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[Los Angeles Rams]

Byron Young extension might get complicated

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 25: Byron Young #0 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game at Lumen Field on January 25, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Byron Young is one of several players the Los Angeles Rams can extend this offseason, and his case will be especially complicated.

The third-year Pro Bowler led the Rams in sacks (12), QB hits (29) and tackles for loss (12) in 2025. According to NFL Plus, Young recorded a sack on 22.2% of his pressures this season, which was tied for the ninth-highest pressure -to-sack conversion rate among all edge rushers. Additionally, he finished fifth in combined tackles behind Nate Landman, Kamren Curl, Omar Speights and Kamren Kinchens.

Byron Young recorded his 12th sack of the season, tied for the 8th-most in the NFL. He's the first Rams player to hit the 12-sack mark in a season since Aaron Donald in 2021.

Young also passed Alec Ogletree (31) in career tackles for loss and moved to 14th in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/qPI0yhHxqX

— Los Angeles Rams PR (@TheLARamsPR) January 4, 2026

So, why isn’t re-signing him a no-brainer, then?

Well, in case you’ve somehow forgotten, Puka Nacua is also eligible for an extension this offseason, and his contract will be EXPENSIVE. Young and Nacua weren’t first-rounders, so they don’t have a fifth-year option, hence they’re eligible early.

Other members of the 2023 draft class will be eligible too, including Kobie Turner and Steve Avila. What the Rams do with those two will also factor into how the front office handles Young and Nacua, and vice versa. Keeping the Young-Nacua duo in Hollywood long-term will be L.A.’s main focus.

However, it gets more complicated for Young since Jared Verse and Braden Fiske will be eligible for deals next offseason. The Rams will have to make some tough choices about who to extend or not of its young core. Having several key pieces to extend is a good problem to have, yet it will ultimately become a nightmare for the organization these next two offseasons.

Los Angeles would be wise to extend Young because of his consistent production alone this season. Plus, he’s one of the few edge rushers in the league who has the breakaway speed to rival the Packers’ Micah Parsons. Not saying he’s worth breaking the bank like Green Bay did for Parsons, but his natural football IQ and speed would be difficult to replace.

Over the last two weeks, Byron Young has done a fantastic job covering the edge when the offense tries to boot his way off of play action.

Teams trying to take advantage of Rams' aggression. BY doesn't fall for it and forces a tough play. Good PBU by Kinchens. pic.twitter.com/KFH2PJXAFB

— Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakTST) January 19, 2026

ESPN’s Dan Graziano predicted in his Jan. 30 column that Young will sign a four-year, $145 million deal with $72 million guaranteed. He added this about the Rams’ contract predicament:

“I cannot rule out the possibility that [Young] ends up getting his extension from a different team. The people in the Rams’ front office are extremely good at what they do, and I don’t doubt their ability to keep the gang together if they want. But the salary cap makes roster-building an exercise in resource allocation, and teams generally don’t like to commit too much to any one position group at the expense of the others.”

Re-signing Young is one of the easiest decisions the Rams can make this offseason, aside from extending Nacua, of course. Although as we’ve seen, his case is likely about to get complicated, so buckle up, as we might be in for a bumpy offseason.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/134332/rams-free-agents-byron-young-extension

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams hire new special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone

Cleveland Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone watches the team warmup before an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sept. 21, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Its hasn’t been one full week since the Los Angeles Rams lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, but the Rams are already making moves by hiring a new special teams coordinator in Raymond “Bubba” Ventrone.

#Rams hiring Bubba Ventrone, per a league source, to lead their special teams

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 29, 2026

Ventrone is a former NFL player and was most recently with the Cleveland Browns as their assistant head coach and special teams coordinator under then head coach Kevin Stefanski. With Stefanski out, and Todd Monken now in Cleveland, that opened up the possibility of Ventrone to the Rams.

That possibility is now a reality.

L.A. interviewed Ventrone this week and liked him enough to give him the job, which either means that Ventrone did very well in his interview, or the Rams were that desperate to make a special teams change after another shaky season.

The reality for the Rams is probably both; they wanted to make a change, AND Sean McVay, Les Snead and Co. feel that Ventrone is the right man for the job.

Fans of the organization will likely just be happy to see the team making a switch. Chase Blackburn had been leading the unit the last two seasons, and was going on a third before he was fired and replaced by Ben Kotwica before the end of the 2025 season.

Of course, under Kotwica it seemed like the unit was showing improvement, and then Xavier Smith fumbled in the Championship Game, and that led to a Rams loss, the end of their season and a few days later, the hiring of Ventrone.

It was likely that L.A. would’ve moved on from Kotwica either way, but with L.A.‘s offseason officially underway, there was no need to wait anymore.

Enter Ventrone who has a tremendous opportunity in front of him, and looks to turn around a unit that’s been inconsistent over the last three seasons.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/134280/la-rams-special-teams-bubba-ventrone

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Who did Rams land in The Athletic’s mock draft?

Los Angeles, CA - November 29: Wide receiver Makai Lemon #6 of the USC Trojans catches a pass for a touchdown over defensive back Kanye Clark #1 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 29, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

It’s no secret that the Los Angeles Rams have two first-round picks this spring. They have needs at premium positions including corner, receiver, and long-term at quarterback.

Who did they select in The Athletic’s first-round mock? Let’s take a look.

13. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): Makai Lemon, WR, USC​

No college football pass catcher displayed better hands, route running or toughness than Lemon, who won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. Perhaps his dimensions (5-11, 195) won’t wow scouts, but his production and intangibles are top-shelf. He was the reason USC won nine games this season and would be a gift for Matthew Stafford and company.

29. Los Angeles Rams: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson​

ACC offenses wisely stayed away from Terrell this year, but that didn’t limit his impact. The younger brother of Falcons starter A.J. Terrell, Avieon didn’t record an interception but broke up nine passes and forced five fumbles. His play is reminiscent of former LSU and NFL star Tyrann Mathieu.

JB’s thoughts​

This is sound strategy for the Rams, at least high level.

I like the idea of re-signing the relatively more affordable option between Cobie Durant and Roger McCreary, maybe even picking up another veteran, and then attempting to solve the hole at corner long-term with an early selection. Terrell doesn’t have a ton of on-ball production; however, this can be an overrated trait in corners. What matters most is coverage on a down-to-down basis.

With that said, I’m not sold that Terrell is the right choice for the Rams specifically. He’s listed at 5-11, 180 lbs. This doesn’t correct LA’s lack of size on the perimeter, though a multifaceted approach could. Terrell also has inside/outside versatility and played 20% of his snaps from the slot in his final season at Clemson. Los Angeles needs outside corners. They just resigned Quentin Lake and are set in the slot, barring major positional or usage changes.

While the need at corner will be one of the most discussed offseason issues, improving at corner is lower profile and a bit more complicated. The Rams have one of the best receivers in football in Puka Nacua. Davante Adams could return, though LA would save $14M if they move on. They have young players with some production in Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, and Konata Mumpfield.

It’s difficult to disagree with using the two first round picks on two of the most premium positions in football. Free agent price tags for receivers and corners are staggering. It’s much wiser to solve these needs organically, which is a more sustainable approach in the long run.

But none of this matters if the Rams cannot stick the landing from Matthew Stafford to the next franchise quarterback. You cannot win games in the NFL without a capable player, and it simply is unimportant how talented the rest of the roster is if they don’t successfully pivot either in 2026 or beyond.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-draft/134372/rams-2026-mock-drafts-mendoza

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Is Davante Adams worth keeping for 2026?

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 25: Davante Adams #17 of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass in front of Riq Woolen #27 of the Seattle Seahawks for a touchdown during the third quarter in the NFC Championship game at Lumen Field on January 25, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There’s no denying Davante Adams’ arrival played a huge role in help to correct a years-long red zone issue for the Los Angeles Rams. Adams led the NFL with 15 receiving touchdowns through the regular season and playoffs.

But Adams is not the same player he was in his prime. He’s still useful in a lot of ways. He no longer threatens as much between the 20’s as he does closer to the goal line.

There is also no denying that Adams’ 2026 salary cap number puts him squarely in the bullseye. The Rams must consider freeing up his slotted salary or possibly ask him to take a pay cut. Turf Show Times’ Kenneth Arthur said it best:

Part with Davante Adams​

$14 million in savings

Adams his most yards in a game since Week 2. Which was 89 yards. That’s not an $28 million receiver, which is Adams’ 2026 cap hit right now. It’s doubtful a team would trade for Adams’ $18 million base salary, meaning that the Rams probably just outright release Adams, but he was signed to win the Super Bowl this season. He’s only holding the Rams back if the Rams use up one of their starting receiver positions and all that cap space on him. If the Rams open $14 million from their books by releasing or trading Adams, they will have enough money to get any available receiver who they want to get.

Let’s assess the areas in which Adams is still performing well and where he’s taken a step back. Nuance is required for this decision.

The still good​

At the height of his game, Adams was one of the best separators in all of football. He still has the same foundational skillset; however, my working theory is that he’s able to separate for a short time but no longer run away from defenders. This works in the red zone but allows coverage players to recover in the open field.

That might be where the good stops.

The not so good anymore​

His hands​

Adams had nine dropped passes in 2025, which was good for 11.3% of his targets. That’s his highest rate since his second season in 2015 where he had a 15.6% drop rate.

That’s not it. Adams caught only 10 of 34 contested targets this past season (29.4%). This was easily the lowest rate of his career and he had three seasons where he went one out of every two on average.

Adams caught only 71 of 135 targets this year (52.6%). His reception percentage has fallen significantly from his career heights in the 70%+ range. You can’t run your offense through a player that hauls in one of every two passes, especially when he’s getting high value targets in the red zone and on third down.

Run after the catch​

There are seasons where Adams amassed over 500 yards after the catch point. At his prime where Aaron Rodgers’ accuracy could spring Adams into the open field at full speed, he could make defenses pay.

• 2020 – 660 YAC
• 2021 – 650
• 2019 – 516
• 2022 – 502

With the Rams Adams posted a measly 161 yards after the catch. This is the lowest mark of his career. This is still his worst production on a per catch average at just 2.3 YAC per reception.

Verdict​

I’m not saying it’s an easy decision. If Adams sticks around he should have a stripped down role instead of being a full-time player again in 2026. Use him in the red zone and sign or draft a more explosive player for in between the 20’s. This will also save his legs.

It’s also reasonable to believe at this stage of his career he’d take a pay cut in order to remain in Los Angeles.

But if we take emotions out of it, the Rams have two first round picks and ample cap space. There’s no reason to think they can’t use Adams’ red zone production as a proof of concept and found a player who can execute the same role. They’d save $14M in the process and probably get younger. LA has a young roster core and can build a sustainable, winning future.

I don’t really see how Davante Adams returns in 2026.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-salary-cap/134369/rams-cap-casualties-davante-adams

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Why Cardinals’ hire of Mike LaFleur is wise

According to reports, the Arizona Cardinals have zeroed in on Mike LaFleur as the franchise’s next head coach. LaFleur spent the last few seasons as the non-playcalling offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.

Both of LA’s coordinators, including DC Chris Shula, drew head coaching attention this offseason in addition to pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. With LaFleur likely on his way out, the Rams will likely promote Scheelhaase to OC in order to keep another team from elevating him.

I said before the start of the offseason that LaFleur was always the better option for teams in search of a new leading man. It wouldn’t be a JB Scott post without a little victory lap. I’ll take a moment to pat myself on the back.

Three things in life are inevitable: death, taxes, and the Los Angeles Rams getting their coaching staff pilfered by other teams every offseason.

Defensive coordinator Chris Shula is set to be one of the hottest names on the NFL’s head coaching carousel at the season’s conclusion. Most of the buzz is media driven, of course. But to me the more attractive option instead is offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Here’s why.

I’d never hire a defensive head coach​

Look at the massive advantage the Rams gained by pairing Sean McVay with Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford. When the head coach and quarterback marriage works, it can give your team a competitive edge for the next decade. There are other franchises that have captured this magic: Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes with the Chiefs, Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love in Green Bay, Sean Payton and Bo Nix for the Broncos, and Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy in San Francisco just to name a few.

It’s difficult to build sustainable success in the NFL. If you can pair a long-term quarterback with a high-level offensive play caller, you can bring stability to your team for years to come.

On the other hand, life is difficult for defensive head coaches. You can hire a good OC, but they will jump at the first opportunity for a promotion.

What the hire means for Cardinals​

While the media consensus towards the end of the season suggested that quarterback Kyler Murray was on his way out of Arizona, the coaching staff that started those rumors were fired. Murray is one of the most electric offensive players in the NFL, although he does struggle with consistent performance on routine plays. LaFleur may look at the quarterback landscape across the league this season and come to terms with the fact it will be difficult to find a more talented signal caller than Murray. He can at least give him a one-year test run and see if it’s a workable solution.

But the hire of LaFleur is about more than Murray. He’ll easily outlive Murray’s tenure with the Cardinals if things go south for the quarterback.

Arizona is drawing inspiration from the 49ers and Rams by pulling from the Shanahan/McVay coaching tree. There will be no shortage of offense in the NFC West for the foreseeable future.

The division dynamic includes the perfect dramatic foils. Mike MacDonald, who led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl, is the defensive genius that spends his days finding ways to slow down offenses from this coaching tree. He’s proved successful against pretty much everyone but McVay, and LaFleur should bring the Rams’ secret recipe with him.

The Cardinals still aren’t good. We still need to give them credit for improving the overall quality of their roster. They still might be a year or two away from playoff contention; however, the state of the team is still much better than it was just a year or two ago.

Arizona easily could have hired Shula or tried to go with the trendy approach of emulating MacDonald and the Seahawks. Instead, they made the right move to shoot for a head coach and quarterback pairing that can promote long-term success, even with or without Murray.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/134382/rams-cardinals-mike-lafleur-nfc-west

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Cardinals set to hire Mike LaFleur as head coach

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 18: Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur interacts with Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams prior to the NFL divisional playoff football game at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean McVay will once again have to hire a new offensive coordinator and for the second time he’s replacing someone in the LaFleur family: The Arizona Cardinals are hiring Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to be their new head coach according to multiple reports on Sunday morning by Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. LaFleur will be replacing defensive-minded Jonathan Gannon, who was fired after the season, and be going twice per season against his old team.

LaFleur was not expected to be the first or second-most popular candidate on the Rams staff in the coaching cycle, as most felt that Chris Shula or Nate Scheelhaase would be taken first, but maybe it’s only the fact that the job is the Cardinals that he’s the one leaving McVay this time. Scheelhaase would be a logical replacement for LaFleur as offensive coordinator.

The #AZCardinals plan to hire #Rams OC Mike LaFleur as their new head coach, per me and @TomPelissero.

A bright young offensive mind whose brother is also the coach of the #Packers, Lafleur stood out early in the process. After due diligence, AZ makes the move. pic.twitter.com/HF9z79zJmE

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 1, 2026

McVay has been through this many times before.

• 2017: Matt LaFleur
• 2018-2019: McVay (Shane Waldron passing game coordinator)
• 2020-2021: Kevin O’Connell
• 2022: Liam Coen
• 2023-2025: LaFleur

That’s just on the offensive side of the ball and only coordinators. McVay also had to replace Zac Taylor in 2019 when he was hired by the Bengals. Five of his former offensive assistants are now head coaches.

The Cardinals could also be the worst job in the NFL because LaFleur has to compete with the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers every year. These were the only three teams in the NFC that won at least 12 games in 2025.

The Seahawks also lost an offensive coordinator on Sunday with news that Klint Kubiak is going to be the Raiders head coach after the Super Bowl.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/134378/cardinals-rams-mike-lafleur-head-coach