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Los Angeles Rams 2025 NFL Season Preview

[Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 NFL Preview Magazine.Order your copy today online or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]

After coming a red-zone conversion away from upsetting the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC divisional round, the Rams faced something of a fork in the road this offseason. Even as they worked on a contract restructure, the Rams allowed quarterback Matthew Stafford to explore the possibility of a trade to another franchise.

But Stafford and the Rams recommitted to each other, and in doing so, the franchise clarified its timeline. Stafford is back to lead an offense full of firepower, from the receiving duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to reliable running back Kyren Williams. A young pass rush turned from a question mark at the beginning of last season into something the Rams can build around after hitting on Jared Verse and Braden Fiske in the 2024 draft.

More NFL team previews

AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots

AFC North:Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers

AFC South:Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans

AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders

NFC East:Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants

NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings

NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints

NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks

In an NFC in which several teams took a step backward this offseason, the Rams pushed their chips back into the middle of the table. The Adams signing was one of the biggest of free agency. Defensive tackle Poona Ford shored up a shaky run defense. And now the Rams, coming off an NFC West title and a playoff win, are ready to compete again for the NFC crown — and maybe more if things break their way.

Offense

The Rams swapped out former Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Cooper Kupp for Adams this offseason, taking the veteran who has had five straight 1,000-yard seasons. After finishing 25th in red-zone conversion rate in 2024, the Rams added the receiver who ranked fifth in the NFL in red-zone touchdowns in 2023 with six.

The Rams also brought back some familiar faces on offense. Receiver Tutu Atwell returns, with head coach Sean McVay promising to do more to utilize the speedy receiver. The Rams need someone like Atwell to stretch the field so that Nacua and Adams have more room to operate underneath.

Puka Nacua

There aren’t any true position battles on the Rams offense entering training camp. Even at center, where Beaux Limmer took over midseason in 2024, the Rams have already announced that free-agent reacquisition Coleman Shelton would take the reins. Shelton, who started for the Rams in 2023 before playing in Chicago last season, provides a steady presence at the line of scrimmage, and his teammates respect his ability to call out blocking assignments before the snap.

One area to watch for snap distribution will be running back. Williams is the clear leader of the room after a second consecutive 1,100-yard season. The Rams love his ability to turn a run that is blocked for three yards into a four- or five-yard gain, and his ability to pick up blitzes keeps him on the field for third downs.

Blake Corum was drafted in the third round last year to be Williams’ backup, but his skill set is so comparable to the starter that he doesn’t add much to the offense when he’s out there. Enter Jarquez Hunter, the Auburn running back who ran a 4.44 40-yard dash during the draft process. His speed and strength give him a good chance to usurp Corum for the No. 2 job and give the Rams offense a change of pace.

At tight end, Tyler Higbee should continue to get the lion’s share of snaps. He provided a big boost to the offense when he came back from a knee injury in December, particularly with his ability to get open in the red zone. But the Rams will also try to get second-round pick Terrance Ferguson on the field, either in more 12-personnel sets or with Ferguson as the lone tight end. The Rams like his after-the-catch talent, his ability to line up in multiple spots around the field and his sense for space when things go off-schedule.

Defense

The Rams are looking to build off a promising first season under defensive coordinator Chris Shula. The unit was driven by its pass rush; including the playoffs, Verse led the NFL with 89 quarterback pressures in 2024, while defensive tackle Kobie Turner has more pressures against double-teams since the start of the 2023 season than any other player.

Rams edge rusher Jared Verse

Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

But the Rams need to find ways to be a more balanced defense and stop the run from time to time, especially after Saquon Barkley single-handedly sent them home in January. The addition of Ford goes a long way in that effort. He had 8.5 run stuffs in 2024 and will absorb blocks in the middle of the Rams’ 3-4 scheme.

But the Rams also implemented a Cheetah scheme after the bye last year, with five defenders at the line of scrimmage and outside linebacker Michael Hoecht lined up as the sole inside ’backer. Who will fill that role after Hoecht’s departure in free agency will be a big storyline entering training camp. Rookie edge rusher Josaiah Stewart could be a candidate, given that he has enough experience dropping into coverage to fill that aspect of the role.

The biggest position battle entering camp will be for the second linebacker job next to Omar Speights. The Rams signed Nate Landman to a one-year deal in free agency, and he’s a reliable tackler who is solid against the run. But fifth-round pick Chris Paul Jr. could provide a more dynamic element to the defense with his coverage skills and ability to blitz, giving Shula another weapon to utilize in third-and-long packages.

Specialists

Placekicker Joshua Karty went through some growing pains as a rookie, but he still connected on 85.3% of his field-goal attempts in his first season, including a 58-yarder. He needs to reduce his four missed PATs, but he gives the Rams a more reliable option overall than they had in previous years.

Punter Ethan Evans proved to be a weapon for the Rams in 2024, placing 30 of his 55 attempts inside the opposing 20-yard line. His combination of placement and natural leg strength gives the Rams a lot of confidence in Evans entering his third season.

The Rams will likely roll out Xavier Smith and Jordan Whittington as punt and kickoff returners, respectively, again this season. Smith provided a couple of energizing returns, but for the most part, these units were workmanlike rather than dynamic.

Final analysis

With so much continuity from last year’s roster that came within striking distance of the NFC Championship Game, the Rams enter 2025 with more confidence than they’ve had since 2021, when they went on to win Super Bowl LVI. Are the Rams ready to get back to the top of the mountain? That remains to be seen, but they should compete for their third NFC title in eight seasons.