RB Kyren Williams and 4 other Rams facing make or break seasons

The Los Angeles Rams are a team that runs a rather disciplined development program. There are never shortages of young, talented players eager to step up and prove their mettle in any given season. But by season's end, the team is frequently willing to let players find their next pot of gold in the annual NFL Free Agent market.

Sometimes, fans are thrilled to see the team part ways with players. At other times, the realization that a key contributor will suit up and compete for a new team is not pleasant at all.

That's the nature of professional football. The NFL is also known as 'Not For Long,' as the chapters and careers of professional athletes in the sport are ripe for upheaval. Even when a player plays up to or exceeds the value of their contracts, they may be traded to another NFL team simply for the chance to upgrade the team's overall chances in the future.

Even now, as the team has filled the 90-man Rams roster for training camp, upheaval and dramatic changes wait around the corner. This team is currently projected to face the loss of 31 players at the end of this season. While that number is unduly inflated by players who could be cut as soon as several months from now as the team pares down to the 53-man limit of the Rams roster, I've identified five such players whose contracts expire in one year, and who are expected to start or hold a significant role on the team this season.

They are:

(5) - DB Derion Kendrick

The injury in 2024 that benched young defensive back Derion Kendrick could not have come at a worse time. The Rams' defense had just been turned over to new DC Chris Shula, and the entire group was trying to master the new philosophy and tactics as a group. The Rams' secondary seemed to struggle with the experimentation of swapping parts to see which combination offered the best pass defense.

When the defense found a version that seemed to work, Kendrick was still on IR.

Nearly everyone is back for the Rams' secondary, which means that any progress Kendrick had made towards a starting or rotational role has been wiped clean. Worst of all, he is caught between a rock and a hard place. He must make a sensational impression on the coaching staff to earn a starting role, or perhaps even to earn a spot on the 53-man Rams roster, while knowing that he only has one more season on his current contract to convince the powers that be that is is worth bringing back.

It's going to be a high-wire act for Derion Kendrick.

(4) - ILB Nate Landman

The Rams front office signed veteran ILB Nate Landman to find a player with all the skills of rookie ILB Omar Speight, but with much greater NFL experience at his disposal. And so far, veteran ILB Nate Landman has proven to be exactly what the team hoped he might become. He has taken charge of this young defense, albeit in shorts and t-shirts, and has impressed with legit leadership skills at what may be the most important role of this defense.

All's well that ends well, right? If it were only that simple.

The Rams seldom offer inside linebackers or safeties extensions. Perhaps as part of the team's financial budget, those two positions seem to be constructed by stringing team-friendly prove-it deals, and Nate Landman is simply the next chapter. Of course, who will take over after Landman? The team has restocked the shelves with a handful of young linebackers who are eager to take over. After 2025, it's likely that one or more will. l

(3) - WR Tutu Atwell

The Rams signed veteran WR Tutu Atwell to a one-year contract worth $10 million. The extension shocked fans, not just for the insane value of the new deal, but for the fact that of all the Rams' wide receivers up for a contract extension, the team singled out Atwell to bring back. Of course, we've heard all the right rhetoric out of the coaching staff, including the commitment to get Atwell far more involved in this offense.

We'll see.

But even if Atwell manages to break the 1000+ receiving yards glass ceiling, will the team extend him? The bigger they are, the harder they fall, and Atwell's contract seems to have already baked in a significant production increase already. How well must Atwell perform this season to become a key fixture in this offense? Or asked a different way, did the earnest need to get paid at the end of the 2024 NFL season set him up for certain failure at meeting expectations in 2025?

(2) - S Kamren Curl

Half of the Washington Commanders' secondary from the 2023 NFL season is gearing up to play significant roles for the LA Rams in 2025. The Rams signed free agent safety Kam Curl in the 2024 NFL Free Agency market, and then claimed cornerback Emmanuel Forbes off the Commanders' waiver wire midseason in 2024. But the team signed Curl to a two-year deal, and as he is a safety, the track record of his winning an extension out of the Rams is less than you might wish.

Curl was added to the Rams' secondary in hopes of preserving the hard-hitting impact of former safeties like Taylor Rapp, Nick Scott, and John Johnson III, while upgrading the ability to defend passes and be in place to negate completions. Curl added some oomph to the Rams' secondary, but I'm certain that even he would agree that there were too many changes in terms of personnel to get things running smoothly.

The Rams have young safeties in Kam Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough, both of whom are pushing hard for starting roles. Kam Curl needs to step up his game, not just to warrant an extension, but to fend off his teammates.

(1) - RB Kyren Williams

The Rams want to extend RB Kyren Williams, and that has been confirmed by HC Sean McVay. Williams wants to play for the team for the foreseeable future, and that has been confirmed by the player. Even now, Coach McVay confirms that the negotiations are progressing. But is it that simple? Not really.

If you have ever been to a market where you must negotiate to complete the sale, you know that the art of haggling for the best terms of that purchase takes time. Whether it's a weekly farmers market, purchasing an automobile, or even the purchase of a new home, buyers risk overpaying simply by handing over the initial asking price. And that is what makes the negotiations between the Rams and Williams so complex.

The Rams have Kyren Williams as the featured running back, sure. But the team invested a valuable Round 3 pick into RB Blake Corum in 2024, and a valuable Round 4 pick into RB Jarquez Hunter in 2025. Are they to be matching bookends on the bench this season as Williams handles 80+ percent of the rushes?

The Rams need to change their rushing strategy in a huge way this season. And those conceptual changes will have significant impacts on what the FMV (fair market value) should be reflected in Williams' new contract. That is why negotiations are so slow so far.

Consider this along the lines of a prenuptial agreement. Both sides want to enter into a long-term relationship, but both want to be protected along the way. What could possibly go wrong? I listed seven factors that need to be considered just off the top of my head. Lawyers and agents can come up with 10 times that number of scenarios that should be spelled out in any extension.

Kyren Williams wants to ensure his financial security. The Rams want to ensure the effectiveness of their offense and team. Both sides align if they construct a meaningful, well-thought-out contract. That takes time. If the contract is not signed before the season begins (and it shouldn't be rushed), Williams will need to prove his worth in the new offensive design.

As always, thanks for reading.