Predicting the Rams' next 3 moves after signing Coleman Shelton

The Los Angeles Rams have kept GM Les Snead busy recently. The team has made some inspired roster moves, with a solid plan guiding each addition. But the further into the 2025 NFL Free Agency market we go, the less likely it is that the team will be able to stick to the original plan, and the more likely Snead will need to improvise.

31 other NFL teams all have their own plans, and signing the right free agents for the right roles at the right price is as much of a candy scramble now as it is meticulous measurements and calculations. The Rams have won some negotitations. But even without first-hand confirmation, you can be certain that not all negotiations have gone the Rams way.

Still, what is there left to do? If you are Rams GM Les Snead, there is no rest for the weary. The Rams roster is in far better shape now than it was a week ago, but now is the time to put the final touches to the team in preparation for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. Yes, the NFL Draft in which the Los Angeles Rams hold eight draft picks. So what is Snead's next move?

As fatigued as I am after little sleep and lots of coverage of the Rams free agency wizardry, I managed to settle in with a delicious cup of coffee in the wee hours of the morning to ponder exactly what is left to do. The draft is likely to be full of options on the defensive line, running back, or tight end positions, so I've ruled those out. And while I could be blown into the direction of the Rams signing a tarnished young quarterback like Trey Lance, the quick addition of popular quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo makes me believe that the Rams are not looking to invest in that position in free agency.

So, where will the Rams invest? Here are the three next moves I expect to see from the Rams front office before the 2025 NFL Draft. They are:

(3) - Sign a depth WR

The Los Angeles Rams have some options at the wide receiver position. While they have re-signed WR Tutu Atwell, the team has lost Demarcus Robinson, is likely to release Cooper Kupp, and has made no effort (yet) to re-sign Tyler Johnson. No matter how you view the addition of Davante Adams, the Rams offense needs help at the wide receiver position. So who might the Rams sign?

Tyler Johnson is a viable option. He is most familiar with the team's current offensive play book. He is likely the least expensive option. And he has the right size, weight, and physicality to be in competition for a larger role in 2025. One of the reasons that the team has opted to part ways from veteran WR Cooper Kupp is the fact that there is a logjam confronting young talented receivers. Tyler Johnson fits that category.

Van Jefferson is a player who could be worth the effort to bring back. In 2021, he helped to carry the team to and through Super Bowl LVI, putting up 802 receiving yards, six touchdowns, and 216 yards after the catch. When QB Matthew Stafford threw to Jefferson in that season, he had a QB rating of 104.2. Jefferson has not had a season come anywhere close to that level of production since. But he can stretch the field. I don't see Jefferson as an opportunity to recapture his past glory. But I do see a role in the Rams 2025 offense that is ideally suited for a player who has a lot of familiarity with the team.

(2) - Restock the secondary with a cornerback

The Rams defense needs a cornerback at this point. While the team has not yet moved in that direction, it will happen sooner rather than later. While the availability of a shut down corner has likely evaporated, the team can still move toward reinforcing the current collection of players. So who can the Rams add to help? I have a couple of players in mind.

Ahkello Witherspoon really makes the most sense right now. Nothing too fancy. Not a household name by any means. Simply a sound signing of a solid player who has played, and started, in the Rams secondary without the benefit of training camp or OTAs with this team. That's right. For two years straight, Witherspoon has been a willing contributor despite being an afterthought. It's time to sign this guy to the roster early enough to benefit from training camp if only on the principle of the thing.

Asante Samuel Jr. could be the type of addition to really upgrade the cornerback position. But he is going to need a bit more money. Is he worth it? That depends how you view his recovery from a shoulder injury that ended his 2024 NFL season after four games. And the shroud of mystery that surrounded Samuel was something that left far more questions than answers throughout the season.

So it comes down to faith, trust, and how suited you are at taking higher risks for even higher rewards. When healthy, Samuel Jr. has put up two interceptions per year, and held opposing quarterbacks to a completion rate that falls under 60 percent while breaking up 12 passes per season. But he has allowed 14 touchdowns in three seasons with the Chargers, and a quarterback rating that averages better than 92 when he is targeted.

For comparison purposes, Ahkello Witherspoon has allowed just 53.5 percent completion rate for passes with the Rams. And he has allowed just seven TD passes in two seasons, while snagging four interceptions and breaking up a phenomenal 23 passes. Asante Samuel Jr. is the hotter name. Ahkello Witherspoon is by far the better value.

(1) - Sign a veteran linebacker

Tyrel Dodson could be a valuable addition to the Rams defense. He is a solid performer in pass defense and pass coverage, which is exactly where Omar Speights is most vulnerable. In 2024, Dodson played 855 defensive snaps, recorded 107 tackles, five tackles for a loss, four quarterback hits, 2.0 quarterback sacks, and three interceptions. He even broke up six passes.

Dodson may not be perfect in all aspects of the game, but he is a nearly perfect complement to Speights.

If the Rams are sold on a do-it-all type of veteran inside linebacker, they have to give former Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Jack Gibbens serious consideration. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 242 pounds, Gibbens is a physically dominant inside linebacker who is not on the football field to finesse the offense. He is a punishing tackler. But he is coming back from a significant ankle injury that ended his 2024 season. And the Titans decided to move on from Gibbens rather than bid on his services to return.

Durability is certainly a concern. But that is something that the Rams are quite familiar with already.

Of course, the Rams could stay ultra cheap and re-sign Jake Hummel. Hummel is the least costly option, who also happens to be the most familiar with the team and the defense. While he has been relatively invisible, he did flash some impressive potential in 2024.

The Rams have several positions that still need a tweak or two. And there are still talented players worth considering to add. So it's up to Les Snead now. After all, it's his move.

As always, thanks for reading.

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