Rams roster grades over trades, extensions, releases, and FA projections

On March 4, 2025, the Los Angeles Rams have (had) until 1:00 pm PT to tag a player. By that, I mean the option to apply either the Franchise or Transition tag to that player. Why? That allows the team to retain rights to that player on a one-year contract to give the team's front office time to negotiate a more permanent solution. After all, those one-year contracts compel the player to remain with the team, but do so at an immense level of salary compensation.

The only player ripe for consideration was LT Alaric Jackson. But we had many reasons why the team would not do so. With Jackson extended on a three-year contract, I would not look for the team to tag anyone else.

And so the 2025 NFL offseason has already begun. Very soon, the real chaos begins as the 2025 NFL season is rapicly inbound. With it come the NFL's legal tampering period, when players' agents and representation can negotiate with all 32 NFL teams to get their clients the best possible new deals possible.

In other words, prepare for pandemonium.

But as we have some time before all sorts of crazy actions begin to take place at all hours of the day, it's a good time to hit the pause button for a moment, take a deep breath, and collect our wits. The Rams roster is already prepared to inflict some damage. While the surge in the defense late in the season is very promising, the Rams' offense potency has become both diluted and ineffective.

The problem with pivoting into a new direction creates some challenges. Can veterans who did it one way, pivot rapidly to doing things a new way? Can the front office restock the Rams roster with players who are a fit for a new offensive philosophy? Or will the team struggle to turn the corner from doing things the old way to the new way?

Let's examine who may play elsewhere in 2025, and who may be back for another go at a Super Bowl:

On the Trade Block

Just because a player is up for a trade does not necessarily mean that player will be traded. For the Rams track record, the team will need a trade partner, adequate compensation to make the trade (which often is not much), and buy-in from the player to be traded. That is not easy to achieve. Teams that are successful often have a robust roster, making those teams the most unlikely to be interested in trading. So who do the Rams have on the trade block now?

WR Cooper Kupp

Perhaps the most shocking turn of events this offseason is the realization that the team is prepared to trade veteran WR Cooper Kupp. But so far, the market for Kupp has been soft. Do the Rams have a plan to deal with no trade partner for Kupp?

While Rams HC Sean McVay appeared to leave the door open for Kupp, don't bite. Kupp is likely to be released if the team cannot trade him. But trade rumors heating up over Kupp right now. One newcomer to the scene is the Jacksonville Jaguars:

Meanwhile, ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano dropped the Dallas Cowboys' hat in the ring:

Still, other teams may view Cooper Kupp's current salary as too high, and would rather wait for the Rams to release him rather that navigate trade compensation on top of a lucrative contract. And as per NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, the Rams appear to be headed to Kupp's release:

If released, Cooper Kupp can sign with any team, even an NFC West Division rival.

Grade for release/trade of Cooper Kupp: B-

IOL Jonah Jackson

Due to the likely start for second year Beaux Limmer at center, and Steve Avila back to start at left guard, the Rams starting five offensive linemen appear to be already defined. With a huge uphill battle for a starting role on the Rams roster, and a contract compensating Jonah Jackson as a starter, he sought and was permitted to seek a trade.

While there appears to be a potential market in the NFL for a starting offensive guard, the Rams could welcome Jonah Jackson back in 2025 as a backup. But doing so would almost certainly require reworking his contract to reflect his less demanding role with the team.

And as this article was about to publish, we have:

We will share this news in a separate article.

Grade for trade of IOL Jonah Jackson: A-

Rams release CB Tre Tomlinson

The Rams' roster at the cornerback position looks more like a matter of quantity over quality right now. But early indications suggest that not only are the Rams aware of the problem, but are prepared to take action to correct the matter. That correction has begun with the former Round 6 draftee Tre Tomlinson. Tomlinson's release comes while he is still on his rookie contract, which is a bit unusual for this team.

Still, Tomlinson's NFL career had fallen to needing life support in the Rams defense. Oft-injured, and ineffective when playing, he had almost no chance of making the Rams roster in 2025. His early release allowed him to be claimed by the Rams NFC West Rivals, the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers claimed Tomlinson out of the need to get cheaper all over their roster to afford a significant pay hike to QB Brock Purdy. I don't know if he will do will with the 49ers, but I do wish him well.

Grade for Tre Tomlinson release: B+

ERFA

The LA Rams have only one Exclusive Rights Free Agent - Center Dylan McMahon.

C Dylan McMahon - Rams gave Qualifying Tender offer

The Rams have made another move to fill the 2025 Rams roster by tendering a qualifying offer to ERFA Dylan McMahon. If you want to know why that was necessary, I recommend that you check out this article that explains why this is a sneaky-good roster move for the team.

With Dylan McMahon back for 2025, the Rams can turn their attention to other needs on the roster. And believe me, there are no shortages of roster needs.

Grade for extension of C Dylan McMahon: A+

RFA

When it comes to restricted free agents, the category can take the shape of two separate types of players. Either the category describes players who were signed after the NFL Draft, and who had fought hard for a starting or significant rotational role. On the other hand, the categorize can include players who are not quite to the level of starting for the team, but whose versatility and production on special teams have kept them with the team in a backup or niche role. In 2024, the Rams roster extended RFA Alaric Jackson with a qualifying tender offer because he was the team's starting left tackle.

So who are the team's RFAs in 2025? They are backups with limited roles on the team and are:

ILB Jake Hummel

Whlle inside linebacker Jake Hummel showed plenty of promise in 2024, he is a player who only makes sense to be back in 2025 for the right price. While he is a three-year veteran of the Rams, he has specialized in a special teams role. His 2024 season did see increased usage, but that was due to injuries and a Week 18 start when the team rested starters. But I love what Hummel showed in 2024. In many ways, he played better than Troy Reeder, and if given more defensive snaps, may have played better than Christian Rozeboom.

He's worth bring back for special team and in a backup role.

Grade for ILB Jake Hummel: Incomplete

RB Ronnie Rivers

The LA Rams weathered the storm at the running back position after trading away RB Cam Akers, leaning on starting RB Kyren Williams and backing him up with Ronnie Rives. But the team invested a valuable draft pick into RB Blake Corum, and then claimed RB Cody Schrader off the San Francisco 49ers waivers. Competition at running back is significantly greater now.

Rivers is fair enough for a backup role, but he is simply a clone of practically every other running back on the Rams roster: Smallish, elusive, somewhat productive, no breakaway speed. Clearly the Rams deliberately set up the running back room with four versions of the same running back. Rives may be back, but it will need to be on very team-friendly terms.

Grade for RB Ronnie Rivers: Incomplete

UFA

Now we enter the realm of unrestricted free agents, those players whose time in the NFL affords them an opportunity to seek the best compensation for the best roles on the best teams possible. Because the team had pretty much divested itself of highly compensated players, the projected Rams free agents are unlikely to create much buzz in the 2025 Free Agency market. But that does not mean that there is nothing to discuss. Truth be told, it probably means that we have more to discuss because the big name national media is focused elsewhere.

LT Alaric Jackson - Extended thru 2027 on a 3-year $57 million contract

In my view, no extension was more important to the team than re-signing starting left tackle Alaric Jackson. Not only did the team manage to do so, but getting Jackson back at under $20 million per year is a huge win for the team.

There was a huge drop off along the offensive line in 2024 whenever Alaric Jackson did not play. Perhaps that was due simply to the players who replaced Jackson. Perhaps the team relied too heavily on unreliable swing-tackle Joe Noteboom to handle the backup role. Whatever the case, the team did not get positive results if Jackson could not suit up.

But, in the end, is he truly worthy of an extension? By all means ask those types of questions! After all, how else will you uncover the fact that he continues to improve and develop?

With this extension, the team has built a solid core of young offensive linemen at four of the five starting offensive linemen positions.

Grade for OT Alaric Jackson Extension: A+

Rams extend WR Tutu Atwell

Some fans are disappointed that the LA Rams front office deemed veteran WR Tutu Atwell worthy of of an extension. But many more fans were put off at the amount of compensation offered to Tutu Atwell over a one-year prove-it deal: $10 million. While that seems like a great deal of money to put in the pockets of a wide receiver who has been limited in his usage in this offense.

The Rams' offseason plans intend to make the offense more explosive and capable of scoring more consistently and quickly. The Rams had met with Oregon's speedy WR Tez Johnson. The mystery to that meeting is why would the Rams have any interest in a fast rookie wide receiver when they had a fast veteran wide receiver on the roster in Tutu Atwell?

Well, the team made a decision to extend Atwell. On the one hand, compensation of $10 million for one year's worth of work is a rather significant investment. On the other hand, a one-year deal is hardly a full all-in endorsement of Atwell as a key contributor in this offense for years to come:

The Rams have not given Atwell many opportunities, or many targets, in his first four seasons with the team. And for my initial thoughts of his role in the offense, I was not convinced that he had the stuff to become a significant contributor. But over time, my skepticism softened. He stepped up in 2023. Unfortunately, so did WR Puka Nacua. So when Cooper Kupp returned to compete, the Rams sat Atwell. The same pattern developed in 2024. Once again, when Kupp returned to compete, Atwell was benched.

I'd love to see if Tutu Atwell can stay healthy and effective for an entire 17-game season. I suspect that the Rams, in signing Atwell to a one-year deal, want to see proof of that as well.

Grade for Tutu Atwell extension: B+

Who is left?

While the Rams do not risk losing any 'must re-sign' caliber of veteran free agents, there is a lot to be said about continuity. Whether it's retaining a veteran who knows the drill on the offensive side of the football to keep training camp progressing steadily, or niche players who are vital to the defense, the Rams front office faces tough decisions. Those decisions are easier if players are willing to sign a team-friendly contract. Some may. Others won't.

But the Rams front office has plenty of options this offseason. The team has been very successful on the football field, in recent NFL Drafts, and even in some free agent signings. So the team has to weigh the pros and cons of extending last year's contributors against the potential upgrade to the team from the 2025 NFL Free Agency market, the 2025 NFL Draft, or even the collegiate free agents signed after the draft.

(1) - CB Ahkello Witherspoon

What I see from veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is a guy who is fighting on every snap of the football to make a play. Unfortunately, the lack of competing with the team in each of the past two training camps rears its ugly head in the season. Wouldn't it be great for the Rams front office to give Witherspoon a chance to gear up with his teammates throughout the offseason training? I get it that the Rams may not be sold on Witherspoon for 2025. But he showed up as a starter in 2023 and in 2024. If the team wants to bring him back this season, they should do it the right way.

Grade for CB Ahkello Witherspoon: Incomplete

(2) - DL Neville Gallimore

While the Rams defense did not send many defensive snaps to veteran defensive lineman Neville Gallimore, he held his own in terms of modest production for the amount of work he got. But he seemed to get a B-12 booster shot in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. In just 45 defensive snaps, he managed to record six defensive tackles and 2.5 quarterback sacks.

While I believe that FA defensive lineman Johnathan Allen would be an ideal addition to the Rams roster, Neville Gallimore is a younger and far less expensive option to bring back in 2025.

Grade for DL Nevill Gallimore: Incomplete

(3) - DT Larrell Murchison

The Rams enjoyed the contributions of veteran defensive lineman Larrell Murchison since he was claimed off Tennessee Titans waivers in December 2022. And he showed flashes of promise as he put up 2.0 quarterback sacks in just 54 defensive snaps in the Rams defense. But Murchison is not proficient at wrapping up a ball carrier and making tackles. In 2022, he missed 11.1 percent of his tackles. In 2023, he missed an alarming 14.3 percent of his tackles. In 2024, he was injured and never saw a single snap.

Unless the Rams experience an unexpected setback, Murchison is likely to play for another NFL team in 2025.

Grade for DT Larrell Murchison: Incomplete

(4) - DT Bobby Brown III

I have to say that I am sitting on the fence over the chances of the Rams bringing back nose tackle Bobby Brown II for 2025. He is a stalwart run defender, a guy who can take on multiple blockers, but still stuff the run and make sure-handed tackles. In 2024, despite fighting through multiple blockers, he missed only 2.2 percent of his tackles. In 472 defensive snaps, he put up 44 tackles, four tackles for a loss, even managing to get his hands up and get credit for breaking up a pass. The problem is, he disputes the fact that he is a one-trick pony.

While I have no doubts that he could put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, I am concerned that a nose tackle in this defense wants to get pass rush opportunities. This defense is based on a strategy of putting the right player into the right roles to succeed. If Bobby Brown is disatisfied with how the Rams deploy him, he may be better suited to seek a defense that emphasizes his pass rushing skills.

Grade for NT Bobby Brown III: Incomplete

(5) - ILB Christian Rozeboom

One of the positions that will certainly be the focus for many Rams fans is the inside linebacker position. The team unexpectedly traded away veteran ILB Ernest Jones III just before the start of the 2024 NFL season, and was painted into a corner to start ILB Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder to open the year. While coaches never backed off a full endorsement of both Rozeboom and Reeder, the team struggled with their pairing early in the season. It was not until Reeder fell to injury and was replaced by undrafted rookie linebacker Omar Speights that the defense began to show some backbone.

Given the circumstances, Rozeboom was okay. But the image of his being pancaked multiple times in 2024 leaves the impression that he can be upgraded.

Grade for ILB Christian Rozeboom: Incomplete

(6) - ILB Troy Reeder

If the Rams could assure me that any extension of veteran inside linebacker Troy Reeder would limit him to special teams and backing up starters at the inside linebacker position, I might find myself in favor of bringing him back. But whenever he is on the Rams roster, he invariably seems to wriggle his way to a starting role, and that proves to be disastrous. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 236 pounds, you would be correct in expecting Reeder to be physical in both run and pass defense. But when the football is snapped, he reverts to a back-peddling, missed tackling guy who seems to specialize in being out of position to make a play.

I hope the Rams allow him to seek opportunity elsewhere.

Grade for ILB Troy Reeder: Incomplete

(7) - OLB Michael Hoecht

I do not think any other defender puts DC Chris Shula's strategy more on display than DT/OLB Michael Hoecht. His ability to play in a 2-, 3-, or 4-point stance gives this defense such a wide variety of looks that offenses have to prepare for just about anything. Hoecht may attract some interest in free agency, but his optimal value remains playing for the Rams.

Grade for OLB Michael Hoecht: Incomplete

(8) - QB Jimmy Garoppolo

If veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo insists in competing for a starting role in 2025, that will mean his signing to play for another team. But his fit with the Rams came easily. I don't know if he wants to come back, but even if the team drafts a rookie quarterback, he still has a role with the team as a primary backup for 2025. But I expect, like other veteran quarterbacks before, he will sign elsewhere.

Grade for QB Jimmy Garoppolo: Incomplete

(9) - S John Johnson IIII

While the Rams roster seems to be saturated with talent at the safety position, I am all in favor of bringing back veteran safety John Johnson III. His 2024 NFL season as lost to injury, but he is a solid plug-and-play contributor who is more than happy to pay-it-forward by mentoring younger players. Of course, it has to be at the right price, but he is a solid locker room leader.

Grade for S John Johnson III: Incomplete

(10) - T Joe Noteboom

I don't know if the Rams could possibly have any more chances or opportunities to offer swing-tackle Joe Noteboom. From promoting him to the starting left tackle after Andrew Whitworth's retirement, Noteboom's lack of durability has continued to erode the team's confidence and dependability on him in an ever-diminishing role. Throughout it all, he was paid significantly more than starting LT Alaric Jackson. Noteboom simply did not deliver to expectations.

Grade for OT Joe Noteboom: Incomplete

(11) - T Conor McDermott

At 32 years old, the presence of offensive tackle Conor McDermott on the list of Rams free agents in 2025 is a bit of a surprise. A veteran of six NFL seasons (well, seven if you consider his 2024 season on the Rams IR roster), McDermott has been a solid rotational role offensive lineman. With the team facing uncertainty in 2025 at offensive tackle, he could be a wise veteran to keep on the roster through preseason. The Rams liked him enough to keep him around in 2024. I'd like to see why for myself.

Grade for OT Conor McDermott: Incomplete

(12) - TE Hunter Long

The Rams have veteran tight ends Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, and Davis Allen on the roster for 2025, There is the expectation that the Rams will draft a tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft as well. That almost certainly means that the path will fork, and Hunter Long will sign with another team. I cannot fathom any reasons to extend him.

Grade for TE Hunter Long: Incomplete

(13) - WR Demarcus Robinson

While Demarcus Robinson is eager to come back to the Rams in 2025, and has filled a rather productive role in this offense, he has some challenges. Due to legal matters rising from his alleged DUI arrest in 2024, he may be facing disciplinary action from the NFL this seson. I'm not sure that the Rams are willing to look the other way with that hanging over his head.

Grade for WR Demarcus Robinson: Incomplete

(14) - WR Tyler Johnson

26-year-old wide receiver Tyler Johnson has a clearly defined role in the Rams offense in 2025, as long as he returns to the team at the right price. He stands 6-foot-1, weighs 208 pounds, and has enough talent to fill a rotational role in an offense that appears to be very shallow in the wide receiver room for 2025.

Grade for WR Tyler Johnson: Incomplete

Summary

The team is getting a solid jump on the 2025 offseason by getting key contributors under contract long before the 2025 NFL Free Agency market opens for business. There could be more extensions executed before free agency begins. Some fans have already begun to express frustration with the team. For the life of me, I do not understand that reaction. When an artist chisels a statue from a block of granite. The first strikes are slow and deliberate. The statue begins to take shape slowly, methodically.

So too, the Rams front office acts slowly and deliberately to reform the Rams roster. Beginning with the most obvious moves, the team is constructing the foundation to build upon. Now what comes next? Stay tuned.

As always, thanks for reading.

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