A winner in Michael Lombardi’s offseason, the Rams do so by making investments in the trenches.
Unless they win the Super Bowl, no team ever starts the offseason on a “high note,” but the Los Angeles Rams certainly couldn’t have felt much better after losing to the Detroit Lions in the wild card round. Prior to the 2023 season, expectations for the Rams included third or fourth place in the division and 6–8 wins, given the predicted gaps on the offensive line and defense, as well as the questionable health and longevity of Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford.
By the time it was all over, the Rams had advanced to the postseason, finished 10-7, and added Puka Nacua, Kevin Dotson, Kobie Turner, Steve Avila, and Byron Young to their roster. As the 2024 offseason approached, fans were shocked to learn that Aaron Donald was retiring, which cast a fresh light on Los Angeles’ defensive roster in the absence of maybe the greatest player in organization history.
Nevertheless, Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager, wrote this for VSIN this week, including the Rams among a select group of clubs enjoying outstanding offseasons:
The Rams prioritized their lines during the offseason. They added two guards in free agency and two promising colleagues on the defensive line, Braden Fiske and Jared Verse, in the draft. They have more depth now, and the NFC West should be a grind if Matthew Stafford stays healthy.
In addition to signing guard Jonah Jackson to a somewhat larger salary, the Rams re-signed Dotson to a new contract after he left the Lions for Los Angeles. The Rams intend to have the greatest interior offensive line in the league by switching Avila from left guard to center.
The team also succeeded in getting Joe Noteboom to renegotiate his contract; as a result, he will now back up tackles Rob Havenstein and A.J. Jackson with Warren McClendon and A.J. Arcuri. The signing of tight end Colby Parkinson from the Seahawks as a backup quarterback and insurance for Tyler Higbee, along with the replacement of Carson Wentz with Jimmy Garoppolo, were the other noteworthy offensive moves.
The Rams have strengthened their defensive line by adding safety Kamren Curl and cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams via free agency. Les Snead was quiet throughout the free agency period on the defensive line, but he moved up for defensive tackle Braden Fiske near the top of the second round and selected defensive end Jared Verse with pick 19.
The Rams are undoubtedly in a better position now than they were following AD’s retirement announcement, but it would be difficult for L.A. to be “better off” under any circumstance without Donald.
In an attempt to improve their kicking problem starting in 2023, the team also selected kicker Joshua Karty in the draft.
Overall, following the draft, are the Los Angeles Rams in a better place than they were at the end of the regular season? Yes, Lombardi says, even in the absence of Aaron Donald.
