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[Los Angeles Rams]

WATCH: Jared Verse on The Rich Eisen Show

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

What did defensive rookie of the year Jared Verse have to say?

Last year’s defensive rookie of the year, Los Angeles Rams EDGE Jared Verse, joined The Rich Eisen Show in studio to talk about his successful first season in the NFL. He gives insights on his path to Albany, then Florida State, and then to Los Angeles.

It’s a must-watch during a quiet stretch of the offseason:

• How Albany was his only offer out of high school
• Verse was a two-way player in high school as a TE on offense
• Thoughts on Travis Hunter as a two-way NFL player for the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Convincing Sean McVay to let him play offense
• The first time McVay chewed him out
• Getting drafted by the Rams with college teammate Braden Fiske
• Verse’s nerves when meeting Aaron Donald for first time
• Expectations for his second NFL season
• How often he thinks about divisional round game versus Philadelphia Eagles
• Taking accountability for a long run by Saquon Barkley
• How worried Verse was that Matthew Stafford wouldn’t return for 2025
• McVay’s remarkable memory
• Thoughts on his new teammate Davante Adams

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/10/24427656/rams-jared-verse-rich-eisen-show

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams could consider this low-risk defensive back instead of Ramsey

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

James Bradberry could be another Tre’Davious White, or the cheap savior that L.A.’s secondary needs

Cornerback James Bradberry has had at least one interception in every season of his career, with only one exception: Bradberry missed all of 2024 with an Achilles tear. Prior to last year, Bradberry posted 19 interceptions in eight seasons, having spent half of his career with the Panthers and splitting the last four with the Giants and Eagles.

Now 31 and looking to get a second chance, Bradberry is visiting teams like the Buffalo Bills and seeking redemption. Rather than give up draft assets and millions of dollars in cap space for Jalen Ramsey, should the Rams take a low risk swing on Bradberry and another cheap veteran instead?

It’s worth noting that if and when the Dolphins trade Ramsey, they’re interested in signing Bradberry as a replacement. So there is at least one NFL team that believes they’d be better off with Bradberry than Ramsey.

BREAKING: Buffalo Bills are welcoming James Bradberry in for a Free Agent visit #buffalobills #billsmafia #nfl #nflnews #nfldraft pic.twitter.com/vC6Lib7p5e

— Dan Mitchell (@realdanmitchell) April 16, 2025​

Tre’Davious White 2.0?​

The biggest pushback that this article will get is fans bringing up the disastrous tenure of Tre’Davious White in 2024. White also suffered an Achilles injury prior to signing with the Rams, and coincidentally he did it with the Bills (who are interested in Bradberry) while playing against the Dolphins (also interested in Bradberry).

There’s no question that Bradberry’s injury is a concern, otherwise he would have already signed with a team since being released by the Eagles in March, but the upshot is that he won’t cost anything relative to other potential starting cornerbacks.

White, for example, cost less than $3 million against L.A.’s salary cap.

Bradberry would be even cheaper​

There’s a good chance that signing Bradberry would cost even less than signing White, who had a higher profile than this case.

Bradberry is 31, coming off an Achilles injury from August (so he will have had 13 months to recover by Week 1), and he’s probably going to sign a contract with no money guaranteed and largely covered with incentives. It might cost literally nothing to sign Bradberry.

Bradberry was not bitter when the Eagles released him, saying that he understands it’s just a business:

I think I had a lot of time to reflect and think about how far I came,” Bradberry said via Zach Berman. “I was going into my 9th season, and you realize (when) you look around the locker room and see the young guys, I’ve been around for quite a bit. One, you have to cherish that, the amount of time and stuff you’ve been able to accomplish. And two, it just gave me a little hunger to get back out there and prove yourself again.”

JB Scott recently mentioned Asante Samuel Jr. as another cheaper alternative to Ramsey.

Positional versatility​

At this point in his career, Bradberry might be able to help the Rams at safety — another need — and have the versatility to move back and forth on the defense. This was noted by Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman when he spoke about why the Eagles chose to keep Bradberry on the roster in 2024 despite a season ending injury:

“James always has had really good football instincts,” Roseman said via the team’s official transcript. “When you see him play safety every day here and see his ability to diagnose his football instincts. I think for all of us, that’s a transition, that’s a different position than playing outside corner.

“He’s got a skill set. It’s a long season. We already know that he’s had tremendous success in this league playing outside corner as well. With the goals that we have for this football team, having a veteran player like that on the roster that we know we can rely on when called upon, we felt like was important.”

Bradberry has played in 125 games at cornerback, recorded 19 interceptions, and was second-team All-Pro in 2022.

The Rams look at their roster now and they see Darious Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, Derion Kendrick, Quentin Lake, Cobie Durant, and Josh Wallace at corenback. They have Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough, and Tanner Ingle at safety. Perhaps Bradberry could be a backup option anywhere depending on how training camp and the first month of the season plays out.

Whereas Ramsey could be a $20 million gamble to do the same thing at roughly the same age, Bradberry might cost $2 million, require no trade, and is already being considered in Miami as Ramsey’s replacement. The Rams could consider beating them to the punch.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/11/24428053/rams-free-agency-rumors-james-bradberry

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Ramalytics: How did Matthew Stafford fare against the Eagles last season?

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

The Eagles stand in the Rams’ way of another Super Bowl run. Can Matthew Stafford get them over the hump?

The Los Angeles Rams head into the 2025 season with Super Bowl expectations. Last year’s world champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, against stand firmly in LA’s way of making it back to the big game.

Let’s take a look at Matthew Stafford’s individual play in two games last year against Philly. Can the veteran quarterback help the Rams get over the hump this season?

Data from Pro Football Focus (PFF)​

ADOT - Average depth of target​

TTT - Time-to-throw​

Week 12 vs Eagles:​

42 drop backs, 24/36 (66.7% completion)​

243 yards, 2 TD’s, 0 INT’s, 1 fumble, passer rating of 104.3​

72.4 OFF, 69.2 Pass, 29.6 fumble​

3 big-time throws, 1 turnover-worthy plays, 6.5 ADOT, 2.49 TTT​

One key note is that Philly pressured Stafford 13 times in this game for five sacks. The pressure value is towards the upward middle when sorting from most to least on the season; however, this was the most Stafford was sacked across 2024. 38.5% of pressures converted to sacks, which was the third-highest mark on the season. The playoff game in Philadelphia ranked fourth at 27.8%. This could mean the Eagles excelled at getting quick pressures on the quarterback, their coverage was tight on the backend, and/or that Stafford wasn’t mitigating pressure effectively.

Several people have pointed out Cooper Kupp’s TD in Week 12 and blamed Quinyon Mitchell for being in coverage on the play.

The Eagles appear to be in Cover 3 and it’s unclear if Kupp was Mitchell or Sydney Brown’s responsibility.

Mitchell makes a late break on the play to help. https://t.co/qmUt26kHA1 pic.twitter.com/bxkqQFyTJl

— Anthony DiBona (@DiBonaNFL) December 3, 2024​

Divisional game at Eagles:​

50 drop backs, 26/44 (59.1% completion)​

324 yards, 2 TD’s, 0 INT’s, 2 fumbles, passer rating of 97.2​

57.2 OFF, 63.3 Pass, 23.2 fumble​

1 big-time throw, 4 turnover-worthy plays, 11.0 ADOT, 2.63 TTT​

There was only one other game where Stafford committed four turnover-worthy plays (TWP) and that was Week 9 at the Seattle Seahawks. Stafford threw only one interception in this game and didn’t have one versus Philly. I’d call that good turnover luck while understanding outcomes could have been far worse in each game.

Play of the Day No. 81: Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Nolan Smith strip sacks Matthew Stafford in a snowy playoff game (Eagles vs. Rams, 2024-25 Divisional Round). #POTD pic.twitter.com/ic8WjUhFJG

— Sam Teets (@Sam_Teets33) May 12, 2025​

Can Stafford get the Rams over the hump in 2025?​

In two games against the Eagles last season, Stafford finished with:

4 TD’s, 0 INT’s, 3 fumbles​

4 big-time throws, 5 turnover-worthy plays​

Even though the box score suggests that Stafford took care of the ball against Philadelphia, he was fortunate and the beneficiary of dropped interceptions. Pair this turnover variance with how often Kyren Williams fumbled against the Eagles and this becomes a major concern in regards to the team’s ability to take down Goliath and make it to the Super Bowl in 2025.

If the Rams are going to beat the Eagles and take the NFC, they will need Stafford to (1) take better care of the football and (2) mitigate pressure and not take sacks. If the LA defense continues it’s upward trajectory, the offense must put them in a position to succeed by not turning the ball over.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/12/24428519/rams-eagles-super-bowl-matthew-stafford

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Los Angeles Rams set for an international matchup

Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

The Rams will be back in Wembley Stadium this season

The Los Angeles Rams are already getting some news surrounding the 2025 NFL schedule with the international games being announced on Monday. The Rams will be in London after avoiding the trip for the last six seasons and will matchup against the Travis Hunter and the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 19th.

The Official 2025 NFL International Slate pic.twitter.com/gSv5jUUeFB

— Ozzy (@OzzyNFL) May 13, 2025​

The last time the Rams visited Wembley Stadium was in 2019 where they took on an Andy Dalton-lead Cincinnati Bengals team and came away with a 24-10 victory. From 2016-2019 the Rams were scheduled for an international game each year but did not make it to Mexico City in 2018 due to poor field conditions. The game was moved to a Monday night showdown in the Colosseum against the Kansas City Chiefs which you may remember as one of the greatest MNF games in league history.

In 2017 Todd Gurley spoke out against the international games after two straight years making the trip, “They need to stop this, all this stuff” Gurley stated, “This London, this Mexico City stuff, it needs to stop.”

The Rams have had some success across international lines, winning two of their last three matchups. Regardless of how the current players on the roster feel about making the trip LA will be back in London in 2025.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/12/24429098/los-angeles-rams-international-game

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

How many primetime games with the Rams get in 2025?

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images

L.A. should be in the spotlight plenty this season

The 2025 NFL schedule release is tomorrow night, and the Los Angeles Rams will soon learn what matchups to circle on their calendars. Fans already know that L.A. will face the Jaguars in London on Oct. 19. With the Rams slated to be one of the league’s best this season, how many primetime games will they get?

Los Angeles has come a long way under Sean McVay. After playing only once in primetime during his first year as coach—no one expected anything from the Rams that year—L.A. has played 33 regular season night games since 2017.

Last season, the Rams played in their most primetime matchups since the 2019 campaign. The team averages four primetime matchups annually, with the lowest total coming in ‘23 following the 5-12 disasterclass:

2018 - 5 (Raiders, Vikings, Chiefs, Bears, Eagles)​

2019 - 6 (Browns, Seahawks[2x], Bears, Ravens, 49ers)​

2020 - 5 (Cowboys, 49ers, Bears, Buccaneers, Patriots)​

2021 - 5 (Bears, Seahawks, Titans, 49ers, Cardinals)​

2022 - 4 (Bills, 49ers, Raiders, Packers)​

2023 - 2 (Bengals, Saints)​

2024 - 6 (Lions, Vikings, Dolphins, Eagles, 49ers, Cardinals)​

One thing that stands out from the list is how much the Rams face the Bears in primetime. For whatever reason, the NFL thinks we want to see that.

L.A. has played a Week 1 primetime game in five of the last seven seasons, including the 2022 NFL Thursday night opener, which doesn’t need much discussion here. The Rams will very likely play 5-6 primetime games again this year, with Super Bowl contenders like the Eagles, Lions and Ravens on the docket.

Read more: 5 games on the Rams schedule that we want to see in primetime​

Divisional matchups against the 49ers and Seahawks will also be in consideration. Plus, don’t count out other sleeper candidates like the Falcons, Texans, or Buccaneers.

This is slated to be another exciting season for McVay’s squad. Hopefully, the Rams won’t start slow like the last two years and assert their dominance in the NFC early.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/13/24429587/rams-2025-schedule-primetime-games

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams take QB6 in 2026 mock draft

Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt would be the Rams’ pick in this mock draft

The 2026 NFL Draft is expected to have at least double the first round quarterbacks of 2025, and that’s with or without superstar relative Arch Manning in the mix. SI’s Daniel Flick posted a 2026 NFL mock draft this week and Manning went back to school in this scenario, but that did not keep five quarterbacks from going in the top-8.

The L.A. Rams then took Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt with the 11th pick, which they will have gotten from the Atlanta Falcons:

The Rams are officially in wait-and-see mode with Matthew Stafford’s long-term future, which naturally puts them in position to draft his future successor. There may not be a better mentor for Leavitt than Stafford, whose arm talent and creativity has often gone underappreciated nationally. Leavitt has a strong arm, playmaking mentality and the confidence to be himself no matter the stage, creating a quality foundation for an eventual starter.

The first five quarterbacks off of the board were Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, Cade Klubnik, LaNorris Sellers, and Fernando Mendoza.

Of course, the Rams could end up with a pick as high as first overall and choose any quarterback they wanted, including Leavitt. Or Manning. So much could happen between now and the next draft, it’s anyone’s guess how L.A. will use their two first round picks or if they will even be interested in any of the quarterbacks who are available.

When a mock draft is posted a year in advance, you can guarantee that at least one-third, and maybe more than half, will not even be considered first round locks by January. Of the six quarterbacks who go in the top-11 of this mock draft, surely at least half will not be early draft picks in 2026.

Leavitt transferred from Michigan State to Arizona State in 2024, his first season as a starter, and he led the Sun Devils to a surprising run in the College Football Playoffs. However, there’s no need to really go into much detail on Leavitt because this is merely a mock draft for things that might happen in 11 months.

And the Rams drafting Leavitt is still a longshot. As it would be if you connected them to literally any player in the next first round.

With their other first round pick in this mock, the Rams took cornerback A.J. Harris.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/13/24429583/rams-2026-mock-draft-sam-leavitt

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Can Rams contend for Super Bowl? Game-by-game 2025 schedule prediction

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

How many games will the Rams win in 2025?

The Los Angeles Rams schedule has officially been released. While the opponents have been known since the end of the year, the order of those games is now official. The Rams are currently set to have four games in primetime and one trip across the pond to London. Five of their division games will take place after Week 10 and the Rams will have the perfect midseason bye week. Let’s break down the schedule with game-by-game predictions.

Week 1: vs. Houston Texans​

It certainly won’t be an easy matchup for the Rams in Week 1 against the Houston Texans. While the Texans didn’t meet expectations in 2024, they did make the postseason. CJ Stroud and that offense will be a big test for the Rams defense. This will be the first Rams home opener since they unveiled their banner in 2022 against the Bills. Sean McVay tends to have his team ready to go in Week 1. The Rams defensive line could be a lot for the Texans offensive line to handle. It’s very possible that this is a game that Jared Verse and co. completely take over.

Prediction: Win (1-0)

Week 2: @ Tennessee Titans​

The Rams begin the season with back-to-back AFC South opponents. This will be a matchup between two former No. 1 overall picks with Matthew Stafford taking on Cam Ward. There won’t be a lot of film on Ward and the Tennessee Titans defense has some pieces that make them a difficult fixture early in the season. Still, the Rams are the better team here and should be able to get a win.

Prediction: Win (2-0)

Week 3: @ Philadelphia Eagles​

Can the Rams catch the Philadelphia Eagles in a little bit of a Super Bowl hangover? It’s certainly possible, but seems unlikely. The Eagles are simply better in the trenches on both sides of the ball. This is the type of matchup that the Rams will need to figure out just how good they are. It will be a good measuring stick. With that said, McVay is 1-5 against the Eagles and 0-3 against Nick Sirianni. With the Rams defense still figuring things out, they suffer their first loss.

Prediction: Loss (2-1)

Week 4: vs. Indianapolis Colts​

For the third time in four weeks, the Rams will be playing a team in the AFC South. It will be interesting to see what type of team the Indianapolis Colts are at this point in the season. Will Anthony Richardson be better heading into year three? Is he even starting? This is the type of athletic quarterback that the Rams have struggled with in the past. Richardson nearly got a comeback win against the Rams during his rookie season. With this game in Los Angeles, the Rams will have the upper hand.

Prediction: Win (3-1)

Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers (TNF)​

The 49ers on a short week is always difficult. This is also going to be a San Francisco 49ers team on a revenge tour in 2025. Brandon Aiyuk could still be out with his ACL injury from last season. It’s still a wait-and-see situation with Christian McCaffrey. However, this 49ers team is going to be much better on defense with Robert Saleh as the defensive coordinator. They’ve added a lot of pieces on that side of the ball. The Rams swept the 49ers last year, but come up short early in the season.

Prediction: Loss (3-2)

Week 6: @ Baltimore Ravens​

Lamar Jackson’s record against NFC opponents is an incredible 23-2. The Baltimore Ravens under Jackson are also 2-0 against the Rams with their latest win coming in 2023. That game featured over 600 yards passing and six touchdowns between the two quarterbacks. The Rams get the benefit of this game being early in the season means the Rams won’t have to deal with cold weather. The Rams have also never won a game in Baltimore.

Prediction: Loss (3-3)

Week 7: @ Jacksonville Jaguars (in London)​

It should be expected for the Jacksonville Jaguars to be better than they were in 2024. This is also Liam Coen’s first season as a head coach. This game will feature Coen going up against his mentor and former team as he was the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles in 2022. It’s a long road trip for the Rams, but they need to get back on track. They beat the Bengals in 2019 in London and will look to do the same here.

Prediction: Win (4-3)

Week 8: BYE​

It’s hard to complain about a Week 9 bye. This is right in the middle of the season and sitting at 5-3, the Rams will get a chance to regroup for the second-half run.

Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints​

For the Rams to have to travel from London and then play in Los Angeles the following week is a little odd. Many would have expected this to be a bye week. In some sense it might be as the New Orleans Saints could be rolling with Tyler Shough at quarterback. The Rams have had success against the Saints since beating them in the NFC Championship game in 2018. These rosters are in two very different places.

Prediction: Win (5-3)

Week 10: @ San Francisco 49ers​

With two weeks to prepare for the 49ers, the Rams should have the edge here. This is a road division game and those are never easy. However, the Rams will be looking to get right after the bye week and hopefully string some wins together. With five division games in the final nine weeks of the season, these games are even more important.

Prediction: Win (6-3)

Week 11: vs. Seattle Seahawks​

The Seattle Seahawks are a tough team to predict this season. They had a fantastic draft and players taken in last year’s draft should take a step forward. At the same time, they traded DK Metcalf and replaced him with Cooper Kupp. Kupp has a similar skillset as another receiver on the roster in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. This will be Kupp’s return to Los Angeles. SoFi Stadium should be rocking after a win against the 49ers. Hopefully he’s healthy and the Rams are able to spoil his return to L.A.

Prediction: Win (7-3)

Week 12 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SNF)​

This will be Baker Mayfield’s return to Los Angeles and it’s only fitting that it comes in primetime. It will be interesting to see what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense looks like without Liam Coen. It makes sense that they would take a slight step back. Mayfield will be motivated for this one, but McVay has had plenty of success against Todd Bowles in the past.

Prediction: Win (8-3)

Week 13: @ Carolina Panthers​

At the end of last season, the Carolina Panthers seemed to find something with Bryce Young. It should be expected that they will be better than they were last year, but this is a roster that still has a long way to go. The Rams should get the win here.

Prediction: Win (9-3)

Week 14: @ Arizona Cardinals​

The first time the Rams get the Arizona Cardinals will be after December. That could be seen as a good thing as the Cardinals tend to start hot before fading. It’s also just in time for the new Call of Duty game and Kyler Murray to start grinding the battle pass. This is a Cardinals team that has been feisty the last two years, but need to take that next step in year three of this regime. The Rams should be expected to win this one and starting 3-1 in the division would be a good thing.

Prediction: Win (10-3)

Week 15: vs. Detroit Lions​

The Rams have lost to the Detroit Lions in the playoffs and then in Week 1 last year. Both of those games took place in Detroit. This game will take place in Los Angeles which changes things. While the Stafford trade happened back in 2021, there is still a lot of emotion with this game. Stafford should be focused and ready to make a statement on his home turf. With playoff seeding potentially on the line, the Rams get this win which would be their eighth in a row.

Prediction: Win (11-3)

Week 16: vs. @ Seattle Seahawks (TNF)​

Division games on the road are never easy and after a tough game in Detroit, the timing of this one is difficult. The Rams will be coming off of a game against the Lions before traveling to Seattle on a short week. This game seems like just bad timing and a short week doesn’t help.

Prediction: Loss (11-4)

Week 17: @ Atlanta Falcons (MNF)​

This game against the Falcons could end up being an important one for a multitude of reasons. If the Falcons are good this season, this could be a primetime game with playoff seeding on the line. At the same time, if the Falcons aren’t good, a Rams would also help their potential draft pick. The Rams hold the Falcons’ 2026 first round selection. Following a Thursday night game the week before, the Rams will have plenty of time to prepare for this one. McVay gets a win against his friend in Raheem Morris.

Prediction: Win (12-4)

Week 18: vs. Arizona Cardinals​

Heading into the final week of the season, it will be interesting to see how much the Rams value playoff seeding. It’s not something that they’ve valued over the last two years. With only four losses, they should have the NFC West locked up. If the Rams have a playoff spot locked up and the number one seed isn’t within reach, they will likely rest their starters. If that’s the case, they could come up short in this one.

Prediction: Loss (12-5)

Conclusion​

Overall, there shouldn’t be too many complaints about the Rams schedule. It is worth noting that they will have four 10 a.m. PT starts. That can be tough for west coast teams. They also play five of their six division games in the second half of the season. However, most things considered, the schedule ended up alright. At the end of the day, the Rams will have to take care of business on the field and 12 wins should be realistic. That should also give them a top four seed and put them in good position for a Super Bowl run.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/14/24430195/rams-2025-schedule-win-loss-prediction

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Can you guess this Rams defensive end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

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Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

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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.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/15/24430802/sb-nation-rams-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

How the Rams schedule will disguise their playoff chances

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The Rams playoff fate will be an interesting story to follow all season

The Los Angeles Rams will enter the middle of the season with a conference record of either 2-0, 1-1, or 0-2. Barring any ties, that’s all we will know about L.A.’s conference record, which is a significantly more important stat than how the Rams do against AFC teams.

And the Rams will have completed their entire AFC slate by the end of October. So it will be hard for anyone to gauge just how serious of a threat the Rams are for the NFC’s number one seed — or just their chances of making the playoffs are — until at least December.

Because even if they sweep their first two NFC opponents (the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and their biggest division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers), a lot can change in during the last 10-game stretch of the season, all NFC opponents.

THE FULL RAMS SCHEDULE FINALLY DROPPED!!!

How many games y’all got us winning #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/El1sFvdRBk

— Ethan Shirazi (@Ethanshirazi24) May 15, 2025​

AFC Slate​

If we just look at the Rams’ AFC opponents, there is a good chance that L.A. will do very well in the first two months of the season:

• The Colts, Jaguars, and Titans all had a losing record
• The Titans had the worst record in the NFL
• The Jaguars went 4-13
• The Colts have a QB competition on their hands
• The Texans and Ravens are the two teams that had a winning record
• Houston wasn’t as formidable in 2024 as they were in 2023

Anything could happen that would make the Colts or another team far more dangerous in September than they appear to be right now, but all things being equal this is as good of a draw as any first place NFC team could hope for when the schedule is announced.

The Rams will probably face top pick Cam Ward in his second-ever NFL start for the Titans, while they might draw Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones in Week 4, and that Colts game is at home. L.A. also gets Houston at home in the opener.

Best case scenario, the Rams would open 3-0 against the AFC (Texans, Titans, Colts), which would means that even if they lose in Philadelphia in Week 3, they will still be 3-1.

The Rams then have a quick turnaround to face the 49ers on Thursday Night Football in Week 5. That game is at home, although SoFi Stadium hasn’t had much of a homefield against against San Francisco yet.

Hypothetically, what if the Rams are 4-1 entering a road game against the Ravens (coming off of 10 days rest) and a Week 7 matchup against the Jaguars? For argument’s sake, say the Rams are 5-2 after seven games.

That would be a really good record!

However, we still wouldn’t know that much about the Rams yet because they would only be 1-1 in the NFC. Other NFC teams might have played 5 or 6 conference games, at least, which would mean that they have a better idea of how strong their playoff resume is at the midpoint.

The NFC West is weird.

The 49ers should be decent again, but the league is catching up to Kyle Shanahan’s QB-less offense, and the defense fell apart.

The Rams should be real good again, but Matt Stafford just can’t keep staying healthy, right?

The Seahawks are the exact… pic.twitter.com/3ECNm8p8dV

— Joe (@JoeA_NFL) May 15, 2025​

How much does this matter?​

A LOT!

The NFC West is likely to be decided by a small margin, either one team has won more win than second place, or they are tied and then they go to a tiebreaker.

• The first tiebreaker is divisional record.
• The second tiebreaker is conference record.

Last season, the Rams and Seahawks both finished 10-7 and they both finished 4-2 in the division. They also both finished 6-6 in the conference. The Rams won the NFC West by that small of a margin (although they did concede Week 18 because they had already sewn up the division title, largely because of having one more conference win going into the game).

The Rams also have a significant disadvantage going into the season compared to the 49ers.

Because L.A. finished in first and the 49ers finished in last, San Francisco has three dramatically different opponents than the Rams do:

• The 49ers play the 3-14 Browns, 3-14 Giants, and 5-12 Bears
• The Rams play the 12-5 Ravens, the 14-3 Eagles, and the 15-2 Lions

If San Francisco rebounds to be a decent team this season, that gives them a huge advantage with two NFC opponents and that could lead to at least one more conference win, and that could be the difference of the NFC playoff standings.

In other words, the Rams could be 2-0 or 0-2 in the NFC going into Week 8 and the standings might feel like they’re starting to settle in...but the 49ers play NFC teams in six of their first seven games. So the 49ers could be 5-1 or 6-0 if they’ve had a rebound. The teams could have the exact same record but be separated by miles in terms of tiebreaker scenarios.

This makes their Week 5 matchup all the more important too. It will help give one team a leg-up in the division going into the rest of the season.

The Rams have all the makings to be a playoff team and a Super Bowl contender this year. We just won’t really know what they are made of until they start to play more games against teams that are competing for those same playoff spots.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/15/24431037/rams-schedule-playoff-chances-conference

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

NFL analyst says Rams pulled off one of the hardest things to do in professional sports

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

ESPN’s Mina Kimes explains why the Rams have a top front office in the NFL

One of the hardest things to do in the NFL and professional sports in general is understanding the championship window and when it’s time to move on. It may be easier to move on if you’ve already won. That was exactly the case for the Los Angeles Rams when they hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in 2021. For other teams, it’s very difficult to find that balance in holding out for another championship and forcing that window to stay open and eventually ripping off the band-aid and moving on to a different core group of players.

The Golden State Warriors in the NBA have been in this boat as they try to get one more championship with Steph Curry and Draymond Green at the core. While they moved on from Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala, they moved forward with one foot in the present and the other building for the future.

It’s not easy to live in two different realities and that’s especially the case in professional sports which tends to reward committing to one or the other.

This is now the world that the Rams also live in. They did the “F Them Picks” strategy with a stars and scrubs roster build. By giving up that much draft capital, the bill was supposed to come due. It was a roster that was supposed to bottom out once they couldn’t afford players like Jalen Ramsey and Leonard Floyd. Once Aaron Donald retired, there was supposed to be another step back as it’s impossible to replace one of the greatest players of all time.

However, the Rams didn’t just survive that test, but they remained competitive and have missed the postseason just once since making the Super Bowl. ESPN’s Mina Kimes explained this and how impressive it was in a podcast ranking the best NFL front offices. Said Kimes,

“Do you remember the two-track thing with the Warriors where they were like, we’re both playing for the present, but also building for the future at once? It was like a stated strategy...“the point is, this idea that a team can both be all-in with older players, but then also rebuilding at the same time with younger players. The Rams did it. It’s so hard to do. And the Rams did it. And you have to give Les Snead all the credit in the world. The fact that they did ‘F Them Picks’, won a Super Bowl, and then immediately became competitive again, through, in part, the strength of their draft picks is unbelievable. Just the last two years - Steve Avila, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Puka Nacua. This last year - Jared Verse, Braden Fisk, Kam Kinchens...The defense post-Aaron Donald was supposed to go off of a cliff. The fact that it didn’t is Les Snead’s like masterclass to me.”

The Rams pulled off one of the hardest things to do in professional sports: Staying competitive while retooling *at the same time.*

Both @ByKevinClark and I ranked them as a top 5 front office.

: https://t.co/4phFqnRh0Z

: https://t.co/thyIRoxZZp pic.twitter.com/04Zfi74qdJ

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) May 15, 2025​

Again, following the “F Them Picks” model, the Rams’ bill was supposed to come due. That bill did come due in 2023 when the Rams re-tooled their roster. However, general manager Les Snead navigated that better than any other general manager would have. The Rams moved on from players like Jalen Ramsey and Leonard Floyd while eating nearly $75 million in dead money.

By adding talent in the draft that could contribute right away, Snead was able to offset that large amount of dead money. The important part here is that it wasn’t just young talent, but cheap talent. Puka Nacua has become a pillar for the Rams to build around. The same can be said about Kobie Turner. Players like Byron Young and Steve Avila have been solid starting-level players.

When Aaron Donald retired, the Rams defense was supposed to fall off of a cliff. Instead, with a new defensive coordinator, the Rams defense ranked 10th in EPA per play from Weeks 7-17 last season. There was always going to be an adjustment period, but after the bye week, the Rams were a top-10 defense.

Of course, it helped that the Rams drafted the Defensive Rookie of the Year in Jared Verse and his teammate at Florida State in Braden Fiske.

The Rams took the “Moneyball” approach when it came to Donald. No matter who they signed or who they drafted was going to replace Donald. Those were impossible shoes to fill. Instead, the Rams recreated Donald in the aggregate with five top-100 picks, capped off by a star player in Verse.

Snead deserves a lot of credit for navigating the post-2022 Rams. A lot of teams would have tried to hang on with the older core of players or blown it up and entered a multi-year rebuild. The Rams could have traded Matthew Stafford, but opted not to. They have kept one foot in both lanes and that remains the case as they have two first round picks in next-year’s draft.

The last two draft classes from Snead have been franchise altering. With average-to-below-average draft classes, the Rams are likely entering an actual rebuild. Instead, they are entering another small championship window with a new core group of players. The pillars that were Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald have evolved to Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Jared Verse.

It’s how Snead and the Rams navigated that trial that make them one of the best front offices in the NFL. It’s why teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions who have struggled to find consistency for years have poached from their system.

Even if the Rams don’t get another championship with Stafford at quarterback, how Snead and co. were able to navigate 2023 and 2024 will remain impressive. It’s why they’ll continue to remain a perennial contender even after Stafford retires.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/16/24431527/rams-nfl-front-office-rankings-mina-kimes

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Which Rams rookies have the best path to contribute early?

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Which Rams rookies could contribute early in their careers?

There is always a lot of excitement when it comes to new rookies joining their teams and that is no exception with the Los Angeles Rams. While they only made six selections, there is already a lot of hype around tight end Terrance Ferguson and linebacker Chris Paul Jr. With that said, it’s also important to temper expectations with a new rookie class. That’s especially the case with this particular Rams class as it seems to have been approached with more of a future mindset than the now. There may not be a Puka Nacua or Kobie Turner in this group of players. Here are the Rams rookies ranked in terms of having the best path to contribute early.

1. LB Chris Paul Jr.​

This isn’t to say that Chris Paul Jr. is going to be the starter next to Omar Speights in Week 1. It wouldn’t be surprising if that was Nate Landman or even Troy Reeder. However, Paul is a player that should be able to find a role on special teams. By the time the Rams come off of their bye week in Week 9, he could find himself in the starting lineup.

Back in 2021, Ernest Jones was a third round pick and didn’t make his first start until Week 8 and was consistently in the starting lineup following the Week 11 bye. Paul could follow a similar timeline. At the end of the day, he was still a fifth-round pick for a reason. That’s not to say that he’s not a good player. Still, he could be the next Puka Nacua or the next Brennan Jackson. There will likely be a developmental period as he adjusts to the NFL. However, the path to a starting role is there given the state of the Rams linebacker room.

2. TE Terrance Ferguson​

Unlike past rookie tight ends such as Brycen Hopkins and Davis Allen, Ferguson may see a quicker path to playing time. Not only was he a high second round pick, but it appears that the Rams may shift the identity of the offense slightly. Whereas Hopkins and Allen have been expected to block in-line, that may not be the case for Ferguson. He will be expected to block, but more in the same way that Kupp was asked. Ferguson will be a big slot in the offense as Sean McVay potentially moves to more 12 personnel looks.

It will really come down to how well Ferguson picks up the offense. If he picks up the nuances of the offense quickly, the Rams may find it difficult to take him off of the field. As a rookie, Gerald Everett took 28.8 percent of the team’s offensive snaps and Ferguson could end up in a similar range. The Rams will likely still primarily run 11 personnel with Tyler Higbee as the featured tight end. However, when the Rams do go to two tight ends, that’s when Ferguson will see his chances.

3. EDGE Josaiah Stewart​

How often Stewart sees the field early in his career will depend on how much he can be trusted in the run game. Stewart can certainly be a rotational pass rusher, but his smaller size could make him an immediate liability on early downs against the run. The Rams also have two starting edge rushers in Byron Young and Jared Verse who should see a majority of the playing time.

Defensive coordinator Chris Shula did use a good amount of three edge rusher packages, but most of those came in obvious passing situations and on third down when they can overload one side. Stewart was one of the better pass rushers at Michigan last year, but that seems to be where his immediate role would be. It’s also worth noting that the Rams do have a more experienced player in Nick Hampton. These two will compete for that spot in training camp, but don’t be surprised if Stewart is more of a pick for 2026 than 2025.

4. RB Jarquez Hunter​

Coming into the offseason, the Rams needed a different type of running back in the backfield. They did just that when they traded up to draft Jarquez Hunter in the fourth round. Hunter should bring the 4.4 speed that the Rams lacked at times last season from the running back position.

At the same time, McVay typically hasn’t utilized rookie running backs. Darrell Henderson got 39 carries as a rookie while Blake Corum got 58. Kyren Williams is the primary running back in the offense and Corum will be expected to take a jump heading into year two. If Hunter can prove his value in pass protection, that will lead to him seeing offensive snaps. While there is some excitement around the Auburn running back, he could be more of a contingency plan in 2026 if the Rams are unable or unwilling to bring back Williams on an extension.

5. DL Ty Hamilton​

The Rams added to their defensive line depth when they traded up for Ty Hamilton. Hamilton certainly fills a need as a run-stopping defensive lineman. He ranked inside the top-15 in both run stops and run-stop percentage last season. However, it will still be an uphill battle for playing time.

It’s possible that Hamilton could rotate with Braden Fiske. Still, this is a defensive line with Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Tyler Davis, and Larrell Murchison as part of the rotation. Desjuan Johnson has made an impact as a pass rusher as well. Hamilton may see some playing time as a rookie, but his impact will likely come in 2026 as he learns behind Murchison.

6. WR Konata Mumpfield​

It’s hard to see Konata Mumpfield seeing a lot of playing time as a rookie. He doesn’t provide a lot of value as a returner. Additionally, the Rams have four solid wide receivers above him on the depth chart. He’ll also be competing with Xavier Smith and other undrafted free agents in training camp. Unless the Rams have a lot of injuries at the position, Mumpfield may not see the field often as a rookie.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/16/24431481/rams-rookie-grades-terrance-ferguson

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Can you guess this Rams lineman in today’s in-5 trivia game?

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.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

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Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

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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.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/17/24432079/sb-nation-rams-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

What are your bold predictions for the 2025 season?

Kara Durrette/Getty Images

With the schedule release in the rearview mirror, it’s time to drop those bold NFL takes!

Legions of Los Angeles Rams fans have made predictions since the NFL released the schedule for the upcoming season on Wednesday. Fans already have high expectations regarding the forthcoming campaign, but what about any bold predictions they may have?

When I asked this question last May, I made a few bold predictions, most notably that a non-quarterback would win MVP. That nearly happened after Saquon Barkley popped off during his first season in Philly, en route to a Super Bowl title.

Another prediction that wasn’t so bold but still loved anyway was that the Cowboys would miss the playoffs—and they did. Thank you football gods!

My boldest prediction ahead of ‘25 is that the Steelers will finish above .500, ensuring Mike Tomlin’s non-losing season streak remains intact. Analysts and former players have trashed Tomlin in the media this offseason, and for good reason. His tenure in the Steel City has been stale for quite some time, and it’s only getting worse.

The Steelers currently have no quality QB option or a solid WR2 alongside DK Metcalf. There is every reason not to believe in Tomlin and his team. With or without Aaron Rodgers under center, I don’t see Pittsburgh making the playoffs. However, Tomlin is allergic to losing campaigns, and unlike in previous seasons, I won’t bet against him this time around. I’m going to get burned for this, won’t I?

My other bold prediction is that there will be a new face winning MVP honors. Reigning MVP Josh Allen won his first over Lamar Jackson in 2024. We all know it’s going to a quarterback, but who? Jayden Daniels seems like a popular choice following a historic rookie year. What about, oh, I don’t know, Matthew Stafford?

Turf Show Ramily, what are your bold predictions for the 2025 NFL season? Let me know in the comments!

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/17/24432300/rams-bold-predictions-2025-nfl-season

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

20 thoughts on the Rams 2025 schedule

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Can the Rams make it to Sean McVay’s third Super Bowl appearence?

The 2025 schedule for the Los Angeles Rams is now set in stone. These are the 18 regular season games that will determine whether LA will contend in the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

I have thoughts on the preseason overall, each game, and a record projection to follow at the end:

Preseason: Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns

These are the main storylines I’ll be watching over this year’s preseason:

• Can Stetson Bennett make a jump in year three, and show he’s worth keeping around?
• How will the offensive line depth shake out between Dylan McMahon, Justin Dedich, Willie Lampkin, and KT Leveston
• Which EDGE rushers will stand out and win the battle to replace Michael Hoecht: Josaiah Stewart, Nick Hampton, Brennan Jackson, Keir Thomas?

Week 1: Sept. 7 vs. Houston Texans

This is an exciting Week 1 matchup for the Rams and the game will serve as a fine measuring stick from both Houston and LA.

The matchup I am most excited for will be the retooled (possibly worse than last year) Texans offensive line versus the Rams’ aggressive front of Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, and company.

Week 2: Sept. 14 at Tennessee Titans

Number one overall pick Cam Ward starts his rookie campaign against the Denver Broncos—maybe the NFL’s best defense—and then plays the Rams the following game. I don’t think there’s much of a chance the Titans leave their first two games better than 0-2, though moral victories can be had still.

Week 3: Sept. 21 at Philadelphia Eagles

There are few teams in the NFL that have Sean McVay’s number; however, the Eagles are certainly one of them.

McVay is 1-6 against Philadelphia and his lone win dates back to the 2020 season. The Rams have not beat the Eagles in the Matthew Stafford era.

But McVay has pulled out of this spot before. He had a rough stretch against the 49ers and has seemingly reversed the trend. Can he do the same versus Philly?

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Week 4: Sept. 28 vs. Indianapolis Colts

Anthony Richardson gave the Rams all they could handle as a rookie by forcing overtime. Puka Nacua’s first career touchdown sealed the game for LA.

But Richardson is running out of time with the Colts and possibly the NFL. Will he start this game over Daniel Jones, and can he get his professional career back on track?

Week 5: Oct. 2 vs. San Francisco 49ers (TNF)

An early Thursday night football matchup against the 49ers reminds me of McVay and Kyle Shanahan’s first go-around in the NFL back in 2017. This remains one of my favorite games in recent Rams history, and this rematch under a similar setting could also be a fireworks-filled battle.

Will the 49ers bounce back in 2025?

Week 6: Oct. 12 at Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson owns the Rams’ defense. He single handily knocked LA out of the playoffs in 2019.

Can the Rams find a way to finally slow down Jackson? They’ll have extra time to game plan for this matchup.

Week 7: Oct. 19 at Jaguars (London)

James Gladstone is a chip off the Les Snead block, and time will tell whether his aggressive offseason has the Jacksonville Jaguars headed in the right direction. Not only are the Rams facing off with one of the architects of their roster, but they will also see former offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Will Coen get revenge after LA fired him following the 2022 season?

Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

Week 8: Bye week

This is a good time for the bye. Not too early and not too late.

Week 9: Nov. 2 vs. New Orleans Saints

Tyler Shough faces the Rams after they’ve had the bye to prepare for him with the first half of his rookie season on film. That’s a tough situation to be in.

Week 10: Nov. 9 at 49ers

The Rams will get the 49ers out of the way early which could be fortunate or unfortunate depending how the NFC West standings are shaping up at this point. While most analysts see the 49ers bouncing back this year, their roster is aging at important load-bearing columns and Purdy took a major step back last season. I think we see San Francisco finish no better than third in the division with a surprise team moving up to second... more on that later.

Week 11: Nov. 16 vs. Seattle Seahawks

LA sees Sam Darnold for the first time in a Seahawks jersey. Seattle had one of the most interesting offseasons in all the NFL. This also marks Cooper Kupp’s first game as the opposition, assuming he’s still on the field this late into the year. Injuries are part of the reason why the Rams were forced into moving on from the veteran.

Week 12: Nov. 23 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This could be a marquee matchup into the back half of the season and a game I’m excited for. Baker Mayfield has no shortage of playmakers at his disposal, though he’s watched the revolving door spin in terms of his offensive coordinators. That’s simply the life you live when you hire a defensive head coach, and that’s not something I would want for my franchise quarterback.

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Week 13: Nov. 30 at Carolina Panthers

The Rams wanted to trade up for receiver Tetairoa McMillan in the first 10 picks of the draft but found the move too costly. Instead he landed in Carolina and will be on the opposing sideline for this matchup. This is a make or break year for Bryce Young, though he could still be a long-term option for the Rams at quarterback as they start to eye the future of the position after Matthew Stafford.

Week 14: Dec. 7 at Arizona Cardinals

I teased this earlier and I’ll come out with it now: the Cardinals have improved their roster drastically over the last three years and I think they are now the second-best team in the division. Kyler Murray’s ceiling is probably the best of any quarterback in the division, though he struggles mightily with consistency. When he’s on, he’s dangerous—as evidenced by his masterclass against LA early last year.

Week 15: Dec. 14 vs. Detroit Lions

Stafford and McVay haven’t beat the Lions since 2020 in Dan Campbell and Jared Goff’s first season in Detroit while the team was rebuilding from the bottom. The Lions seem more vulnerable this year after losing both of their coordinators, though they still have plenty of talent across the board.

This could be a key battle for the first seed in the NFC conference ahead of the postseason.

Week 16: Dec. 18 at Seahawks (TNF)

I think Seattle will be out of playoff contention at this point in the season, and we could see Mike MacDonald and John Schneider on the hot seat to finish the year. MacDonald fired his offensive coordinator after his first season and went with a retread in Klint Kubiak. I don’t like the trajectory MacDonald has the Seahawks on.

Week 17: Dec. 29 at Atlanta Falcons (MNF)

The Falcons’ prospects hinge entirely on how good second-year quarterback Michael Penix turns out to be. He started only three games last year and posted an elite Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade in the season finale against the Carolina Panthers. In that game he notched seven big-time throws without a turnover-worthy play.

I’m bought in, and that comes at the expense of the Rams who hold Atlanta’s first round pick in 2026.

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Week 18: vs. Cardinals

While the Rams historically rest starters in the final week of the regular season, they may be forced into clinching the NFC West against a better than expected Cardinals team. Jonathan Gannon now has enough talent to work with on his defense, and they will be competitive as long as Murray and the offense continue their upward trajectory.

Record Prediction: 11-6

I think the Rams sweep the 49ers and Seahawks then split games with the Cardinals. They’ll drop late season contests against the Lions and Falcons. The back of the schedule is much tougher than the start, outside of the early matchup versus the Eagles.

Simply put, Stafford is too inconsistent for the Rams to be front runners for an entire season. Even when LA won the Super Bowl in 2021, Stafford was probably the sole reason for a brutal three-game midseason slide.

The veteran QB is still talented enough to go on a heater during the playoffs, which is a bet the Rams are willing to make. Can they get back to the Super Bowl for the third time under McVay?

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/18/24432619/rams-2025-schedule-thoughts-predictions-record

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Matthew Stafford’s early MVP odds are disrespectful

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Matthew Stafford has the 14th best odds at an MVP

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Matthew Stafford has the 14th best odds to win the NFL MVP award (+4000) which puts him tied with Dak Prescott and Trevor Lawerence but behind quarterbacks such as former Ram Baker Mayfield (+3400), Caleb Williams (+3100), Jordan Love (+3100), and Brock Purdy (+2500). Stafford is constantly touted as one of the elite talents in the league by fellow players and coaches but somehow continues to get disrespected in MVP odds.

Why it doesn’t make sense​

Stafford has put up the MVP-level stats in the past and has been looked over before. During LA’s path to the Super Bowl in 2021, the former Detroit Lion put up 4,886 passing yards and 41 touchdowns with a completion rate of 102.9 and didn’t even crack the top three in MVP voting. That year the award went to Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (39 votes) who had 4,115 yards passing and 37 touchdowns with a QBR of 111.9. Cooper Kupp finished third in voting that year after nearly topping Calvin Johnson’s receiving record with the help of the quarterback passing to him.

In 2012, Calvin Johnson set the NFL single season record with 1,964 receiving yards. His QB was Matthew Stafford.

In 2021, Cooper Kupp had the second most receiving yards in a single season in NFL history with 1,947. His QB was - and still is - Matthew Stafford.

Puka Nacua… pic.twitter.com/sg0whgea75

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 22, 2023​

Les Snead has added even more talent around Stafford this year with Devante Adams landing in LA during free agency and Terrance Ferguson and Jarquez Hunter being added through the draft. This may be Sean McVay’s best roster since 2018 when he had prime Todd Gurley but this time around he has a future hall of famer throwing around the ball. Puka Nacua is entering his third year in the league and is one of the best receivers in football while the offensive line looks to be more stable than it has in past years.

Stafford is also proven. He is a Super Bowl Champion and is one of the most clutch quarterbacks in league history and yet he has somehow fallen to those that are unproven. Jayden Daniels has the fifth best odds (+850), Justin Herbert is the sixth (+2000), and CJ Stroud the seventh best (+2500).

They brought Matthew Stafford to LA to win a Super Bowl.

He delivered. #SBLVI @RamsNFL | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/2iVHsGvnaD

— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022​

MVP voters like dual threat and flashy quarterbacks​

There is no argument that Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen should be at the top of any MVP voters list. Their ability to move out of the pocket and make things happen with their feet is what sets them apart from the rest of the league. Stafford will never be that. He may be one of the last pure-passing gunslingers in an evolving league that favors the mobile quarterback.

But if that were entirely the case then why does Jared Goff find himself higher on the list than Stafford? Or even Brock Purdy for that matter?

Stafford has never seemed to care about accolades on his way to greatness. After signing a team-friendly contract this offseason his focus is a Lombardi Trophy, not an MVP.

Do you think Stafford should have better odds to win the MVP this season? Where would you put him? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/18/24432582/matthew-stafford-mvp-odds-betting

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

How can Jared Verse become more complete pass rusher in 2025?

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Rams edge rusher Jared Verse dominated as a rookie, but can he take the next step?

The Los Angeles Rams lucked into one of the best defenders of the 2024 NFL Draft last season when they selected edge rusher Jared Verse with the 19th overall pick. It was a mild surprise that the Rams were able to select Verse at 19 given his talent. However, with the focus on offensive players at the top of the first round, Verse fell right into the Rams’ lap.

Verse had a fantastic season for a rookie edge rusher and entered the conversation as one of the better players at his position in the NFL. His true pressure score of 52.5 and 34 high-quality pressured trailed only Myles Garrett on the edge. He also led the NFL with 6.4 snaps per pressure. Since PFF started tracking pressures in 2006, Verse’s 77 pressures as a rookie in 2024 were fewer than only Nick Bosa’s 80 as a rookie in 2019.

While Verse had an impressive rookie season, he’ll be expected to build on that and continue to take steps forward in his development. There are still things he’ll need to improve and that will include building up his pass rush toolbox. As a rookie, his bull rush ability and his pure power were exceptional.

Still, Verse went eight consecutive starts at the end of the season without getting to the quarterback because he was a power-first edge rusher. Sacks can be a luck-based stat and Verse was still getting pressure on the quarterback. With that said, he could diversify his pass rush arsenal. Verse’s 64.7 percent bull rush rate and 69.1 percent power move rate led the NFL.

James Foster/Wide Left
Jared Verse Pass Rush Move Rates

James Foster from the Wide Left Substack recently charted edge rushers and their pass rush moves. Said Foster on Verse,

“In 2024, Verse had the most power pressures (47) and the highest power rate (69.1%) of any of the 121 seasons in my database. He’s the epitome of a one-dimensional (complementary) pass rusher, who can rely on one dominant go-to move for the bulk of his production. Verse led NFL edge rushers in total pressures (89) and ranked sixth in pass-rush win rate (19.7%), so his lack of a diverse moveset isn’t holding him back too much, but adding a more dependable stab-chop could elevate his game further. Verse is also a good reminder of the translatability of power from college to the NFL.”

Rams EDGE Jared Verse may already have one of the better bull rushes in the NFL.

3rd-and-8 and walks Charles Cross right back into Geno Smith's lap to force an inaccurate throw. Verse is a dude with SERIOUS power. pic.twitter.com/9GOH4jwhCm

— Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakTST) November 5, 2024​

This isn’t a knock on Verse as he was also a power-rush player at Florida State. He’s always had the ability to turn speed to power and affect the pocket. His strength is the foundation of his game and at times it can be devastating for offensive tackles to handle. At the same time, he seems to have an over-reliance on turning speed to power which is partially why his sack production dropped over the second half of the season.

Verse is never going to be a Von Miller or Nik Bonnito style edge rusher who build their games around their speed. He’s built much more like Will Anderson who also builds his game around power. However, while Anderson also build his game around power, he does incorporate speed moves into his arsenal. Anderson’s speed-move rate was at 26.2 percent to Verse’s 20.6 percent.

James Foster/Wide Left
NFL Pass Rush Move Rates

That evolution isn’t just important for Verse, but the Rams’ overall pass rush as well. Looking at the chart above, Byron Young ranked sixth in power-rush rate last season at 60 percent. Depending on how teams want to develop their pass rush plans, some will tend to have a power rusher and speed rusher to keep offenses off balance. The Houston Texans do this with Anderson and Danielle Hunter. Hunter’s speed-move rate is at 53.4 percent while Anderson is more of a power-rusher. The same can be said about Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonnito with the Denver Broncos.

Contrarily, both TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith each rely on their speed for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Josh Allen and Travon Walker are the same for the Jacksonville Jaguars from a power standpoint.

This isn’t to say that Verse or Young need to completely reinvent their games. With Verse and Young having the ability to collapse the pocket from the outside, forcing the quarterback to step up. That tends to work to the Rams’ strength as Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske are disruptors inside. Still, the Rams can use some diversity in their pass rush off the edge.

It’s a reason why the Rams may have targeted Josaiah Stewart in the third round. Stewart is able to win with his speed and win inside which complements Verse and Young’s weaknesses. He brings much more of a finesse, speed move arsenal than brute strength.

Verse proved last season that he is someone that the Rams can build the defense around moving forward. After losing Aaron Donald to retirement, Verse became the new face of the defense. Still, the Rams will be expecting Verse to continue developing and build on his strong rookie season. To do that, he’ll need to diversify his pass rush toolbox.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/19/24433228/rams-jared-verse-edge-rusher-depth-chart

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Aaron Donald not missing football or regretting decision to retire

Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images

The Rams great says he lost the passion for the game

One of the best players in the history of football, Aaron Donald is still content with his decision to retire from the sport last year. In an interview with 93.7 The Fan, Donald expressed that he had lost his passion for football and that when that goes, there’s nothing that would compel him to play again. Donald says he doesn’t miss football at all.

“As far as playing football, I don’t miss it,” Donald said on the Panthers Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan. “I don’t even have the passion or excitement to want to play football. I will always love football, but once you lose the passion, it was time to walk away.”

When Donald had the passion for football, he was arguably the hardest working player in the sport.

Over 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Donald accomplished MORE than the following:

• 10 Pro Bowls (100%)
• 8 first-team All-Pro nods
• 111 career sacks
• 3-time Defensive Player of the Year
• Defensive Rookie of the Year
• 7 top-5 finishes for Defensive Player of the Year
• Super Bowl winner
• 176 career tackles for a loss
• 260 career QB hits
• 24 career forced fumbles

Donald is now being inducted into the Pitt Hall of Fame — Donald dominated college offenses with 64 tackles for a loss and 28 sacks in his final three seasons with Pitt — and that’s just a precursor to his inevitable unanimous induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Though he lost his passion for football, the NFL won’t soon lose the passion for Aaron Donald.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/19/24433527/aaron-donald-not-missing-football-rams

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Who are the most important assets for the Rams over the next three years

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

The Rams’ top young players and assets that could shape the team’s future.

In the NFL, having top young talent doesn’t carry quite the same long-term impact as it does in sports like baseball or hockey. Still, a promising young core can be a strong indicator of a team’s future outlook. During the early years of Les Snead’s time with the Los Angeles Rams, the roster was loaded with emerging talent. That trend shifted as the team began trading draft capital and assets in pursuit of a Super Bowl title.

Pro Football Focus recently released its ranking of the top 25 players under 25 years old. Puka Nacua has been featured on this list the last two years while Jared Verse made his debut. That sparked a closer look at who the Rams’ most promising young players are. For this exercise, we’ll expand the criteria slightly—focusing on players who are either under 25 or in their first three NFL seasons.

1. EDGE Jared Verse​

The fact that Verse plays a premier position and is on a rookie contract for the next three years makes him the most important asset. He is just 24 years old and won the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. Said Jonathon Macri of PFF,

“The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year finished the 2024 season with 89 quarterback pressures — the most in the league — and managed a top-10 PFF grade in all three major defensive categories for the position (overall, run defense and pass rush). Verse also generated the fifth-most PFF WAR (0.42) for his position, putting him in elite company alongside Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt.”

Verse entered the conversation last season as one of the top edge rushers in the NFL. If he continues on his current development path, he could become one of the elite players at the position. The Rams have him on a rookie deal for the next four years and that makes him extremely valuable. Right now, the Rams are getting Verse at $3.7 million per year. When he signs his second contract, he will likely command more than $40 million.

2. WR Puka Nacua​

Nacua will enter his age 24 season, but has two years remaining on his rookie contract. After a strong rookie campaign, Nacua solidified himself as a top-5 wide receiver in the NFL last season. Despite an injury, he still led the league in yards per route run. Said Macri on Nacua,

“Through two seasons, Nacua has delivered a 92.4 PFF receiving grade and 2.92 yards per route run — both of which lead all qualifying players for this list and rank second among all players overall during that span. Even though he missed time with injuries in 2024, Nacua made the most of his opportunities, leading the position in PFF receiving grade (92.6) and yards per route run (3.23) as 2024’s most efficient receiver.”

The Rams made one thing abundantly clear this offseason when they moved on from Cooper Kupp. That message was that the future of the offense runs through Nacua.

3. 2026 Falcons 1st Round Pick​

While this isn’t technically a player, the 2026 first round pick that the Rams received from the Atlanta Falcons may be the most valuable non-player asset in Les Snead’s possession. That is something that can be used to acquire a star player or as a piece to move up and get a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.

In four of the past five drafts, the Falcons have picked inside the top-10. Quarterback Michael Penix played well at the end of last year, but the Falcons are a team with a lot of questions. The fact that the Rams are in a competitive state and have multiple first round picks next year gives them a lot of flexibility. That’s part of what makes this such an important future asset. Whether traded away or used next year, the player acquired is going to be a big piece of what the Rams do over the next five seasons.

4. iOL Steve Avila​

Steve Avila may not have had the season that many would have expected in year two. It is certainly worth noting that the Rams offensive line was in a massive state of flux last summer. Avila started the offseason at center before moving to left guard. He also dealt with injuries. The step back didn’t come without cause.

Despite the sophomore slump, Avila is still a big part of what the Rams want to do on offense. He unlocks so much of what Sean McVay is able to call in the run game and his mobility is an asset in the screen game. Avila is going to continue to be a cornerstone of the interior offensive line.

5. TE Terrance Ferguson​

This list has to include the most recent top pick by the Rams. While Ferguson may not have been a Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland level of prospect, he is going to be an integral of what the Rams do on offense. Ideally, he’s able to unlock some more 12 personnel looks for McVay and slot into some of what Cooper Kupp did as a big slot player.

Not only will Ferguson help unlock what the Rams want to achieve on offense, but he’s also the future at tight end behind Tyler Higbee. Higbee is on the final year of his contract in 2025. That leaves Ferguson as the team’s top tight end in 2026 and beyond. The hope here is that he is able to develop quickly.

6. S Kam Kinchens​

A major reason why Kinchens makes this list is because despite going into year two, he is one of the three youngest players on the Rams roster. Only Terrance Ferguson and Jarquez Hunter are younger. That makes him one of the more valuable pieces on the Rams defense, especially in the secondary.

Kinchens showed some playmaking ability in the secondary last season. He had four interceptions and an interception returned for a touchdown. With Quentin Lake and Kam Curl set to hit free agency next year, a lot will be expected of Kinchens heading into year two and three. Historically, the Rams haven’t paid safeties. He is a big part of the future in the Rams secondary.

7. OT Warren McClendon​

While Kyren Williams could make some sense in this final slot, he is in the final year of his contract. There’s also no guarantee that he gets an extension. Williams is a fine running back, but likely not a player worth an extension over $12 million per year. That leaves Warren McClendon. Heading into the 2025 draft, there was some speculation that the Rams may prioritize the tackle position, specifically on the right side. Instead, they passed on the position altogether.

Rob Havenstein will be a free agent in 2026 and could retire. The Rams could draft or sign a tackle next year. However, they tend to stick in-house when it makes sense on the offensive line. McClendon will be going into year three and has been up-and-down in limited opportunities. It’s very possible that he is the right tackle of the future, but it’s something that the Rams have to figure out soon.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/20/24434004/los-angeles-rams-top-young-assets-2025-jared-verse

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Overplayed NFL offseason headlines I’m totally sick of

Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Can league owners decide on the fate of the Tush Push already and move on?

Besides the brief Matthew Stafford drama following the season, the L.A. Rams have enjoyed a relatively quiet offseason. Not all NFL teams have been as fortunate, with some headlines seemingly neverending—yeah, Aaron Rodgers, I’m talking about YOU.

Since we’re in the slowest part of the offseason, here are a few overplayed headlines I’m done hearing about. Feel free to add more in the comments to continue this lovely rant session.

Aaron Rodgers​

A. A. Ron, please sign with a team, or just retire already. Everyone is sick of this dance. For the love of all things holy, MAKE A DECISION! I’m sure your buddy RFK Jr. will still have a job waiting for you once you finally hang it up.

Tush Push ban​

League owners, everyone is also tired of this dance. Either agree with the crybaby Packers’ soft and baseless stance on banning the Brotherly Shove, or don’t. Like the Eagles or anyone else won’t find a way around it or anything.

Lakers offseason plans​

What will the Lakers do after an earlier-than-expected playoff exit? How will they address Luka Dončić’s situation this offseason? Is Lebron James ... crap, wrong article. Sorry!

Shedeur Sanders​

Look, I felt bad for Shedeur Sanders during his slide in the NFL draft. However, it was hard not to be forced into feeling anything after the shameful way ESPN handled its draft coverage.

The Browns have the worst quarterback situation in the league. Fans already know updates on Sanders will be shoved down our throats all summer. If the Colorado “legend” cannot overcome a depth chart with Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, he might as well give up his NFL dream.

Thank you, Cleveland, for giving me another reason to hate you.

Bengals contractual drama​

Cincinnati began this offseason with contractual concerns with Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. That ended before free agency in March when both players earned massive paydays.

The Bengals have also had contract issues with Trey Hendrickson, which appear to have no resolution in sight. Joe Burrow backed his teammate, telling reporters on May 20 that Hendrickson “deserves to get paid.”

If there’s one thing you must know about Cincy, it’s that they almost always do the wrong thing. Never change, Bengals.

Bill Belichick ​

I’ve been reading Belichick’s book “The Art of Winning” and have yet to encounter a chapter on how to land a bombshell girlfriend. Did I buy the wrong edition?

While Belichick is no longer in the NFL, all the talk surrounding him and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, is ridiculous. People are seriously questioning his legacy and judgment over this nothingburger of a story?

Last time I checked, BB and Hudson were consenting adults, and onlookers should mind their own business. North Carolina will not care one bit if Belichick can coach the Tarheels to a bowl game or beyond.

But for real, I bought the wrong edition, didn’t I?

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/20/24434093/nfl-offseason-headlines-tush-push-rodgers

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Can Rams expect Ernest Jones type rise from rookie Chris Paul Jr.

Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Chris Paul Jr. was a fifth-round steal for the Rams, but can he make an impact as a rookie?

Heading into the offseason, the Los Angeles Rams had a major need at linebacker. After trading away Ernest Jones in training camp, the Rams managed to get by at linebacker with Troy Reeder, Christian Rozeboom, and Omar Speights.

By the end of free agency, the Rams didn’t sign a big-name linebacker like Dre Greenlaw or Jamien Sherwood. Instead, they moved on from Rozeboom and brought back Reeder while signing Nate Landman from the Atlanta Falcons. During the draft, the Rams opted not to select Jihaad Campbell in the first round. The second, third, and fourth round came and went without general manager Les Snead addressing the position. Finally, with the fifth to last pick in the fifth round, the Rams selected Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr.

Many expected Paul to be selected much earlier and therefore a steal in the fifth round. Matt Holder from Bleacher Report gave Paul a third-round grade and wrote,

“Chris Paul Jr. has a high ceiling in the NFL as he could develop into a well-rounded linebacker. He’s a good athlete for the position. He is already good in coverage due to impressive movement skills to stay in phase against running backs and tight ends when playing man and tighten throwing windows in zone coverage...Overall, Paul’s traits are worth betting on and he’d be a good fit as a WILL linebacker. It might take some time, but he can potentially become a quality starter in the NFL during his rookie contract and maybe even by year two.”

Given that the Rams did get a potential steal at linebacker in the fifth-round, it’s no surprise that there is a lot of excitement around him heading into his rookie season. The big question, however, is how much of an impact will Paul have as a rookie?

While there is serious opportunity at the linebacker position on the Rams roster, they are a team that tends to bring rookies along slowly. There’s a reason they brought back Reeder and also signed an experienced player in Landman. Even Ernest Jones who was drafted in the third round didn’t start until Week 8 of his rookie season. Omar Speights impressed during the offseason and didn’t start until an injury to Reeder allowed it. He got his first start in Week 8 and didn’t start consistently until Week 10.

Jones entered a similar situation at linebacker in 2021 in which there was a lot of opportunity. Reeder was the starting linebacker with Kenny Young next to him. When Young was traded to the Broncos, Jones got his opportunity.

However, while this Rams linebacker group may not be top-heavy at the linebacker position, for the first time in awhile, they do have some depth. Speights, Landman, and Reeder all have starting experience. Both Speights and Landman excelled against the run last season. Meanwhile, Reeder is an experienced player in the system. Where does Paul fit into that and who does he play over as a rookie? At best, he may be the third linebacker behind Speights and Landman. Maybe he’s starting next to Speights by Week 9 or 10 if Landman struggles.

It’s also worth mentioning Paul’s size limitations. When it comes to linebackers in the NFL, the size threshold for arm length is typically around 32-inches. That was the average arm length for linebackers in the 2025 draft class. The importance here is that linebackers with longer arms are able to disengage from blocks. Simply put, it makes tackling easier as it increases the tackle radius and therefore decreases the margin for error.

Some players like Luke Kuechly have had success with shorter arms, but rarely do linebackers have arms shorter than 30-inches. That’s the case with Paul who has an arm length of 29.875-inches which is in the first percentile. At just 222-pounds, he’s in just the third percentile there as well.

Mockdraftable
Chris Paul Jr. Spider Graph

The Rams have shown in the past that they don’t necessarily care too much about size thresholds, especially if the player is considered undersized. In Paul’s case, he at least seems to be aware of his limitations. As Dane Brugler from The Athletic noted,

“His lack of inches stands out, but he doesn’t try to be something he’s not and compensates for his lack of take-on length by eluding blockers or attacking full-speed into contact.”

Still, it is something worth mentioning as Troy Reeder also has sub-30 inch arms. For comparison, Jones’ arm length was in the 88th percentile.

This is not to say that Paul can’t be successful. Blake Cashman has the shortest arm length in the NFL among starting linebackers at 30.125-inch arms. It is possible that he is able to overcome it in the same way that Cashman has.

There is a lot of excitement around Paul and for good reason. Despite his lighter weight and shorter arms, he was the most efficient tackler among drafted linebackers. His 4.5 percent missed tackle rate ranked fifth in college football last season.

New Rams ILB Chris "Pooh" Paul Jr. was the most efficient tackler among drafted ILBs last season.

He had the best stop rate (a tackle constituting an unsuccessful play for the offense) and missed tackle rate among the 19 players drafted at his position. pic.twitter.com/QOcdpGlMpS

— Wyatt Miller (@wymill07) April 28, 2025​

At the same time, his shorter arm length and lighter weight in combination with the players above him on the depth chart could mean that his impact is more felt on special teams early in his career. He’ll need to prove early that he isn’t a liability in the run game.

For the first time in awhile, the Rams have players worth being excited about at the linebacker position. Omar Speights will be coming off of a strong rookie year, they drafted Chris Paul, and undrafted free agent Shaun Dolac also brings upside. Still, it may take time for someone like Paul to break through as he develops and that’s ok. Even if Paul doesn’t start as a rookie, it shouldn’t be seen as a knock on his development.

At the end of the day, Paul has potential. If he can continue to find ways to compensate for his physical limitations in the NFL, it won’t be long before he pushes for playing time.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2025/5/21/24434625/rams-rookie-grades-chris-paul-jr