It’s been more than a week since the Rams’ season ended in the first round of the NFL playoffs, and the team’s brain trust is still taking some time to decompress and put some distance between itself and the 10-7 season that left the franchise reinvigorated.
When the Rams’ leaders do sit down after the Super Bowl to evaluate the state of the team and the options ahead of them, there will be several key decisions to be made. First up on the calendar will be NFL free agency, which begins the second week of March.
Here’s a look at six pivotal free-agent decisions the Rams have to make ahead of the 2024 season.
Right guard Kevin Dotson
The Rams acquired Dotson, 26, from the Pittsburgh Steelers at the end of August in exchange for a swap of Day 3 draft capital. The move turned out to be a bargain for the Rams, as Dotson started at right guard in Week 4 and never surrendered the job. According to Pro Football Focus, Dotson was the second-highest graded guard in the NFL this season, allowing just 24 pressures on 561 pass-blocking snaps while adding physicality to the Rams’ running game.
The other side of the sword for the Rams is that Dotson is now an unrestricted free agent and has greatly increased his value. Speaking with reporters last week, Rams general manager Les Snead made it clear that the Rams want Dotson back but was unsure what the open market would pay him.
Dotson’s Rams teammates want him, back, too.
“I thought Kevin did a great job coming in here,” right tackle Rob Havenstein said. “He’s a big, strong, physical guy. He’s a great presence in the meeting room. He’s funny as all heck. Just a great guy to be around. And however it shakes out, I’m just a Kevin Dotson fan from here on out. But obviously having continuity on the O-line is important.”
Left tackle
One thing that Snead spoke about regarding Dotson and the offensive line is that continuity “is definitely the vision.” Does that apply to starting left tackle Alaric Jackson, 25, who is a restricted free agent?
Jackson won the Rams’ left tackle job in training camp and did a serviceable job, but also allowed 41 pressures, the most of any Rams offensive lineman this season. Do the Rams think they can improve at the position either in free agency or with their first-round pick? If enough receivers and quarterbacks are taken high in the draft, it could push a talented tackle to the Rams at No. 19.
As a former undrafted free agent, Jackson won’t net the Rams any compensatory picks if he signs with another team assuming he is designated with a right-of-first-refusal tag.
Safety Jordan Fuller
Fuller was second on the team in tackles and had three interceptions and eight pass breakups this season. Beyond that, he was an important leader in the locker room, serving as captain and wearing the green dot on defense when linebacker Ernest Jones IV missed the game against the Green Bay Packers.
As important as he was to the Rams’ defense this season, Snead appeared resigned to losing Fuller in free agency in his press conference last week. Asked directly how Fuller’s leadership plays into his decision-making, Snead spoke about replacing that leadership rather than retaining it.
“Anytime a leader goes out, it’s probably hard to replace that exact leader,” Snead said. “That’s the tough part about this business is there’s times where you actually lose useful skills when players move on, but the very, very hard part is to lose that leadership quality that definitely is an important part of blending the energy that you have for that particular team and that moment.”
Third receiver
Veteran Demarcus Robinson emerged late in the season as the Rams’ third receiver, establishing a strong rapport with QB Matthew Stafford by winning his routes and making contested catches. But his veteran’s minimum deal has expired, and he’s a free agent.
With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua coming back, how do the Rams want to round out their starting receivers? Robinson is the trusted hand. Former second-round pick Tutu Atwell’s speed made him a dynamic presence before injuries and Robinson’s emergence left him in more of a reserve role. Then again, Nacua has three years left on his bargain rookie contract, so the Rams could look to take advantage with a free-agent acquisition on a short-term deal.
DBs Ahkello Witherspoon and John Johnson III
Fuller is one of three starting defensive backs entering free agency. Like Fuller, Witherspoon and Johnson offered a good share of on- and off-field leadership for the Rams this season while playing on veteran minimum deals.
Witherspoon was the Rams’ top cornerback this season, embracing big matchups in man coverage. And Johnson provided a boost to the defense late in the season, especially with a game-changing interception in a victory over the Cleveland Browns. Beyond that, their years of experience in the league were invaluable on a young roster.
But defensive back seems like a position group that could have a drastically new look for the Rams next year. Third-year safeties Russ Yeast and Quentin Lake are biding their time for more snaps, and cornerback seems like a position the Rams could address in free agency or the draft.
So will the Rams have room for these vets next year, especially if they are looking for a pay increase?
Kicker
The Rams can’t experience another merry-go-round at kicker next season. From the start of training camp until the end of the season, the Rams made three different changers at kicker, including two stints by Brett Maher and not counting a one-week practice squad appearance by Mason Crosby.
There are several veterans available in free agency, and it would make sense for the Rams to explore those options earlier in the offseason after head coach Sean McVay admitted the kicking situation was impacting his play-calling and decision-making on offense.
