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znModeratorYeah, I agree with all that. It’s kinda great, though, because using the QB salary as a starting point, the Rams have a better QB and more cap space available outside the QB for other players.
+1
znModeratorBrock Purdy is making about $10 million a year more than Matthew Stafford. Over 20% more than Stafford.
Nick Wagoner@nwagoner
#49ers QB Brock Purdy’s 5-year, $265 million extension is the largest raise in NFL history and makes him highest paid Niner of all time at an average annual salary of $53 million.Niners and Purdy always hoped to have this done before on field portion of OTAs. Mission accomplished.
…
ME: on Purdy’s contract. That’s just the “starting qb 2nd contract” game. The market determines that, it’s not based on “worth.” The market goes up every year. If you have a starting qb up for a 2nd contract, you either pay him what the market is paying for starting qbs up for 2nd contracts that year, or you let him walk.
Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence signed 2nd contracts in 2024, and their deals were in the 55 M a year range, so if anything Purdy’s deal is a bit at the low end of that market.
Stafford, in contrast, turned down deals for more money to stay with the Rams. Plus he’s not in the “2nd contract for a starting qb” market. Deals past contract 2 are not as uniformly defined.
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znModeratorThis clip of @JaredVerse1 playing TE in high school is crazy…
No wonder he has been asking McVay to play on offense. That stiff arm was cold-blooded 😤 pic.twitter.com/cHsLjuxh8q
— Rams Bros. (@RamsBrothers) May 16, 2025
znModeratorThe Rams pulled off one of the hardest things to do in professional sports: Staying competitive while retooling *at the same time.*
Both @ByKevinClark and I ranked them as a top 5 front office.
📺: https://t.co/thyIRoxZZp pic.twitter.com/04Zfi74qdJ
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) May 15, 2025
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from https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/16/24431527/rams-nfl-front-office-rankings-mina-kimes
ESPN’s Mina Kimes explained this and how impressive it was in a podcast ranking the best NFL front offices. Said Kimes,
“Do you remember the two-track thing with the Warriors where they were like, we’re both playing for the present, but also building for the future at once? It was like a stated strategy…“the point is, this idea that a team can both be all-in with older players, but then also rebuilding at the same time with younger players. The Rams did it. It’s so hard to do. And the Rams did it. And you have to give Les Snead all the credit in the world. The fact that they did ‘F Them Picks’, won a Super Bowl, and then immediately became competitive again, through, in part, the strength of their draft picks is unbelievable. Just the last two years – Steve Avila, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Puka Nacua. This last year – Jared Verse, Braden Fisk, Kam Kinchens…The defense post-Aaron Donald was supposed to go off of a cliff. The fact that it didn’t is Les Snead’s like masterclass to me.”
znModeratorDespite the 49ers having the easiest schedule, @AdamSchefter isn't that confident in San Francisco 😳
"This team lost a lot more talent than people realize." pic.twitter.com/mgC8Kx653I
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 15, 2025
May 15, 2025 at 11:20 pm in reply to: before camp assessments: roster, rankings, predictions #156454znModeratorfrom https: 2025 NFL Schedule: NFC Team Record Predictions, //www.si.com/nfl/2025-nfl-schedule-nfc-team-record-predictions#_27cz1szdu
NFC West
Los Angeles Rams: 12–5
For the Rams to become legitimate Super Bowl contenders, they will need faster starts than the past two seasons. They started 3–6 in 2023 and 1–4 last season. With the arrival of Davante Adams, perhaps the Rams can get by the AFC South teams, the Texans and Titans, to jump to a 2–0 start this season.znModeratorRams’ 2025 Schedule: Instant Analysis
J.B. Long
https://www.therams.com/news/rams-2025-schedule-jb-long-instant-analysis
If I had to nominate a summer refrain for the 2025 Los Angeles Rams, “start faster” would top the list of potential phrases.
As you recall, the Rams stumbled to 3-6 and 1-4 the last two seasons. In each 2023 and 2024, they were three games below .500 at the bye before furious rallies to get to double-digit wins and a playoff berth.
Thrilling as those campaigns were, there’s a reason they were considered historic and rare – that’s hardly a blueprint for success.
This fall, thanks to a Week 7 journey to face Jacksonville in London, the Rams will travel more miles than any team in the NFC. One silver lining is being assigned to the NFL’s International Series enabled the Rams to place their open date in Week 8 and effectively divide their schedule in half. Strategically, that’s ideal.
The question becomes, can they get to that juncture with a winning record, in command of the NFC West, and in the hunt for the NFC’s top seed?
It’s a tall order. But it should be the ambition.
Pick your preferred post-Draft power rankings. We’ll take ESPN’s for illustration. The Rams are scheduled to play nine of their 17 games against opponents ranked in the top half of the league. Just four of those occur in the first seven weeks before the bye, however, and only two of those contests are against opponents that rank in the Top 10.
Week 3: at Philadelphia (2nd)
Week 6: at Baltimore (5th)
Could you argue Los Angeles is set up for a second-half surge again in 2025? Absolutely.
How about instead of finding their footing late, though, they capitalize on what appears to be an early opportunity to send a message.
Deadline Hollywood
It’s always worth highlighting the NFL’s trade deadline for the Rams, especially now that they’re armed with multiple first-round picks.
While not officially announced, we can use 2024 as a template to project this year’s deadline to be the Tuesday of Week 10, November 4th. Or in the case of the Rams, between their Week 9 home game against New Orleans and a trip to Santa Clara.
Apropos of nothing: Remember that time Von Miller and Odell Beckham, Jr. made their Rams debuts against the 49ers in prime time? Didn’t go great that night, but worked out okay in the end, as memory serves.
Flex On Em
If the Rams need any bulletin board material for OTAs, here’s what I’d serve up:
10:00 a.m. assignments: 4
Prime time appointments: 4
Now, it’s important to note that the Sunday afternoon national games are incredibly valuable inventory – just ask the good people at CBS and FOX. If Tom or Tony are calling your game, you’re doing something right. The Rams have booked four such broadcasts: Houston (Week 1), at San Francisco (Week 10), at Arizona (Week 14), and Detroit (Week 15).
Therefore, a fair portrayal of external expectations would be that the NFL and its network partners plan to feature the Rams at least eight times on the initial schedule.
Still, don’t let the truth stand in the way of a good chip on the shoulder.
znModeratorThis take from @JB_Long on the Rams’ schedule, specifically the international game, the bye week and the trade deadline, is phenomenal. pic.twitter.com/wGpXPOcxoh
— Rams Bros. (@RamsBrothers) May 16, 2025
znModeratorThere are several teams that have matchups more interesting than any Cowboys/x matchup. It feels a little like high school.
They seem to be sticking with established, status quo money makers.
from https://frontofficesports.com/most-watched-nfl-teams/
Despite a poor season, Dallas still outdrew teams with winning records. As the NFL’s most valuable franchise, Dallas uses their well-known brand to attract fans nationwide.
I don’t defend it. But it looks like the NFL is in “recession’s comin” style thinking. It’ as if they’re openly saying “Schedule the established money makers that draw national audiences, this is not the time to re-think this”
znModerator"Remember when Apple inserted the U2 album on your iPod? And you didn't want it and couldn't get rid of it?"
"That's what I feel about the Cowboys." –@colincowherd pic.twitter.com/FnBwpKI9dc
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 14, 2025
znModeratorWill a weaker O-Line and brutal schedule result in a down year for the Chiefs?@colincowherd pic.twitter.com/9g1cp4G834
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) May 15, 2025
znModeratorCameron DaSilva@camdasilva
The Rams asked the NFL to put them on the East Coast the week before their London game, making the travel easierThe NFL granted them that request and put them in Baltimore in Week 6
J.B. Long@JB_Long
Challenging, but fair, is how I’d categorize the Rams 2025 schedule.
There’s far more to like than there is to lament.znModeratorfrom 7 takeaways from Rams’ 2025 schedule
Cameron DaSilva
Only one outdoor game in the final five weeks
The Rams will be playing inside a lot late in the year. Their only outdoor game in the final five weeks is at Seattle on Dec. 18, a Thursday night matchup where the weather will probably be cold and potentially rainy.
They play the Panthers in Week 13 but after that, they’ll be indoors against the Cardinals, Lions, Falcons and Cardinals. In the second half of the season, they’ll only play two outdoor games in the final 10 weeks. That’s good news, especially considering how many East Coast trips are on the schedule.
Philadelphia and Baltimore trips come before the weather gets cold
Speaking of East Coast treks, the Rams will get two cold-weather cities out of the way early. They’ll face the Eagles in Week 3, which should come with some mild weather on Sept. 21. They’ll then play the Ravens in Baltimore on Oct. 12, another game that won’t feature any snow or adverse weather conditions (hopefully).
Had the NFL put either of these games in November or December, the Rams could’ve been facing some snow or frigid temperatures. The league did them a favor by putting both the Eagles and Ravens early on.
Five early kickoffs
It’s never easy for a West Coast team to kick off in the 10 a.m. PT window but the Rams will do that often. They have early games against the Titans and Eagles in Weeks 2 and 3, as well as against the Ravens in Week 6 and the Panthers in Week 13. It’s surprising that neither the Eagles nor the Ravens game was put in the late-afternoon window or in prime time.
The Rams will also play the Jaguars in London in Week 7, a 6:30 p.m. PT kickoff at Wembley Stadium. They’ll have a bye week after and will be on the East Coast the week prior, but these early kickoffs will be challenging.
Heavy emphasis on divisional games in second half
The Rams only play one divisional game before Week 9. That’s a Week 5 matchup with the 49ers. After Week 9, they’ll play five divisional games in the last nine weeks. Playoff seeding and divisional races often come down to beating rivals, so the Rams will have to take care of business in the second half of the season.
The only non-NFC West games after Week 9 are against the Bucs, Panthers, Lions and Falcons.
Two Thursday night games but some extra rest after the last one
The Rams got the short end of the stick by having to play two Thursday night games, meaning they’ll be playing those contests with short rest: Week 5 against the 49ers (following Colts game) and Week 16 against the Seahawks (following Lions game).
The good news is they will have some extra rest after each of those games, particularly following their Week 16 game against the Seahawks; they play the Falcons on Monday Night Football the following week, so it’ll be like a mini-bye.
No three-game road trips
At no point this season will the Rams have to play three consecutive road games. It’s rare for a team to do that but it’s not unprecedented – and it can really wear on a team when that happens. They’ll have back-to-back road games four times (Weeks 2 and 3, 6 and 7, 13 and 14, 16 and 17) but those are mostly manageable road trips.
They could choose to stay out east between Week 2 and 3 when they face the Titans and Eagles, and they’ll be in Baltimore before flying to London for their Week 7 game against Jacksonville.
Won’t face any teams coming off a bye
One underrated benefit of the Rams’ schedule is they won’t face a team coming off a bye. That means no one will have a significant rest advantage against them, leveling the playing field in each matchup. In 2023, they faced four teams coming off a bye and last year, they played just one team following a bye.
znModeratorznModeratorI didn’t hate every player, I will admit that, and I didn’t hate Madden. They even had several players I admired, but I hated the “assassin” ethos, and the fans that embraced that. And Al Davis was the scumbag among scumbags.
I agree with all that. And with hating Tatum.
To me they were Madden, Stabler, Caspar, Belitnikoff, and that OL.
The team I purely hated back then was the Staubach-then-Danny White Cowboys.
znModeratorI have no interest in that story, but Christian Bale and Nicholas Cage might just make that worth watching. I would never have imagined Cage in that role, and that alone makes me curious because he’s going to have to break into some new territory here. And Bale makes things… interesting.
Actually, for me, the Madden Raiders are my 2nd favorite team. Not the Raiders, the Madden Raiders. With the Rams it’s just the Rams even through the dark years. With the Madden Raiders it was a flirtatious interest.
The Madden Raiders helped underpin my admiration for clutch qbs above all others (of which Stafford is one). I remember one of the best games I ever saw live on tv while it was happening was the great 1977 Colts/Raiders game, known forever afterwards as The Ghost to the Post.
znModeratorFirst photo of Christian Bale as Al Davis, and Nick Cage as John Madden in the upcoming film “Madden
znModeratorRams Bros.@RamsBrothers
Matthew Stafford on Davante Adams, via NFL Network interview“He fits right in. For all the guys I’ve been able to throw to in my career, he’s up there with the best”
znModeratorLos Angeles Rams 2025 schedule: NFC West champs will play 4 prime-time games
Jourdan Rodrigue
The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NFL schedule release.
LOS ANGELES — The biggest post-draft news of the NFL offseason has finally landed (is it just me, or is the rollout for the league’s schedule release getting longer each year?).
The Rams will travel the second-most miles in the NFL in 2025 (34,832) in part due to their trip to London as the visiting team against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7. East Coast trips also include Baltimore (Week 6), Philadelphia (Week 3) and Carolina (Week 13).
Otherwise from a travel perspective, the Rams have a solid slate. The Detroit Lions have to come to Los Angeles instead of the Rams again playing at Ford Field (their most difficult road environment of late). Of their four prime-time games, three are on the West Coast (San Francisco at home in Week 5 on “Thursday Night Football”, Tampa Bay at home in Week 12 and at Seattle in Week 16 on TNF). Their final prime-time game in Atlanta in Week 17 will also tell the Rams about how high the 2026 first-round pick the Falcons traded them this spring will be, because it’s so late in the regular season.
Week 1 keys to victory
Against the Texans in Week 1, the Rams’ young defensive line will have an opportunity to open the year with a statement against Houston’s reconstructed offensive line. They’ll also have to deal with running back Joe Mixon, so it’ll be a good initial test for run-stopping free-agent addition Poona Ford at defensive tackle.
This opener is a reunion between head coach Sean McVay and now-Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who was the Rams’ tight ends coach in 2023-24.
Must-watch game: at Philadelphia Eagles, Week 3
There is no shortage of bitterness on the Rams’ side about how their last matchup ended in the 2024 divisional round.
Toughest stretch: Weeks 14-16
The Rams will likely once again be in the mix in a tough NFC race toward the postseason. The Cardinals, Lions and Seahawks will all be physical, competitive games and winning all three or a combination of the three can set them up with an edge heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Game that has gotten tougher: home and at Seahawks, Weeks 11 and 16
If former Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp can stay healthy in the back stretch of the season, when both matchups are played between the NFC West foes, he’ll probably bring it against his former longtime team. Elsewhere, Seattle’s defense got better as time passed last year and should be a fierce group in 2025.
One game the Rams can’t afford to lose: vs. Detroit, Week 15
The Matthew Stafford/Jared Goff swap of 2021 unintentionally set up one of the more fun modern rivalries in the NFC between the Rams and the Lions. The Rams have most recently lost two heartbreakers in Detroit between the wild-card game at the end of the 2023 season and the overtime loss in the season opener in 2024.Best offense the Rams will face: Eagles, Week 3
Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia offense ran all over the young Rams defensive line last season, even setting single-game rushing records in the process. The Rams believe they’ve fixed their run defense — and this contest will be an early chance to prove it.
Best defense the Rams will face: Eagles, Week 3
The Eagles were the bona fide most complete roster and best team in football last season on both sides of the ball — and even though the Rams’ offense produced against them in the divisional round, Vic Fangio’s group will always be among the toughest matchups in the league and will have new wrinkles in his second season as defensive coordinator.
Predicted record: 12-5
This is a better football team after nailing two consecutive draft classes and plugging around those ascending young starters with a top quarterback in Stafford, and small but important fixes elsewhere such as along the defensive line.
Predicted NFC West finish: First
1. Rams
2. 49ers
3. Cardinals
4. SeahawksThe Rams’ resume from their deep 2024 postseason run and first-place finish earns them this spot — the other three teams will simply have to prove they are better in 2025. Plus, L.A. improved its roster in key areas such as continuity along the offensive line, at tight end, receiver, interior defensive line and inside linebacker and were able to retain Stafford for at least one more season. In order: Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks. Seattle did make some moves to improve its offensive line but the book is out on how to pressure quarterback Sam Darnold and I am skeptical they’ve done enough to protect him. I loved Arizona’s offseason plan and think the defense is poised to break out, but they have fizzled out about midseason in recent years — and I’ll never bet against Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers as being better than expected, especially after the Rams themselves set the offseason “sprint rebuild” blueprint the 49ers are now following.
znModeratorOfficial:
Preseason
Week 1, Aug. 9: Dallas Cowboys | 4 p.m.
Week 2, Aug. 16: Los Angeles Chargers | 4 p.m.
Week 3, Aug. 23: at Cleveland Browns | 10 a.m.Regular Season
Week 1, Sept. 7: Houston Texans | 1:25 p.m. | CBS
Week 2, Sept. 14: at Tennessee Titans | 10 a.m. | CBS
Week 3, Sept. 21: at Philadelphia Eagles | 10 a.m. | FOX
Week 4, Sept. 28: Indianapolis Colts | 1:05 p.m. | FOX
Week 5, Oct. 2: San Francisco 49ers (Thurs) | 5:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video
Week 6, Oct. 12: at Baltimore Ravens | 10 a.m. | FOX
Week 7, Oct. 19: at Jacksonville Jaguars (London) | 6:30 a.m. | NFL Network
Week 8: BYE
Week 9, Nov. 2: New Orleans Saints | 1:05 p.m. | FOX
Week 10, Nov. 9: at San Francisco 49ers | 1:25 p.m. | FOX
Week 11: Nov. 16: Seattle Seahawks | 1:05 p.m. | FOX
Week 12, Nov. 23: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5:20 p.m. | NBC
Week 13, Nov. 30: at Carolina Panthers | 10 a.m. | FOX
Week 14, Dec. 7: at Arizona Cardinals | 1:25 p.m. | FOX
Week 15, Dec. 14: Detroit Lions | 1:25 p.m. | FOX
Week 16, Dec. 18: at Seattle Seahawks (Thurs) | 5:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video
Week 17, Dec. 29: at Atlanta Falcons (Monday) | 5:15 p.m. | ESPN
Week 18, Jan. 3 or 4: Arizona Cardinals | TBD | TBDznModerator.@RamsNFL @JaredVerse1 v @Eagles @saquon opens this game up in the 1st Q with this "62 yd Door Dash TD" and Verse still thinks about "what if" he got Barkley OOB. Verse' thinking is how players become great. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/brnkzb0Je6
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) May 14, 2025
znModeratorspecifically i was probably more excited when they signed bobby wagner along with ernest jones, but this group would be right below them.
Yeah. Dolac, Paul, and Landman.
I swear their blueprint for this draft and free agency was the Eagles playoff game. They listed all the flaws in that game, and addressed each one.
Run defense. Ford, Paul, Landman, Dolac.
OL miscommunication in crucial moments. Shelton.
With Kupp diminished, passing game not as full of options as you would like. Adams, Ferguson.
Lack of explosive plays in run game. Hunter.
Can never have enough pass rushers no matter how good you are. Stewart.
May 14, 2025 at 5:44 pm in reply to: the “healthcare” industry (thread includes entire film “Sicko” for free) #156422znModeratorznModeratorJAKE ELLENBOGEN@JKBOGEN
Unpopular opinion this is the most excited about a #Rams LB room as a whole. Omar Speights is a baller, Nate Landman is a great run defender and has ability to grow as a coverage backer, Chris Paul Jr. was a 1st round worthy prospect and Shaun Dolac is the steal of UDFA
…Me, at moi.com.
That tweet strikes me as being a little over-excited, but still, there really are some possible signs of life at the interior LB spot. It would be nice if the Rams are as good at finding bargain ILBs as they are at finding bargain safeties.
znModeratorNFL SCHEDULE LEAK
Buccaneers at Rams – Week 13 Thanksgiving Night pic.twitter.com/BvLgfqOOnC
— NFL Nerd (@NerdingonNFL) May 13, 2025
znModeratorFormer Rams CB Troy Hill has been hired as St. Bonaventure HS's head football coach
Hill graduated from St. Bonaventure in 2010 and now begins his coaching career back in Ventura https://t.co/2FiJ0KsoYM
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 13, 2025
znModeratorfrom PFF, 2025 offseason grades for all 32 NFL teams: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2025-offseason-grades-all-32-nfl-teams#LAR
LOS ANGELES RAMS: B+
Retaining Matthew Stafford was a big win. He didn’t enjoy his best season in 2024, posting a 73.3 PFF passing grade, but losing him would’ve meant a full roster rebuild. Los Angeles did well to swap Davante Adams for Cooper Kupp, and the front office made a solid addition of Poona Ford to their young and improving defensive line.The Rams didn’t address cornerback at all, a worrying development with Darious Williams (59.8), Ahkello Witherspoon (62.6) and Cobie Durant (61.5) posting lower PFF coverage grades last season. Their draft class was small, but Terrance Ferguson, Josaiah Stewart and Chris Paul will be important players for the team. Plus, the Rams received Atlanta’s first-round pick next year by trading out of the first round.
znModeratorLast time the Rams played in London 👀
pic.twitter.com/NzPnM97yhC https://t.co/fHmM1CEeA5
— 𝚂𝚌𝚘𝚘𝚝 🎭 (@_SC00T) May 13, 2025
May 13, 2025 at 12:30 pm in reply to: before camp assessments: roster, rankings, predictions #156405znModeratorNow that free agency and the NFL Draft are over, what are your thoughts on @BuckyBrooks' Top 10 rankings? 📊
Read More: https://t.co/rNlXqoX3ry pic.twitter.com/K83PWnBl5E
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) May 13, 2025
…from Brooks, NFL top-10 rankings: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-top-10-rankings
7. Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay has quietly crafted a championship-caliber roster with an elite quarterback and a set of co-WR1s (Davante Adams and Puka Nacua) who can take over any game. Throw in an underrated running game with a back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher (Kyren Williams) and an emerging defense with a collection of young, hungry defenders with big play ability; the Rams are well-positioned to swipe the NFC crown this season. If the Rams can avoid the injury bug, the defending NFC West champs could make some noise as a title contender.
znModeratorThe Rams will travel 34,832 miles next season, which is the second-most in the NFL. https://t.co/VHtQdhwjwL
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) May 13, 2025
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