Rob Havenstein and 10 Rams who have plenty to prove in their contract year

(6) - Ahkello Witherspoon - DB

The Lost Angeles Rams have never signed veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon to a multi-year contract. In fact, the Rams have signed Witherspoon to a series of three one-year contracts. But for the first time, the team has brought back Witherspoon early enough to participate in OTAs, mini-camp, and training camp. So is that a positive trend, or a negative trend?

Witherspoon is the less expensive, less talented big-bodied defensive back who fills the role that former Rams DB Jalen Ramsey had vacated. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 195 pounds. Witherspoon is a bit of an enigma on the defense. He is well suited for pass coverage in the NFL, but tends to be a bit of a liability in run defense.

It's a great sign that the team has finally allowed Witherspoon to join the team for OTAs and training camp, and I expect the results to be significant in an improved and harmonious secondary to open the season in 2025. The Rams opened to a 1-4 start in 2024 due in part to a dysfunctional secondary that struggled to stop anyone.

But Witherspoon's presence is no automatic guarantee of a better start to the season. After all, the Rams secondary appeared to be vastly improved on paper in 2024 with the addition of veterans Darious Williams and Tre'Davious White. White proved to be a disaster, while Willaims never quite lived up to expectations. It was not until the Rams added Witherspoon weeks into last season that pass coverage started to gel.

The Rams have plenty of players at cornerback competing for playing time. Unless Witherspoon outperforms everyone, it is unlikely that the Rams will extend him again. But, never say never in the NFL. After all, Ahkello Witherspoon is participating in his first Rams training camp.

So, anything goes.

(5) - Tyler Higbee - TE

Despite only suiting up for three games in 2024, it was painfully obvious that the Rams had nobody in the tight end room that could fill Tyler Higbee's shoes. Higbee scored two touchdowns in three games, which was more than three tight ends could score in 17 games. So yes, the reasons for the Rams search for a true Tyler Higbee successor became clear.

But if rookie TE Terrance Ferguson works out (and the Rams have to invest the time, coaching, and reps to ensure that he does), how much longer will the Rams be interested in keeping a 32 year old veteran tight end on the roster?

Since the Rams are pushing ahead in 2025 without either DT Aaron Donald or WR Cooper Kupp, it is no stretch of the imagination to see the team pressing ahead in 2026 without Higbee, regardless of how well he performs this season. Knowing that, it truly behooves the team to commit to 12-personnal offensive plays far more frequently this season.

The team cannot expect rookie TE Terrance Ferguson to flip a switch and be ready to play simply because the offense is ready for his to do so.

Since 2021, Higbee's sure-handed presence on offense has dimmed. From 2018 through 2021, Higbee has averaged a catch percentage of 73.9 percent. But from 2022 through 2024, his catch percentage has plummeted to 66.8 percent. So it's not as though the team does not have good reason to get Ferguson involved in the offense quickly.

It this Higbee's last hurrah in the Rams offense? Whether yes or no, the offense has to set the foundation in place to lighten the workload on Higbee, and create new routes to gain yards and generate points form the tight end room.

Like it or not, Higbee may be in his final season with the Rams. Hopefully, it's one he can be proud of.