NFL expert weighs in on 3 Rams training camp questions that fans seek answers to

The Los Angeles Rams may seem to be settled, but there is an undercurrent that is as powerful as any rip tide for this team as training camp looms on the horizon. As such, fans may be lulled into expecting little news out of training camp. Of course, other fans are tuned in and acutely aware that there is a lot to sort out, even as the team appears to be calm, cool, and collected.

Some important decisions for the team are already underway. Other vital decisions await the team in the future. But we are not talking distant future. The Rams need to make decisions now, or at least do the work of vetting and detailing the particulars necessary to have everything in place at decision time.

All of this is plenty to tackle for Rams fans. But for Sports Illustrated Senior NFL writer Albert Breer, staying abreast of the current topics in the NFL community is second nature. So when his weekly mailbag features several discussions of interest to the Rams, it's a great idea to take a look at what he has to say:

(3) Sorting out running backs

32BeatWriters (@32BeatWriters): Which skill player camp battles are you most excited about across the league?
Albert Breer: Rams’ running backs

This may not make much sense to many Rams fans, but there are forces at work with the Rams roster that muddy the water a bit. The Rams are currently in negotiations to extend featured RB Kyren Williams, and he certainly has been productive enough to warrant more years in the Rams offense. The Rams have to modify their rushing strategy.

Kyren Williams was practically a one-man show for the Rams in 2024. And as much as that impressed fans, it masked the fact that he regressed in many vital categories. He played five more games than in 2023, carried the football 88 more times, but only put up 155 more yards and two more touchdowns than the previous season. He fumbled the football five times and lost three of those fumbles. That was far worse than his previous two seasons combined

He even lost a fumble in the NFL Playoffs.

The Rams chose to invest in the running back position with valuable picks in both the 2024 and 2025 NFL Drafts. In 2024, the Rams added RB Blake Corum. In 2025, the Rams selected RB Jarquez Hunter. But until those fresh legs take up some of the burden of carrying the football, the players add very little to the team.

The Rams ran for 20+ yards just twice in 2024. The team needs to get more production from the running back room. How will they do that? In the Rams' training camp, we hope to discover clues to what the strategy may be for 2025.

(2) Early 2026 QB prospects

Herbie Mitchell (@mitchell_herbie): Who’s your early QB1 in next year’s draft?

Albert Breer: LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Penn State’s Drew Allar, and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. Oklahoma’s John Mateer is another one worth watching.

It's no surprise to learn that the Rams are likely to be in the rookie quarterback market in the 2026 NFL Draft. Right now, the team is banking on the durability of veteran QB Matthew Stafford, the experience of backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo, and the upside of QB Stetson Bennett. But the Rams are riding Stafford on a year-to-year basis. Garoppolo's contract expires at the end of this season. Even Stetson Bennett is on the final two seasons of his contract.

The Rams will need to restock the quarterback room. Thankfully, this team now possesses two Round 1 picks to spend on that position. Still, the Rams are not the only NFL team that will be shopping for quarterback talent in that draft. If season projections hold, the Rams are expected to have two picks in the second half of Day 1 in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Unless the team is willing to invest a lot of draft capital into a future quarterback, the Rams will not have options for the best of the draft class. The Rams may realistically need to settle for the fourth or fifth-ranked rookie quarterback prospect of the 2026 NFL Draft. Who might that be? Only time with tell.

(1) Do Rams need to add another cornerback?

From Zach Fogelman (@FogelmanZach): Will the Rams address the cornerback position? How likely is it that Ramsey will be traded back or the Jaire Alexander route?

Albert Breer: But I do think this is also a larger philosophical thing for the Rams, with much of their recent focus on building up the offensive skill spots and defensive front-areas they believe are truly impactful on wins and losses. I heard someone say that in today’s NFL, corners are more speed bumps than stop signs, and I think that might be how L.A. has come to view the position. Or at least that’s how it looks.

While I do believe that the Rams would benefit from the addition of DB Jalen Ramsey to the secondary, I do not believe that with the direction that this pass rush is trending, it's entirely necessary. The Rams have every reason to be confident in a pass defense that allowed a net passing yard average of 114 yards per game in the NFL Playoffs.

Of course, that was partially due to a phenomenal 16 quarterback sacks in two games

Still, we have to be clear. The Rams cannot hope to average 8.0 quarterback sacks per game in 2025. But the team has every reason to be optimistic. The defensive front proved its merit against two of the NFL's premier offensive lines. While the 2025 season is bound to have both highs and lows in terms of pass rush success, the team is far more experienced at the task this year.

As is DC Chris Shula.

It's safe to conclude that the Rams were learning a new defense in 2024 and that the team enters 2025 with all of that knowledge in place. It will be tough for NFL quarterbacks to pick apart the Rams' secondary if they are running for their lives. And if you doubt the Rams' defense showed progress last season, just ask San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy or Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray.

Would it be nice to add DB Jalen Ramsey to this defense? It most certainly would. But he is not necessary.

As always, thanks for reading.

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