How these 3 former Rams players are doing on their new teams

Player I: WR Josh Reynolds (no comp pick)

When the LA Rams allowed wide receiver Josh Reynolds to test his value in the NFL Free Agent market, the Rams seemed to be quite set at the receiver position for years to come. Not only did the Rams have veterans Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, but the team had their eye on drafting WR Van Jefferson, and needed room on the roster for Van Jefferson to grow.

But now the Rams no longer have either Robert Woods or Van Jefferson on the roster. And Cooper Kupp, having returned from an early season injury, has just 23 catches of 45 targets for 364 yards and one touchdown. Curiously, Detroit Lions Josh Reynolds has 24 catches on just 35 targets for 412 yards and three touchdowns.

Reynolds is a solid NFL wide receiver

Since signing on with the Detroit Lions, Josh Reynolds has reunited with his former Rams quarterback Jared Goff. In many ways, it may be that the reunion of Reynolds and Goff has been the spark that rejuvenated the Lions offense. He arrived 2021, and caught 19 of 36 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns. But that was merely Reynolds getting warmed up.

Since that season, Reynolds has continued to set career high marks for catch percentage, currently at 68.6 percent through nine games. He has also managed to put up three touchdowns in each of his past two seasons. He has filled a solid role as a WR3 for the Detroit Lions.

Curiously, those same 2023 season numbers would look very good in the Rams offense right now. 412 receiving yards would place him second on the Rams receivers, only training rookie WR Puka Nacua. And his three receiving touchdowns would tie WR Tutu Atwell for the most receiving touchdowns on the Rams roster.

Ultimately, the Rams current struggles are not just about a lack of stars on the Rams roster. Rather, the Rams struggles also include the lack of solid role players. The Rams attempt to predict who to extend and who to part ways with each season, hoping that they retain enough role players on the roster to continue competing in the post season.

The Rams were forced to re-strategize in the 2023 offseason because they were not retaining enough competent role players to replenish injured players in 2022. As we have shown above, some players who sign with new teams have continued to perform well, and have even improved.

Don't be in such a rush to get rid of players. While it is sometimes necessary, it's not always a happy ending for the LA Rams either. And it's quite often that a player whom the Rams fans have soured on still has plenty of solid football left in him.

If you don't believe me, just ask Detroit Lions starting quarterback, Jared Goff.