The Los Angeles Rams started the offseason with a bang when they traded Jared Goff and three draft picks to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford. That move immediately improved their Super Bowl LVI odds, bumping them up to third-best in the NFL.
But they’ve suffered some recent losses in free agency with the likes of John Johnson, Troy Hill, Gerald Everett and Samson Ebukam leaving. They remain one of the best teams in the NFC and still have the third-best odds to win next year’s Super Bowl, but they slipped in NFL.com’s latest power rankings after the first wave of free agency.
Dan Hanzus of Around the NFL dropped the Rams one spot from No. 8 to 9 this week, citing their quiet free-agent approach and pointing out that the DeSean Jackson signing may not pan out like some expect.
Previous rank: No. 8
Sean McVay wanted a fresh start on offense, and he got it with Matthew Stafford. The longtime Lions star had reached a stage in his career where he, too, needed something of a reboot, and it’s not hard to imagine Stafford and McVay making beautiful music together. L.A. has been otherwise quiet in free agency, though the signing of DeSean Jackson adds some more intrigue — even if DeSean Jackson signings are almost always better in theory than they are in reality.
Aside from landing Stafford, the Rams also re-signed Leonard Floyd as their big-ticket free agent. He solidifies the pass rush by returning to Los Angeles, preventing an even bigger hole from opening up at outside linebacker.
But the Rams still need a center, defensive end and cornerback, as well as another edge rusher. Those voids should be filled in the draft, but don’t rule out Austin Blythe returning or the Rams adding a cheaper cornerback in free agency.
