How the LA Rams brick house survived another huff and puff from NFL Rumors wolf

The Rams have been saved from themselves quite a few times

In 2022, the LA Rams were desperate to win games. After all, they were the defending Super Bowl LVI Champions, and the belief after that remarkable 2021 NFL season was that this team had at least one more victory in them. Well, they didn't. But that did not stop the team from ringing up the Carolina Panthers in hopes of prying two star players from their roster.

Scenario III - The Rams attempted to trade for RB Christian McCaffrey. However, the San Francisco 49ers offered an alternative that the Panthers brass preferred. They sent 2023 NFL draft picks in Rounds 2, 3, and 4, and a 2024 NFL Draft pick in Round 5, for McCaffrey. Since that trade, the 49ers have gotten 1.5 seasons out of him. Right now, he has been injured and unable to suit up. He has carried the football 431 times for the 49ers, putting up 2,205 yards and 20 touchdowns.

He has earned over $10 million with the 49ers so far, but is slated to pull in another $64 millions from the 49ers by the end of his contract, which currently runs through 2028

Instead, the Rams have featured RB Kyren Williams. He has carried the football 402 times for 1,816 yards and 20 touchdowns, and he is still running in 2024. Kyren Williams' contract will pay out $3.8 million and expire at the end of 2025.

Scenario II - The Rams tried to pry Edge Rusher Brian Burns from the Panthers in 2022. Once again, the Panther rejected the offer, reportedly a Round 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Rounds 1 and 2 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, the Panthers thought better. Just months later, they agreed to part ways with Burns for the New York Giants for Round 2 and 4 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, and a Round 5 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Burns had 8.0 QB sacks and 50 tackles in 2023.

He earned $16 million in 2023, and is now on track to earn $141 million with the Giants through 2028.

Instead, the Rams drafted OLB Byron Young. Young put up 8.0 QB sacks and 61 tackles in 2023. Best of all, he is signed to a rookie contract that will only pay out $5.6 million through 2026. Once again, same production at a fraction of the price.

Scenario I - During the 2024 NFL Draft, the LA Rams wanted to trade up from their 19th overall pick. Their targets? Well, it wasn't OLB Jared Verse. It was either Georgia rookie tight end prospect Brock Bowers, or Texas defensive tackle prospect Byron Murphy II. When no trade partner willing to trade back to 19 appeared, the team settled in to select Florida State outside linebacker Jared Verrse.

While both TE Brock Bowers and DT Byron Murphy are certainly talented rookies, neither is having a season that even closely compares to that of OLB Jared Verse. Whereas Murphy has 10 tackles and 0.5 quarterback sacks, Verse has 29 tackles and 2.5 QB sacks. And the Rams, despite pursuing Bowers, have three and soon-to-be four tight ends who all seem to be sharing the workload.

So were the Rams listening to offers for Cooper Kupp? Does it matter, now?