Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are tight right now at $15.2M (rank 26), but nearly clean dead money and a projected $91.2M in room next season mean this is a short-term squeeze, not a long-term crisis.

28 contracts expiring

Madden Tools Analysis

Four starting spots have weak depth behind the starter.

With just 4 picks in the upcoming draft, including no first-rounder this year after forfeiting it to the Browns, the Rams are drafting from a shallow pool, though they hold 2 first-rounders across the next three years and a three-year total of 17 picks.

• 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 an elite defensive front headlined by a 99-overall Myles Garrett and a 95-overall Aaron Donald, while the weakest spot is right tackle, where the starter ranks 24th league-wide and depth is razor thin.

• RTmedium

  Warren McClendon Jr. is the starter at right tackle but ranks 24th among starters league-wide, and the depth behind him is thin enough to rank just 6th of 27 at the position.

• TEmedium

  Tyler Higbee starts at tight end but ranks 26th among starters at the position, and the overall depth at 11th of 32 league-wide signals a clear upgrade opportunity.

• 73Colby ParkinsonTEColby Parkinson is the second tight end on the depth chart at just 73 overall, and cutting him frees $5.5M against $3.6M in dead money, making it a worthwhile move to address the position with an upgrade.Frees $5.5M · $3.6M dead
• 68David QuessenberryLTDavid Quessenberry sits third on the left tackle depth chart at 68 overall, and releasing him frees $1.3M against only $180K in dead money for immediate savings.Frees $1.3M · $180.0K dead
• 64Alex BachmanWRAlex Bachman sits outside the top receiver rotation at 64 overall, and cutting him clears $900K with zero dead money hit.Frees $900.0K · $0 dead
• 65Bill MurrayLGBill Murray is the third guard on the depth chart at 65 overall, and his release frees $1.1M with no dead money attached.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead
• 64Stetson Bennett IVQBStetson Bennett IV is the third-string quarterback at 64 overall, and cutting him recovers $1.1M against only $170K in dead money, freeing a roster spot for a more impactful backup.Frees $1.1M · $170.0K dead

The Rams are a win-now operation built around two all-time talents in Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald, both of whom are in the twilight of their careers, making the next one to two seasons the clearest championship window. Puka Nacua at 25 and Trent McDuffie at 25 ensure the franchise has genuine long-term pillars once that window closes, and Kyren Williams at 26 gives the offense a reliable backfield anchor going forward. The offensive line has a real weakness at right tackle, and the tight end room is thin behind an aging Tyler Higbee, so addressing those spots early is critical to protecting Stafford and keeping the offense at full tilt. The defensive front is elite so long as Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald are healthy and engaged, and the linebacker and secondary depth is solid enough to support them. With committed cap obligations dropping sharply from $224.5M next season to $167.6M the season after, the front office gains real flexibility to reload around the young core once the Stafford-Donald era concludes.

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).