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August 25, 2026 at 10:58 am #165568
ZooeyModeratorRams stock report: Terrance Ferguson surges as O-line, depth concerns grow
Nate Atkins
By Nate Atkins
Aug. 25, 2026 4:01 am PDTLOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams are down to one more week of the preseason before they prepare for Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.
They’re deciding on a 53-man roster and a few key roles for a team that is currently favored by major platforms to win this year’s Super Bowl. It’s a challenging roster to make, and one where each piece is under the microscope.
Here’s a stock report on how players have fared in practices and preseason games since training camp began.
Stock up
Terrance Ferguson, TE
Los Angeles opted against adding an obvious third pass catcher behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, in part because it has some plans for Ferguson in his second season. Ferguson had a bumpy start to his rookie year after missing time in training camp with an injury and then waiting half a season to see the field, but he intrigued the Rams by turning his 11 catches into a 21-yard average, and now his route tree is growing beyond simply winning matchups up the seam.They are using him on quick passes in matchups with linebackers as well as in alignments at the F (flex), Y (in-line), X (isolated perimeter) and Z (accompanied perimeter) roles. He cut weight this offseason to be able to handle all of that, and the challenge will be holding up well enough as a blocker at tight end while doing so. But the path is there for Ferguson to lead a crowded tight end group in catches and yards and to finish third on the team in those categories behind Nacua and Adams.
Davante Adams, WR
If there was concern over whether Adams still had it as a perimeter wide receiver at age 33, this camp has put a lot of those questions to rest. Adams looks fresh and explosive, and he was virtually uncoverable in the joint practices against the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. What’s perhaps stood out more is his connection with Matthew Stafford, as the two are slicing up zone coverages with route adjustments in the intermediate part of the field, thanks to all the reps they couldn’t get a year ago when Adams was new and Stafford missed virtually all of training camp.The challenge for Adams will remain staying healthy for a full season, as he dealt with constant lower-body injuries last year. The Rams might have to get creative again with load management at times, but the talent has not seen a drop-off.
Kam Kinchens, FS
The Rams loaded up in the secondary this offseason with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson at outside cornerback in addition to extensions for safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl. But the youngest member of the starting secondary has been flashing within that infrastructure, too.Kinchens’ role could be fascinating behind a Myles Garrett-led pass rush that will harass quarterbacks into tipped passes and underthrown balls. He intercepted 11 passes across his final two seasons at the University of Miami and then six more in his first two NFL seasons. Lake believes Kinchens could get to as many as 10 this season if the rest of the defense delivers around him.
Josaiah Stewart, OLB
The Rams added to their edge rush this offseason with the blockbuster trade for Garrett, but they’re always looking for more pass rushers they can get on the field. Stewart is earning those looks right now. He intrigued as a third-round rookie last season with a 17.3 percent pressure rate and 11 percent knockdown rate on 154 pass-rushing snaps, according to Sports Info Solutions, and he looks stronger and more confident in camp right now with Garrett sidelined with swelling in his knee.Stewart’s standout day came in the joint practice against the Cowboys, when he consistently beat first-round left tackle Tyler Guyton around the edge for sacks and run stops.
Xavier Smith, WR/PR
Los Angeles decided to bring Smith back after last season ended with two muffed punts in the NFC Championship Game loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The hope was that he could learn from that moment and attack this camp with a new attention to detail. So far, Smith has shown that. He’s been steady with punt returns and ripped off a 40-yard return in the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s also getting some playing time with the first-team offense in Nacua’s absence and has shown some speed on the perimeter.His roster spot isn’t a lock yet, but if he gets one, he could hold one of the more important roles on this team when it comes to improving off last season.
Wesley Bailey, OLB
The Rams don’t have many roster spots available to win, but Bailey might be forcing their hand. The Louisville and Rutgers product is making it look shocking that he went undrafted this spring, as he has dominated two preseason games, including Saturday against the Saints, when he racked up 10 pressures, four quarterback hits, a sack, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. The Rams will have to keep him on the 53-man roster if they want to avoid losing him to a waiver claim.Grant Stuard, LB
The Rams needed a coverage player, a tone-setter and a leader for their special teams unit after last season’s disaster. Stuard has been all of those so far. He’s the most physical and talkative player whenever he’s on the field, and he’s leading a shift in how this team wants to emphasize special teams rather than treat them as an afterthought, as it did last season.Stock down
Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson, QBs
The Rams created a backup quarterback competition in camp to fill the void left by Jimmy Garoppolo’s departure, a role they value highly because of Stafford’s degenerative back issue and the reps created by his management plan, where the backup is expected to keep the train rolling and develop players within the scheme.Bennett and Simpson have been up and down since camp began. Simpson has shown the most improvement after just a few reps early on, and he’s clearly growing in the playbook, but he hasn’t made many “wow” plays just yet. Bennett has been inconsistent, with some really nice performances — like his game against the Saints, with two rushing scores and high efficiency — as well as several turnovers and a deep ball that has been spotty at best.
Neither has shown anything to be concerned about in their development, but there are a lot of unknowns to gamble a season like this on, given Stafford’s back issue and concerns along the offensive line.
Second-team offensive line
The Rams rolled back five starters who paved the way for the No. 1 scoring offense last season, but they also enjoyed a strong bill of health along the way. Not only can Los Angeles not bank on that happening again this year, but it might also have to deal with a potential suspension to Alaric Jackson as a repeat offender of the league’s personal conduct policy.It’s been concerning to see third-round rookie right tackle Keagen Trost suffer a hamstring injury that will threaten the start to his season, and top interior backup Justin Dedich just came back to practice after missing a month with a hand injury. If Trost can’t play in Week 1, the swing tackle will be David Quessenberry, who just turned 36 and last started a game in 2023. The second-team line struggled mightily with pressure in the joint practices with the Cowboys and Saints.
Jarquez Hunter, RB
This is not really about Hunter’s play as a running back, as he showed a nice mix of vision, physicality and wiggle in his 12-carry, 68-yard performance against the Saints on Saturday. This is about his path to a role. Hunter is still a distant third rushing option behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, both of whom look faster this summer, and he isn’t seeing much special teams work, either.Hunter has worked primarily as a backup to Ronnie Rivers’ spots on those teams, and Rivers’ roles there and as a return option make him very likely this team’s No. 3 running back to start the season. Hunter could be in another waiting game for when either Williams or Corum suffers an injury.
Braden Fiske, DL
This is a similar situation to Hunter’s. Fiske isn’t struggling on the field, but he isn’t flashing much, either, and he might need to in order to have a chance at much playing time this season. If Aaron Donald decides to make a comeback, he’ll start along with Kobie Turner on the interior in rush situations, and Stewart’s emergence, particularly as a run defender, could make it harder to find snaps on the edge in base downs.It would be a good problem for the Rams, but it could make it tough for Fiske to show who he can be in this league now that he’s healthy.
Nate Atkins is a Senior Writer for The Athletic covering the Los Angeles Rams.
August 26, 2026 at 7:35 am #165589
znModeratorAugust 26, 2026 at 8:44 am #165590
wvParticipant“historically great…one of the best teams that didnt win a super bowl”
August 28, 2026 at 11:49 am #165641ZooeyModeratorRams 53-man roster projection: Tutu Atwell adds to crowded pass-catching group
By Nate Atkins
Aug. 28, 2026 Updated 7:02 am PDTThe preseason is over, and that means crunch time has arrived for the Los Angeles Rams to decide their 53-man roster.
Cutdown day is Sunday, and the Rams have a more straightforward roster than many teams after returning nearly every starter from last season’s NFC Championship Game loss, give or take a trio of big-name additions.
However, the roster has also gotten bloated at a few positions, making it challenging to decide which players to keep and which to expose to waivers before building the 16-man practice squad.
This season’s roster is a moving target, as the Rams are bracing for the potential of two starter suspensions, have a pair of roster locks currently working back from injuries and also have a former three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year they could need to save a spot for.
Quarterback (3)
In: Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett, Ty SimpsonOut: Matthew Caldwell
The Rams have made it clear they are keeping three quarterbacks again, and Bennett will likely take the backup role Jimmy Garoppolo held the past two seasons. That would set up Simpson to sit and learn as a rookie, which the Rams see as valuable given the position’s complexity.
If Stafford were to suffer a significant injury, the Rams could consider calling Garoppolo, who is currently a free agent and has been contemplating retirement. If it’s a short-term injury, Bennett seems likely to be the replacement, but it’s not as settled a spot as it has been in recent seasons.
The Rams like what they’ve seen out of Caldwell this training camp, and he should be one of their practice squad additions if he clears waivers as expected.
Running back (3)
In: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie RiversOut: Jordan Waters, Dean Connors
The Rams cleared up this position on Thursday by trading Jarquez Hunter to the Miami Dolphins for Tutu Atwell. They should roll with just three options to start the season, with Williams and Corum in a timeshare of carries and Rivers serving as a versatile special teams player who is adequate as a rusher, receiver and pass protector.
Waters and Connors impressed this preseason and should be options for the practice squad if they aren’t claimed by other teams on waivers.
Wide receiver (7)
In: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, Tutu Atwell, CJ DanielsOut: Alex Bachman, Tru Edwards, Brennan Presley, Tyler Scott
The Rams made a surprising trade by re-acquiring Atwell in the deal that sent Hunter to the Dolphins. That addition adds a needed speed option and could cover a potential suspension of Nacua under the league’s personal conduct policy. Either way, Atwell, on a $1.075 million contract, is easier to treat as a luxury than when they did so last season with him on a $10 million deal.
Whittington and Smith became roster locks when the Rams gave them steady special teams roles, and they’ve been impressed with the growth of Mumpfield in his second season, including as an option on special teams.
Daniels has had a busy preseason and training camp but might struggle to see the field early with how many options the Rams have. The team also has to brace for potential load management and missed games for Adams, who still looks great but is 33 and managed several lower-body injuries last season.
Tight end (5)
In: Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, Max KlareOut: Mark Redman, Dan Villari
The Rams are leaning into three-tight end sets even more than last season, when they discovered it midseason and led the league in that usage by a wide margin. That helps explain the second-round selection of Klare, and this group is deep enough that he could see several healthy scratches — like Ferguson did last season — until the Rams have an injury.
Ferguson should be a featured option after a year of learning the playbook and an offseason of trimming body weight and learning several different alignments, positions and route combinations. Allen missed time in training camp with a quad injury but should be ready to go by Week 1.
Offensive line (10)
In: Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon Jr., David Quessenberry, Justin Dedich, Beaux Limmer, Keagen Trost, Blake HanceOut: AJ Arcuri, Dylan McMahon, Bill Murray, Bryce Henderson, Wyatt Bowles, Austin Blaske
The Rams would ideally proceed with nine offensive linemen, but injuries to Trost and Dedich have muddied the picture, as has a potential looming suspension for Jackson. It makes sense to create extra space at tackle, given the questions facing Jackson and Trost and the fact that Quessenberry is 36. Once those situations stabilize, Hance could depart to make room for a third center.
Offensive line depth remains the biggest question mark for this team, given how strong the starters are and how one injury or suspension could create major risk for a 38-year-old pocket quarterback managing a degenerative back injury.
Defensive line/outside linebacker (10)
In: Myles Garrett, Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Byron Young, Tim Keenan, Tyler Davis, Josaiah Stewart, Braden Fiske, Desjuan Johnson, Wesley BaileyOut: Ty Hamilton, Devean Deal, Tomon Fox, Darryl Peterson III, Payton Zdroik, Bill Norton, Jaxson Moi, Larrell Murchison
This is such a deep and loaded group, and that’s before the Rams factor in a spot for a potential Aaron Donald return. If and when that happens, Johnson or Bailey likely gets the boot. Bailey is a wild card, as he flashed in ways few saw coming this preseason, and the Rams have to know they won’t get him back if they expose him to waivers.
Inside linebacker (4)
In: Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Grant Stuard, Shaun DolacOut: Nikhai Hill-Green, Elias Neal, Monty Rice
This was another fairly set group from the start of training camp. Landman established himself as a leader last season and earned a three-year, $22.5 million extension. Speights should start in base but will likely be subbed out on passing downs for lots of dime personnel. Stuard and Dolac will lead and be key players on the special teams coverage units.
Cornerback (4)
In: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Josh WallaceOut: Cam Lampkin, Steven Gilmore, Nyzier Fourqurean, Al’zillion Hamilton, Alex Johnson
The Rams overhauled this group in the offseason by acquiring McDuffie and Watson, and McDuffie’s All-Pro abilities at outside and nickel cornerback should add versatility. Forbes should be a better fit as a No. 3 outside option who sees playing time in dime personnel. Wallace has been training as an inside and outside cornerback in addition to safety work.
Lampkin was a difficult cut, but the Rams are overly deep at the nickel spot, which is his primary position. This would be a spot they’d need to load up on through the practice squad.
Safety (4)
In: Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens, Jaylen McColloughOut: Alex Cook
This is one of the Rams’ strongest position groups, so they didn’t have any spots to be won. Lake is a hybrid cornerback-safety who will be the team’s primary nickel corner. Expect to see Curl move to more spots this year after inking a three-year, $36 million extension. Kinchens has a chance to be a breakout player, with his ball skills behind this pass rush.
Cook should be a player the Rams try to get back on the practice squad, given his strong preseason and connection to defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake.
Specialists (3)
In: Harrison Mevis, Ethan Evans, Joe CardonaInternational pathway player: Jack Bouwmeester
For all of last season’s woes on special teams, these positions were set with few worries through training camp. Mevis locked the kicking role down with his performance last season, when he made 18 of 19 field goals and a game winner in the divisional round against the Chicago Bears.
Evans had a strong start to last season, and the Rams hope they’ve tightened the coverage and blocking units to bring more out of him. Cardona began his career under new coordinator Bubba Ventrone in New England and brings 11 years of experience.
Nate Atkins is a Senior Writer for The Athletic covering the Los Angeles Rams.
August 31, 2026 at 7:02 pm #165745wvParticipantNick Wright on the brutal schedule.
September 1, 2026 at 7:21 pm #165775wvParticipantWright compares the rams to a BBL. (i had to look it up, you can too)
September 1, 2026 at 11:43 pm #165777ZooeyModeratorEnh.
Every one of those predictions seems to be more about “feelings” and “intuition” than anything else.
September 2, 2026 at 10:27 am #165784znModeratorfrom NFL execs rank NFC teams: Rams, Seahawks clear favorites.
Mike Sando
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7557099/2026/09/02/nfc-rankings-rams-seahawks-eagles-cowboys-bears/
With the NFL preseason finished, it’s time to check in with team executives to set expectations for the coming 2026 season one final time.
The six executives polled this week ranked teams 1-16 in each conference, under the condition of anonymity to allow them to speak freely. I also asked them to place each team into four buckets: Super Bowl contenders, division contenders, sub-.500 teams and likely top-10 pickers in the 2027 draft.
We start with the NFC, where the Seattle Seahawks are reigning champs, but the Los Angeles Rams are the strong betting favorite. One of the execs had the Chicago Bears atop his ballot, on the thinking that seasons rarely play out as expected. Teams are ranked below in median order, with average as a tiebreaker.
1. Los Angeles Rams
Votes: 2-1-1-1-1-2 | Avg: 1.3 | Median: 1 | Vegas wins: 11.5 (1st-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 6
All but two voters moved the Rams to the top of the NFC after an offseason that saw Los Angeles overhaul its defense with Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald and two cornerbacks from Kansas City.
“I think they are the best team in the NFC by far,” a former GM said. “Beyond all the defensive additions, Matthew Stafford is just surgical. So impressive.”
The Rams went 1-2 against Seattle last season largely because they finished those games with a -26.7 EPA differential on special teams.
“It is hard for me to go against Seattle being the top team in the NFC,” the voter putting the Seahawks atop the conference said. “Talent-wise, it is going to be really close.”
One other voter had the Bears first, partly on the theory that things tend to play out unexpectedly.
“I would say there is a clear gap (between the Rams and the rest of the NFC) with the return of Aaron Donald,” another voter said.
“I think Myles Garrett puts them over the top,” another exec said.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Votes: 1-2-3-2-2-6 | Avg: 2.7 | Median: 2 | Vegas wins: 10.5 (T-2nd-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 5 | Division contender: 1
The Seahawks have an unproven offensive coordinator (Brian Fleury) after Klint Kubiak’s departure to become the Raiders’ coach. They spent their offseason extending key players (Leonard Williams, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon) while the Rams were adding big names from the outside. The cornerback situation remains a worry, and it’s unclear whether their top defensive chess piece, Nick Emmanwori, will be at his best physically following ankle surgery.
“It’s hard for me to see them continuing to get better now that they are a marked man,” one exec said. “A lot of people got paid. Is the hunger still there?”
The transition from hunter to hunted affects every Super Bowl winner.
“I don’t know about Super Bowl, but they are going to go deep in the playoffs,” another exec said. “I think them and the Packers are probably the next (NFC) teams after L.A.”
Voters trust Seattle’s defense while taking a wait-and-see approach with the offense.
“It is hard for me to think you’re not going to have some kind of dropoff going from Kubiak to Fleury, even if it is in the same schematic realm,” one voter said. “You lost Kubiak, you lost the Super Bowl MVP (Kenneth Walker III). I know you’re excited about Jadarian Price, but …”
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Votes: 3-4-5-3-3-4 | Avg: 3.7 | Median: 3.5 | Vegas wins: 10.5 (T-2nd-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 4 | Division contender: 2
With Seattle on “Hard Knocks” and the Rams making splash after splash this offseason, the Eagles are about as under the radar as can be. Reminder: Philly leads the league in regular-season victories over the past four seasons (50) while ranking second to Kansas City in postseason wins (six).
“They could go either way, to be quite honest,” one exec said of the Eagles, who finished 11-6 last season. “I think they will be better. The thing that was really good for them is a potential concern, and that is the receiver position and running back. Saquon (Barkley) did not have a great year. The offensive line health and age is a concern. They will still be formidable.”
Will A.J. Brown’s departure be addition by subtraction? One voter said the pressure’s on quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose relationship with Brown had grown cold and who will be playing in an overhauled offensive system under new coordinator Sean Mannion.
“It was hard for me to ding Philly even if the offense is unknown, even if they are taking a step back without A.J. Brown,” another exec said. “Vic Fangio and that defense is going to be top five. That O-line is going to be pretty good. It is still Saquon Barkley. Could they win 16-13 every week? Probably.”
4. Dallas Cowboys
Votes: 5-8-2-4-4-3 | Avg: 4.3 | Median: 4 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-6th-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 3 | Division contender: 3
All agree the Cowboys’ offense appears formidable. How much can the defense improve?
“Anything is better than what they did last year on defense,” the voter placing Dallas second in the NFC said. “They shocked the system by trading Micah Parsons, and I just think generally speaking, new coordinators on defense create variance.”
No team is seeking greater variance on defense from last season than the Cowboys, who ranked 32nd in EPA per play by a wide margin, per TruMedia. They replaced Matt Eberflus with first-time coordinator Christian Parker.
“Quinnen Williams is good, and they have a little more girth up front, so it should be better, but they’ve got some unknowns there too with coaches and philosophy,” the voter ranking Dallas eighth said.
The voter ranking Dallas fifth thought the Cowboys’ defense might outrank the Packers’ defense, notable in light of the Parsons trade last year.
“I like the coordinator,” this voter said of Parker. “He is going to help maximize what they have. The secondary is still not a strength, but they have an impressive front seven.”
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown’s health is a key variable multiple voters highlighted.
“I have defensive concerns, for sure,” one said. “Do they have enough pass rush? How healthy is Overshown? How good are the corners? But they did address the interior with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, and I like Caleb Downs. They will be better up the middle.”
5. Chicago Bears
Votes: 4-7-6-7-5-1 | Avg: 5.0 | Median: 5.5 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-6th-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 2 | Division contender: 4
The one voter ranking Chicago atop the NFC said the Bears have an elite coach in Ben Johnson, a rising, super-talented quarterback in Caleb Williams and enough talent to take another step.
“I know all the regression stuff,” this voter said, alluding to the Bears’ ability to win seven games last season after trailing in the final two minutes. “The coach is really good, they have a really good ascending quarterback, the roster is super talented. They did all the right things in the offseason to fight the regression.”
The top three teams in the NFC North are tightly bunched in these rankings.
“I love the whole NFC North,” one voter said, “but the top three all have defensive concerns.”
New safety Coby Bryant’s season-ending knee injury hurts Chicago. The Bears still have uncertainty at left tackle.
“Can they win a playoff game again?” an exec asked. “Sure, but I guess that’s where I cap the Super Bowl contender of like, do I see them coming out of the NFC over the Rams? I can’t see it. Kyle (Shanahan), (Brock) Purdy and the Niners, they have been there, done that. Even Detroit, I trust.”
Another voter thought the Bears’ rise under Johnson last season painted a target on their backs heading into 2026.
“I’m going to double down on them,” the exec placing the Bears fourth in the NFC said. “They are not going to catch people by surprise this year, and the NFC North will be tough. I still think they’ll be OK.”
6. San Francisco 49ers
Votes: 7-6-4-5-8-5 | Avg: 5.8 | Median: 5.5 | Vegas wins: 10.5 (T-2nd-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 3 | Division contender: 3
There’s a gap between the 49ers’ Vegas win total (tied for second in the NFC) and where voters see them headed this season. Should there be?
“I think they are going to be just fine,” the voter ranking the 49ers fourth in the conference said. “Veteran team, not concerned. The quarterback (Brock Purdy) is really good. We forget, because he’s not this in-37-commercials guy.”
So much of the noise around the 49ers should be separate from what happens on the field, unless the injuries coach Kyle Shanahan suffered in a car accident limit him in any way. The science doesn’t support concerns over the electrical substation near their practice fields. Owner Jed York’s arrest shouldn’t be more than something to discuss in the locker room. The situation with Brandon Aiyuk is largely a social media fixation, while the 49ers imposter receiver has nothing to do with the product on the field.
This is still a team banking on some aging players with injury concerns.
“There is something missing with that group,” the voter ranking San Francisco sixth in the NFC said. “You can break down their personnel and come out with average in a lot of places. I would probably take Philly’s history over San Francisco. They are very similar to Detroit, but I think Detroit is probably first.”
7. Green Bay Packers
Votes: 6-3-9-8-6-8 | Avg: 6.7 | Median: 7 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-6th-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 1 | Division contender: 5
The Packers’ best players on both sides of the ball — tight end Tucker Kraft and pass rusher Micah Parsons — are rehabbing season-ending injuries. Kraft could see his snaps limited early in the season, while Parsons will miss at least the first four games. Throw in Josh Jacobs’ arrest on domestic-violence charges, and the buzz is subdued.
“Figuring out how to sort through the contenders came down to: Who do I trust?” one exec said. “I didn’t trust Green Bay’s O-line and Parsons’ injury and the run game with Josh Jacobs’ situation.”
The Packers finished 9-7-1 despite their injury situation last season.
“Jordan Love’s quietly become a really good Tier 2 quarterback, and he can do some top-level stuff,” one of the voters ranking the Packers sixth said. “And then I think you’re going to see the maturation of previous draft classes. They’ll get something out of (Matthew) Golden. I think they’ve had some good drafts.”
Much depends on Kraft and Parsons returning to health.
“I have concerns about their O-line, concerns about what they are doing at some of the skill positions, and we’ll see,” another exec said. “I’m not super high on them. It’s a tough division, tough schedule.”
The voter ranking Green Bay third did so because he thought Love was improving and could help the Packers take another step. This voter also didn’t like how the Packers’ defense finished and thought new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon could provide a boost.
8. Detroit Lions
Votes: 8-5-7-6-10-7 | Avg: 7.2 | Median: 7 | Vegas wins: 10.5 (T-2nd-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 1 | Division contender: 4 | Sub-.500: 1
The voter projecting Detroit to finish 11th in the NFC last year was an outlier. He also came closer than anyone else in the rankings (the Lions finished ninth).
Others have come around entering 2026.
“They are teetering on the seesaw of whether they’re going to go into one of those two-year dips to restock the roster with draft picks,” said the voter ranking Detroit lowest.
Detroit’s Vegas win total ranks far higher than voters’ expectations here.
“Detroit, I just don’t know if they have all they need on defense to hold up,” another exec said. “Offensive line is still a concern for me with those guys, but I like what they have in place on that side of the ball. Defensively, I think it’s going to be a struggle to produce the style of play they need.”
Another voter drew parallels between the 49ers and Lions as teams that remain strong but have peaked.
“I questioned whether I could really have Dallas over San Francisco and Detroit, but I know what I’m getting with that (Cowboys) offense,” another exec said. “That is a top-five offense with continuity, while the Lions are breaking in a new OC, and the Niners are coming off all the injury woes.”
September 2, 2026 at 11:22 am #165786znModeratorSeptember 2, 2026 at 3:47 pm #165787znModeratorHow the 2026 Rams Measure Up to the 2021 Super Bowl Champions
With Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett in the mix, is this year’s team better than the one that beat the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI?Gilberto Manzano
https://www.si.com/nfl/2021-or-2026-debating-which-rams-roster-is-better
I hesitated to call the 2026 Rams the most hyped preseason Super Bowl favorite since the 2007 Patriots because the Rams had a star-studded roster not that long ago that won it all.
I still stand by my words because the hype wasn’t the same for the 2021 Rams, who acquired Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller later in the season, and Jalen Ramsey had already been in L.A. a couple of seasons.
For this year’s Rams, the hype has been building since they lost a thriller to the Seahawks in the NFC championship game. In case you forgot, which is understandable, considering all the moves the Rams have made since then, they opened the offseason by trading for Trent McDuffie in March. That was followed by the splash signing of Jaylen Watson, the blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett and now the return of Aaron Donald after a two-year retirement.
But now I’m thinking more about what I wrote in June. While the hype wasn’t the same in 2021, the star power might have been as bright when comparing the two rosters. So, here’s the question many football fans are thinking: Is this year’s Rams roster better than the one that won Super Bowl LVI against the Bengals?I decided to examine both rosters to settle the debate. But before we do, here are some fun facts about the two rosters. Six players remain from the team that won it all in 2021 (it was only four a few days ago): Donald, Matthew Stafford, Coleman Shelton, Alaric Jackson, Tyler Higbee and Tutu Atwell, whose return to L.A. didn’t generate as much attention.
Keep in mind that Higbee and Atwell weren’t on the Super Bowl roster due to injury. For this exercise, I’m going only to compare the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI active roster and this year’s initial 53-man roster.
One more fact: Brian Allen and Robert Woods played for the Rams in 2021 and now are assistant coaches on the 2026 staff. (I should ask them which roster is better.)
All right, let’s settle the debate of which Rams roster is better.
Quarterback
2021: Matthew Stafford, John Wolford, Bryce Perkins2026: Stafford, Stetson Bennett IV, Ty Simpson
Maybe it’s best to call it a draw when debating which version of Stafford is better. This year’s Stafford is coming off an MVP season, but the one who won the Super Bowl was five years younger.
Instead, let’s focus on the backups. Simpson was the No. 13 pick in April’s draft, and Bennett was a 2023 fourth-round selection who won two national titles at Georgia. Wolford and Perkins went undrafted, but Wolford did start a playoff game in a very brief appearance. Draft status gets the edge here.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Running back
2021: Cam Akers, Sony Michel, Darrell Henderson Jr., Jake Funk, Buddy Howell2026: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers
Akers was a reliable runner who brought physicality to the offense, but never quite played up to expectations as a 2020 second-round pick. The same can be said for Michel, a 2018 first-round pick of the Patriots.
Let’s put it this way: Akers, Michel and Henderson never rushed for 1,000 yards in a season nor had 10 rushing touchdowns in a season. Williams has accomplished both in three consecutive seasons.
Williams needs more respect for what he’s done for the Rams, but there’s a chance he loses touches to the talented Corum this season.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Wide receiver
2021: Odell Beckham Jr., Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, Brandon Powell2026: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Tutu Atwell, CJ Daniels, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, Jordan Whittington
Now, this is a spicy debate.
Beckham and Adams both fit the description of former No. 1 receivers in the twilight of their careers. (Beckham now has a new description as a grizzled veteran who fought his way back onto an NFL roster after two seasons away.)
From the two groups, Kupp might be the top receiver based on what he did in 2021 as a triple crown winner. Still, Nacua is an elite playmaker and a handful for opposing defenses.
I’ll side with this year’s Rams due to their depth. Keep an eye on Daniels and Mumpfield this year. I would have given the 2021 Rams the edge here had Woods stayed healthy and been available for the Super Bowl.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Tight end
2021: Kendall Blanton, Brycen Hopkins2026: Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, Max Klare
Even if the 2021 Rams had Higbee, who got injured that season, this still wouldn’t have been a close race. It’s rare for a team to have this much depth at tight end.
Parkinson is an excellent blocker who emerged as a reliable pass catcher last season, with a career-high 43 receptions for 408 yards and eight touchdowns. You can say the same for Higbee and Allen.
As for Ferguson, he could be a breakout star based on his upside in the passing game. The 2025 second-round pick still needs to improve as a blocker, but he won’t be asked to do much of that as a hybrid playmaker who can also line up at wide receiver.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Offensive line
2021: Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, Coleman Shelton, Alaric Jackson, Bobby Evans, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., David Edwards, Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein2026: Jackson, Steve Avila, Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon Jr., Beaux Limmer, Dylan McMahon, Bill Murray, David Quessenberry
The Super Bowl winners get on the board here.
Whitworth was still viewed as one of the league’s best left tackles at the time, and Havenstein, who retired this offseason, was a longtime reliable right tackle. Quietly, Edwards has had a productive career as a standout starting guard for the Rams, Bills and now the Saints.
If there’s a weakness on this year’s Rams squad, it might be on the offensive line. A lot is riding on McClendon as the long-term answer to replace Havenstein, and Jackson could face a lengthy suspension due to his legal issues.
Advantage: 2021 Rams
Interior defensive line
2021: Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Greg Gaines, Marquise Copeland, A’Shawn Robinson, Bobby Brown III, Michael Hoecht2026: Donald, Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton
Part of me wants to give the 2021 Rams the edge because Donald was in the midst of his prime and we don’t know whether he’ll be the same this season after a two-year retirement.
Still, it’s hard to overlook how much the Rams have at this position. They don’t need Donald to play more than 50% of the snaps. This group can get by most of the season with Turner, Fiske and Ford.
The 2021 Rams needed all of Donald and didn’t have depth as a luxury.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Edge rusher
2021: Von Miller, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Chris Garrett, Terrell Lewis, Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins2026: Myles Garrett, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart, Wesley Bailey, Desjuan Johnson
Miller vs. Garrett is a good debate if we’re discussing which future Hall of Famer is better in their prime.
But Miller was in the back end of his prime when he was traded by the Broncos midway through the 2021 season. You could argue Miller had a rapid decline after leaving the Rams and signing a massive six-year, $120 million deal with the Bills in ’22.
With Garrett, it doesn’t seem his production is going to drastically fall off any time soon, especially after generating 23 sacks last year with the Browns. Additionally, this year’s Rams have plenty of depth with Stewart and Young, who had 12 sacks in 2025.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Inside linebacker
2021: Travin Howard, Ernest Jones IV, Troy Reeder, Christian Rozeboom2026: Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Shaun Dolac, Grant Stuard
Maybe I’m trying to make this a fair fight by reaching for a win for the Rams of five years ago. But there’s not much to choose from here since the Rams have never really prioritized the inside linebacker position under GM Les Snead and coach Sean McVay.
However, Jones was an impactful rookie who had an impressive performance in the Super Bowl against the Bengals, with seven total tackles and one sack. L.A. would have been better off keeping him because Jones went on to become a starting linebacker for Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks. But with so much star power, the Rams couldn’t afford to prioritize every position. They did, however, find a gem in Landman last season.
Advantage: 2021 Rams
Cornerback
2021: Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, Dont’e Deayon, David Long Jr., Blake Countess, Grant Haley2026: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Josh Wallace
Here’s another close one. It’s star power vs. depth.
I’ll side with a prime Ramsey, who might have been the league’s best cornerback at the time. Ramsey shifted from inside to outside to defend that week’s No. 1 wide receiver.
Expect McDuffie to do the same this season. I’ll regret siding with the old Rams if Watson turns out to be a legitimate No. 2 option. He had his ups and downs in Kansas City.
Advantage: 2021 Rams
Safety
2021: Eric Weddle, Taylor Rapp, Terrell Burgess, Nick Scott, Jake Gervase2026: Kam Curl, Kamren Kinchens, Quentin Lake, Jaylen McCollough
Once again, it’s numbers against notable names.
While the Rams’ current safeties group doesn’t have any big names, there’s plenty of talent with Curl and Lake, two defensive backs who got second contracts from the team this offseason. But Kinchens might be the best player from the bunch.
The Rams don’t win the Super Bowl if Weddle hadn’t come out of retirement that season. He knows exactly what Donald is about to face in his comeback season.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Specialists
2021: Punter Johnny Hekker, kicker Matt Gay, long snapper Matthew Orzech
2026: Punter Ethan Evans, kicker Harrison Mevis, long snapper Joe Cardona
I still have several questions about the Rams’ special teams after how poorly this unit played last season in key situations.
It’s not a given that Mevis is the starting kicker all season. He joined the team halfway through the 2025 season to provide some stability at the position.
However, Gay was an accurate kicker, going 32-of-34 on his field-goal attempts in ’21. Hekker was a four-time first-team All-Pro and one of the best at his position for a decade-plus.
Advantage: 2021 Rams
Final score: 2026 Rams 7, 2021 Rams 4
September 2, 2026 at 10:55 pm #165798ZooeyModeratorThe CBs are an open question at this point. Nobody knows because the top 2 CBs on the Rams have never played a snap for the Rams in a game. So nobody knows.
The ILB thing… I think this guy wants to give the 2021 Rams some run. I am not at all convinced that Ernest Jones was better than Nate Landman, and that’s what this comparison comes down to, imo. I think Jones is better “on paper,” but I’ll bet his production wasn’t as high as Landman’s.
I’ll give the 2021 Rams the OL advantage. Maybe STs, too, but I’m not sure. There’s part of me that keeps waiting for Mevis to expose himself as a fraud… but he keeps making his kicks. Loved Hekker, but Evans has made that comparison a helluva lot closer than I would have imagined. It’s the return unit in 2021 that makes the Rams better, imo.
September 6, 2026 at 10:36 am #165876znModeratorSeptember 8, 2026 at 3:00 pm #165927znModeratorfrom NFL Week 1 power rankings: Rams a superteam at the top, but lots of questions below them
Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
Every week during the season, Chad Graff and Josh Kendall rank and analyze all 32 teams from first to worst.
At long last, the NFL season has arrived. The excitement kicks off with a Super Bowl rematch Wednesday night between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. The next day, the Los Angeles Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers in Australia. After that, the normal Sunday slate awaits.
As the season opens, let’s jump into our first power rankings since before training camps began while also considering each team’s projected win total, as provided by our analyst Austin Mock.
1. Los Angeles Rams
Last ranking: 1First game: vs. 49ers (in Australia), Thursday, 8:35 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 11.7
The Rams easily got the most projected wins in Mock’s simulation despite playing in arguably the best division in football. That presumed success is for obvious reasons. They traded for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, then brought back arguably the best defensive tackle of all time in Aaron Donald. They’re officially a superteam.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Last ranking: 5First game: vs. Patriots, Wednesday, 8:20 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 10.9
How do you win the Super Bowl, return a very similar roster with the same coach and not be the No. 1 team? Well, that says less about the Seahawks and more about the Rams. Seattle’s defense should be incredible again, but the big question is how Sam Darnold and the offense look after losing offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who became the coach of the Raiders.
3. Buffalo Bills
Last ranking: 3First game: at Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 10.8
The defense is undergoing a significant change, entering a 3-4 scheme with six new starters, and that’s part of the reason for hope. The other is a fresh start with coach Joe Brady that could get this team over the hump and into the Super Bowl. Even if last season didn’t go as planned, it’s hard to keep a Josh Allen-led team out of the top five entering the season.
4. New England Patriots
Last ranking: 4First game: at Seahawks, Wednesday, 8:20 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 10.3
The Patriots went to the Super Bowl, then meaningfully improved an offense that returns the MVP runner-up at quarterback (who just turned 24, by the way). Still, this team benefited from a historically easy schedule a year ago. So what’s on tap for this new group that added receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs? How about opening with games against the Seahawks, Steelers, Jaguars and Bills (with three of them on the road). No more schedule complaints this season.
5. Denver Broncos
Last ranking: 2First game: at Chiefs, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 9.1
It’s hard to know what to make of the Broncos. On the one hand, they almost went to the Super Bowl, even while playing a backup quarterback in the AFC Championship Game. Their coach is an offensive genius, and they return an excellent defense. On the other hand, they play in a difficult division, and we’re supposed to just believe that Bo Nix, who relies on his mobility, is going to return to a high level of play after a pair of offseason ankle surgeries?
6. San Francisco 49ers
Last ranking: 7First game: at Rams (in Australia), Thursday, 8:35 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 10.1
There was no shortage of offseason storylines around the 49ers, including the arrest of their owner and a car accident that injured coach Kyle Shanahan. They also dealt with a number of offseason injuries. But they’ve gotten good news of late with George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey, and they could use the regular season to get back up to speed after so much drama.
September 9, 2026 at 2:07 pm #165965znModeratorESPN BET@ESPNBET
The Rams are the Super Bowl favorites, and bettors are ALL IN 👀20.2% of the Super Bowl betting handle at @DKSports is backing Los Angeles, more than double any other team.
September 10, 2026 at 5:09 pm #165995ZooeyModeratorI haven’t finished reading this article which appears to be excellent. It’s better on The Athletic site, if you can access it, because it has images there, including one that is interactive.
The Rams are historic Super Bowl favorites, but have they fixed their fatal flaw?
By Mike Sando
Sept. 10, 2026 2:30 am PDTThis is a story of how two flagship NFL franchises squandered MVP quarterback seasons through a special kind of systemic neglect that could haunt them in the future, Super Bowl expectations be damned.
It might yet become a story of redemption.
The Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers know the agony of flying high with MVP quarterbacks, only to suffer special teams implosions in the biggest games, sabotaging legacies in the process.
Recent trades for superstar pass rushers Myles Garrett (Rams) and Micah Parsons (Packers) distract from a pointed question: What good is adding horsepower to the engine if the radiator empties onto the highway when the car climbs a steep grade?
Can the Super Bowl favorites fix their fatal flaw?
Mike Sando
In January 2022, MVP-to-be Aaron Rodgers watched his top-seeded Packers suffer a blocked field goal and a blocked punt, the latter returned for a San Francisco 49ers touchdown, during a 13-10 playoff loss at Lambeau Field.In Rodgers’ 2014 MVP season, Seattle burned the Packers for a touchdown on a fake field goal and recovered an onside kick late in the NFC Championship Game. Those plays doomed the Packers on a day Green Bay intercepted Russell Wilson four times.
Last season, Rams MVP-to-be Matthew Stafford suffered a similar fate across three games against the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks. The punt-return touchdown his Rams allowed while leading 30-14 in the fourth quarter sparked Seattle to a 38-37 victory in Week 16, costing L.A. the NFC West title and No. 1 seed. In the NFC title game a month later, the Rams muffed a punt, leading to a Seahawks touchdown on the next play as Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl.
These were not isolated failures.
The Rams’ and Packers’ head coaches, Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur, have combined to employ 10 special teams coordinators, including Ben Kotwica’s interim stint with the Rams last season, during otherwise successful tenures. They have new coordinators again entering 2026, along with new hopes. But it’s clear the surface-level treatment of NFL special teams failures — fire the coordinator, hire a new one, act like everything will be fine, then repeat — cannot mask systemic problems.
And so, for the past six months, I’ve asked dozens of special teams coaches, head coaches, coordinators and front-office executives what really matters when analyzing the phase of the game that few truly understand and some head coaches treat as a necessary evil.
Their answers kept returning to decisions made long before kickoff: how much practice and meeting time the head coach commits to special teams, which players claim the final spots on 53-man rosters and which players are active on game day.
These decisions could determine whether McVay’s Rams, among the 10 strongest preseason Super Bowl favorites of the past 15 seasons, deliver on preseason expectations.
It’s late July, and the Rams are finishing practice at Loyola Marymount University when McVay strides over to check out the special teams commitment presentation I’ve prepared after all those conversations dating to the NFL combine.
The presentation begins by framing the Rams’ acquisition of Garrett as a reaction to their meltdowns against Seattle, and watching their division rival win the Super Bowl.
PowerPoint slides show the six special teams coordinators McVay has employed, each stacking over the other, from the venerable John “Bones” Fassel, who let his contract expire so he could coach in Dallas, through the latest hire, Bubba Ventrone.
“I miss him,” McVay says as Fassel’s face flashes onto the screen.
Joe DeCamillis’ face appears. He left the Rams after the 2022 season, taking a job in college because, as he said at the time, “I was just feeling like I wanted to get back with somebody that emphasized special teams.”
“Joe was good, too,” McVay says.
Next comes a look at those three Rams games against Seattle last season. The numbers tell McVay what he already feels. His offense and defense outplayed Seattle by more than three touchdowns (+23.7 expected points), but his special teams gave all of it back (-23.6, the seventh-worst differential out of 1,415 multigame season series this century, per TruMedia).
By this point, McVay has seen stark visual evidence as well: spider charts showing his 2025 team lagging far behind NFL norms in game day roster commitment on special teams, as measured by five categories:
• Core special teamers: Players whose primary role was special teams
• Depth ST rate: Rate at which depth spots were used primarily on special teams
• Depth ST degree: Degree to which depth players played special teams over offense/defense
• Low-use players: Players who were active on game day but played few snaps in any phase
• Starter relief: Starters on offense/defense who played regularly on special teamsA screengrab of a presentation shown to Sean McVay this offseason, illustrating how the Rams’ commitment to special teams lagged well behind the league average in several categories in 2025.Mike Sando / The Athletic
“We need to f—ing coach and play better, and it needs to be more important to me,” McVay says, “so I agree with everything you are saying.”The tension reaches into McVay’s football lineage. His grandfather, John McVay, was a 49ers executive during the Bill Walsh years and beyond.
“Who leads the NFL in punt-return average?” Walsh would ask back then. “OK, it’s so-and-so at 13 yards. Who is last in the NFL? OK, it’s so-and-so at 7 yards.”
Walsh would pause for effect and say, “I’ve got a lot of plays that can get 6 yards.”
Great organizations could build dynasties more easily before free agency and the salary cap evened the playing field starting in 1993. There was less need to win in the margins of special teams when Joe Montana was handing off to Roger Craig or throwing to Jerry Rice (those 49ers teams also had Hall of Famers on defense, led by Ronnie Lott).
These are different times, especially with the NFL introducing the “dynamic kickoff” ahead of the 2024 season.
“Special teams wasn’t as important to me as offense and defense,” McVay said, “but now, I think it is more important because there are more action plays. You are covering more kicks, you are returning more kicks, and when the ball is on the 30-yard line, or a touchback goes to the 35, you are really one first down away from being in four-down territory.”
McVay has moved up special teams periods toward the start of practice. That’s progress from August 2025, when McVay’s Rams held a joint practice with the New Orleans Saints and there wasn’t a single special teams period on the schedule.
“Mind-boggling,” a special teams coordinator from an AFC team said. “Like, how is that even a thing?”
McVay and his Saints counterpart, Kellen Moore, built their reputations as offensive play callers. Neither employed established, empowered special teams coaches, who would have pushed back against being marginalized in that way.
The implications reverberated for the Rams, even in less obvious ways. The Saints’ orientation toward offense made it easier for them to trade Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks at the November deadline. That move, more than any other in-season trade, altered the NFL landscape.
While the Saints were subtracting a one-dimensional speed receiver with modest offensive numbers, the Seahawks were adding a game-changing return specialist. Shaheed’s 58-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Rams in Week 16 helped Seattle take away home-field advantage.
“I told my guys in the special teams room, this play won Seattle the Super Bowl, even though it was a regular-season game,” another special teams coach said. “This changed the course of this game, which gave them home-field advantage in the NFC. That game was over. (The Seahawks) had no morale.”
This offseason, days before the Rams rocked the NFL by acquiring Garrett, Seattle quietly traded for Irv Charles, a special teams gunner from the New York Jets. “He’s just a monster special teams player,” general manager John Schneider said of Charles last month.
Matt LaFleur is back in his office at Lambeau Field following an offseason practice, worlds away from McVay, his former boss.
Beyond the obvious differences — Green Bay has fewer residents (106,675) than 37 Los Angeles suburbs — there are structural considerations.
While the Rams’ owner, Stan Kroenke, is adding MLB’s Los Angeles Angels to a stable of sports franchises that already includes the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, the Packers continue to operate in a time warp. As a publicly owned team, their operating structure is firm. The general manager picks the players. The coaches coach them.
GM Brian Gutekunst has evolved Green Bay’s operation from the rigid draft-and-develop philosophy his predecessor, Ted Thompson, rarely strayed from while winning one Super Bowl but not reaching another from 2005 to ’17. Still, the subject of special teams remains a sensitive one in Green Bay after years of failures that predate LaFleur and short-circuited his best shot at a championship five years ago.
Deep into the same presentation I showed McVay, LaFleur encounters a visual so stark that there is no mistaking the implications. It’s a scatter chart comparing special teams commitment to performance in the core-four phases — kickoff, kick return, punt and punt return — from 2013 to ’25. A lonely Packers logo resides in the lower-left quadrant, far away from all others.
A screengrab of a presentation shown to coach Matt LaFleur during the offseason, illustrating how much less the Packers have invested in special teams than the rest of the NFL since 2013. The Packers’ logo is circled in red in the lower left quadrant, signifying weak commitment and weak performance, near the 25th percentile in both categories, while most NFL teams are bunched closer to the center.
LaFleur winces, until learning the Packers were a respectable 16th in core-four performance (as measured by Expected Points Added) last season. They ranked 28th in game day roster commitment.
“I felt like our kickoff coverage unit was solid, our punt team was pretty good,” LaFleur says. “We needed a punt returner and got one (Skyy Moore).”
Rich Bisaccia, the Packers’ special teams coordinator from 2022 to ’25, left Green Bay for Clemson in February, instead of coaching the final year of his contract. He came to the Packers for a chance to win with Rodgers, and because his good friend, Joe Barry, was the defensive coordinator. Bisaccia had worked with Gutekunst’s father, another plus. And he did make headway in Green Bay, as the team added Rudy Ford, Keisean Nixon, Dallin Leavitt, Eric Wilson and other special teamers.
“I’ll say this about Rich,” a coach from another team said. “He got something done up there that hadn’t really happened. He had dedicated teamers.”
Bisaccia’s successor, Cam Achord, came up under Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots, same as Ventrone, the Rams’ new special teams coordinator.
Belichick valued the third phase so much that he let his coordinator pick two or three players (beyond the kicker, punter and snapper) to keep during roster cutdowns. Larry Izzo, Matthew Slater and Nate Ebner were among the mainstays, rarely playing on offense or defense.
The Patriots ranked No. 1 in core-four EPA across Tom Brady’s tenure (2000-19), counting playoffs. The Packers ranked 32nd over Rodgers’ career in Green Bay (2005-22).
This year, Green Bay kept a few core special teamers — without obvious paths to playing time on offense or defense — on the 53-man roster. Moore, a backup at slot receiver, can handle both punt and kickoff returns. Receiver Bo Melton and linebacker Nick Niemann are among those who might not have made the cut under Thompson.
LaFleur, for his part, seems most excited about what the 39-year-old Achord offers schematically in this new era of the dynamic kickoff.
“Cam is always looking for an edge in terms of schematics, studying other people, trying to think outside the box to put us in the best possible situation,” LaFleur said.
Green Bay averaged 32.7 yards per kick return and scored on an 81-yard punt return during preseason, for whatever that is worth.
Field goal kicking, which the model treats separately from core four because it is harder for coaches to influence, was the Packers’ primary special teams issue in 2025. Rookie kicker Trey Smack made all nine tries this preseason, including from 51, 58 and 59 yards.
Mike McCarthy lived the Green Bay special teams experience as head coach from 2006 to ’18 before spending five seasons in the same role with the Dallas Cowboys.
Green Bay was 32nd in commitment and 29th in performance during his final six seasons with the team (data exists since 2013).
Dallas was second and ninth, respectively, with McCarthy from 2020 to ’24 (Fassel was his special teams coordinator).
Same coach, different franchise, totally different commitment footprint.
Not that game day roster commitment by itself guarantees anything. It can be an indicator, but players matter. Coaching matters. Practice time matters. Achord’s 2020 Patriots ranked 32nd in game day roster commitment but first in performance, with an outstanding punter and elite special teamers in Slater, Justin Bethel and Cody Davis (who combined for eight snaps on offense and defense all season).
In the end, there is no fooling the locker room. Players know how much special teams matters, so when the Packers cut third-phase mainstays back in the day — think Chris Banjo, who went on to flourish with New Orleans after his 2016 departure from the Packers and is now the Jets’ coordinator — those moves spoke for themselves.
“Organizational philosophy is the No. 1 thing,” a veteran special teams coach with no ties to the Packers said. “New England, back when they were amazing, their organizational philosophy was that the backup players were going to dress because of their ability on special teams.
“If they had to play offense or defense, they had to try to get (the team) out of that game, and they would worry about fixing it the next week.”
Coaching trees matter. Bill Parcells proteges such as Belichick, Sean Payton and Dan Campbell tend to emphasize special teams. Walsh obviously felt another way.
It’s an open secret in the NFL that special teams coaches from the Kyle Shanahan tree have to fight for every minute of practice time they can get.
But with Brant Boyer taking over the 49ers’ units last season after a nine-year run with the Jets, San Francisco surged to 13th in commitment and seventh in performance (the 49ers were 20th and 30th, respectively, over Shanahan’s tenure previously).
New kicker Eddy Piñeiro solved a major problem by making 28 of 29 tries.
Under McVay, the Rams’ game day commitment remained high for six consecutive seasons before cratering after DeCamillis’ departure. A top-heavy roster had something to do with the dip. Using later-round picks to fill holes on offense and defense, with less regard for special teams, was another factor after the Rams traded away first-round picks.
Like the Packers, the 2025 Rams were on the high end with nearly three starters per game logging heavy snaps on special teams.
But this is a new year, with new tools to separate teams that care about special teams from those who merely say they do.
“I promise you, getting Bubba Ventrone, getting (special teams assistant) Kyle Hoke, getting (linebacker/special teamer) Grant Stuard, signing (snapper) Joe Cardona, having more intentionality about the importance of it — we’ll be better on teams,” McVay said. “I’m f—ing committed to that.”
Mike Sando joined The Athletic in 2019 as an NFL senior writer after 12 years with ESPN. He is a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an officer for the Pro Football Writers of America and has covered every non-pandemic Super Bowl since the 1998 season.
September 10, 2026 at 5:55 pm #165996wvParticipantYeah, the Sando article is a must-read.
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vSeptember 10, 2026 at 7:27 pm #165997
InvaderRamModeratoryeah i liked the article. i hope that they have it fixed. mcvay is saying the right things. i’m just not ready to believe until i see it on the field. i know they signed one st specialist. i just wish they had signed some more. although maybe a guy like dolac can step in and fill a role.
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