Jordan Whittington is the weapon nobody realized the Rams needed

As the Los Angeles Rams community debates the possibility of Aaron Donald's unretirement, a heated debate remains on the other side of the football. Behind wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, who will get the most targets this season?

Let's step back for a moment. What does this offense value? Despite experimenting with speed, neither DeSean Jackson nor his understudy, Tutu Atwell, moved the needle much. Conversely, the offense has found success in the physical tough-guy receiver who can run routes with precision.

Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have mastered that prototype. Although he has yet to prove it, Jordan Whittington fits the mold to a T.

So why hasn't he found his footing? In two seasons, Whittington has been targeted just 53 times, resulting in 40 receptions for 464 yards. He has yet to find the end zone. But don't dismiss him just yet. He could be in for a substantial role change in 2026.

Jordan Whittington is weapon Rams didn't know they needed

Whittington is fast approaching his Day of Reckoning. It's step up or step back time, and the former sixth-round pick knows he must seize the moment. He's been reliable when targeted, managing to catch better than 75 percent of the passes thrown his way. His inconsistent involvement in the offense is not due to a lack of talent. Rather, he simply hasn't had the opportunity.

Whittington has suffered from the influx of offensive strategies and playmakers that have steered much of the action elsewhere. The Rams' offense typically relies on one or two dominant receivers, anyway, and last season head coach Sean McVay leaned into his tight ends more than ever.

But this season, that could swing back in Whittington's favor. As defenses hone in on the tight ends, tertiary receiver options like himself will be the outlet for redirected targets.

The two rules for success in LA's offense as a receiver is to block well and convert on catchable passes. Whittington checks both boxes. As is the case for many young playmakers, it all comes down to opportunity.

Perhaps he can find inspiration in the fact that running back Blake Corum finally found his rhythm in 2025, after being mostly irrelevant as a rookie. Can Whittington make a similar jump?

Just think what he could do with even a modest share of targets. Even with Nacua and Adams leading the charge, there is room for Whittington to earn a larger role, as other LA receivers have had further down the depth chart in seasons past.

For example, even competing with Nacua and Kupp, Atwell garnered 62 and 67 targets, respectively, in 2023 and 2024. Based on his career production, a similar increase for Whittington - equivalent, say, to Atwell's target share in '23 - would give him well over 500 receiving yards. That should easily be enough to be the Rams' No. 3 receiver in 2026.

Don't be discouraged that LA did not select rookie receiver Makai Lemon, many fans' circled target on Day 1 of the 2026 draft. Rookies struggle at blocking in their first season, limiting their workload. That won't be a problem with a Whittington. That's all the more reason why, this season, he could prove to be the weapon the Rams didn't even realize they needed.

As always, thanks for reading.

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