Entering draft month a year ago, the Rams had a glaring roster hole that needed addressing. Having spent free agency trying to fortify a strength in their offense, the Rams had not made any moves along the defensive line. Combined with the retirement of a certain future Hall of Fame defensive tackle, it was pretty clear what the Rams’ biggest need would be when the NFL draft rolled around.
Sure enough, the Rams spent their first first-round pick in eight years on Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse, then traded a future second rounder to move for his teammate, defensive lineman Braden Fiske, the next day.
But after a balanced free agency this year, the Rams have no such clear and obvious roster holes. And that gives them options entering April.
Receiver looked like it could have been a need too great to ignore in the first round as the Rams entered the offseason. Between the Cooper Kupp divorce and Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson all entering free agency, the Rams only had Pro Bowler Puka Nacua, second-year receiver Jordan Whittington and punt returner Xavier Smith on the books for 2025.
A one-year deal to bring Atwell back took some pressure off. Then the Rams made the move that has been hailed by many analysts as the top signing of free agency, agreeing to terms on a two-year contract with All-Pro receiver Davante Adams.
Adams was the type of old-school, swing-big move that the Rams made seemingly every spring in pursuit of a Super Bowl title that finally came after the 2021 season. Add a premier player at a premier position in hopes that he takes the offense and team as a whole over the top.
And, by doing so, eliminate what felt like an absolute necessity to take a receiver in the first round, even if it meant reaching for that prospect.
The Rams similarly tied up the offensive tackle position prior to free agency. Entering the winter, left tackle Alaric Jackson was a pending free agent and right tackle Rob Havenstein hadn’t ruled out retirement. But Havenstein’s return for Year 11 and the re-signing of Jackson hours after agreeing to a contract restructure with Matthew Stafford plugged those holes quickly.
“When you have a void at a position that not everyone on the planet can do or not as easily replaced and not many available, whether draft or free agency. It’s definitely a void that screams at you, barks at you and you know it’s there,” Rams general manager Les Snead said in early March, after securing Jackson’s commitment. “You could go to the draft and now instead of adding to what we finished with last year, it’s almost like you might have to use a really good draft pick just to hopefully get back to even from last year. It allows us to now have the flexibility to, at least on paper, subjectively go add instead of just replace.”
Most other openings were plugged in smaller moves. Losing run-stopper Bobby Brown III, the Rams added Poona Ford to fill that role. With linebacker depth depleted, they added Nate Landman, a solid tackler. With interior offensive line depth traded away, the Rams brought back old friend and Super Bowl LVI champ Coleman Shelton.
And the Rams didn’t drag out the fate of Ahkello Witherspoon — who developed into their top corner late last season. And for the first time, he’ll get a full offseason training program to ramp up for the season.
“We are going to find out together,” Witherspoon said, when asked how that could impact his preparation. “Once I get to that point, I’m going to take it step by step and grow this offseason in those areas that I do find and improve upon.”
So when the draft rolls around at the end of April, the Rams can take just about any approach they want. There are some depth spots that need help — offensive tackle, linebacker and cornerback still need more bodies — but those can be addressed wherever the Rams see the best value now.
And on Day 1, the Rams can look for an immediate impact player, or they can look to the future. They could add a quarterback they like to learn behind Stafford for a year or two. They could add an offensive tackle ready for whenever Havenstein, the last St. Louis Ram, hangs them up.
But getting to make those kinds of decisions takes flexibility. And the free agency the Rams just had gives them that entering April.