Who will be the next Rams player to sign an extension with the team?

(4) - QB Jimmy Garoppolo

I know it's something that I and many Rams fans wish for after the one-season contract expires on a backup quarterback, but the team had very positive results with veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and there is almost no mention of his name among NFL teams in need of a quarterback, despite the lukewarm assessment of young quarterbacks up for grabs in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The thing is, even with the team's success at persuading veteran starting quarterback Matthew Stafford to suit up for the team in 2025 (at least), the team has little evidence of having any chance for success if anything should happen to him. And yes, something has happened to Stafford every year (injury wise) since he led the team to victory in Super Bowl LVI. That forces the Rams front office to give intense scrutiny and attention to the backup quarterback role this season.

And the Rams loved how Jimmy Garoppolo handled business in 2024.

A backup quarterback is more than the bench guy. He runs the scout team's offense to prepare the defense, and he works with depth players throughout the season. On multiple occasions, the Rams were compelled to give a backup tight end or wide receiver a more significant role, and they were well prepared to handle the job.

But what sealed the deal for me was the Week 18 performance against the Seattle Seahawks starters, while he led the Rams' junior varsity squad. Despite the overwhelming odds against him, he put up the best passing day of the team's entire 2024 season. That was no accident. Jimmy Garoppolo is a solid captain of the Rams offensive aircraft carrier. And that deserves strong consideration for an encore performance.

(5) - CB Ahkello Witherspoon

I'm not really sure how the Rams developed the love-hate relationship with veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. But after putting up an incredible performance in 2023, despite signing to a bargain-basement contract, the team did not make any effort to extend him for 2024. It was not until the team lost CB Derion Kendrick for the entire season, CB Darious Williams was sent to IR with a nagging hamstring injury, and CB Tre'Davious White was a complete disaster that the team signed him to another one-year contract.

The Rams signed Witherspoon to the practice squad, but promoted him to the active roster just days later. He ended the season with 494 defensive snaps. He ended with 31 tackles, nine broken up passes, one interception, and allowed a completion rate of 65.3 percent. He missed five tackles for a rate of 13.9 percent, and surrendered two touchdown receptions.

While those are not stellar numbers, they are not horrifically bad.

Still, the team had no interested in bringing him back after the 2023 season, so I'm less optimistic that the team is interested in re-signing him this year. Still, he would be an ideal defensive back to have in the Rams secondary, if for nothing more than to ensure a matter of continuity. As we learned in 2024, continuity is necessary to ensure the team opens the season with a far better win-loss record.