Ian Rapoport@RapSheet
If Mathew Stafford is on the #Rams roster next at the start of FA, he’ll lock in another $40M. Stafford was on the books for $58M over 2 years, now it’s $84M over 2 years.

Coach Sean McVay recently told @AdamSchein of @MadDogUnleashed Radio, “I think he can play as long as he wants, but fortunately, I’m hoping it’s a couple more years.”

Jim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
[Atwell] is always going to be limited. I am not one of those who thought he should be cut or traded. He’s got skills to be role player. But he has had chances to perform when others were hurt, and he was okay, but not special.

He’s not the kind of blocker needed in 11 personnel.

Adam Grosbard@AdamGrosbard
Rams announced they’ve signed WR Britain Covey to one-year deal. Was NFL punt return yards leader in 2023

…

Me. His page: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CoveBr00.htm

Zooey wrote:

zn wrote:

I am not a big Noteboom fan.

I thought he was serviceable. He never became what I wanted – a solid LOT – and they probably overpaid him – but I considered him a good #6. Outside and inside.

Ah. So, you’re one of those Noteboomist types.

Look. Bulger is the left tackle now. Time to move on.

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
Ravens reached agreement on a new contract with former Rams OT Joseph Noteboom. More OT depth in Baltimore.

Theme of Rams’ 2025 draft: Production and skill set trump measurables

Wyatt Miller

https://www.therams.com/news/theme-of-rams-2025-draft-production-and-skill-set-over-measurables

Rams head coach Sean McVay said it after Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft: “The tape speaks to you.” And with good tape often comes high-end production.

The average Next Gen Stats production score for Rams draft picks was the ninth-highest in the NFL (only counting the first seven or fewer picks for each team). It was the highest among teams whose average draft selection with those picks was 120 or more.

The Rams valued production in the 2025 NFL Draft.

They didn't end up with high draft capital, but they picked players with high Next Gen Stats production scores, especially relative to their average selection. pic.twitter.com/ABvgMmLQqi

— Wyatt Miller (@wymill07) May 1, 2025

That production wasn’t arbitrary – it was often geared toward specific areas of need for a Rams team that is knocking on the door of a Super Bowl. Here’s a breakdown of every pick and their proven skill sets that could add immediate value to the Rams’ roster.

TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon

Ferguson’s reception and yards numbers increased in all four of his collegiate seasons. But his 9.0 yards after catch per reception last season, which led the FBS among qualified tight ends, is what stood out.

Athleticism and a proclivity for the slot, where Ferguson took 42% of his pass snaps last season, adds the potential for versatility. McVay has stated that as a goal for a Rams offense that has increased its usage of 12 personnel (two tight ends) in recent years. There were tight ends available that were higher on the consensus draft boards created by media, but Ferguson provides a specific skill set that can uniquely serve the Rams’ offensive objectives in 2025.

“It allows us to be able to explore maybe doing some different things,” McVay said.

OLB Josaiah Stewart, Michigan

Stewart has second percentile height, 13th percentile weight and a 30th percentile wingspan, according to mockdraftable, which measures against draft prospects at the same position since 1999. But he can flat-out play.

Stewart had the highest pass rush win rate (27.7%) among qualified edge rushers last season by a wide margin, which led to team-leading sack (8.5) and tackle for loss (13) numbers. That production and the intangibles that led to it were clearly more important to Los Angeles than his measurements.

New Rams OLB Josaiah Stewart was in a league of his own last season when it came to the combination of volume and win rate off the edge.

Stewart was the only EDGE with 195+ pass rush snaps to have a win rate over 25%, winning on 27.7% of his 217 opportunities. pic.twitter.com/QGNZLkidG2

— Wyatt Miller (@wymill07) April 28, 2025

Less-than-ideal size has never stopped Los Angeles from drafting and developing defensive linemen into elite players, evidenced by Braden Fiske and Aaron Donald.

“Short, speed and bend based outside rusher with short arms who routinely gets the job done in his niche role,” wrote CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso, who gave the pick an “A” grade. “Quality hand work and his burst is impressive enough to threaten NFL OTs on a reasonably routine basis.”

RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn

Hunter’s physical measurements may not have jumped off the page, but his stats certainly did. In fact, his small and compact frame (5-foot-9, 204 pounds) actually helped him keep his legs churning through contact and burst through small holes with blazing speed.

The Rams’ 37 explosive rushes (10-plus yards) last season ranked 29th in the NFL. Meanwhile, Hunter had 42 such runs on his own last season (eighth in the FBS), and his career-long explosive run rate of 18.9% ranked second in this draft class.

“He’s got the ability to go through you or to be able to run away from you,” McVay said.

New Rams running back Jarquez Hunter had the 2nd-highest explosive rush rate (10+ yards) among FBS backs with 150+ carries in 2024.

That skill set will be a welcome addition to a Rams backfield that had the 4th-fewest explosive rushes in the NFL last season. pic.twitter.com/VETjNbrxVl

— Wyatt Miller (@wymill07) April 28, 2025

DT Ty Hamilton, Ohio State

After losing both Bobby Brown III and Neville Gallimore in free agency, the Rams needed to reinforce the nose tackle (NT) position. Hamilton does just that as a stout run stopper, despite all his size percentiles falling between 21st and 36th. Free agent signing Poona Ford will likely fill the starting role, but Hamilton is a nice rotational piece who fits the Rams’ scheme.

Trapasso described him as a “NT type who can get across the line of scrimmage thanks to quality athleticism for his size.”

New Rams DT Ty Hamilton specialized in run stopping last season during Ohio State's national championship run.

He had similar run tackling/stop efficiency to fellow Buckeyes DT Tyleik Williams, who went in Round 1. pic.twitter.com/c1claF73ug

— Wyatt Miller (@wymill07) April 29, 2025

ILB Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr., Ole Miss

The Rams haven’t drafted an inside linebacker as high as Paul (172nd) since Ernest Jones IV in 2021. He’s another player who fell due to underwhelming measurables, but his production score of 72 was the sixth-best at his position, and his tackling statistics were even more impressive. Los Angeles needed more competition among run stoppers in the middle of the defense, and they got that in Paul.

“If Paul were an inch taller with long arms, he’d have been off the board much earlier than this,” Trapasso wrote. “… Tackling reliability and zone-coverage awareness are spectacular. Even flashed in man coverage. Smart, cerebral player without big-time workout on his resume. Can eat behind this Rams defensive front.”

New Rams ILB Chris "Pooh" Paul Jr. was the most efficient tackler among drafted ILBs last season.

He had the best stop rate (a tackle constituting an unsuccessful play for the offense) and missed tackle rate among the 19 players drafted at his position. pic.twitter.com/QOcdpGlMpS

— Wyatt Miller (@wymill07) April 28, 2025

WR Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh

At 5-foot-11, 186 pounds, Mumpfield is another undersized player who excelled in specific areas at Pittsburgh. He may be small, but Mumpfield is not afraid to take hits over the middle. He finished the 2024 season with the second-most intermediate receiving yards in the ACC (363) and 25th-most in the FBS.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s 107 attempts to the intermediate area ranked 12th in the 2024 regular season.

Underdog NFL@UnderdogNFL
Breer: A trade of CB Jalen Ramsey to Rams would “probably require” Dolphins to pay portion of his $24.2M guaranteed salary.

post-draft NFC West position rankings pic.twitter.com/JjPCu7PRlZ

— ay (@spoonlocks) April 30, 2025

Los Angeles Rams UK

[Ferguson] was the most impressive tight end in terms of testing at the combine, proving that he was by far the most athletic of those that did test there. He had the quickest 40-yard dash time of all TE’s with 4.63 seconds combined with an elite 10-yard split of 1.55 seconds which proves how fast he can get off the line of scrimmage and beat defenders quickly to help his quarterback make quick and easy throws. He also had the best vertical jump and third best broad jump among tight ends at the combine which justifies his position in the top tier of uber-athletic tight ends in this draft class.

Warren Sharp@SharpFootball
new Rams RB Jarquez Hunter from Auburn was the Rams top rated offensive player on the board entering Day 3

Les Sneed had an eye on him since fall.

After a zoom call before the draft with Sean McVay & Sneed, they immediately said:

“that’s our guy if he’s still there on day 3”

per Peter Schrager

InvaderRam wrote:

zn wrote:

Largest cap hit (offense): Matthew Stafford ($47.6M)

Largest cap hit (defense): Darious Williams ($9.16M)

oh wow. hahahaha. that’s gotta be the biggest gap in the league.

i wonder if a ramsey trade is possible with this amount of cap space.

To be honest? Doubtful. Unless they did it this way—low salary in 2025 with most of the contract in year one going to a signing bonus, so the hit is less this year but goes way up next year.