Los Angeles Rams

Near-spotless books right now with just $1.4M in dead money and $96.4M of projected room next season make this one of the most financially flexible rosters in the league heading into the offseason.

26 contracts expiring

Madden Tools Analysis

Four starting spots have weak depth behind the starter.

Four picks this cycle is a lean haul, but 17 selections over three years and two future first-rounders give the rebuild enough runway to restock depth without sacrificing the win-now core.

• 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 its elite pass-rush and secondary tandem on defense, while the glaring weak spot is tight end, where the starter ranks 28th in the league.

• TEhigh

  The starting tight end is Terrance Ferguson at 70 overall, ranking 28th among starters league-wide, making an upgrade at the position the single most pressing roster need.

• RTmedium

  Warren McClendon Jr starts at right tackle at 73 overall, ranking 26th at the position, and the depth behind him is thin enough to warrant addressing through free agency or the draft.

• 73Colby ParkinsonTEColby Parkinson is the third tight end behind Ferguson and Higbee and carries a cap hit that frees $5.5M against $3.6M in dead money, making him a reasonable cut to generate savings at a position being rebuilt anyway.Frees $5.5M · $3.6M dead
• 68David QuessenberryRTDavid Quessenberry is a 36-year-old twilight-stage backup sitting third on the left tackle depth chart and fourth on the right tackle chart, and releasing him frees $1.3M against just $180K in dead money.Frees $1.3M · $180.0K dead
• 62Keir Thomas IILEDGEKeir Thomas II is the third-string left edge behind Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart at just 62 overall, and his release is pure savings at $1.1M freed with zero dead money.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead
• 65Blake HanceLGBlake Hance is the third-string left guard at 65 overall, carries no dead money, and releasing him frees $1.1M that can be reinvested in the starting tight end or right tackle needs.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead
• 64Bill MurrayRGBill Murray sits third on the right guard depth chart at 64 overall, is blocked by Kevin Dotson and Justin Dedich, and his release clears $1.1M with no dead money consequence.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead

The Rams are in win-now mode, built around Matthew Stafford and Myles Garrett, but both players are in the late stage of their careers, which gives this window a real sense of urgency. Puka Nacua at 25 and Trent McDuffie at 25 provide young cornerstones on both sides of the ball, and Kyren Williams at 26 gives the offense a productive backfield piece. The interior defensive line is legitimate with Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Poona Ford rotating through, and the safety tandem of Kam Curl and Quentin Lake is a quiet strength. The pressing weaknesses are at tight end, where Terrance Ferguson is the starter ranking 28th in the league, and at right tackle, where Warren McClendon Jr ranks 26th. With $19.4M in current cap room and a massive $96.4M opening up next season, the front office has the financial tools to address those holes aggressively. Davante Adams remains a productive receiver but is entering the twilight of his career, so planning for that transition on the outside is a background priority. The draft cupboard is lean this cycle, but 17 picks over three years and two future first-rounders give the team enough resources to build depth around an elite core.

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).