Les Snead and the Los Angeles Rams player personnel staff are already hard at it. Last season, the L.A. braintrust was tasked with repairing a leaky run defense and answered by trimming out some dead wood, replacing it with two run-stoppers, Poona Ford on the interior and Nate Landman at middle linebacker. The defensive scheme also was tweaked to get the safety unit more heavily involved in nickel and dime packages.
Fast forward to 2026 and again the defense needs some work. Now it’s the pass defense missing
certain pieces for success. To their credit, Snead and Co. have already began to to replenish the secondary, trading for cornerback Trent McDuffie and re-signing veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kamren Curl.
Will these moves change the Rams free agency and draft strategies?
Here’s the current roster and some thoughts on which path they might take. Projected starters in bold.
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett
Is it Bennett’s time to step into QB#2 or will the Rams look for a veteran with regular season experience? If it’s the former, the Rams should be on the lookout for a developmental player to solidify the post-Stafford succession plan.
Running back
Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter, Jordan Waters
Looking at late round or undrafted prospects. Camp and preseason game bodies mostly, but no throwaways. The Rams were very lucky on the RB injury front last year, so candidate should have enough juice to provide a modicum of insurance.
Wide receiver
Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, Tyler Scott, Harold Presley, Mario Williams, Tru Edwards
With the uncertainty of 2027 in the fast-approaching future, getting another playmaker under a 3-4-5 year contract should be considered a must. After Nacua and Adams, there just isn’t much production and only 16 NFL starts amongst the other seven candidates.
Tight end
Terrance Ferguson. Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, Mark Redman
Bringing in Higbee this week fills out the unit for 2026. Likely moves will limited to a couple retread free agents and undrafted, or late round candidates.
Offensive line
Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon, David Quessenberry, Beaux Limmer, Justin Deich, Wyatt Bowles, Dylan McMahon, AJ Arcuri
With the return of the starting five intact, the pressing move must be to find a swing player, either a plug-and-play veteran or an advanced draftee. The Rams have “made do” with offensive line back ups in the McVay years and I would argue it has disadvantaged them. The good stuff costs money and one solid replacement on the offensive line is money well spent.
Special teams
Ethan Evans, Harrison Meevis
The only need is a long snapper. Jake McQuaide returned the Rams fold in mid-2026, he’s on the older side at 38, but I’m surprised L.A. has not already brought him back.
Defensive line
Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton, Bill Norton
Ver solid rotation with the Top 4. A big, bruiser who is adept at penetration would be a healthy addition, allowing the Rams incumbents more 1on1 matchups where their relatively smaller size and movement skills can be maximized.
Edge
Jared Verse, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart, Desjuan Johnson
Strong overall group that needs one more pass rushing specialist to be dominant. Using early draft capital or a pricey free agent might be a luxury here, but a deep rotation of guys that can really get after the quarterback looks to be the near future of NFL defense.
Off-ball linebacker
Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Shaun Dolac, Elias Neal
All return from last year and while acceptable around the line of scrimmage, they were often exploited when in pass coverage. Landman received an in-season extension, likely shutting the door on the addition of another “MIKE” backer. More athleticism would be a welcome addition.
Safety
Quentin Lake, Kamren Curl, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough, Josh Wallace, Tanner Ingle, Nate Valcarcel
Would not expect any major moves here. By extending Lake and re-upping Curl, the Rams have decided to run it back with last year’s group in full. So it remains a unit with mid-tier talent and athleticism. While solid pros, there are no real difference makers.
Cornerback
Trent McDuffie, Darious Williams, Emmanuel Forbes, Cam Lampkin, Alex Johnson
Certainly, McDuffie is an upgrade over the Rams that have recently manned the position. He will solidly fill a corner role through this Super Bowl window and if/when extended, will be a building block to extend it. Behind him the room is quite thin and at the very least, another starting grade free agent or draft prospect is needed.
Have the Rams recent roster moves upgraded weak areas?
Yes and no. The Rams have been strong contenders over the past two seasons and although the roster could use a little overall shoring up here and there, the glaring weaknesses from last year are in the secondary and on special teams.
In the secondary, Trent McDuffie is a solid start at corner, but one piece does not a re-build make. Looking at safety, it appears that “good enough” is the working plan. There’s zero logic in re-signing two starters, Quentin Lake and Kamren Curl to multi-million dollar deals and then looking for possible upgrades. Unless, you put Kamren Kinchens on the hot seat. Those of us calling for a true free safety are just whispering into the abyss of deep space.
Hopefully, Harrison Meevis is immune to the sophomore slump, if so, that’s an incremental step to building out the special teams. Getting back with Xavier Smith to return punts is a static move at best. None of the other recent signings moves the needle as to plugging all the gaps that the coverage and return units have.
Free agency won’t officially open for another week and the NFL Draft is over a month away (April 23 thru 25), so it’s too early to give out grades. But there is room for optimism, the Rams have already taken one major step to bolster the secondary and are rumored to be plotting other big deals for whole-roster upgrades. Les Snead appears to have his green-shade visor on this off-season.
