Certain questions plagued the Rams offense on nearly a weekly basis during the 2024 season. Red-zone efficiency. Third-down conversions. Slow starts. Varying levels of execution from quarter to quarter.
This wasn’t how the Rams drew it up last offseason. The expectation was that the group — infused with talent along the offensive line and with a full offseason for head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford to dream ways to incorporate 2023’s breakout stars Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams — would be an explosive unit that would carry the Rams into January.
And playoff win or not, the Rams’ offense never quite found the consistent pace that it was looking for, before or after the team overcame an early-season wave of injuries.
“I think there were some frustrating things overall just from some of the inconsistencies throughout the course of the year especially from an offensive perspective that we’ll need to address,” McVay said during his exit interview with reporters last week. “That’ll be something that we will really be intentional about this offseason.”
Injuries of course played a part, McVay knows. But this is football. Injuries happen, and have to be a part of your planning for every season.
So as McVay began to think about what he wants his offense to look like in 2025, “versatility” was the word that came to mind.
“You can’t allow [the injuries] to inhibit us the way that it did. And that’s nobody’s responsibility but my own. I think more fully functional. I think even our teaching progressions for the totality of the group. How do you utilize the offseason and how are you making yourself more versatile from a personnel perspective or from just a run variety perspective?” McVay said. “I could go on and on about the variety of things that I’m excited about attacking to hopefully avoid some of the pitfalls that we had throughout the year to ultimately lead to more consistent production and play regardless of whatever our injury situation is.”
Here’s a look at where the Rams’ offense stands entering the offseason.
Starters under contract for 2025
QB Matthew Stafford, RB Kyren Williams, WR Cooper Kupp, WR Puka Nacua, TE Tyler Higbee, RT Rob Havenstein, RG Kevin Dotson, C Beaux Limmer and LG Steve Avila are signed for the 2025 season.
As of now in late January, the Rams are projected to have nine of their 11 starters on offense back next season. The only exclusions are left tackle Alaric Jackson and receiver Demarcus Robinson.
So even if Jackson signs with another team, the Rams could enter training camp with four members of their offensive line back. But Havenstein just completed his 10th season and could decide to retire.
Similarly, Stafford didn’t commit to playing football beyond football after the Rams’ season-ending loss to the Eagles in the divisional round. And Kupp expressed uncertainty about his status with the franchise moving forward.
The Rams also have contributors such as RB Blake Corum, WR Jordan Whittington, WR Xavier Smith, TE Colby Parkinson, TE Davis Allen, OT Warren McClendon Jr. and OL Jonah Jackson under contract for 2025.
Upcoming free agents
QB Jimmy Garoppolo, LT Alaric Jackson, WR Demarcus Robinson, WR Tutu Atwell, WR Tyler Johnson, OL Joe Noteboom, TE Hunter Long, RB Ronnie Rivers (restricted) and C Dylan McMahon (exclusive rights) are free agents.
Garoppolo will likely survey the free agent market and see if there is a starting job out there for him. It’s possible that could even include the Rams’ job, should Stafford decide to retire or the sides decide to part ways (more on that possibility in a moment).
Jackson, who started this past season with a two-game suspension for a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, will present a complicated decision for the Rams. They shelled out two big-money, long-term deals to offensive linemen last offseason, one of which (Jonah Jackson) did not finish the season as a starter. Alaric Jackson is likely to command a sizable offer on the open market, given his own play in 2024 and the number of premium free agent options at the position. The Rams likely have to spend a top pick on an offensive tackle regardless with Havenstein being toward the end of his career. So do they try to lock down Jackson for several years? Franchise tag him and let him play on the one-year tag? Let him walk away clean?
Robinson has proven a reliable option as the Rams’ third receiver. He and the team came to an agreement on a deal prior to free agency last year, both preferring to commit to each other over testing the market. So perhaps another deal can be reached to bring Robinson back for a third season.
Cap concerns
2025 projected salary cap: $275 million
Rams 2025 cap commitments: $241.3 million (per Over the Cap)
Rams 2025 cap commitments on offense: $174.3 million (per Over the Cap)
Toughest decisions
The biggest reckoning the Rams will need to make is whether or not they can move forward with the Super Bowl core of Stafford-Kupp-Higbee-Havenstein still, or if it’s time to transition to a new era on offense.
Stafford still has to decide if he wants to play in 2025. Then both parties have to discuss whether they want to reunite for a fifth season together. Stafford, who turns 37 next month, turned in another strong postseason but is set to count $49.7 million against the salary cap in 2025.
Any reunion would almost certainly require a new contract, if both parties can reach common ground. McVay and general manager Les Snead have already said they’d prefer any talks with Stafford to conclude earlier in the offseason after negotiations dragged out into report day ahead of training camp in July.
Kupp could be another candidate for a contract restructure. He just had his worst statistical season since 2018 and is set to count $29.8 million against the cap in 2025. McVay already alluded to difficult conversations that may need to be had with the receiver, and if he is not amenable then he could find himself traded or a free agent. Higbee ($8.8 million cap hit) and Havenstein ($11.4 million) could be in similar positions.
Should the Rams decide to franchise tag Alaric Jackson, they will have to do so by March 5. The projected offensive lineman franchise tag number for 2025 is $25.156 million.
Another offensive line decision will be whether the Rams bring Jonah Jackson back after his disappointing first season with the team. His ability to play center and guard could be of value to the Rams as a depth piece, but his $14.7 million cap number is rich for a backup. Plus, he may want an opportunity to go somewhere with a better chance at playing time, and the Rams tend to honor such requests from players. A post-June 1 cut or trade would save the Rams $9 million against the cap in 2025.
As the numbers above illustrate, the Rams are already in a tight salary cap situation, with most of their commitments on the offensive side of the ball. Still, the Rams are open to a potential extension with Williams. What that number looks like remains to be seen, but, for reference, 2024 free agents Josh Jacobs and D’Andre Sweat will make a total of $8.2 million and $8 million, respectively, in 2025.
