Justin Herbert
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Inglewood, CA - August 16: Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert rushes in the first quarter against the Rams in a preseason football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams were one of the more aggressive teams this offseason, reshaping both sides of the ball in an effort to keep their Super Bowl window alive.
They landed star receiver Davante Adams in one of the splashiest moves of the year, reinforced their offensive line, and added muscle to the defensive front. For a franchise that refuses to bottom out, it was a statement summer.
“Meanwhile, the Rams shored up their run defense with Ford and a group of inside linebackers led by starter Nate Landman — but whether they have enough juice in their secondary with a pair of 30-something cornerbacks (Ahkello Witherspoon, 30, and Darious Williams, 32) remains to be seen,” Jourdan Rodrigue wrote. “The Rams will count on their young, dynamic pass rush to lead the way on defense and hope to keep Stafford upright and healthy as they pursue their Super Bowl aspirations.”
It’s easy to see why fans felt a jolt of optimism in the spring. Matthew Stafford re-upped on a year-to-year deal, Adams arrived to replace Cooper Kupp, and the team locked in left tackle Alaric Jackson with a fresh extension.
On top of that, head coach Sean McVay is keeping his coordinators intact for the first time in his career, a stability play that suggests the Rams believe they’re close.
Building a Wall Up Front
On defense, the Rams doubled down on fixing their biggest weakness from 2024: stopping the run. They added defensive tackle Poona Ford and inside linebacker Nate Landman, both known for toughness in the trenches. That should make life easier for a young pass rush that McVay and coordinator Chris Shula are counting on to generate pressure without a true household name up front.
If the Rams can consistently win on early downs, they’ll have more chances to unleash those edge rushers. It’s a clear identity shift — from Aaron Donald as a one-man wrecking crew to a more balanced, committee-driven front seven.
The Secondary Question
But the elephant in the room remains the secondary. Veteran corners Ahkello Witherspoon (30) and Darious Williams (32) are penciled in as starters. They bring experience, but age and speed are concerns, especially in a conference loaded with young wideouts like CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, and DK Metcalf.
That’s where the skepticism comes in. The Rams will “count on their young, dynamic pass rush to lead the way on defense and hope to keep Stafford upright and healthy as they pursue their Super Bowl aspirations.” Translation: the secondary isn’t expected to carry this group. Instead, the front seven has to mask any coverage deficiencies.
If the pass rush hits, the corners can survive. If not, Los Angeles could be staring at some long Sundays.
The Rams clearly believe they’ve built another contender. The Adams acquisition has the offense buzzing, Stafford remains a proven difference-maker when healthy, and the run defense looks much sturdier. But the NFL is a passing league, and eventually teams will test Los Angeles deep.
Do they have the juice in the secondary to hold up? That’s the question that will define their season. If the corners hold their own and the pass rush grows into a real weapon, the Rams have a shot to return to contender status. If not, even Adams may not be enough to save them.