The Los Angeles Rams are -31.8 in Special Teams EPA through five weeks, making their third phase a catastrophic liability that threatens to undermine an otherwise competitive football team. If Sean McVay and Les Snead want to maximize this roster’s Super Bowl potential, an extreme special teams makeover needs to be on the table, starting with a reliable kicker who can consistently turn scoring opportunities into points. The Rams have two outside options worth considering if they want to fix their special teams problems
before they cost them another game: trading for a familiar face or signing one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history.
Option 1: Trade for Matt Gay
A reunion with Matt Gay could be exactly what the Rams need to stabilize their kicking game. Gay is currently with the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year contract that expires after the 2026 season, making him a potential trade target if the Raiders are willing to negotiate.
Gay already knows what it takes to succeed in Los Angeles. During his two-and-a-half seasons with the Rams from 2020 through 2022, he converted 74 of 80 field goal attempts, good for an impressive 92.5% success rate. His best season came in 2021, when he made 94.1% of his field goals and helped the Rams capture Super Bowl LVI.
Although Gay’s career field goal percentage sits at approximately 84.6%, his previous success in Los Angeles gives the Rams reason to believe he could rediscover his best form. He has also demonstrated the ability to make long kicks, including a 59-yarder for Las Vegas in 2026.
A trade would give the Rams a proven option who understands the organization and has experience performing under championship expectations. With Gay’s contract expiring after this season, Los Angeles could potentially acquire him without committing to a long-term deal.
Option 2: Sign Justin Tucker
If the Rams prefer to pursue a different route, Justin Tucker represents another intriguing possibility. Tucker has a career field goal percentage of 89.1%, making him one of the most accurate kickers the NFL has seen. From 49 yards or less, his 94.8% success rate is nearly automatic.
The biggest question is whether Tucker can return to his previous level of consistency. His track record is difficult to ignore, but the Rams would need to evaluate his current form and availability before making a commitment. If he can still deliver that kind of accuracy, he would give Los Angeles a dependable option whenever the offense stalls outside the red zone.
Verdict: Either
The Rams cannot afford to keep surrendering valuable points and field position because of special teams mistakes. Trading for Gay offers familiarity, proven success in Los Angeles and a relatively short contractual commitment. Tucker provides a potentially high-upside alternative if the Rams believe he can recapture his elite form.
Either move would represent a meaningful step toward fixing a unit that has become a glaring weakness. With championship aspirations, the Rams need to stop treating special teams as an afterthought and start investing in solutions. An extreme makeover might be exactly what this team needs to turn a major liability into a legitimate strength.
