5 Rams roster moves that make this team far scarier than last year

The dust is finally starting to settle over the Los Angeles Rams following a fast and furious 72 hours or so of partially disintegrating the roster, and then forming a new practice squad from the discarded pieces. While it's an annual exercise for all 32 teams, it's never the same product at the end. After all, new players and coaches create new teams, and now we have to pause, take a deep breath, and look back at what the powers-that-be have accomplished.

With the formalities of reforming now in the history books, it's time for readers and analysts alike to look over the team's handiwork and gauge the level of success over a summer's worth of practicing and performing. In short, it's time to hand out the mid-term grades for the group.

Granted, this is purely superficial in nature. The true litmus test will happen months into the future, when the team succeeds or fails to earn a berth in the NFL Playoffs. On paper, this team is much improved over last year's. Let's take a look at the biggest moves shifting the narrative.

Rams' 5 most important moves of the 2025 offseason

(1) Rams upgraded wide receiver room

The team's slow start in both 2023 and 2024 can be traced back, in part, to the inability to get starting WR Cooper Kupp on the football field. It's very difficult to succeed without starting players, and Kupp's absence placed the burden of making plays on younger and lesser players who simply did not have the reps to carry the offense.

The team is entering Week 1, with every offensive weapon at its disposal. That includes free agent addition Davante Adams, who'll line up opposite Puka Nacua to form one of the most feared WR duos the NFL has to offer.

(2) Rams have no more excuses NOT to run 12-personnel

Los Angeles invested four roster spots in the tight end room: Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen. It's the fifth-highest paid tight end group in the league. That's a steep price to pay for a group that was pretty atrocious last season.

Expect big changes from this group in 2025. There’s no reason to keep four healthy tight ends on the roster unless the plan is to use more two-tight-end formations. The offense dabbled in it last season, but with Ferguson now in the mix, it’s the perfect chance to get him involved while keeping Higbee active. And since this is likely the 32-year-old's final season in Horns, the offense has every reason to feature their rookie TE early.

(3) - Rams focused on run defense

After being shredded by Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley twice in two showdowns, the defense understood that run defense had to improve. The addition of NT Poona Ford and ILB Nate Landman appears to have done exactly that. While nothing is confirmed until games are played, this is a much stronger defense on paper, in practice, and in the preseason.

Ford is like Kobie Turner, but a better run defender. Meanwhile, Landman is like Omar Speights, but bigger and more experienced — and one of the new captains of the D. Combining both free agent acquisitions with returning players amplifies the ability of this defense to finally stop the run.

(4) - ...but pass rush didn't skip a beat either

Both Ford and Landman bring a bit of sneaky-good pass-rushing skills along with them as well. And for a young defense that clocked the offenses of both the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles for 16 quarterback sacks in just two games, they are most welcome. The Rams do not rely exclusively on outside linebackers to get after the quarterback.

The defense generated multiple sacks from six different players in 2024. From that group, only Michael Hoecht has parted ways. But this team has added multiple players to storm the pocket, and not all of them will be rushing from the edge. Some of the improvement in the pass rush may likely come from returning players, too. Despite earning DROY honors, Jared Verse only recorded 4.5 quarterback sacks in 2024. He’ll double that number (and then some) this season.

(5) - Kicker Joshua Karty is set for a phenomenal Year 2

Rookie kicker Joshua Karty debuted as the 14th most accurate field goal kicker in the NFL last season, converting 85.3 percent of his attempts. That will improve significantly in 2025, as long as Karty follows the standard development track for kickers. Rookie seasons are horrendous for kickers because every week seems to place them in a new stadium with a new set of variables.

But by the time Year 2 rolls around, Karty will have already kicked at SoFi Stadium in nine games and faced NFC West division teams once in their stadiums. Familiarity is everything for kickers, because they face wind, temperature, and even time-of-day variables that can change the arc of a football. Despite his rookie season, Karty went 10-of-13 from 40+ yards. That’s solid work for even a veteran placekicker. Now, he has an opportunity to beat that mark. As always, thanks for reading.