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

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+