from Five NFL Teams With Long To-Do Lists to Get Back on Track in 2023

* https://www.the33rdteam.com/category/analysis/five-nfl-teams-with-long-to-do-lists-to-get-back-on-track-in-2023/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=PAIDSOCIAL&utm_campaign=BoostedPost&utm_term=5Teams&twclid=2l3wqh0bdooczcjhgbgez3k21

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Los Angeles Rams (5-12)

Sean McVay’s Rams had the most losses by a defending Super Bowl champion. The main culprit was injuries as 24 players spent time on injured reserve, including their three best players. There was not enough quality depth to recover for a team that has traded away so many high draft picks in recent years. The 2023 draft will be the team’s seventh straight without a first-round pick due to trades for receiver Brandin Cooks (traded again to the Texans in 2020), corner Jalen Ramsey and quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Stafford (neck-spinal cord contusion) and top receiver Cooper Kupp (ankle) each missed eight games, while All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald (ankle) was out for six games. These three players have combined salaries that average $99 million per year (ouch!).

The Rams suffered with their absences. Los Angeles dropped from ninth in total offense in 2021 to last, and its scoring average fell nine points per game, a shocking turn of events for a team coached by a perceived offensive genius in McVay. McVay is reportedly considering a break from coaching after this awful season. The Rams started four QBs in 2022 so there was little continuity, and the offensive line was hurt by left tackle Andrew Whitworth’s retirement, among other changes.

Rams’ Next Steps/Possible Solutions

The all-in strategy of general manager Les Snead and McVay in trading for veteran stars worked great in 2021 but not so much this past season. The Rams first need to get McVay fully committed. Then they must hope for better health in 2023 and get the team’s tight salary cap loosened with restructures for Kupp, Ramsey and possibly Stafford (but not for the 31-year-old Donald).

After that, the Rams must hit free agency and the draft (with second and third-rounders as their only picks in the first five rounds) to upgrade the offensive line and the receiver group. Allen Robinson, a 2022 free-agent signing, finished with only 33 catches and missed seven games, and did not pan out. They also need help in the secondary and for the pass rush, which saw its sacks total drop from 50 in 2021 to 38, which ranked 21st. They have to keep Donald on the field. He had only five sacks after averaging 15 during the previous four seasons.

Also, the Rams should try to re-sign Baker Mayfield at backup QB money (plus big incentives for games he starts and wins) as he played better than John Wolford in the games they replaced Stafford (Mayfield went 2-3 and would know the offense better next season so he’s a more viable insurance policy behind Stafford).