Two vital Rams depth players agree to terms with team just before draft

Even as fans fill the icebox with their favorite beverages and punch their favorite pizza parlor on speed dial in preparation for the 2026 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams continue to fill their roster. While there was never any question as to the outcome, the team has retained two Exclusive Rights Free Agents.

One player re-signed yesterday:

While some fans may not celebrate the return of wide receiver/punt return Xavier Smith (muffed punt ring a bell?), his return adds to instant training camp competition and addresses the need for a return specialist before the draft arrives. Signing ERFA simply makes sense from general manager Les Snead's perspective. This restores vital players to the roster and does so at an affordable cost.

LA also has the benefit of filling the 90-man training camp roster with players who know the routines. In the 2023 NFL Draft, the team was so swamped with inexperienced rookies that it was forced to add to the coaching ranks to jumpstart progress. Don't discount the value of veterans in developing onboarding rookies.

Fans can smugly smile with the return of Xavier Smith and Justin Dedich

Despite the insistence of some fans, what was true in 2025 is no longer true in 2026. That is particularly true for young, less-experienced players, who often use the offseason to reinforce their weakest skills to compete for playing time in the new season.

Interior offensive lineman Justin Dedich

Like it or not, Les Snead has a huge task ahead. The team faces losing 80 percent of the team's starting offensive line at season's end. And the versatility of plugging interior offensive lineman Justin Dedich into any one of three positions is undeniably valuable to the coaching staff.

Fans can take heart in the fact that Dedich was a solid performer in difficult plug-and-play substitutions for injured players. That type of versatility and step-up experience is huge for the team in 2026.

Return specialist / wide receiver Xavier Smith

Xavier Smith is more than a disgraced punt returner. He replaces a deep-threat receiver role vacated by former Rams Tutu Atwell. And while a muffed punt return is not easily forgiven, it's water under the bridge. The team continues to believe in Smith, and that should be enough for fans.

Believe it or not, Smith hauled in 18 of 24 passes for 303 yards in 2025. And he did so at a bargain basement price. While he may have disappointed fans with his error in the NFC Championship Game, he accomplished enough last year to warrant a shot at redemption.

As always, thanks for reading.

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