The NFL offseason has begun, and Yahoo Sports is previewing the coming months for all 32 teams, from free agency through the draft and more.
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Patriots | Jets
AFC North: Ravens | Bengals | Browns | Steelers
AFC South: Texans | Colts | Jaguars | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chiefs | Raiders | Chargers
NFC East: Cowboys | Giants | Eagles | Commanders
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Falcons | Panthers | Saints | Buccaneers
NFC West: Cardinals | Rams | 49ers | Seahawks
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2025 season record: 12-5 (o 9.5 wins), second in NFC West, lost to Seahawks in NFC championship, second in DVOA
Overview
Throughout the offseason, there were concerns about the health and longevity of Matthew Stafford. There were trade discussions. There was an Ammortal Chamber. Would Stafford’s back hold up? Well, it might have been the best season of Stafford’s career. The quarterback won his first MVP and the Rams finished the season second in DVOA. And during his MVP acceptance speech, Stafford, 37, announced he’s returning next season, which means the team can likely bring back a Super Bowl-caliber roster for 2026.
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So many things went well for the Rams during the regular season. They found a running game that led the league in success rate. A shift to 13 personnel midway through the season allowed the Rams to control the game through the air and on the ground with bigger bodies on the field. Sean McVay has been excellent at figuring out which levers to pull to evolve this offense, and the tight end-heavy move was a success.
[Get more Rams news: Los Angeles team feed]
Meanwhile, the defense was one of the best coordinated units in the league under Chris Shula.
The Rams spent most of the season looking like the best and most complete team in the NFL, but came up just short of reaching the Super Bowl with a close loss to the Seahawks in the NFC title game. Will the major players carry over into 2026 and get them back to title contention?
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Cap/cuts outlook
The Rams have more than $40.7 million in projected salary-cap space, the eighth-highest among all NFL teams, according to OvertheCap. There’s a lot of room to play with here. With Stafford returning, the attention may shift to Davante Adams, whose retirement would free up $14 million in space. The most likely cap casualty is Darious Williams, which would create $7.5 million in cap space.
Key pending free agents
S Kam Curl
OL Rob Havenstein
TE Tyler Higbee
WR Tutu Atwell
Curl was a bargain signing in free agency two years ago when the safety market tanked, and he’s been an integral part of the back end of the Rams’ defense. Curl led all defensive backs in tackles and was fourth among safeties in defeats (a run stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage), per FTN. Havenstein has been a big piece of the Rams’ offensive line, but in his absence, Warren McClendon Jr. has played excellent at right tackle (12th in pass block win rate and second in run block win rate) and could be a cheaper path forward at the position.
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Positional needs
Cornerback
Wide receiver
Linebacker
Outside corner was the one place where the Rams’ defense could get picked on this season. On throws to outside receivers, the Rams ranked fourth in EPA per play, but were 28th in yards allowed per attempt. Some splash plays on the outside covered up some overall weaknesses, but that’s a tough way to live for an extended period of time. The wide receiver need depends on Davante Adams. If he returns, the Rams could still upgrade at the third receiver spot when the offense is in 11 personnel — a more consistent deep threat could be on the table. If Adams retires — he joked he’ll retire when Stafford retires earlier in the season — then a bigger need for a No. 2 receiver behind Puka Nacua becomes immediate. Getting a linebacker with a little more coverage range could be helpful. Omar Speights was 16th at the position in yards allowed per coverage snap, while Nate Landman was 52nd.
2026 NFL Draft picks
1st round, pick No. 13 (ATL)
1st round, pick No. 29
2nd round, pick No. 61
3rd round, pick No. 93
5th round
6th round (CLE)
6th round
7th round (BAL)
7th round (projected compensatory)
7th round (projected compensatory)
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What could move the fantasy needle in 2026?
Run it back — with some twists
It’s the least satisfying answer in an exercise like this but the best path forward for the Rams in 2026 is to run as much of that offense back as possible while making a few minor tweaks along the way.
Part of the reason it’s so unsatisfying is due to the harsh truth in the NFL — that sustainability is never as faithful a mistress as it seems. For Matthew Stafford and the Rams, specifically, that’s going to haunt them this offseason. Not just because they came so close and yet fell short after an excellent season, but because two of their key players are well into their careers, past their typical prime years.
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Some natural regression always comes for these teams at the top but the best way to stave off regression is to continue to fortify the unit in the offseason. The Rams’ defense, particularly in the secondary, let them down big-time at the end of the season. However, they can’t afford to lock into one side of the ball with their offseason checklist.
Part of what makes the Rams such a uniquely good fantasy offense is how concentrated their passing-game volume is. That would be threatened by some of the additions I’m tossing out. However, the Rams are much more concerned with ensuring their offense is ready to push for another top-five finish in 2026 while holding off any regression. That could mean some new faces are introduced to this unit in the offseason because standing pat on everything from 2025 rolling right over would be a misstep. — Matt Harmon
Good draft fit
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
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If McCoy’s injury profile were clean, he’d probably be the first cornerback taken. But he didn’t play a snap this past season after tearing his ACL during offseason training last year. That might push him to the bottom of either of the Rams’ picks in the mid- or late first round. McCoy has good size, and if he retains his pre-injury movement, he could be a difference-maker on the outside.
Betting nugget
The Rams were one of the NFL’s best teams against the spread this regular season at 12-5, the franchise’s best mark against the number since 1999 when the Rams went 13-3 ATS. — Ben Fawkes
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