While Rams fans may still be pondering ‘what if’ scenarios after the season came to a soul-crushing end Sunday in Seattle, the organization has no time to waste.
While Rams fans may still be pondering ‘what if’ scenarios after the season came to a soul-crushing end Sunday in Seattle, the organization has no time to waste. An offseason of questions is quickly approaching and with it comes decisions that will shape the Rams future, not just for next season but for years to come.
Matthew Stafford holds a game ball as he is interviewed by NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark after a NFC Divisional Round game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.The biggest decision facing the Rams might be out of their hands. It’s up to Stafford to make the call whether he still wants to play, and his decision will set the tone for what the club does next. On the surface, it seems like an easy decision. He’s coming off one of the greatest seasons of his illustrious career, showed he could manage the back issues he’s dealing with and displayed a skill level that shows no signs of letting up. The Stafford we saw in 2025 is a projectable commodity for multiple seasons.Following MVP-caliber season, Rams should be asking Stafford for ‘one more year’Whether he wants to commit to the year-round process of playing high-level football, though, is a call only he can make. He’s got a family and the next chapter of his life to think about. Bottom line, the Rams need an answer relatively soon to set their offseason to-do list so they can maximize the 2026 season.Sooner or later, the Rams will need a replacement for Stafford. Maybe as early as this season but more likely in 2027. Thanks to some fortuitous thinking last year, they are well armed to proactively add a potential successor this offseason. Remember, they traded their 2025 first-round pick to the Falcons on draft night for Atlanta’s first-rounder this year. That means they have two picks in the first round, one of which could be used to select a quarterback. Alabama’s Ty Simpson could be had at that point in the draft. He’s got plenty of upside, but he faces a steep learning and development curve. The Rams can groom him behind Stafford for one or two years, then hand things over to him when Stafford calls it quits.There isn’t a better leadership combination in the NFL than McVay and Snead, who have been joined at the hip almost since the moment McVay came aboard in 2017. The head coach and general manager are going into the last year of their contracts, and it behooves the Rams to get ahead of any potential issues by locking both in on new deals. McVay, a young dad with a young, growing family, has flirted with the idea of moving on to television, and the Rams could play with fire if they don’t extend his stay by another three to five years. If it means making him the NFL’s highest-paid coach by giving him a raise from $15 million to $20 million, it’s something they have to consider. Snead seems perfectly situated in Los Angeles, but there are NFL teams that would back up the Brinks truck to give him a promotion as their president of football operations. If he became a free agent, that would undoubtedly happen. The Rams need to make sure it never gets to that point.The Rams need help at cornerback, where a lockdown-caliber cornerback would make a big difference. Also, they must add more athleticism at linebacker, preferably a three-down backer who can play the run and provide quality pass coverage. The offensive line is always a need, especially with veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein potentially hitting free agency or retiring. McVay did a great job pivoting to a heavy “13” personnel scheme, but part of the adjustment was to compensate for what the club is lacking in terms of speed at wide receiver. Puka Nacua is one of the NFL’s best wide receivers, and Davante Adams still has gas left in the tank. Neither is to be confused with a speedster, though, and the Rams’ entire operation would benefit from someone who can stretch the field.Chiefs owner has strong stance on Travis Kelce's retirement decisionBrian Daboll to become OC for fellow ex-NY coach Robert Saleh — on one conditionMatthew Stafford holds a game ball as he is interviewed by NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark after a NFC Divisional Round game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
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