I’ve been consistent for most of the offseason about one major need for the Los Angeles Rams
: they must bring in more talent at the receiver position.Free agency has mostly come and gone, at least in terms of players who can make an immediate impact. The Rams were tied to the Philadelphia Eagles’ AJ Brown before that rumor turned ice cold. LA has also reportedly considered trading away veteran Davante Adams, and his contract now makes that less difficult after a bonus came due.
These were the top
of the market signings in 2026:
- Alec Pierce (Colts): 4 years, $114M
- Wan’dale Robinson (Titans): 4 years, $70M
- Romeo Doubs (Patriots): 4 years, $68M
- Rashid Shaheed (Seahawks): 3 years, $51M
- Mike Evans (49ers): 3 years, $42M
- Jalen Nailor (Raiders): 3 years, $35M
- Tyquan Thornton (Chiefs): 2 years, $11M
Doubs is making at least $10M less than Adams is this season and probably brings more consistency on a down to down basis. He’s a player that made a lot of sense for LA if they were going to dip into the free agent pool. Overall it’s fair to conclude that these players were paid hefty amounts compared their historical production, and smart money generally sits on the sidelines.
We can also draw potential conclusions about why the Rams sat out of free agency outside of their main signing in corner Jaylen Watson. Here are some possible explainations:
- Rams are committed to frequent deployment of 12/13 personnel
- LA views Terrance Ferguson as a hybrid TE/WR
- Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield are ready for larger roles in seasons three and two, respectively
- This is a position better suited for the draft
The last point is the one that rings the most true to me, although reality probably takes a piece of them individually to fit the big picture. This is likely Adams’ last season in the NFL. Receivers are expensive. The Rams can find an immediate contributor with either the #13th overall pick or in the second round that also has the capability to replace Adams into 2027 and beyond.
One concern I do have about leaning into the usage of multiple tight ends at the expense of maintaining a deep core of receivers is that the deployment of these personnel packages are situationally dependent. While the Rams may be getting away from their historical reliance on 11 personnel (three receivers), you still need a deep pass catching bench for late-game comeback situations. You don’t want two or three tight ends on the field in “must have it” scenarios with minimal time on the clock. You need at least three receivers that are dependable in the game’s final moments.
All signs are currently pointing to the Rams landing another talented pass catcher with their first selection in next month’s NFL draft. They surprisingly didn’t tap into the free agent pool, but this is still a position that needs to be addressed over the offseason.
