• Free agency recap: With an aging corps and little room under the cap ($1.76 million in space as of this writing), the Rams essentially sat out the free agency process.
• Best move of the offseason: Considering the age and recent injuries to the team's two most important players — DI Aaron Donald and QB Matthew Stafford — restructuring all the big deals in an effort to sign high-priced free agents and put further stress on their cap figures would have been folly.
• Outlook for 2023: The Rams’ elite corps of veterans can beat just about anyone in football, but without any of the three, the 2023 season could quickly become a reboot of 2022.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
As the dust settles on the 2023 NFL offseason, it's time to assess how each team fared in their quest to improve their roster.
Recapping blockbuster trades and high-profile signings to shrewd draft selections, PFF offers an in-depth assessment of all 32 NFL teams, shedding light on the potential impact these moves may have on their fortunes in the upcoming campaign.
For more information on each team's draft selections and offseason moves, download the PFF draft guide today!
LOS ANGELES RAMS OFFSEASON GRADE: B
2023 NFL Free Agency
| FA signings | FA losses |
| C Coleman Shelton | S Taylor Rapp (Buffalo) |
| DI A’Shawn Robinson (NYG) | |
| QB Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay) | |
| S Nick Scott (Cincinnati) | |
| DI Greg Gaines (Tampa Bay) | |
| G David Edwards (Buffalo) | |
| CB Troy Hill (FA) |
Free agency recap: With an aging corps and little room under the cap ($1.76 million in space as of this writing), the Rams essentially sat out the free agency process. Additionally, the Rams will likely need to restructure one of the roster’s larger contracts just to accommodate the rookie class.
2023 Draft class
R2 (36): G Steve Avila, TCU
R3 (77): EDGE Byron Young, Tennessee
R3 (89): DI Kobie Turner, Wake Forest
R4 (128): QB Stetson Bennett, Georgia
R5 (174): OT Warren McClendon, Georgia
R5 (175): TE Davis Allen, Clemson
R5 (177): WR Puka Nacua, BYU
R5 (161): EDGE Nick Hampton, App State
R6 (182): CB Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
R6 (189): EDGE Ochaun Mathis, Nebraska
R6 (215): RB Zach Evans, Ole Miss
R7 (223): P Ethan Evans, Wingate
R7 (234): S Jason Taylor II, Oklahoma
R7 (259): DI Desjuan Johnson, Toledo
2023 NFL Draft recap
Los Angeles not only sat out free agency, but they also sat out Day 1 of the draft. However, they were one of the most active teams on Days 2 and 3, walking to the podium a whopping 14 times.
Third-round edge defender Byron Young was our 100th-ranked prospect but flashes the size and athletic profile to develop into an excellent pass-rusher. He was at his best in Tennessee’s biggest games last season, posting five sacks, six hits and 10 QB hurries in a three-week stretch against Florida, LSU and Alabama.
The Rams scored one of the nicest value picks in the entire draft on Day 3 when they selected TCU CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, our 69th overall prospect, with the 182nd pick. He was targeted 81 times in 2022, allowing just 28 receptions into his coverage while picking off three passes.
Best move of the offseason: Not “running it back”
The 2022 season was certainly a colossal disappointment coming off the heels of ultimate victory in 2021, but considering the age and recent injuries to the team's two most important players — DI Aaron Donald and QB Matthew Stafford — restructuring all the big deals in an effort to sign high-priced free agents and put further stress on their cap figures would have been folly.
An influx of youth is sorely needed on the roster, and walking away from the draft last month with 14 selections and almost a full slate of 2024 picks should go a long way toward the rebuild.
Remaining team needs: Rookie reps
It hardly seems fair to applaud a team for not spending money in the offseason only to suggest it spend money later. With so many new faces this season, the Rams will need to gain as much experience as possible this year so that they have a better scope of what their most pressing needs will be next offseason.
Early position battle to watch: K Christopher Dunn vs. K Tanner Brown
The Rams’ specialists as a whole could be a bit of an adventure, as their depth chart currently consists of a seventh-round rookie punter (Ethan Evans), undrafted free agent Alex Ward at long snapper and the two aforementioned kickers, who are also undrafted free agents.
Dunn enters the NFL coming off an outstanding senior campaign at North Carolina State, as he connected on 28-of-29 field-goal attempts. Brown made 39-of-44 attempts the past two seasons at Oklahoma State, with a long of 52 yards.
2023 Outlook
In a perfect world, Donald, Stafford and Cooper Kupp enjoy healthy seasons and propel the Rams back into contention. In reality, the remade roster is simply too young and too thin to play the long game effectively this season.
The Rams’ elite corps of veterans can beat just about anyone in football, but without any of the three, the 2023 season could quickly become a reboot of 2022.
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