3 Los Angeles Rams players who shouldn't be back in 2024, and 2 that should

Players That Should Not Be Back

1. EDGE Michael Hoecht

Hoecht is a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning the Rams have more control over what happens than they normally would with a UFA. That makes the decision to let him walk easy: Hoecht was one of only four Rams who played over 1,000 snaps, and PFF ranked him as 90th-best EDGE rusher (out of 112). He did start all 17 games for LA and had a career-best six sacks, but the Rams can probably find that type of production in the draft if they wanted to.

2. QB Carson Wentz

This one barely counts, because Wentz only started one kinda-fake game for the Rams at the end of the season. He came to LA after failing to find a job this season, deciding instead to go learn under McVay in the hopes of revitalizing his career the way Baker Mayfield did in Tampa Bay. The Rams are obviously set at both the starting and backup QB position, and Wentz is back on the free agent market when the new league year starts over. Barring some wild turn of events, he won't be back with the Rams in '24.

3. S John Johnson III

Johnson's a real case of the writing being on the wall. After starting double-digit games in five of the previous six years of his career, Johnson – who appeared in all 17 – only started eight in 2023. It wasn't just the coaches who didn't love his play – the analytics weren't high on his performance either: PFF ranked him 78th out of 95 safeties, and his overall defensive grade was the worst since 2019, and his second-worst ever. He'll also be a UFA this season, which makes it seem like the Rams have a whole bunch of work to do rebuilding their secondary this offseason.