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Changes are coming to the LA Rams roster, whether fans are ready or not

The team is nearing an agreement to bring Matthew Stafford back for 2026. But nobody knows what to expect for 2027.
ByBret Stuter|
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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9). Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9). Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Change is uncomfortable. Change is divisive. Change is inevitable. Funny thing is, all three things can be true, and that is what fans of the Los Angeles Rams must face. And now is as good a time as any.

Even as LA competed in the NFC Championship Game last season, only to fall short by several miscues, the team cannot count on automatic fixes yielding a different outcome. Like it or not, the new season means restocking the roster, reformulating the playbook, recruiting new coaches and support staff, and recovering from new injuries.

Right tackle Rob Havenstein retired. Both quarterback Mathew Stafford and tight end Tyler Higbee will follow at some point. And it's the inevitable changing of the guard that fans are slowly realizing is around the corner. A team that successfully restocked the roster in 2023 may need to do so after 2026.

At least, that is how the front office has structured many of the current existing contracts.

It's not a matter of if, but when, the team returns to using the draft to add inexpensive players to grow into starting roles to resume the chase for postseason glory.

Changes are coming quickly for LA Rams

It's not as though the LA Rams are in a cash crunch. The team is projected to have ample available cash to navigate the 2026 NFL Draft and to round out the 90-player roster in time for OTAs and training camp. But having said that, the team is going to struggle at the end of the 2026 NFL season.

All in. That's the perception of LA's strategy for the upcoming season. But it carries a bit of danger with it as well. So many contracts are set to expire at season's end that the front office has no chance to extend everyone. By all accounts, it's been a deliberate design. It's Super Bowl or bust this season.

If the team wins the Lombardi, many key contributors can seek huge paydays elsewhere. If the team fails to do so, the front office has the option to regroup and try again with new players.

Matthew Stafford is nearing an acceptable agreement, but only to return for 2026. Beyond that, this team has no quarterback under contract. Four starting offensive linemen face free agency at season's end. Like it or not, changes are coming.

As always, thanks for reading.

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