The Los Angeles Rams have made significant changes to their roster around Matthew Stafford, from their trade for Trent McDuffie, to signing his former Kansas City Chiefs teammate Jaylen Watson in free agency, and even drafting Ty Simpson 13th overall.
All of their moves have had a significant impact on the Rams’ outlook for the 2026 season.
They were one win away from a second Super Bowl appearance in five seasons, and they could be even better this year.
Rams Get Encouraging Update After Offseason Roster Moves
GettyMatthew Stafford is a key reason the Los Angeles Rams have such a positive outlook.
A new projection from The Athletic’s Austin Mock has Stafford and the Rams with the largest projected average margin of victory against an average NFL roster.
They checked in with a plus-6.3 mark in Mock’s model.
That is one full point over the second-place team and the Rams’ NFC West rival, the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. The Philadelphia Eagles have the third-highest projection in the NFC, but it is distant, with a plus-2.8 average margin of victory, per Mock.
“Although I didn’t love their draft (and they couldn’t overtake the Seahawks last year), I think the Rams have the best roster in football,” Mock wrote on May 8. “It starts with the quarterback, of course, and Matthew Stafford is still playing at an elite level despite nearing retirement. The Rams also have the NFL’s best receivers room, led by Puka Nacua, plus a top-five interior offensive line, defensive line and cornerbacks room.”
The Rams won 12 games during the 2025 regular season. They finished fifth in the NFC after a 3-2 stretch from Week 13 through Week 17 caused them to slip out of first place.
Their tweaks should get them where they want to go in the regular season.
Achieving that goal could get them home-field advantage in the postseason and pave the way for their ultimate goal: another Super Bowl. Having homefield advantage hardly guarantees postseason success, but it does improve teams’ chances of reaching the Super Bowl.
Notably, Mock’s 2025 model projected the Rams would have the eighth-highest average margin of victory in the NFL and the fifth-best in the NFC last season.
The Rams tied the New England Patriots for second-best in both, per Team Rankings.
Roster Hole Looms Large for Rams
GettyThe Los Angeles Rams could still get more help for Matthew Stafford.
The Rams’ greatest weakness during the 2025 campaign was in their secondary, and their moves for McDuffie and Watson–along with improved health from players like Quentin Lake–should shore those issues up.
However, another potential issue looms.
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz listed “wide receiver depth” as the Rams’ “biggest roster hole,” with the 2026 draft completed.
“There are a number of players behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, but none of them particularly stand out,” Schatz wrote on May 7. “The Rams didn’t invest in a receiver via the draft until CJ Daniels in the sixth round. Deep threat Xavier Smith had 18 catches for 303 yards last season, while Jordan Whittington — well-regarded for his run blocking — had 18 catches for 171 yards. Konata Mumpfield had 10 catches for 92 yards with a touchdown as a rookie. The Rams can get value out of these players.”
Depth is easier to acquire than top-level talent, which bodes well for the Rams. They can pursue options like Brandin Cooks or Stefon Diggs, who remain free agents. Or, the Rams could wait to see if another player becomes available as teams trim their rosters for the regular season.
There is also the possibility of a trade at the deadline.
Whatever the Rams do, it figures to only strengthen what is already arguably the best roster in the NFL heading into the 2026 season.
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