NFL analyst repeats what everyone's saying about Davante Adams in Rams offense

NFL WR record holders: Calvin Johnson, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua . . . Davante Adams?
Los Angeles Rams OTA Offseason Workout, Davante Adams
Los Angeles Rams OTA Offseason Workout, Davante Adams | Ric Tapia/GettyImages

The Los Angeles Rams have not begun their 2025 NFL Training Camp just yet, but that doesn't prevent fans from gleaning any news about the team. And in the absence of real news, the rumors, projections, speculations, and discussions about the state of the Rams team and various aspects of the team will simply have to suffice until news becomes available.

Such is the case when ESPN NFL analyst Bill Barnwell sat down to rank the NFL's best offensive skill players (as a group) among all 32 NFL teams. It's an annual exercise, and one that even tracks how and where he has projected the offensive weapons in the past. Because he knows it's coming every year, he presents a wealth of reasoning in his article that demonstrates a working knowledge of all 32 NFL teams.

Don't ask me how he does it every year.

The thing is, Barnwell loves what the Rams have done on offense.

Projecting the Los Angeles Rams' offensive weapons among the NFL's top five is a bold step for Bill Barnwell, but one that he makes with plenty of logical and defendable reasoning. He points out that WR Puka Nacua, WR Davante Adams, and RB Kyren Williams are all Pro Bowl candidates this season.

But he does more than just state the obvious. He suggests that while veteran Tutu Atwell just got paid, second-year wide receiver Jordan Whittington could be the bigger offensive impact this season, a conclusion we came to a week ago.

He also touches base on the fact that the future of the Rams' tight end position belongs to TE Terrance Ferguson. Will Ferguson make an impact as a rookie? We dared to ask that question, too, and concluded that the offense truly has no better option right now.

Bill Barnwell is on the right track. But how does he assess the entire NFC West Division in his article?

Not the best in the NFC West

So, having analyzed Barnwell's analysis of the Rams' offensive weapons, how does he apply his scrutinous spyglass to the other offensive weapons in the NFC West Division? Well, believe it or not, he views the NFC West as a mini treasure trove of offensive firepower. Let's take a look:

(19) Seattle Seahawks

Barnwell showcases his knowledge once more, describing how the Seattle Seahawks have completely overhauled the offense and how that could result in a decline in offensive production this season. He sidesteps the questions about a new quarterback (outside the scope of his article), but suggests that the transition from DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling may be a downgrade. With two new veterans trying to catch footballs from a new quarterback, he is likely correct.

(15) Arizona Cardinals

Once again, Barnwell demonstrates a matter-of-fact approach, citing the Cardinals' offense as being blessed with solid tight end play in Trey McBride and solid running back play from James Connor. But he keeps both feet on the ground when describing WR Marvin Harrison Jr, a rookie who was supposed to break records and perhaps even the sound barrier. He accepts the fact that a huge season out of Harrison in 2025 could make the Cardinals' offense dangerous. But he is not convinced that it happens.

(5) Los Angeles Rams

As stated above, Barnwell gives high marks to the Rams' offensive innovations and directions. He doesn't dive too deeply into the Rams' depth chart, but he does investigate the team's rookie tight end, Terrance Ferguson. For more from Barnwell, see above.

(4) San Francisco 49ers

This is where Banwell loses me. He loves the San Francisco 49ers offense. And when I say loves, I mean adores. He had projected the 49ers to be the top offense in both 2023 and 2024, so his willingness to drop them to fourth overall is a bit of a concession right off the bat. And he starts by acknowledging that the 49ers' offense was battered by injuries in 2024.

But this offense does boast WR Jauan Jennings, TE George Kittle, and a rushing scheme that really doesn't depend on who lines up in the backfield. But I'm not convinced that WRs Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, or RB Christian McCaffrey can stay healthy throughout the 2025 NFL season. Barnwell believes that they can.

Still, even with acknowledging that the dominoes are all expected to fall the right way, the 49ers are only slightly ranked higher than the Rams' offensive skill weapons. Tyler Higbee's healthy return in 2025 should be enough to put the Rams offense at an advantage over all other NFC West teams.

It's not even training camp, and some discerning NFL analysts already love what the Rams are doing on the offensive side of the football. And the key to that newfound appreciation is the expected offensive explosion of WR Davante Adams catching passes from veteran QB Matthew Stafford.

As always, thanks for reading.

Why not check out other recent Rams articles