Unless they win the Super Bowl, no team ever starts the offseason on a “high note,” but the Los Angeles Rams certainly couldn’t have felt much better after losing to the Detroit Lions in the wild card round. Prior to the 2023 season, the Rams were predicted to finish third or fourth in the division and to win six to eight games due to expected weaknesses on the offensive and defensive lines as well as the questionable health and durability of Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford.
By the time it was all over, the Rams had advanced to the postseason, finished 10-7, and added Puka Nacua, Kevin Dotson, Kobie Turner, Steve Avila, and Byron Young to their roster. The news that Aaron Donald was retiring shocked fans just when everything was looking as good as it could be going into the 2024 summer. This cast a new light on L.A.’s defensive roster without perhaps the greatest player in franchise history.
Nevertheless, Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager, wrote this for VSIN this week, including the Rams among a select group of clubs enjoying outstanding offseasons:
The Rams prioritized their lines during the offseason. They added two guards in free agency and two promising colleagues on the defensive line, Braden Fiske and Jared Verse, in the draft. They have more depth now, and the NFC West should be a grind if Matthew Stafford stays healthy.
In addition to signing guard Jonah Jackson to a somewhat larger salary, the Rams re-signed Dotson to a new contract after he left the Lions for Los Angeles. The Rams intend to have the greatest interior offensive line in the league by switching Avila from left guard to center.
Additionally, the organization managed to get Joe Noteboom to restructure his contract. As a backup to tackles Rob Havenstein and A.J. Jackson, he will be joined by Warren McClendon and A.J. Arcuri. The signing of tight end Colby Parkinson from the Seahawks as a backup quarterback and insurance for Tyler Higbee, along with the replacement of Carson Wentz with Jimmy Garoppolo, were the other noteworthy offensive moves.
The Rams have strengthened their defensive line by adding safety Kamren Curl and cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams via free agency. Les Snead was quiet throughout the free agency period on the defensive line, but he moved up for defensive tackle Braden Fiske near the top of the second round and selected defensive end Jared Verse with pick 19.
The Rams are undoubtedly in a better position now than they were following AD’s retirement announcement, but it would be difficult for L.A. to be “better off” under any circumstance without Donald.
In an attempt to improve their kicking position in 2023, the team also selected kicker Joshua Karty in the draft.
Do the Los Angeles Rams now have a better overall team than they did at the end of the season following the draft? Yes, Lombardi says, even in the absence of Aaron Donald.
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