In one of the best games of the Wild Card Round so far, the Los Angeles Rams nearly upset the NFC North champion Detroit Lions only to fall short. Three LA red-zone trips resulting in field goals instead of touchdowns were the difference in the end as the Rams fell 24-23.
In his return to Detroit, Matthew Stafford excelled, throwing for a season-high 367 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. By the time the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around in April, Stafford will be 36 years old, and the Rams will need to start thinking about their quarterback of the future.With $48 million in cap space going into the offseason, the Rams will also have some money to spend in free agency. These four free agents are ones the Rams should target in free agency because they are needed in important areas.
Interior defensive linemen accounted for two of the Rams’ top three sack leaders last season, when they finished 24th in the NFL in terms of sack total. The Rams lacked a dominant pass-rusher, despite the fact that both Michael Hoecht and Byron Young were respectable pass-rushers. Young finished second among NFL rookies in sacks, only behind fellow rookie Kobie Turner.
With the New York Jets last season, Bryce Huff displayed exceptional pass-rushing ability in his limited playing time. Despite only playing 42% of the snaps, Huff recorded 10 sacks and 21 quarterback hits. The Rams are in dire need of pass-rush edge players to supplement the interior pressure they produced the previous season, even though he is not the best against the rush. That guy could be Bryce Huff.
Steven Nelson (CB)
Last season, the Rams secondary gave up 24 touchdowns compared to just 10 interceptions, making Jalen Ramsey’s absence evident. The need to add a cornerback is more pressing now that top corner Ahkello is a free agent this offseason.Over the past six seasons, Steven Nelson has played for four different teams, but he has been quietly
triumphant at each location. With four picks in 2023, the 30-year-old was targeted by the Houston Texans and gave up a passer rating of just 73.3. Nelson is the perfect addition to this Los Angeles secondary because of his versatility.
A game-changing tight end is something that this Rams team has been lacking lately. Throughout his eight-year career in Los Angeles, Tyler Higbee has been a reliable option, averaging 586 receiving yards per season over the previous five years. However, he is not a player who will improve the passing game. In the playoffs, Higbee also sustained an ACL injury that ended his season against the Detroit Lions, potentially jeopardising his availability for the start of 2024.
SUGGESTIBLE
Although there aren’t any outstanding tight ends available in free agency this year, Dalton Schultz of the Houston Texans is a tight end who would be an improvement. Despite missing two games, Schultz finished with 635 receiving yards and is a dependable receiver who can play a significant role in the LA offence. Hunter Henry can also be considered if the team is looking for a less expensive option.
Jordan Fuller and John Johnson III, the starting safeties for the Rams, are both unrestricted free agents this season. Although they might come back, the franchise needs to get ready for their departure. As per the Pro Football Focus Player Grades, one of the top safeties in the NFL in 2023 was New York Giants’ Xavier McKinney. With a final PFF score of 87.8, McKinney was classified as high-quality.
While in coverage, the fourth-year player totaled 116 tackles, three interceptions, and a passer rating of just 69.8.
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