

• TEmedium

  Tyler Higbee starts at tight end but ranks 26th among starters at the position, and with Higbee entering the late stage of his career, a more capable option is needed soon.

• 73Colby ParkinsonTEColby Parkinson sits third on the tight end depth chart and second at fullback, and releasing him frees $5.5M against $3.6M in dead money, making him the highest-value cap cut on the roster.Frees $5.5M · $3.6M dead
• 69David QuessenberryLTDavid Quessenberry is the second-string left tackle at 69 overall and is in the twilight of his career, and releasing him frees $1.3M against just $180K in dead money.Frees $1.3M · $180.0K dead
• 64Alex BachmanWRAlex Bachman is a 64-overall receiver sitting at the bottom of the wideout depth chart with no dead money consequence, and releasing him frees $900K in clean savings.Frees $900.0K · $0 dead
• 65Bill MurrayLGBill Murray is a 65-overall guard listed third at both left guard and right guard, and releasing him frees $1.1M with zero dead money.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead
• 64Stetson Bennett IVQBStetson Bennett IV is the third-string quarterback at 64 overall behind Stafford and Ty Simpson, and releasing him frees $1.1M against just $170K in dead money.Frees $1.1M · $170.0K dead

The Rams enter this franchise window with one of the most talented rosters in the league, headlined by Matthew Stafford, Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua, and Trent McDuffie. The window is real and present, but it carries important time constraints. Stafford is entering the late stage of his career, and Aaron Donald and Davante Adams are both in the twilight of theirs, meaning the contention window is tied tightly to the next two or three seasons. The cap situation is workable now, with $15.2M in room this year and a dramatic opening to $91.1M next season, which gives the front office genuine flexibility to address the right tackle and tight end needs that currently rank in the bottom quarter of the league. The defensive foundation is deep and young enough to sustain competitiveness even as the veteran core eventually turns over, with players like Kobie Turner, Byron Young, and Kamren Kinchens ready to grow into larger roles. The next few seasons represent a genuine Super Bowl-or-bust window, and the roster is built to take advantage of it.

The franchise was founded on April 11, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio, by attorney Homer Marshman (the "Rams" name chosen after the Fordham University Rams). The club spent its first season in the second American Football League, then joined the NFL in 1937. After lean early years, and suspending operations in 1943 due to World War II player shortages, the Cleveland Rams won their first NFL Championship in 1945, beating the Washington Redskins 15-14 in roughly −8°F cold, with rookie quarterback Bob Waterfield named league MVP. Owner Dan Reeves moved the team to Los Angeles in 1946, making the Rams the first major pro sports franchise on the West Coast. In Los Angeles the Rams won the 1951 NFL Championship behind Waterfield, Norm Van Brocklin, and receivers Tom Fears and Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch. The 1960s were defined by the "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier, and Lamar Lundy. The 1970s brought seven straight division titles (1973-1979) and the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance (a 31-19 loss to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XIV). Eric Dickerson set the still-standing single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards in 1984. After moving to Anaheim (1980) and then St. Louis in 1995, the Rams reached their apex with "The Greatest Show on Turf": Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, and Torry Holt won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Tennessee Titans (23-16) following the 1999 season, then lost Super Bowl XXXVI to New England (20-17) after the 2001 season. The franchise returned to Los Angeles in 2016. Under Sean McVay (hired 2017) the Rams reached Super Bowl LIII (a 13-3 loss to New England), then won Super Bowl LVI in February 2022 at SoFi Stadium, beating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20, making the Rams the only NFL franchise to win championships representing three different cities: Cleveland (1945), Los Angeles (1951 and the 2021 season), and St. Louis (1999 season).