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

(6) - WR Tutu Atwell

The Rams' relationship with swift wide receiver Tutu Atwell is another head scratcher. The team seems to have plenty of success with Atwell when he gets a chance to play, but the Rams never seem to afford him much of an opportunity. But every year, his numbers are better than better. The question is: Did Tutu Atwell improve enough in 2024 to entice an extension out of the LA Rams? I certainly hope so.

The most critical assessment about WR Tutu Atwell is the fact that he stands 5-foot-9 and tips the scales at 165 pounds. But if that is indeed a factor in not extending him, why would the Rams choose to meet with 5-foot-10, 154-pound Oregon WR Tez Johnson? Do the Rams hope to keep a lid on the cost of a speedy wide receiver for 2025? If they swap out Johnson for Atwell, how long will the team need to get Johnson involved in the offense?

The Rams seem to be drawn to speed at the wide receiver position. But once they have a speedy guy, they don't have the foggiest idea what to do with him, at least not over the duration of a full 17-game season. Atwell was targeted 62 times in 2024, and caught 42 of those passes for 562 yards. Had he been targeted twice that number, or 124 times, he could have hauled in 84 passes for 1124 yards. That would have placed his season at better than Cooper Kupp's 2020 season, a year that he was targeted 124 times.

I'd love to see Tutu Atwell get a real chance to contribute in this offense. He has shown plenty of heart as he has grown his role. I think he has definitely earned an extension. But it doesn't matter what I think. It's what the Rams think that counts.

(7) - DL Neville Gallimore

Last but not least is defensive lineman Neville Gallimore. You may wonder why a defensive lineman who played just 264 defensive snaps last season would warrant any mention when it comes to extensions, as the team did not value him enough to give him a significant role on the defensive front last season. And per his Pro Football Focus grades for 2024, he did not play very well in the regular season. Well, about that. He seemed to find the switch to show up in a big way in the 2025 NFL Playoffs.

Standing 6-foot-2 and tipping the scales at 315 pounds, Gallimore is a powerful and stocky defensive lineman who is rather unique in what he brings to a defensive front. Because he is built like a fireplug, your might guess that he is a blocker-gobbler run stuffer who struggles to pressure the quarterback. But the truth of the matter is that he is less proficient at stopping the run.

And in 45 defensive snaps in two postseason games, he managed to record 2.5 quarterback sacks, six tackles, two tackles for a loss, three quarterback hits, and even one safety. That is some serious defensive production on the biggest stage and under the brightest lights.

Gallimore may not be a starter. But he is about to enter his sixth NFL season, is still 28 years old, and his presence in the Rams rotation at nose tackle ensures the team of having a solid rotation of contributors. And it's nearly impossible to gloss over a guy who generated 2.5 quarterback sacks in just two postseason games.

I don't believe that many teams will target Gallimore simply from his postseason spike in production. And that leaves the door wide open for the Rams to extend him for a team-friendly contract. Gallimore reminds me of the adage: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Yes, there may be plenty of defensive linemen on the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. But Neville Gallimore is a defensive tackle who can get after the quarterback.

It could take months to get a rookie defensive linemen to that level. Better to go with a sure thing, than risk swinging and missing.

As always, thanks for reading.

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