Rams’ ideal running back upgrade wiggles free after latest Bills deal

When it comes to upgrading the Los Angeles Rams roster, GM Les Snead has a greater challenge ahead oif him in 2025 than in previous seasons. After successfully addressing obvious opportunities to upgrade the roster in both the 2023 and 2024 NFL Drafts, the margin of where the team wants to be and where the team currently stands much closer at this point than in the past several offseasons.

The bar hasn't changed. The expectations haven't changed. But the strategy for the Rams to get similar results of significant improvements as in recent years may need to change. And that was the message I attempted to share (and failed miserably) when typing my recent article about the 3 ways the Rams roster is painted into a corner before the 2025 NFL Draft. The article was meant to demonstrate how the team's past practices may not generate similar upgrades. I examined the Rams' defense, offensive line, and running back rooms, concluding that what the team has done in the past may not be effective in 2025.

So, new strategoes are needed. One such 'new strategy' that could be necessary is revisiting the old strategy of showing up as a white knight to afford the team current game-changing NFL talent that face a salary-demand impasse with a solid player. Such as? Well, the Buffalo Bills just extending rising secondary star cornerback Christian Benford on a four-year deal worth $76 million.

So, how does this impact the Rams' offseason strategy? Ah, that's where this becomes insanely intriguing. You see, the Rams' running back room has become stagnant and stale. The team has packed the roster with four disappointingly similar players. They are:

• Kyren Williams | Age: 24 | 5-foot-9 | 202 pounds | 4 yrs in NFL
• Cody Schrader | Age: 25 | 5-foot-9 | 214 pounds | 2 yrs in NFL
• Ronnie Rivers | Age: 24 | 5-foot-9 | 192 pounds | 4 yrs in NFL
• Blake Corum | Age: 24 | 5-foot-8 | 210 pounds | 2 yrs in NFL

All four are talented. But due to the fact that they are all extremely similar in size, weight, and experience, there are no options for different styles to suit down and distance scenarios. Feature RB Kyren WIlliams is the clear bell cow of the group, which makes it nearly impossible for a young runner like Blake Corum to get much work without an injury to Williams. But, there are other paths to upgrade the running back room.

James Cook's unlikely extension opens window for Rams

Running back James Cook was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 63rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Unable to crack the Bills roster in his rookie season for more than a few offensive snaps, Cook has skyrocketed to Pro Bowl production in each of the past two seasons. The thing is, while many fans urge the Buffalo Bills to cut a check to extend Cook, does that make sense with a draft burstin with talent on the doorstep?

The Los Angeles Rams a similar challenge as the team enters the final season of RB Kyren Williams rookie contract. The instant reaction among fans is to cut a lucrative contract for Williams. But that ignores two fundamental economic challenges.

Challenge 1 to extending Williams is the fact that if the Rams are confronting a short duration window due to the shelf-life of veteran QB Matthew Stafford, then a lucrative extension for Williams now is more cost with no added impact in 2025. Yes, it makes sense strategically. The juice may not be worth the squeeze this year. And the team has too many 'potentially great' prospects on the roster and available in the draft, so the team is unlikely to get much better at the running back position falling back on familiar strategies.

But the team could consider an outside-of-the-box strategy that could help both the Buffalo Bills and their own running back room dilemma. If the Rams view James Cook as a strong competor and fit in the Rams offense, why not try to pry him from the Bills roster? To do so, the Bills will want to sustain their competitive position as an NFL Playoff contender. they can do so if the Rams propose the following trade:

This trade benefits both teams. For the LA Rams, the team gets an instant playmaker to join the running back room who is a Pro Bowler and incredibly productive. And Cook not only creates instant competition in the Rams running back room, but he can score, seldom fumbles the football, and afford the Rams an incredible one-two punch in the backfield. Best of all, the Rams elevate their running back to an unexpectedly high level.

How can this scenario be a win-win for both teams?

So why would the Buffalo Bills make this trade? The Bills have to respect the potential of RB Blake Corum, a highly regarded rusher from the 2024 NFL Draft who wilted on the Rams bench in 2024. Corum gives the Bills an instant swap out for Cook, and instantly enters the competition for the featured running back role.

But the talent level available in the 2025 NFL Draft is so abundant that the Bills could target a running back earlier. The Bills have picks in Rounds 1 through 3 at 30, 56, and 62. If the Bills are unhappy with their running backs, they have plenty of ammunition to grab one of the best running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft. This year's draft class is bursting with RB talent.

Best of all, the shift to younger players at running back eliminates a lot of unnecessary financial pressure to negotiate an affordable deal with Cook when he is looking for an average of $15 million APY in his next contract. Why would the Rams willingly take that contract expectation on?

The Rams are already on the hook to make the same decision over Kyren Williams. But Williams regressed in several ways in 2024. His average yards per carry dropped by 18 percent from 2023. The more alarming trend is the fact that his fumbling increases by 66.7 percent from 2023. Both trends should give the Rams front office reason to be very discerning about extending Williams.

Creating competition between Williams and Cook is the best of both worlds. The Rams get the production of two outstanding rushers in 2025, and their naturally competitive nature will ensure that they will bring their A game to each carry. More importantly, whoever the Rams choose not to extend will likely be offered a substantial contract via the 2026 NFL Free Agency market. That will likely trigger the algorithm for an award of a compensatory pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The Rams front office loves compensatory picks.

Too far-fetched for your taste? I can see pushback from Buffalo Bills fans. But at least one reliable source believes that a trade offer for James Cook will intrigue GM Brandon Beane enough for him to take the call and give it a listen.

Will it happen? It's hard to say. But it does check all of the blockbuster trade boxes that Rams GM Les Snead has activated in past trades for a true game-changing player. And I would love to see the Rams add a veteran running back like James Cook to upgrade their chances of realizing a Super Bowl victory while QB Matthew Stafford's window remains open.

As always, thanks for reading.

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