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

(4) - Kamren Curl - S

When the Rams signed Washington Commanders young defensive back Kamren Curl, the team seemed to get a huge bargain. But after his first season with the team, it appears that Curl was fairly priced. In fact, the team seemed to get better production at the safety position out of rookies Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough.

Kinchens was good, don't get me wrong. But he showed some unanticipated weaknesses as well. On the punch list of things that must improve in 2025, Curl had a missed tackle rate of 11.2 percent. He surrendered four touchdowns in pass coverage last season as well. And he only recorded 79 tackles, the lowest number of tackles of his NFL career.

I hoped for better. But I'm not ready to make any final decisions about Curl's tenure with the Rams defense. Keep in mind that throughout all the chaos and reiterations in the Rams secondary last season, Kam Curl was the newbee who was trying to make sense of it all. By the time the Rams were competing in postseason, Curl was performing as expected, as was much of the Rams secondary.

Will that cohesion, comfort, chemistry, and communication carry over into 2025? It certainly should. The Rams continue to shake up the roster each year, but the Rams secondary was relatively unscathed in offseason. And Kam Curl will be one of the defensive backs to benefit most from no changes.

Curl had to learn a new team, a new defense, and new teammates last season, even as the team threw out a new secondary on a weekly basis. That steady diet of change obliterates communication and consistency, two elements that are the bread and butter of solid pass coverage in an NFL secondary. I expect Curl to have a much better season with the Rams in 2025. Will it be enough to warrant an extension?

This team has historically not re-signed inside linebackers or safeties. Perhaps Kam Curl will be the exception to the rule. But he will need to earn it.

(3) - Rob Havenstein - RT

It's tough to realize that veteran starting right tackle Rob Havenstein is about to enter his 11th season for the Rams. But that is where he and the team find themselves right now. In 2022, Havenstein suited up and started all 17 games. But the signs of age are beginning to show through for the 33-year-old veteran. In 2023, Havenstein played just 14 games. In 2024, Havenstein played just 11 games. Should that trend continue unchecked, the Rams may see only eight or nine games out of Havenstein in 2025.

To be fair, the depth at offensive tackle is not ready to absorb nine or more starts at right tackle this year.

While some may be disappointed with the Rams depth chart at the offensive line, that has been the ongoing saga since the team hired HC Sean McVay in 2017. The team has counted on a core group of five starters to handle the workload, while investing little into backups. The team seems to prefer late picks and post-draft additions to the offensive line, and coach them up to NFL-caliber players. The Rams starting left tackle Alaric Jackson and center Coleman Shelton are two examples of starters who went undrafted.

But Rob Havenstein's dwindling durability and advancing age creates a challenge for the team in 2025. If he struggles to stay healthy this season, can Warren McClendon Jr. or K.T. Leveston step up to anchor the right side of the offensive line. Perhaps even more puzzling, if Havenstein can stay healthy all season long, with the Rams offer to bring him back as the starter for 2026?

It's something to watch for this season.