What Jaxon Smith-Njigba's massive extension means for Puka Nacua and the Rams

📸 Kevin Ng, Kevin Ng-Imagn Images https://t.co/6ZDegAuxHd pic.twitter.com/XFfVa1OCl2

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) March 23, 2026

Rams Post-FA Depth Chart: Starters, Position Battles, Roster Bubble
The Los Angeles Rams have a few tough choices to figure out this offseason

Brock Vierra

https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/onsi/los-angeles-post-fa-depth-chart-starters-position-battles-roster-bubble

WOODLAND HILLS, Ca. The Los Angeles Rams have one of the best rosters in football and despite falling short last season, the franchise is set to enter 2026 with the same hype and expectations of last season.

Here’s an early look at the roster and the storylines that will define it.

QB

Matthew Stafford
Stetson Bennett IV

Not many questions here. The NFL’s MVP returns for another season of championship aspirations. Only question is regarding who backs up Stafford. Jimmy Garoppolo seems likely, but could the Rams use the roster slot for a potential successor? Could Garoppolo become the successor after a failed move to Arizona? We’ll see.

RB

Kyren Williams
Blake Corum
Jarquez Hunter
Jordan Waters

Williams and Corum established themselves as one of the NFL’s premier lighting and thunder threats. With both players possessing the ability to record 1,000 yards and a league that looks like it’s going to run the ball more, the only question is what will the Rams do with Jarquez Hunter? Carries will be limited and it’s unknown if he can play Special Teams.

My opinion, Hunter becomes a go-to weapon in the red zone and short yardage situations. Maybe some usage at fullback? He may not have the size of a fullback but he’ll lay a lick on a defender.

WR

Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, Konata Mumpfield
Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, Brennan Presley
Mario Williams, Tru Edwards, Tyler Scott

Not much to add. There’s good reason to believe Mumpfield will develop into a true third option but with Terrance Ferguson’s ability to be flexed outside, one must wonder if the Rams will swap out their three receiver looks for more two tight end formations.

Brennan Presley is a dark horse to make this roster. He’s a playmaker. Just watch the ending of the Chargers preseason game.

TE

Colby Parkinson
Terrance Ferguson
Tyler Higbee
Davis Allen

No major surprises. All four tight ends get snaps in the Rams’ 13-personnel package. Parkinson clearly supplanted Higbee as a starter, but Ferguson’s ascension and projected growth could threaten Parkinson’s snaps.

OL

Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon
David Quessenberry, Dylan McMahon, Beaxu Limmer, Justin Dedich, AJ Arcuri, Wyatt Bowles

No major surprises here. The Rams’ starting five from the postseason returns as Rob Havenstein has retired.

EDGE

Jared Verse, Byron Young
Josaiah Stewart, Keir Thomas

Verse and Young look to build off their Pro Bowl campaign while Stewart and Thomas look for more playing time. Stewart had a strong rookie season and Thomas was a preseason standout before being lost for the year due to injury

IDL

Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske
Desjuan Johnson, Ty Hamilton, Tyler Davis

Again, no major surprises. Johnson can play both inside and outside so his usage will be interesting to see, as will Davis, as he seems poised to take a massive jump in his game.

LB

Nate Landman, Omar Speights
Grant Stuard, Shaun Dolac, Elias Neal

Landman and Speights return as starters while Stuard is set to be a Special Teams ace. Dolac and Neal will likely battle it out for the final roster spot while attempting to return from injury.

DB

Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Quentin Lake, Kam Kinchens, Kam Curl
Emmanuel Forbes, Tank McCollough, Josh Wallace
Nate Valcarcel, Cam Lampkin, Tanner Ingle, Alex Johnson

The Rams have their starting five for the secondary with Forbes set to rotate in via the team’s three-man rotation at outside corner. McCollough replaces Speights when the Rams go from nickel to dime and they actually prefer to stick with their dime defense because of McCollough. Wallace’s usage will have to be determined.

ST

Harrison Mevis
Ethan Evans
Joe Cardona

The Rams have no questions regarding who their kicker, punter, and long snapper will be next season.

Roster Battle

Brennan Presley, as mentioned, could be a dark horse. Shaun Dolac and Elias Neal will need to prove their value on Special Teams to secure their roster spot. However, the Rams do not have any major competetions.

Terrance Ferguson

Keep an eye out on Terrance Ferguson pushing for the TE1 job and several receivers attempting to take Konata Mumpfield’s WR3 job.

Players on Bubble

Beaux Limmer. His future is in doubt after sparsely playing last season, and even with the reps given, he did not improve upon his shaky abilities in pass protection. Perhaps a year of proper development could give birth to a massive 2027, even from the bench. If not, he’s a cut candidate.

Zooey wrote:

Just saw the calendar. 6 months until kickoff.

This is bullshit.

There was a game played today.

Here’s a Brady TD from that game:

Brady still got it pic.twitter.com/FGMGMmCppQ

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) March 21, 2026

SleeperNFL@SleeperNFL
NFL Receiving TD Leaders since 2020

2020 – Davante Adams (18)
2021 – Cooper Kupp (16)
2022 – Davante Adams (14)
2023 – Tyreek Hill & Mike Evans (13)
2024 – Ja’Marr Chase (17)
2025 – Davante Adams (14)

Nate Atkins@NateAtkins_
The Rams could draft Jeremiyah Love and use Kyren Williams as a third-down back for pass pro. But taking an RB at No. 13 to not be a 3-down RB is questionable.

If Love is as dynamic as some believe, it can be a worthy trade-off. But the Rams are already a top-5 rushing offense.

The problem with trading or demoting Kyren Williams into a No. 2 role is you’re accepting a downgrade at the RB function the Rams value most:

Blitz pickup.

It’s the biggest reason I think Kyren gets slept on by many on the outside. The Rams rightly value his pass pro a *lot*

I don’t expect Love to be there at No. 13. If he and Makai Lemon both are, I think it’s a fascinating debate for the Rams:

Upgrade at a position already strong (Love)

Or:

Longterm asset at a position that will be a weakness in one season and needs some help right now (Lemon)

0:00 Intro
0:21 Recapping NFL news
1:31 Rebuilding over the years
7:32 Free Agency recap
15:19 Investing in special teams
22:22 Coaching staff
26:50 NFC West changes
33:00 2026 Draft
39:07 Retiring players
47:05 What’s next?

Zooey wrote:

But I still place her in the top tier of analysts. She is better than most people who try to talk nationally

I think that’s true.

wv wrote:

“Mike Macdonald could be the third best coach in the NFC West”

Is it just me or does it seem like Mina can’t discuss the Rams objectively?

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
If it seems like there have been more trades than ever. Since the 2026 new league year started last week, there have been 18 trades, including Andy Dalton today.

Kevin Demoff@kdemoff
Nothing creates more interest in the NFL than trades. This is why Cleveland’s proposal to allow teams to trade picks up to 5 years out as opposed to 3 years out makes so much sense. More picks to trade = more trades = more interest & team building options.