Ahkello Witherspoon and 3 other Rams who are playing themselves off the team

After 12 weeks of NFL football, the LA Rams are ultimately aware of what the capabilities of players are, and are not. In the offseason, every team can project its best side to the fanbase, which can, in turn, grow overly optimistic. But by this point in the schedule, fans know what their team is. NFL teams are either very good, very bad, or middle of the road.

And they are either improving, regressing, or simply stuck in a rut.

So how would you describe the Rams team so far? Unlike 2023, a team with plenty of upside, the Rams roster has been stuck at .500 or worse. Is there solace in the fact that the entire NFC West Division is suffering from a similar ailment? Perhaps. But until the team smashes through the barrier of that .500 ceiling, this is simply a 'meh,' team in a 'meh,' division. I want something better.

Yes, I can be patient. By all rights, it appears that I will be forced to be patient. Despite crushing the past two NFL drafts, the team was not very effective at adding players in the 2024 NFL Free Agency market. Much like a bad draft class, the shopping spree has become a max governor to the team.

But this team has defied logic. In many cases, you would find veterans with consistent play, and inconsistent play from rookies. But the Rams roster has it backwards. This team is getting more bounce for the ounce from their youth, and less consistent play from the veterans.

That creates problems --not just on the football field, but also in the way this team allocates limited salary cap dollars. And so, the front office is left with the not-so-thrilling task of waving goodbye to players, whether through an expired contract, trade, or outright release of multiple underperforming veterans. Who are they?

DB Ahkello Witherspoon

While I lobbied hard for the team to re-sign veteran defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon, I admit that the 2024 version is nothing like the 2023 version that started for the team. Witherspoon was the late-season signing to help out and eventually take over for former Rams veteran DB Tre'Davious White. But reports out of the Baltimore Ravens indicate that the team and fans are thrilled with Tre'Davious White's performance.

Ahkello Witherspoon has only allowed one touchdown this season. But in terms of completions, pass break-ups, tackles, and missed tackles, he is only a shell of his former self. The Rams appear to have hit the bullseye on their safety depth. But Witherspoon's disappointing production is the second veteran to miss the mark in 2024. Is the problem deeper than just two unwise FA signings?

OT Joe Noteboom

While I have been a supporter of swing tackle Joe Noteboom in a backup offensive tackle role for the team, I admit that 2024 has eroded even my confidence that he can get the job done. Per the statistics at Pro Football Focus, Noteboom played 97 snaps and allowed two quarterback sacks. If you factor in all of his downtime due to injury, the situation grows much darker. Had he played the 265 offensive snaps of his teammate, Warren McClendon Jr., his sacks allowed would be at six or greater.

The problem right now is that McClendon is not much better.

With starting right tackle Rob Havenstein aging and becoming more injury-prone, the front office has to make offensive tackle a priority in the 2025 NFL Draft. In the meantime, the Rams will simply need to make do with the players on the roster for now.

IOL Jonah Jackson

When the LA Rams signed free agent interior offensive linemen Jonah Jackson to the roster, they were opting for the alternative to re-signing center Coleman Shelton. Rookie C Beaux Limmer was still awaiting the 2024 NFL Draft, and the team needed to fill the vacated roster spot. I get it. But the plan to fix one vacancy involved making changes at two positions.

Complicating the matter even further was the incessant number of injuries that hammered the offensive line, preventing the group from working out their bugs in training camp. Neither Jackson nor Avila are particularly adept at playing center. So when injuries forced the team to elevate rookie Beaux Limmer to a starting role, the Rams found themselves paying for a starting offensive guard, but without a spot to play him

Jackson needs reps. But he won't get them now, unless a teammate is injured. The Rams still have a need for a versatile interior offensive lineman who can slide in to play multiple positions. The team released IOL Logan Bruss, lost IOL Zach Thomas to the New England Patriots vie the waiver wire, and lost both Coleman Shelton and Tremayne Anchrum Jr. to expired contracts.

Would Jackson accept a pay cut to remain with the Rams? If not, the team has to consider parting ways. Jackson is getting paid to start. But right now, he is only warming the bench.

TE Colby Parkinson

Ironically, veteran tight end Colby Parkinson is delivering exactly what the Rams should have expected. He has caught 25 passes every season since 2022, has put up 240+ receiving yards in each of the past three seasons, and has extended his streak of scoring at least one touchdown for three seasons. So why is his name on the list?

With the team signing him to a multi-year deal, the value of the contract suggests that the team expected significant improvement. And that was the basis of our C+ grade at the time he signed with the Rams. Our choice at the time was the other Seahawks tight end, Will Dissly. Dissly would eventually sign with the Los Angeles Chargers for less dollars, and his production has been much better.

Even after the team added Parkinson to join Hunter Long, Davis Allen, and injured TE Tyler Higbee, the team fought hard to trade up in the 2024 NFL Draft to select TE Brock Bowers. Now, after 11 games, Parkinson has found himself demoted to TE2 or TE3. With the team likely to reinstate starting TE Tyler Higbee, he could find himself without any offensive snaps.

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