Return of core veterans will be Rams' anchor for another Super Bowl plunge

There was a time when fans knew several irrefutable facts about the Los Angeles Rams' approach to contract extensions.

They would shy away from re-signing any player over 30. They would never extend a 30-year-old coming off a significant injury (example: receiver Robert Woods). They would never extend an inside linebacker (Cory Littleton). The team treated safeties the same way, even high-level talents (John Johnson III).

Well, those things are no longer true.

Recent Rams extensions include 30-year-old tight end Tyler Higbee, who is still managing after-effects from a 2024 ACL injury. Throw in linebacker Nate Landman and a pair of safeties, Quentin Lake and Kam Curl.

While much of the offseason buzz has centered on new additions, retaining key veterans could prove just as critical to anchoring the Rams' new-look roster.

Sean McVay continues leading Rams to success

Since hiring head coach Sean McVay in 2017, Los Angeles has only known one sub-.500 season. The team has only missed the playoffs twice. McVay is 92-57 in the regular season and 16-10 in the postseason. Pretty good.

His winning secret has not been sticking to the same strategy, but rather deploying a spectrum of tactics and approaches. In 2018, the Rams rode the powerful running of Todd Gurley and Jared Goff's prolific passing to the Super Bowl, but fell to the New England Patriots.

In 2021, they regrouped and, this time, claimed the Lombardi Trophy themselves, thanks to the telepathic chemistry between Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp and a pass rush boasting Aaron Donald on the interior and Von Miller off the edge.

In 2026, the Rams are running it back with last season's characters in the league's best offense: Davante Adams and Puka Nacua at receiver, a deep tight-end room, and an enviable backfield tandem in Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.

The revamped defense just added Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. The familiar leadership of Higbee, Curl, Lake, and Landman will help stabilize the roster from top to bottom.

Always ready with new innovations and wrinkles, L.A. has learned how to remain one step ahead of the competition by constantly changing tactics.

You can bet the team's streak of success has a lot to do with coaching and the presence of reliable veterans to mentor the team's young stars. During the McVay era that has proven to be the difference again and again, across many iterations of the roster.

As always, thanks for reading.

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