All posts by : Don Lichterman

As we slide into the slow lane of the NFL offseason, the Los Angeles Rams find themselves in a moment of introspection—caught between youth and experience, present contention and future potential. It’s been a relatively quiet few weeks for Sean McVay’s squad, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been meaningful news, developments, and some low-key red flags. From contract conundrums and aging stars to exciting defensive additions and a lurking threat in Atlanta, the Rams’ journey to Super Bowl relevance in 2025 is anything but a straight line.

Let’s dive deep into where the Rams stand heading into a pivotal summer.

A Team in Transition: Too Young? Too Old? Or Just Right?

Just two years ago, the Rams were mocked for fielding one of the youngest rosters in football. Now, the pendulum is swinging back, but in a peculiar way. Los Angeles is still one of the league’s youngest teams, but at critical positions—quarterback, wide receiver, offensive line, and cornerback—they’re aging fast.

Key veterans like Matthew Stafford (37), Rob Havenstein (33), Davante Adams (32), Tyler Higbee (32), and Darious Williams (32) anchor a team that needs these players to produce at or near peak levels to contend. But the reality is that regression, especially due to injuries and age-related decline, is an ever-present threat.

Stafford, now cemented as the team’s quarterback through at least 2026, remains productive, but he’s at the age where most QBs not named Brady or Rodgers begin to crumble. Havenstein has been steady, but cracks are showing. Adams might still have WR1 juice, but swapping out one aging star (Kupp) for another comes with risk. The team’s foundation is strong—but it’s built on aging joints.

Darious Williams: Overpaid, Over the Hill, and Under Scrutiny

Perhaps the most puzzling decision of the offseason was the Rams doubling down on cornerback Darious Williams. Reuniting with the 32-year-old seemed like a smart depth move at first glance—until you realize they handed him $15 million guaranteed through 2025. That’s $8 million in cash and a $9.166 million cap hit, the seventh-highest on the roster and 19th among all NFL cornerbacks.

Williams had a down year with Jacksonville before being released. In 12 games with the Rams last season, he posted 45 tackles, one interception, and allowed a 101.7 passer rating when targeted—his worst mark yet. His age and lingering hamstring issues only compound concerns.

Cutting him provides no cap relief due to the guaranteed money. A trade seems unlikely. The Rams may simply have to ride it out and hope for a bounce back—though with promising CBs like Cobie Durant and Ahkello Witherspoon in-house, patience may wear thin.

The Rams and the Penix Pick Dilemma

One of the Rams’ shrewder moves in the 2025 draft was trading down from No. 26 and securing the Falcons’ first-round pick for 2026. On paper, this was a forward-thinking deal—especially for a franchise looking to either draft its QB of the future or swing big via trade next spring.

But there’s a wrinkle: Michael Penix Jr.

The former Washington Huskies gunslinger looked like a future star in three starts late last season. His Week 18 dismantling of Carolina (95.6 PFF grade) turned heads, and his overall rookie efficiency metrics—70.4% adjusted completion, 87.6 pass grade, 10 big-time throws to just 2 turnover-worthy plays—suggest a legit breakout is coming.

Atlanta might not be the pushover many assumed. With talent around him—Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts—and a soft NFC South schedule, Penix could drag the Falcons into a Wild Card race. That would turn the Rams’ prized pick from top-10 treasure to late-round footnote. It’s a quiet storyline, but one worth watching every Sunday.

The Tush Push Stays—But So What?

NFL owners voted to keep the infamous “Tush Push” play made famous by the Eagles—and to be honest, who cares?

While Packers brass led the charge to ban it, the reality is every team has had more than enough time to adjust, adopt, or counter the strategy. The Rams haven’t utilized the Brotherly Shove much themselves, but with a creative coach like McVay and a healthy Stafford, they could mix it in situationally. Regardless, this saga feels like a tired offseason headline that’s finally ready to die.

Ty Hamilton: The Run-Stopping Reinforcement LA Needed

On the flip side of the aging narrative comes a much-needed injection of youth on defense. The Rams used a fifth-round pick to grab Ohio State’s Ty Hamilton—after trading up and giving away a 2026 fourth-rounder.

That’s not a small price for a rotational defensive lineman, but Hamilton brings something L.A. sorely lacked: a true run-stuffer. While the Rams improved against the run late last season, they were still punished early and ultimately exposed by the Eagles’ physicality in the playoffs.

Hamilton’s profile is promising—eighth-highest run-stop percentage in college last season, seventh-most run stops, and an ability to control gaps at the point of attack. At 6’3, 295, he’s not a pass-rushing phenom, but he’ll do the dirty work. That’s precisely what McVay and Raheem Morris need in trench warfare matchups against the 49ers and Lions.

He’ll join a defensive line rotation that includes breakout star Kobie Turner, free-agent addition Poona Ford, and sophomore Ty Davis. Hamilton may not start Week 1—but expect him to make noise by Thanksgiving.

Quiet Offseason? Good. Let’s Keep It That Way.

Aside from a brief Stafford storyline and the usual internet drama (looking at you, Aaron Rodgers), the Rams have avoided becoming tabloid fodder this spring. That’s a good sign. Winning teams are built in silence. There’s no QB controversy, no front-office implosions, and the roster has a nice mix of elite talent, veteran leadership, and youthful upside.

Still, there are areas to monitor:

• Can Stafford stay healthy and productive at 37?
• Will Darious Williams rebound or ride the bench while collecting top-20 CB money?
• Can Ty Hamilton make an instant impact in run defense?
• Will Davante Adams avoid becoming the next aging WR bust in McVay’s system?
• And can the Rams capitalize on their bet against Penix and the Falcons?

And One More Thing… The Don Lichterman Rams Autograph Rams Team Signed Collection

In a bit of a personal flex, let’s not forget that the Don Lichterman Rams Autograph Collection now includes signatures from 62 of the franchise’s 85 seasons. That’s more than just memorabilia—that’s history inked in permanent marker. From Roman Gabriel to Aaron Donald, this collection stands as a tribute to one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.

The Rams are threading the needle—competing now while planting seeds for tomorrow. The 2025 season will hinge on health, depth, and whether aging stars can hold the line just a little longer. But there’s promise here. If Hamilton adds beef up front, if Stafford and Adams can roll back the clock, and if the Falcons stumble just enough, the Rams may find themselves right back where they want to be—competing for a Super Bowl and controlling their future.

One step at a time. One signature at a time. One play at a time. Go Rams.

Los Angeles Rams preseason schedule 2025

• Preseason Week 1: Saturday, Aug. 9, vs. Dallas Cowboys, 7 p.m. ET
• Preseason Week 2: Saturday, Aug. 16, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 7 p.m. ET
• Preseason Week 3: Saturday, Aug. 23, at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Rams 2025 regular season schedule

• Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 7, vs. Houston Texans, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
• Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 28, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 5: Thursday, Oct. 2, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime
• Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 12, at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 19, at Jacksonville Jaguars (London), 9:30 a.m., NFL Network
• Week 8: Bye
• Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, vs. New Orleans Saints, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 9, at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 23, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
• Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, vs. Detroit Lions, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
• Week 16: Thursday, Dec. 18, at Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime
• Week 17: Monday, Dec. 29, at Atlanta Falcons, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Week 18: Date/time TBD, vs. Arizona Cardinals

— Don Lichterman