Rams lose second FA special team specialist, this time to Packers

I don't believe that anyone deluded themselves over the LA Rams' free agency priorities in the time leading up to the 2023 off-season. While the Rams made their intentions very clear with a steady purge of their roster from top to bottom, many fans have done the math. With 45 players on the 2023 roster, and less than $8 million of available cap space (as their current cap space does not yet reflect Coleman Shelton's new two-year deal), the Rams haven't freed up enough cap space to meet their 2023 projected obligations just yet.

At 45 players, the Rams haven't the funding in place to outbid other teams. And so, the LA Rams free agents are an NFL yard sale of sorts, a make-me-an-offer sort of informal backyard sale in which the LA Rams are unlikely to be able to compete.

One area of particular note is the Rams special teams, a unit that has already lost Pro Bowler placekicker Matt Gay. Now, the Rams are losing another special teams specialist, this time it's long snapper Matt Orzech. He has agreed to a reported three-year contract.

The truth of the matter is that with a new placekicker and likely a new punter, it only makes sense that the Rams would be good with landing a new long snapper as well. That leaves kick returner and punt returner Brandon Powell remaining, but I would not be set on his return to the team either.

The LA Rams seemed to invest significant time and energy into selecting their optimal coaches for the coaching staff this year. The coaching staff must now be ready to work with a huge cast of new faces, many of them rookies, to mold and shape the Rams roster for 2023.

As it now stands, the LA Rams will be looking for a new placekicker and long snapper. My guess is that before it's all over, the team will be shopping for a punter and return specialist as well.