All posts by : Don Lichterman

The Los Angeles Rams entered the 2026 offseason in a position that I personally find great from a roster-building standpoint. They have exceeded anything I anticapted by leaps and bounds. After watching them make that deep playoff run to reach the NFC Championship Game, I came away with the feeling that this team isn’t entering a rebuilding phase at all. In my view, they are doing exactly what a contender should do after falling just short — they are adjusting, reinforcing weaknesses, and trying to maximize what is still a very real championship window.

As the 2026 NFL league year officially opens Today, several of the Rams’ offseason moves became finalized, including key contracts, trades, and roster adjustments that had been building throughout the early days of free agency. When I step back and look at the bigger picture, I don’t see random transactions or short-term decisions. What I see is a deliberate attempt to strengthen specific parts of the roster while keeping long-term flexibility intact.

Even the Quarterback issue can be stretched for up to three years if every thing moves forward the way its moving now. From my perspective its been pretty clear, the Rams approached this offseason with a clear objective: improve the defense, especially reinforce the secondary, stabilize special teams, and maintain the offensive structure that helped them reach the NFC Championship Game in the first place.

There’s an odd dichotomy to how last season ended, and despite the frustration that still lingers in my brain, the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl ultimately is appropriate when everything was said and done. At the same time, I can’t shake the feeling that the team actually peaked somewhere around Week 9, give or take. From my perspective, the rest of the season often felt like we were chasing that earlier level of perfection once the injuries started piling up and mnoreover, when they were healed to come back to play.

Even when players began returning and the roster slowly got healthier, the team never quite managed to recapture that same rhythm. It was choppy. We would let up a ton of points but score more most games. By the time the final game arrived, they looked exhausted. They were barely covering recievers those games. And yet the irony of the entire season is that they still could have won not only that last game, but also most of the games they ended up losing along the way. Aside from maybe one matchup, nearly every loss felt like a game the rams either could have won — or in some cases, probably should have. Too often, they didn’t get beaten as much as they handed those games away. That is what angered me to no end last season.

That’s why, when I look at the moves the organization has already made this offseason, I can’t help but feel totally encouraged. The Rams clearly aren’t listening to me Thank God and nor are they standing still. In fact, they’ve already surpassed my admittedly terrible idea of simply waiting until the draft to address the cornerback issues. Instead, what I’m seeing is a front office that took of those iisues in weeks or better yet, in one day if consider the year jusdt starts today.

The Rams, of course, had to prioritize defensive versatility because if you think back to their playoff run, one of the biggest things that stood out was how important defensive adaptability is in the modern NFL. I’ve even called cornerback the most impossible position in football. At that spot, you almost have to allow for a huge percentage of mistakes — giving up catches, touchdowns, and even big plays — because that’s simply the reality of the position. Even the best defensive backs in the league will still allow plenty of touchdowns over the course of a season.

That said, you still need players who can make big plays when it matters. Someone like Jalen Ramsey is a perfect example of that, because you really can’t criticize the play at that position unless the cornerback simply gives up on it. Unfortunately, we had players who did exactly that this year. Just think about the Hail Mary in the playoff game, or the number of times opposing wide receivers were several steps ahead of our cornerbacks. That wasn’t normal.

On top of that, the league right now is dominated by explosive passing attacks, creative offensive play design, and quarterbacks who are more than capable of exploiting even the smallest coverage breakdown.

Because of that, I believe the Rams entered this offseason knowing their secondary needed to become more versatile and more aggressive.

To me, the most striking element of their offseason so far is how aggressively they addressed the cornerback position.

The Rams didn’t just tweak the secondary — they completely reshaped it. They also did it in one day if you consider the Season 2026 started today.

The biggest move of the Rams’ offseason, is clearly the trade for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.

When I first saw this move come together, my immediate reaction was that the Rams were sending a very clear message about their priorities. They wanted a true difference-maker in the secondary — someone capable of locking down receivers, playing multiple coverage roles, and bringing an edge to the defense.

McDuffie fits that description perfectly.

From what I’ve seen watching him play, he’s one of the most complete defensive backs in the league. He can play outside corner, move into the slot, blitz when needed, and contribute in run support. Those kinds of players are incredibly valuable in today’s NFL because they give defensive coordinators the freedom to disguise coverages and create pressure in different ways.

The Rams didn’t just acquire McDuffie — they also made a major long-term commitment to him with a $124 million contract extension that includes $100 million guaranteed. That deal makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, which tells me the Rams see him as a cornerstone of their defense moving forward.

From my perspective, this move immediately raises the ceiling of the entire Rams defense.

Then, adding Jaylen Watson makes the secondary even stronger again, at the drop of a dime. What I find especially interesting is that the Rams didn’t stop after landing McDuffie. They went right back to the same pipeline and added another former Kansas City defensive back — Jaylen Watson. I never saw that coming.

Watson agreed to a three-year deal worth $51 million with $34 million guaranteed, and I see him as an excellent complement to McDuffie.

Where McDuffie offers versatility and coverage instincts, Watson brings size and physicality on the outside. I think that combination by far gives the Rams a much more balanced cornerback group than they had previously. It is not even close. From my perspective, Watson has the type of skill set that allows him to match up against bigger receivers, disrupt routes at the line of scrimmage, and challenge contested catches.

With both Watson and McDuffie now in the lineup, the Rams secondary has the potential to become one of the more dynamic defensive backfields in the NFC.

Keeping Kam Curl is another smart move because, if nothing else, he made some big plays this year. He was noticeable right away and remained visible throughout most of the season. Overall, I thought he played well.

While the additions to the secondary grabbed headlines, I personally think one of the most important decisions the Rams made was re-signing safety Kam Curl. Curl agreed to a three-year deal worth $36 million, with the potential to reach $39 million and $24 million guaranteed. When I look at that contract and compare it to his impact on the field, I see tremendous value.

Curl is also exactly the type of player every modern defense needs. He can play deep safety, support the run, blitz off the edge, and rotate into different coverage responsibilities.

That kind of versatility is incredibly important because it allows the defense to disguise its intentions before the snap.

When I watch Curl play, I see someone who understands the flow of the game and can react quickly to offensive adjustments. Keeping him in Los Angeles ensures that the Rams maintain continuity in the secondary even as they introduce new pieces.

Another move that stood out to me was the return of Tyler Higbee, who remains one of the longest-tenured players on the Rams roster. Higbee signed a two-year deal worth up to $8 million, and while that may not be the flashiest move of the offseason, I personally think it’s an important one. We were choosing between many Tight Ends in teh first place and we have eyes on one in the upcoming draft.

From my perspective, Higbee brings something every successful team needs: experience and leadership, along with being a solid player. He just needs to stay healthy, which seems to be difficult for him every year. Even when injuries limited his playing time last season, he remained a trusted presence within the offense. He understands the Rams’ system, knows how to read defenses, and provides stability within the tight end group. But again, we had two other tight ends who also played well last season.

I also think his presence benefits younger players in that position room. Having a veteran who understands preparation, film study, and game-day adjustments can accelerate the development of younger teammates. I do not really want Higbee to go anywhere. I would love for him to play out his career here with the team.

For those reasons, I believe bringing Higbee back was a solid move.

One of the quieter moves that I actually find interesting is the signing of long snapper Joe Cardona, a two-time Super Bowl champion. Special teams rarely receive the same attention as offense or defense, but in my experience analyzing the game, those units often determine the outcome of close contests. Our Special Teams last season was horrible on every level.

Cardona developed a reputation in New England as one of the most reliable long snappers in football. Beyond his technical consistency, he’s also known as a respected leader.

As a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he also brings discipline and professionalism that coaches value tremendously. Adding a veteran like Cardona helps stabilize the entire kicking operation — from punts to field goals to extra points.

Those are the types of moves that may not dominate headlines but can make a huge difference over the course of a season. In our case, it solves alot rather fast.

There are also other depth moves that I believe help stabilize the roster, in addition to the bigger signings and trades, the Rams also made several smaller moves that I believe help maintain roster stability.

Wide receiver Xavier Smith, offensive lineman Justin Dedich, and kicker Harrison Mevis were all retained through exclusive rights tenders.

I’m still on the fence when it comes to Xavier Smith, but if he can prove that he’ll catch the ball 100% of the time when fielding a kick or punt on special teams, I’d love to be proven wrong there at least. Right now, I don’t fully trust it, but I do see the potential — especially if he can eliminate the drops and never mishandle another punt or kick return again.

The same goes for Harrison Mevis, whom I refer to as the poor man’s Tom Dempsey. He still needs some work. Like I alluded to just above, I think it’s his style that really throws me off. At the same time, he does perform well, and he did a solid job last season. Still, I felt on edge with every field goal or extra point attempt. Maybe the Josh Karty situation scarred me a bit, because I still can’t believe how poorly that turned out. I really thought Karty had the potential to become one of the best kickers in the league, but he ended up missing more than he made and was eventually benched. I feel awful about that situation.

Therefore, right now I’m still on the fence about our kicking game. I feel like we need a more sure-handed player — someone we can truly count on and depend on without feeling nervous every time he lines up for a kick. I would still allow Mevis the chance to prove me wrong here, which I would welcome, but I also feel like we may see some movement at that position during the offseason.

While these moves might not generate major headlines, I personally see them as important for maintaining depth across the roster.

Smith does offer receiving depth and special teams contributions if does not fumble, Dedich provides versatility along the offensive line which was very supsect last season, and Mevis did prove himself to be a remarkably reliable kicker last season. It just was not pretty on all levels here but they did do well in broad scheme of things.

So, keeping players like this around allows the Rams to maintain continuity while focusing their bigger investments on premium positions.

Most imprtantly is why Offensive Line depth is still an issue and therfore another move I found notable was the decision to bring back David Quessenberry, who provides depth along the offensive line.

For teams with championship ambitions, offensive line depth is something I always pay attention to. Especially with Matt Stafford at quarterback, who is not a runner and needs to be protected from the defense, that protection is key to our ability to win a Super Bowl this year. The problem is that injuries at that position are almost inevitable during a long NFL season, and having experienced players ready to step in can make a huge difference. We simply did not have that this year by any means, and I felt horrible about it (it was cringe worthy at times watching our Offenseive Lineman).

Quessenberry may not always be in the spotlight, but his ability to serve as a swing tackle provides valuable insurance behind the starters.

In my opinion, moves like this reflect the Rams’ understanding that roster depth is just as important as star power.

One development was the retirement of cornerback Darious Williams, who stepped away from the NFL after eight seasons. His decision also created financial flexibility for the Rams by freeing roughly $7.5 million in salary cap space.

Another longtime Ram, offensive tackle Rob Havenstein, also chose to retire earlier in the offseason. Havenstein had been a key piece of the Rams offensive line for years and played an important role during the team’s Super Bowl run.

There were also changes on the coaching staff. Mike LaFleur departed to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, prompting the Rams to promote Nate Scheelhaase to offensive coordinator.

That promotion signals the organization’s desire to maintain offensive continuity while introducing new ideas within the system.

What is left if you consider the draft capital and salary cap flexibility that stll give the Rams options? Because even after making several major moves, the Rams remain in a strong position financially.

The 2026 NFL salary cap has been set at $301.2 million, the highest in league history, and the Rams entered the new league year with approximately $42 million in available cap space. As of the start of the 2026 league year today, March 11, 2026, the Los Angeles Rams have approximately $20.5 million in available salary cap space. 

This figure has fluctuated significantly over the last 48 hours as high-profile signings and trades became official:

• Starting Point: The Rams entered the week with roughly $42 million in cap space following the league’s announcement of a record $301.2 million total salary cap.
• Key Cap Reductions:
  • Trent McDuffie: His acquisition added a $13.63 million hit for 2026 (the cost of his fifth-year option).
  • Kamren Curl: His new extension carries a $8.4 million cap hit for the 2026 season.
  • Jaylen Watson: The former Chiefs cornerback adds roughly $6.9 million to the 2026 cap.
• Cap Savings:
  • Darious Williams: His retirement earlier this week saved the team $7.5 million.
• Current Standing: After factoring in these moves and other tenders (such as ERFA tenders for Harrison Mevis and others), the Rams’ current cap space sits at $20,481,323. 

Top 2026 Cap Hits: The Rams’ current financial landscape is dominated by five major contracts:

Note: The Rams can still generate over $50 million in additional space through “simple restructures” of the Stafford, Adams, and Jackson contracts if they choose to make another big move in free agency. That level of flexibility gives the front office room to continue making adjustments if opportunities arise.

The Rams also still possess seven selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, including a valuable 13th overall pick acquired from Atlanta.

Their current draft capital includes:

Round 1 — Pick No. 13
Round 2 — Pick No. 61
Round 3 — Pick No. 93
Round 6 — Pick No. 207 or 210
Round 7 — Picks No. 232, 251, and 252

The team also received two seventh-round compensatory selections, giving them additional opportunities to add developmental talent later in the draft.

Retaining that first-round pick at No. 13 while still acquiring McDuffie was an extremely important part of the Rams’ offseason strategy.

It really makes us look great. When I step back and evaluate everything the Rams have done so far, I see a team that is carefully strengthening areas of need while still maintaining flexibility for future moves. At the same time, they’ve already exceeded anything I came up with. So again, in my opinion, the key themes of their offseason are clear:

• A major investment in the secondary
• Retaining core defensive contributors
• Strengthening special teams reliability
• Maintaining veteran leadership on offense
• Preserving draft capital for additional upgrades

The Rams are clearly refining a roster that already proved it could compete deep into the playoffs.

Right now, not only are the Rams still very much in the Super Bowl conversation, but I also think Vegas even has them as the number one team to get there next year. As I look at the Rams’ offseason moves collectively, I come away with the impression that this team still believes its championship window is wide open.

And honestly, I can understand why. Consider how we lost every game last year/this year, then look at the combination of veteran leadership, defensive upgrades, roster depth, and draft flexibility positions the Rams to remain one of the most intriguing contenders in the NFC.

There are still months of offseason activity ahead, and more changes will certainly come. But if the moves made so far translate onto the field the way I believe they could, the Los Angeles Rams once again find themselves in the center of the NFL’s championship race when this season begins.

Overall, following the official start of the 2026 league year on Today, the Los Angeles Rams hold the No. 13 overall pick (acquired from Atlanta) as their primary draft asset. Having addressed their major cornerback needs through free agency today, draft experts now project the Rams will pivot toward elite offensive playmakers or offensive line stability. 

Top Draft Projections (No. 13 Overall) as of March 11, 2026, the following prospects are most frequently linked to the Rams:

Draft Strategy Shift

• Best Player Available (BPA): Because the Rams aggressively filled holes at cornerback (McDuffie/Watson) and safety (Curl) today, they are now in a “luxury” position to take the best offensive talent available at No. 13.
• Succession Planning: While Matthew Stafford remains the starter, some analysts (including Sports Illustrated) still suggest Alabama QB Ty Simpson as a dark-horse candidate if he falls to No. 13.
• Draft Capital: The Rams notably traded away pick No. 29 in the package for Trent McDuffie today, meaning they likely won’t pick again until No. 61 in the second round.