3 Rams who definitely won't be back after the team extends WR Tutu Atwell

The Los Angeles Rams front office has been busy, and the 2025 NFL Free Agency market hasn't even opened yet. Forget rumors and innuendos, the team has wasted no time putting plans for the 2025 NFL season success into rapid action. The first order of business for the team was satisfying starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. With that accomplished, the Rams have:

• Extended LT Alaric Jackson
• Tendered ERFA C Dylan McMahon
• Waived CB Tre Tomlinson
• Extended WR Tutu Atwell

With each successive action, the image of what the Rams intend to do in 2025 is beginning to form. The Rams are committed to recharging the batteries on an offense that have run dead. While we can tout the Rams offense as inspired, electric, potent, dangerous, or high-powered, the numbers in recent years simply have not supported those claims.

And yet, the image that is forming is actually quite promising. The Rams suggested in the offseason that this team needs to be more explosive on offense. The team's ability to score has faded like the vibrant colors of lawn furniture fades in sunshine. I don't believe that it's a lack of talent. Rather, I have been concerned for some time that the team's offensive innovation has been predictable and patterned.

Despite an abundance of tight end talent, a shortage of experienced wide receivers, and backup offensive tackles, the team insisted on ignoring 12-personnel options repeatedly. While there is always the rational argument about trying to win with an unexpected strategy, the team was ideally suited for two-tight-end formations last season. Worse yet, the Rams had the perfect wide receiver to use in 12-personnel formations in Tutu Atwell.

Could the latest extension of Tutu Atwell mean that the Rams are finally considering a bit more 12-personnel formations in the offense on game day? Well, Atwell is back and the Rams are spending more than expected on his extension. So something is up. How much did Atwell cost the team in 2025 to come back? A one-year contact for $10 million:

So why would the Rams invest so much in a seldom-used receiver? Ah yes. It makes a bit more sense if you consider how the team wants to construct the offense for 2025. The Rams are building around Puka Nacua. Tutu Atwell is a perfect compliment to Nacua, as he offers a completely different set of skills and roles to threaten opposing defenses:

Many have scoffed at the Rams swift wide receiver. But he has had to bite his tongue and endure a very limited role in an offense that only tapped him when a teammate was injured. Atwell offers far more than injury relief. A contract of that magnitude, much like the contract to sign TE Colby Parkinson in 2024, hints that the Rams have a more significant role in mind for Tutu Atwell for 2025. So what does this mean for the team's other wide receiver free agents? Let's investigate: