Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
What kind of season would it take to make Atwell’s contract worth it?
Tutu Atwell is often considered a second round bust, but has found his way back on the roster for at least another year after signing a $10 million fully-guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Rams.
Atwell has been used primarily as a distraction to open the middle of the field for his peers rather than a speedy deep threat for Matthew Stafford to target, but in his limited opportunities last season, did prove he can be relied on when his number is called on? With an opportunity to earn a long-term contract after this year here are my bold predictions for Tutu Atwell.
Tutu has a career-long touchdown catch in 2025
Atwell’s blazing speed makes him an obvious target for explosive opportunities down the field and while he doesn’t often see the ball go his way he has had some success. His longest reception to date happens to also be his first touchdown of his career which occurred in 2022 against the New Orleans Saints that went for 62 yards.
In 2023, he had a 44-yard reception and in 2024 he had a 50-yard reception. With Matthew Stafford back and presumably a larger role in the offense for Atwell, you can bet that Sean McVay will be dialing up some deep passes to his undersized-receiver.
My Prediction: A 75-yard touchdown reception that breaks his previous long.
Atwell receives 85% of the snaps
Demarcus Robinson finished last season with 82% of the snap counts in the third receiver role, while Atwell saw the field just 39% of the time. Depending on how the offseason goes, Atwell should see a similar snap count if he can stay healthy, but I think he will see even more. The offense is scarier when the former Louisville receiver is on the field as secondaries have to play honest against him which will create opportunities for other receivers on the field.
McVay will want the Atwell on the field as often as possible to make opposing defenses predictible. My Prediction: Atwell gets 85% of the snaps in 2025.
Atwell tops Cooper Kupp (kind of)
Cooper Kupp has not played a full season since his prolific triple-crown run in 2021. In 2022 he played just nine games for 812 yards (six touchdowns), 2023 12 games for 737-yards (five touchdowns), and in 2024 12 games for 710 yards (six touchdowns).
Atwell’s finished last season with 562 yards in 17 games and failed to find the end zone once. With a much larger role in 2025 he will look to not only have career highs for himself but also prove why the Rams were willing to move on from Kupp as he finishes the season close to 1000 yards receiving.
My Prediction: Atwell finishes the season with 900 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.
Tutu Atwell got $10 million for one season, which is a lot for a receiver who hasn’t had a breakout year in four campaigns. However, if Sean McVay invests in a receiver, it’s usually for a good reason and that means that Atwell should set career highs for snaps and targets. Now he just needs to make them count.
What are your predictions for Atwell in 2025? What would he have to do to make his contract worth it? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Les Snead said that maybe someday he’ll appear on a podcast, until then he wants to keep his cards close
Les Snead expressed in a recent press conference that someday he could be more open with the public about his draft day strategies, and the college players who interest him most. Until then, Snead will choose to keep his thoughts within the organization.
Snead was asked if he’s had a chance to take a look at tight end Terrance Ferguson of the Oregon Ducks, and Snead gave a sly response indicating that he most likely has looked at Ferguson, but Snead also played it coy, as he often does, by not saying anything about what he thinks about the prospect.
It’s a great answer because the stories Snead can tell are plenty. He’s been with the Los Angeles Rams since their days in St. Louis. The general manager has seen the Rams go from one of the worst teams in the NFL to one of the best. What is that experience like?
More specifically, what’s it like to take a Greg Robinson at #2 overall, only to see him end up as one of the biggest busts in franchise history, compared to taking Aaron Donald, who ends up being perhaps the best player in franchise history?
As soon as Snead walks away from the game, perhaps fans get a new perspective from him. He’d have the chance to share more of his war stories, and he’d be able to candidly open up about which players in the latest drafts catch his eyes.
When/if that day comes, I would be very curious to hear what he had to say.
Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Drew Dalman could help the Rams be the top rushing team in the NFL
One of the most intriguing free agents this week is Falcons center Drew Dalman. Expected to be the top target at the position in free agency, it’s looking more and more like the 26-year-old out of Stanford will leave Atlanta for the highest bidder and with center being one of the most underrated roles in football, his landing spot could move the needle on next season.
Though the L.A. Rams struck out with Jonah Jackson last year and they did draft Beaux Limmer in the sixth round, should Les Snead kick the tires on Dalman as an option to start in between Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson?
Dalman was a fourth round pick in 2021 and he has started 40 games for the Falcons over the last four years. That includes nine games in 2024 with former Rams defensive coordinator and current Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris, which means Dalman has some familiarity with the Sean McVay coaching tree.
If he lands somewhere between fifth place and first place for center contracts, Dalman might get something like a four-year, $56 million contract.
As surprising as it would be for the Rams to target a center one year after they missed so bad on Jackson, as well as getting 14 starts from Limmer, is there a chance that McVay sees a higher ceiling with Dalman than Limmer? And would it be worth it?
Dalman is considered an elite run blocking center and the ground game is McVay’s true bread and butter.
But is it worth it to spread the money so heavily on the offensive line? The team just re-sign A.J. Jackson and is still paying hefty prices for Dotson and Jackson. However, the NFL raised the salary cap again, and will do it again in 2026, so maybe this isn’t the worst use of resources.
Because even if Jackson was a bust, that still means that unless Limmer improves next season that center is still a need.
Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Cooper Kupp out. Davante Adams in.
Sean McVay heavily recruited former Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Jets receiver Davante Adams over the weekend before the Los Angeles Rams inked the veteran to a reported two-year, $46M deal. Adams will join Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell, and Jordan Whittington at receiver in LA.
It’s not abnormal for reported salary numbers to differ from reality, and that’s again the case between Adams and the Rams. While LA could keep him around for 2026 at a $30M cap hit, it is reasonably possible to move on after one season with $12M in dead cap and $18M in savings. That’s good news if you are worried that Adams might go the way of former Rams receiver Allen Robinson.
On the surface it’s somewhat odd that Los Angeles isn’t willing to keep Cooper Kupp around—they’ve been working for weeks to find a trade partner for him—but were happy to fork out the cash for Adams. Let’s dive deeper and take a look at all the reasons this signing makes sense for the Rams:
Availability is the best ability
Kupp has missed a lot of time for the Rams since 2021. Puka Nacua is no stranger to injuries either.
You can’t say the same about Adams. He’s eclipsed over 1,000 yards in each of his last five seasons and was just three yards shy in 2019 of making it seven straight. 2019 was also the last season in which he didn’t play at least 14 games. He was still available for 12 contests that year.
It’s not the say that the Rams are getting an innings eater in Adams; however, if you are going to commit money to an older receiver, it has to feel positive that you are acquiring someone with as good of a track record as any.
Execution in the red zone
It’s no secret the the Rams have struggled in the red zone of late. The return of Tyler Higbee helped in this area towards the end of last season. Still, after re-signing Tutu Atwell this was a fair question for the 2025 group of pass catchers.
Adams caught 14 and eight touchdowns in his two seasons with the Raiders despite poor quarterback play. He caught another eight between his stints with the Raiders and Jets last year. His 6-1, 215 lbs. frame will be a useful addition in the red zone.
In the early McVay years the Rams acquired Sammy Watkins from the Buffalo Bills and his best contributions came at the goal line. Odell Beckham, Jr. played a similar role in the leadup to Super Bowl LVI in 2021. There’s no reason to think that Adams can’t slide into this role and even excel. That’s good news for Matthew Stafford and the Rams.
Low cost to acquire
The Jets sent the Raiders a third-round pick in order to acquire Adams for what became only an 11-game tenure. Because New York had released Adams, he won’t count against the league’s compensatory pick formula. The Rams have used that to their advantage on the eve of free agency in recent years with Leonard Floyd and others, although they don’t have many free agents this offseason that could bring back substantial compensatory capital.
As mentioned earlier, this is effectively a one-year deal for Adams. If he becomes and important contributor in Los Angeles, he could stick around on a $30M cap number in 2026. If not, at least the Rams are trying to put the pedal to the metal for one more year with Matthew Stafford. That’s a much wiser move than trading a third-round pick or committing long-term to a receiver when you might have bigger questions at quarterback in the near future.
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Michael Hoecht signs $24 million deal with Bills
Shortly after the Rams watched Bobby Brown III sign with the Panthers, L.A. is losing another defensive lineman on Monday after Michael Hoecht signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. While the Panthers have been a major pipeline from the Rams to another team, this signing marks kind of another one as Hoecht goes to Buffalo as a player who will eat up some of the snaps left behind by Von Miller.
The Bills released Miller over the weekend.
A former undrafted free agent, Hoecht has overcome the odds to become a player worth $24 million.
It’s strange to call any player of his size an “edge rusher”, but Hoecht has played all over the line from defensive tackle to outside linebacker. When the team needed someone to step up for cheap in 2022, Hoecht posted 4.5 sacks. He then had six sacks in 2023 and added three more in 2024.
Watching him drop into coverage was always a test for your heartbeat, but Hoecht has been a dependable player in the past four years. Now the former Brown (yes, the college) graduate will go to the Buffalo Bills, where he’ll join Taylor Rapp.
Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Will Davante Adams and Matthew Stafford make fireworks in Los Angeles?
The Los Angeles Rams have dominated headlines in the early going of the 2025 offseason.
The drama surrounding Matthew Stafford and a potential trade ended up being a nothingburger. The veteran QB is back in LA for a shot at another Super Bowl.
While Stafford will likely be without star receiver Cooper Kupp this season, he’ll have a new weapon at his disposal in Davante Adams. Adams was recently released by the New York Jets—who acquired him for an 11-game stint in exchange for a third-round pick—and was free to sign elsewhere in advance of Monday’s legal tampering window.
The Rams remained active once the free agency tampering period officially started. They inked a deal with Jimmy Garoppolo to return as Stafford’s understudy for 2025 despite having options to potentially start.
LA then reached an agreement for a reunion with Coleman Shelton. Shelton most recently played for the Chicago Bears and will produce depth and/or competition for second-year center Beaux Limmer.
To finish off Monday, the Rams signed one of the better interior defensive lineman on the market in Poona Ford. Ford spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, but the Rams should also know him well from his days with the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks.
Who on the roster benefits most from LA’s additions? Which players are in jeopardy of ceding playing time to a newcomer? Let’s dive into some offseason winners & losers:
Winners
Matthew Stafford, QB
There’s no bigger winner after the Rams’ latest additions than Stafford.
He’ll have a dynamic weapon in Davante Adams that fits the mold formerly filled by the likes of Sammy Watkins, Odell Beckham, Jr., and Allen Robinson (in theory). Don’t confuse Adams with a replacement for Cooper Kupp—that’s not why he’s here. Sean McVay will isolate Adams on the backside of plays and ask him to win one-on-one matchups. It’s a role they’ve had in mind for several players over the years, but none have been able to succeed long-term.
The Rams also solidified depth along the interior offensive line by bringing back Coleman Shelton. The last memory we have of Stafford on the field was the back-to-back key pressures by Jalen Carter in the NFC playoffs divisional round. If Limmer doesn’t continue his upward trajectory, LA has just purchased an insurance plan that will keep their Super Bowl hopes from being dashed.
The Rams in the NFC West race
The Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are quickly getting worse this offseason.
Seattle’s swap of Geno Smith for Sam Darnold is head-scratching. The Rams’ defensive line have to be licking their chops after how they rushed Darnold in two matchups a year ago, and the Seahawks’ interior offensive line is still a mess. Seattle also traded DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers and moved on from Tyler Lockett.
Things aren’t much better in San Francisco. The 49ers traded Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders, and this is the list of players they’ve lost (so far) in free agency:
- Aaron Banks, G
- Charvarius Ward, CB
- Talanoa Hufanga, DB
- Dre Greenlaw, MLB
- Jaylon Moore, OT
- Elijah Mitchell, RB
- Josh Dobbs, QB
- Kyle Jusczyk, FB
The Arizona Cardinals might be the team to keep an eye on as a potential threat to the Rams in the division.
Cobie Durant, CB
Fans seemed to think that the Rams might address corner in free agency or early in the draft. That might still be the case, but as the sun sets on day one of the legal tampering period there don’t appear to be any moves on the horizon.
That’s good news for Cobie Durant, who is in line to benefit from a lack of reinforcements in a contract year. LA could still bring back Ahkello Witherspoon, which makes for a crowded room with Durant and Darious Williams.
Byron Young, EDGE
Michael Hoecht is leaving to play for the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo is replacing one former Ram, Von Miller, with another.
While Byron Young has been solid in his first two NFL seasons, he was somewhat a part-time player last year. That’s OK for EDGE rushers that specialize in getting after the quarterback, but Young’s running mate in Jared Verse has demonstrated he’s an every-down player. Is this an opportunity for Young to prove the same?
Losers
Tutu Atwell, WR
Jordan Whittington, WR
On the surface it is confusing that the Rams would re-sign Tutu Atwell to a one-year, $10M deal and then just days later add Adams. Does that make too many mouths to feed, or is there room to play Puka Nacua, Adams, and Atwell in 11 personnel? That leaves second-year receiver Jordan Whittington as the odd man out, though he seems to deserve a bigger opportunity to 2025.
How is McVay planning to use this group of receivers?
Beaux Limmer, C
Depending on how you want to read the Shelton signing, it’s either a good or bad sign for Limmer. If you think Shelton is back in LA to push Beaux Limmer for a starting job, that might suggest the Rams aren’t fully confident in their second-year center. If the plan is for Shelton to simply mentor Limmer and provide depth at multiple interior positions, then it’s fair to be bullish on the youngster.
Braden Fiske, DT
Maybe this is too harsh, but the Rams’ signing of Poona Ford is somewhat of an indictment on Fiske not being a fully well-rounded player at this stage in his career. Fiske is current a penetrating interior defensive lineman that is best at getting after the quarterback. He has room to improve in the running game, which is why LA paired with Ford.
Either of Kobie Turner or Fiske have to come off the field in order for Ford to come on, and on obvious rushing downs it will likely be Fiske. This doesn’t mean the second-year tackle can’t develop into an equally adept run defender, but for right now that’s not who he is.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Demarcus Robinson stays in the NFC West
Demarcus Robinson is reportedly staying in the NFC West, but signing with the Rams’ rival San Francisco 49ers on a 2-year $9.5 million deal. After L.A. made moves to keep Tutu Atwell and then add Davante Adams, it seemed there may not be room for Robinson, but his departure wasn’t a sure thing.
Now, Robinson’s exit is assured as he moves from Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford to Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy.
Robinson has been around the league. Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016. He then played with Baltimore Ravens, Rams and now the 49ers. If nothing else, he’s shown that he belongs at the NFL level, and in the right system he can be a solid starter.
Robinson proved himself to be sure handed with Stafford, why can’t he do something similar for Purdy?
Robinson has yet to top 1,000 yards in a season, but maybe he’ll get the chance in the Bay Areas as the 49ers look to find new players to rely on.
For the Rams they’ll be thankful for Robinson’s contributions, but they are also looking to set themselves up so they do not miss him. With Cooper Kupp also likely to be off the roster, there could be more opportunity for someone to step up or for another player to be added.
Think you can figure out which Rams player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!
Do you want to play “Wordle” but for Rams players instead of words?
With your in-depth knowledge of the Rams, can you guess a Rams players in 5 clues or less? 3 clues or less? 2 clues? Test yourself! You’re the expert! Whether you love it or hate it, we’d appreciate feedback at this Google Form.
Previous games
Tuesday, March 11
Monday, March 10
Sunday, March 9
Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games
NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5
Turf Show Times in-5 instructions
The goal of the game is to guess the correct Rams player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.
After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Isaiah Simmons, a former top 10 draft selection, could replace Christian Rozeboom in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Rams now have a hole at off-ball linebacker. Last year’s starter Christian Rozeboom has signed as a free agent with the Carolina Panthers.
LA still has last season’s standout rookie, undrafted free agent Omar Speights, who is currently in-line for a big role in 2025; however, the Rams will still need a running mate to pair with Speights in base personnel.
One option that would be intriguing is New York Giants off-ball linebacker and converted safety Isaiah Simmons. Simmons is a former 8th overall selection by the Arizona Cardinals. He was traded in his fourth season to the Giants—where he’s spent the last two years—for a measly seventh-round pick.
Isaiah Simmons is a 6'4, 238-pound LB.
And he just ran a 4.39
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/JKDH5pBOd4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 1, 2020
Still, Simmons is athletic as they come at linebacker and for someone with a 6-4. 238 lbs. frame. There’s a fair argument that at this point his NFL career may be a lost cause, but if anyone can maximize untapped potential it just might be the Rams. At the very least Simmons could be a high-level special teams contributor.
In January Big Blue View wrote previewed the Giants’ impending free agent decision on Simmons—asking whether he should stay or go. New York signed Chris Board this week from the New England Patriots, which all but rules out a return for Simmons.
Here’s what our fellow SB Nation blog had to say about the linebacker and his untapped potential:
Why Simmons could fit in LA
Speights is a stout defender in the run game. If the Rams are going to bring in a veteran as either depth or a potential starter, they’ll need someone who can cover well and work in compliment with Speights’ skillset. Good coverage linebackers, however, don’t grow on trees. It might require a gamble or significant projection from a player that hasn’t already demonstrated they can consistently produce in this facet.
Enter Simmons, who a the very least could use his size and athleticism to man the middle of the defense and disrupt throwing lanes. With the aggressive pass rush we saw last season from the Rams, quarterbacks will start getting the ball out quickly and LA could use someone who can quickly get out to the flat and/or simulate pressures.
The Rams don’t need another run-stopping linebacker. In order to find someone who excels in coverage, they might have to look at non-traditional options. Isaiah Simmons fits that bill if they want to go after him in free agency to replace Christian Rozeboom.
