Analyzing the Rams’ Future After Super Bowl Win
The Los Angeles Rams are Super Bowl champions.
Now that the offseason has officially begun for all teams, it’s time to look ahead to what the Rams need to do to try to run it back next year. This task will be difficult, though, due to the Rams not having a first-round pick since it was traded to the Lions.
On the offense, the Rams need to try to bring back all of their free agents next year, most notably Odell Beckham Jr.
While Beckham will have a long road to recovery due to the reported ACL tear he experienced in the Super Bowl, he will still be a key part of this Rams elite receiving corps once he makes a full recovery. If both he and Cooper Kupp can stay healthy next season, then that will be a dangerous combination, as fans saw this past season.
At running back, Cam Akers is still slated to return to the Rams where he will continue to work on getting back to 100% after tearing his Achilles this past season.
Another big question with free agency comes with Rams’ center Brian Allen.
Allen, who, at the age of 27, started at center for the Rams for most of last season, was a key figure on the Rams’ offensive line. The Rams will have a difficult task ahead of them in trying to keep all of these players, though, since their estimated cap space, according to DraftKings, is at $-13,598,914 which is the fifth lowest in the NFL.
The Rams will also have to look at what they want to do to Matthew Stafford’s contract this offseason, as next season will be his last on his current deal.
Defensively, the Rams have a few key playmakers they need to try to retain. Obviously, the big story line of this defense are the rumors that Aaron Donald was going to retire if the Rams won the Super Bowl.
If Donald does decide to retire now, then the Rams are looking at a huge hole that will need to be filled on that defensive line. This issue will only be compounded further if the Rams are unable to retain Von Miller, who they picked up this past season.
Miller had two sacks in the Super Bowl and is also a key playmaker on this team. If both him and Donald don’t stay in Los Angeles, then the Rams are going to be looking at a very difficult problem to fix.
To make matters worse, cornerback Darious Williams is slated to become unrestricted free agent. He played a majority of snaps for this team and losing him would also have a huge impact on how this defense functions next season.
With all of those players who need to be re-signed, all while having the fifth-lowest cap space in the NFL, things couldn’t get worse for the Rams, right? Wrong.
The Rams just lost offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, who will be the new head coach of the Minnesota Vikings next season.
On top of that, there are rumors currently that head coach Sean McVay could be retiring this offseason. The Rams could be looking at a real coaching and player crisis on their hands if this does come to fruition.
The bottom line is there are best- and worst-case scenarios, but the truth is, the outcome is more than likely going to lean toward the worst-case scenario. It’s safe to say this offseason is going to be interesting for the Rams to say the least.
Ethan Ellis is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ece5133@psu.edu.
