When the Los Angeles Rams begin OTAs next week on May 26, the player with the most to gain is also one of the biggest stars in the NFL. Puka Nacua can prove he’s back on the right track after checking in and out of rehab, setting himself up for a record-breaking payday extension before Week 1 if everything goes according to plan.
But Nacua isn’t the only Rams player who with something major at stake this offseason and most of them are much less proven as far less established. Who else has the most to
gain?
WR Puka Nacua
Just by keeping his name in the headlines for football reasons only, Nacua separates himself from all the ugly headlines of the past. He is the face of the franchise and all fans want from him moving forward is stories about how much he’s killing it in practice. If he does that, Nacua could set a new record for receiver salary, upwards of $45 million per season.
QB Ty Simpson
Although he is not going to start this season, and potentially won’t get a shot for several years to come if Matthew Stafford does not retire after 2026, Simpson is the most hyped Rams rookie since Jared Goff simply because he’s a quarterback. More eyes will be on Simpson this offseason than Stafford, mostly because Stafford does not figure to practice very often and the rookie will be out there everyday. A good offseason for Simpson and fans will be very hyped for the future of the position. Any reports that Simpson is a long ways away from being ready and fans will be even more skeptical of the decision than they already were.
Give your answers in our Turf Show Times feed poll of the day:
Second-year players
TE Terrance Ferguson
Many fans dismissed Ferguson’s lack of opportunities in 2025 as just “Sean McVay being Sean McVay” when it comes to rookies and playing time. However, Ferguson only caught 44% of his targets in the regular season and only caught 1-of-6 in the playoffs. He wasn’t just blocked on the depth chart, Ferguson also failed to capitalize on his opportunities. Then the Rams drafted Max Klare in the second round of the 2026 draft, another tight end.
Ferguson must reaffirm that he is the next in line behind Tyler Higbee or risk going the way of the Tutu.
DE Josaiah Stewart
Thoughts of Stewart being the next Byron Young seem premature. The Rams may not be able to afford to keep Young after this season, so it is important that an edge rusher steps up and this offseason is the time to do it for Stewart or he risks being a quickly-forgotten rotational piece.
RB Jarquez Hunter
At first he was considered one of the more exciting gets of the 2025 draft, a fourth round running back who could challenge Blake Corum for playing time. Instead, Hunter was a healthy scratch almost every week and got 0 offensive snaps over the entire season. Is there a future for Hunter with the Rams?
Will they move up a level?
OLB Jared Verse
He’s good. Now can he be great? His accolades are impressive: Defensive Rookie of the Year and two Pro Bowls in two years. But for Verse to join the ranks of the league’s top pass rushers, he’s going to need more than 7 sacks. That’s just a fact. At 25-years-old, Verse is at the point of his football career where he can’t make excuses for not finishing off his pressures into sacks. The development is done. Now is the time to move up a level because the Rams shouldn’t pay him $40 million or more per season on an extension if they’re only expecting 6-8 sacks.
DL Braden Fiske
Verse’s teammate at Florida State and then drafted by L.A. shortly after him, in some ways Fiske was the better rookie. He was also the most forgotten second-year player on the Rams defensive line, totaling just 3 sacks and seeing his playing time decrease from 59% of snaps to only 48% of snaps. That’s the wrong direction.
It’s not enough to open up chances for teammates, Fiske must be the one who is making the play sometimes. The offseason is a good time for him to prove that he deserves more playing time next season and that he will go back to the 10 sacks per season that he’s capable of.
RT Warren McClendon
Same as Ferguson, McClendon must be a little worried that the Rams are already looking for his replacement. Third round pick Keagen Trost might not take over at right tackle immediately, but a strong offseason by Trost gives L.A. all the comfort they need to move on from McClendon as a 2027 free agent. The Rams have four starting offensive linemen hitting free agency next year and McClendon is a lower priority than their guards. That is unless he has such a great offseason that Les Snead gives him an extension instead.
Which other players do you see needing a great offseason of practices this year to improve their position with the Rams moving into 2026?
