When can the LA Rams be real contenders again?

Do you feel a draft in the room?

Once the Rams have a strong offensive line and key pieces on the defense, Snead can begin to fill in the pieces from the draft. The best-case scenario is being able to get the #1 overall pick and being able to draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams, but that is unlikely. So the Rams can certainly add big-time talent in other positions, or roll the dice on a quality quarterback for the future who may fall to later in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

If I had to pick three players the Rams could draft, other than Caleb Williams, I would hope the Rams choose Ohio State University WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Georgia TE Brock Bowers, or Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry. Obviously, the Rams will have to choose one from these three rookies, but this draft is expected to be deep at WR, DB, and the Edge position, and will be loaded with elite talent in Round 1.

Now, to make the most of the draft, the Rams college scouts really need to do their homework. As we all know, the Rams have not been the best at drafting talent lately. But we do know that the Rams highly value defensive backs, offensive tackles, wide receivers, and edge rushers. The Rams will even look for a franchise quarterback in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft if a suitable one remains on the board.

Rams will need rookies to step up

The team has found a few diamonds in the rough such as WR Cooper Kupp, DB John Johnson III, and most recently IOL Steve Avila and WR Puka Nacua, but more often than not they have missed with picks. The most notable misses the Rams have had are when they drafted OT Greg Robinson instead of Khalil Mack or WR Tutu Atwell instead of Amon-Ra St. Brown. I know they say hindsight is 20-20 vision, but if our scouts work a little harder, they should be able to find some of these guys.

If the LA Rams front office could make all these moves and maybe hit on even four of his picks (outside the first round), the Rams will finish with a record over .500 in the 2024 NFL season and could be a formidable opponent in the NFC playoffs, either as a divisional winner or as a wild card team.

As they move into the 2025 NFL free agency market, they will have an expected $124.6 million to spend. Keep in mind that the number does not include salaries for players signed the previous year, rookie contracts, and potential raises in the cap limit. In fact, the 2025 salary cap projections only reflect 23 players under contract, and All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald is not among the players under contract for the 2025 NFL season.

So, for a rough estimate, let us say they will have somewhere between $80-90 million at worst to work with plus the draft where they should have seven or eight picks minimum, including a rookie from Round 1. With all that money to spend and draft capital, the Rams should be able to fill in any remaining holes on the roster. By making all these moves, not only will the Rams be contenders again, but they will have a young, star-studded roster that should be able to remain competitive for years to come