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Los Angeles Rams News & Rumors

Rams RB Kyren Williams To Miss OTAs

May 21st, 2024 at 8:39pm CST by Ely Allen

Rams running back Kyren Williams broke out in a big way during his sophomore campaign. His impressive season came to an end in the playoffs, when he exited his team’s loss to the Lions with a broken bone in his hand, but now, a “foot issue” is preventing him from participating in Los Angeles’ offseason program, per Sarah Barshop of ESPN.

Williams is no stranger to injury. The Notre Dame product finished third in the NFL in rushing yards last year, behind only Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry, despite missing five games (four on injured reserve with an ankle injury, another resting in the regular season finale) in 2023. Williams led the NFL in rushing yards per game with a mark of 95.3. The surprise offensive asset figures to be an integral part of the Rams’ offense in 2024, as long as his health allows it.

Williams’ stint on IR in 2023 wasn’t his first bout with injury, either. In OTAs before his rookie season, Williams broke his foot. After working his way back from that injury in time to make his rookie debut in Week 1, Williams suffered an ankle injury in his first NFL game that caused him to miss the next seven games of the 2022 season.

Head coach Sean McVay didn’t seem too worried about the 23-year-old’s status. Though he’ll miss the team’s offseason activities, Williams is expected back in time for training camp. “It’s nothing to worry about,” McVay told the media. “He’ll be ready to go for training camp, but there’s a little issue when he was training…But nothing to be concerned about.”

Williams’ absence wasn’t the only notable attendance feature in OTAs. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was in attendance and reportedly taking part in organized team activities, despite the veteran’s current efforts to attain more guaranteed money on his current contract. The 36-year-old passer is one year through a four-year, $160MM deal, but is done earning anymore guarantees ($10MM of his 2025 base salary was guaranteed in March).

There is a benefit on the team’s part to come to a restructured deal, as well. Stafford is set to represent a cap hit of $49.5MM this season, $50.5MM in 2025, and $49.5MM in 2026. A restructured contract could serve dual purposes of both getting Stafford more guaranteed money and also lowering his cap liability in the future.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/16/24

May 16th, 2024 at 8:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s rookie deals agreed upon between teams and players chosen in the middle and late rounds:

Chicago Bears

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams now have a two-Kamren safety group, with Kinchens following free agency addition Kamren Curl. The Kinchens and Jackson slot agreements leave only first-round pick Jared Verse unsigned among Rams draftees. The Rams got the ball rolling for picks near the top of the second round — the slowest-moving sector of the draft due to guarantee wiggle room — by inking Florida State defensive lineman Braden Fiske late last week.

DL Michael Brockers Announces Retirement

May 16th, 2024 at 4:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Michael Brockers landed an offseason workout, he did not end up playing in 2023. The veteran defensive lineman will pass on playing in 2024. Brockers took to Instagram on Thursday to announce he will retire from the NFL after 11 seasons.

Best known for his lengthy Rams tenure, Brockers finished his career with the Lions. Not part of the Jared Goff–Matthew Stafford trade, Brockers ended up joining Goff in relocating to Detroit as part of a separate 2021 swap. The Lions tenure pushed the former first-round pick’s start count to 157 games. Brockers’ NFL exit comes two months after longtime D-line mate Aaron Donald wrapped his storied career.

Brockers, 33, will be best remembered for a seven-year stretch working alongside Donald. The longest-running sidekick of the all-time great DT’s career, Brockers was also regarded as an upper-crust D-lineman for much of his time with the Rams. The LSU alum ended up signing three contracts with the Rams, who valued him alongside Donald. While Brockers was dealt as the team assembled its Super Bowl LVI-winning roster, he played in Super Bowl LIII and was part of three playoff teams after having been part of a lengthy Rams playoff drought.

Midway through that 12-season drought, the Rams hired Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead. The duo began its St. Louis tenure with an eventful draft. It took multiple trades for the Rams to end up with Brockers in 2012. The team moved down from No. 2 to No. 6, collecting two future first-rounders from Washington in a deal that gave Mike Shanahan‘s team a path to Robert Griffin III, and then slid down (via the Cowboys) from 6 to 14. The Snead-Fisher tandem made a pick there, and Brockers moved into the starting lineup in Week 4 of his rookie year.

Playing in Fisher’s 4-3 scheme during the first half of his Rams career and a 3-4 alignment during the second chapter, Brockers produced 28 of his 29 career sacks during his Rams run. He put together two five-sack seasons (2013, 2020) and notched at least seven tackles for loss in four separate seasons. For his career, Brockers tallied 64 TFLs. He made seven tackles against the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.

It took extensive time for the post-Greatest Show on Turf Rams to regroup, and it did not happen under Fisher. But the Donald-Brockers partnership certainly worked well to close out the team’s St. Louis stay, and Sean McVay made the pair more relevant in the grand scheme upon arrival in 2017. Brockers became one of the NFL’s top interior run defenders, and the Rams rewarded him with a three-year, $33.25MM deal in 2016. Staying in form long enough to land a third quality contract, Brockers fetched a three-year, $24MM deal from the Rams. This came after a memorable Ravens plot, which involved a Brockers three-year, $30MM agreement being nixed due to concerns about the veteran 3-4 D-end’s health. Brockers managed to play three more NFL seasons.

The Lions reached a reworked deal with Brockers in 2022 and stopped his run of starts midway through that season, making him a healthy scratch during the ’22 slate’s second half. Although Brockers worked out for the Titans last summer, no deal came to pass. He will nevertheless finish his career with $69.8MM in earnings in St. Louis, Los Angeles and Detroit.

Rams Promote Aubrey Pleasant To Assistant Head Coach

May 16th, 2024 at 11:15am CST by Adam La Rose

Aubrey Pleasant was a candidate to be promoted to the Rams’ defensive coordinator position as the team replaced Raheem Morris. He did not land that gig, but he has nevertheless seen his importance to the organization acknowledged with a new title.

Pleasant – Los Angeles’ defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator – has been given the additional title of assistant head coach, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He adds that head coach Sean McVay‘s announcement of the promotion to the team was well received, a sign of how Pleasant is viewed in the organization.

The Wisconsin grad began coaching in 2010, one year after his playing career came to an end. Pleasant’s first college opportunity came at Michigan, and he spent the 2011 and ’12 campaigns with the Wolverines. That was followed by a jump to the NFL level, which saw him spend time in Cleveland and Washington before his first Rams stint. That tenure (from 2017-20) came with the title of cornerbacks coach.

Pleasant moved on to the Lions and Packers, working as an offensive consultant with Green Bay in 2022. He was brought back by the Rams last offseason, though, and he was a key figure on Morris’ defensive staff. The latter took the Falcons’ head coaching gig during this year’s hiring cycle, creating the Los Angeles DC vacancy. That post was ultimately filled when another internal candidate (linebackers coach Chris Shula) was promoted.

Pleasant spoke with the Rams prior to their decision to tap Shula for the coordinator gig. He was also connected to the Packers’ DC opening, an indication that he could be a strong coordinator candidate in the 2025 hiring cycle and beyond. Taking on his latest title could also help Pleasant’s future head coaching aspirations.

Rams Sign Six Draft Picks

May 14th, 2024 at 7:47pm CST by Ben Levine

After previously completing their rookie agreement with second-round defensive tackle Braden Fiske, the Rams have signed six more of their draft picks. The team announced that they’ve signed the following players to rookie contracts:

  • Round 3, No. 83: Blake Corum (RB, Michigan)
  • Round 6, No. 196: Tyler Davis (DT, Clemson)
  • Round 6, No. 209: Joshua Karty (K, Stanford)
  • Round 6, No. 213: Jordan Whittington (WR, Texas)
  • Round 6, No. 217: Beaux Limmer (C, Arkansas)
  • Round 7, No. 254: KT Leveston (G, Kansas State)

Following a breakout 2021 campaign, Corum put together one of the best two-year stretches in Michigan football history. Between 2022 and 2023, the running back compiled 2,905 yards from scrimmage and 47 touchdowns, earning him a pair of All-American nods and Heisman Trophy consideration during his junior campaign. He finished his college career with a standout performance in the national championship, earning the game’s offensive MVP award after compiling 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

He’ll land in a dynamic offensive in Los Angeles. Kyren Williams is coming off a breakout campaign, but the starter still missed five games last season. That allowed the likes of Royce Freeman, Darrell Henderson, and Ronnie Rivers to each top 100 snaps; Corum could soak up all of those backup reps in 2024.

With today’s moves, the team now has three draft picks left to sign: first-round edge defender Jared Verse, third-round safety Kamren Kinchens, and fifth-round wide receiver Brennan Jackson.

Rams Sign Second-Round DT Braden Fiske

May 10th, 2024 at 7:45pm CST by Ely Allen

The Rams have begun the process of signing their 2024 NFL Draft picks. They open their draft signings by inking second-round defensive tackle out of Florida State Braden Fiske. According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, Fiske enters the NFL on a four-year, $9.41MM deal that sees a $3.66MM signing bonus and 15 percent of his Year 4 salary included in the total fully guaranteed amount of $7.64MM.

Fiske was part of an undefeated (in the regular season) Florida State squad built off the transfer portal. Fiske was one of those contributors out of the portal for the Seminoles after five years at Western Michigan.

The Michigan-native became a full-time starter in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and set career highs with the Broncos two years later in total tackles (58), tackles for loss (12.0), sacks (six), forced fumbles (two), and pass deflections (three). In one season as a full-time starter in Tallahassee, Fiske did more of the same, tallying nine tackles for loss and six sacks en route to a second-team All-ACC selection.

Fiske’s game should translate well at the NFL level. He brings ideal size to the position and wins often with his initial quickness. Mainly relying on club moves and bull rushes, he’ll need to add a few more moves to his pass-rush arsenal, but his consistency and drive will likely help him earn a big role as a rookie.

In Los Angeles, Fiske joins a defensive front that looks to replace future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald and Jonah Williams. The team returns second-year nose tackle Kobie Turner, who started four games as a rookie, and Bobby Brown III, who started 13 games but played less than half as many defensive snaps as Turner. Fiske stands to likely slot in as a starter, if not simply a large contributor, as a rookie, similar to Turner last year. His ability to play all over the line should allow Fiske several opportunities to earn his way onto the field.

Including Fiske’s fellow Florida State transfer contributor Jared Verse, the team’s first-round selection, the Rams have nine other draft picks to sign:

Rams To Trade WR Ben Skowronek To Texans

May 9th, 2024 at 10:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

Rather than moving on from Ben Skowronek by cutting him, the Rams will do so via trade. The fourth-year wideout is being dealt to the Texans, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Reports from Thursday indicated the Rams were planning on waiving the 26-year-old. That process would have left all NFL teams available to put in a claim. Houston will jump the line by agreeing to swap sixth- and seventh-round picks with Los Angeles in 2026, per Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport. One year remains on Skowronek’s rookie contract.

As would have been the case by waiving the former seventh-rounder, this transaction will create just over $1MM in cap savings for the Rams. The Texans, meanwhile, have made another addition to their WR room, one which of course now includes Stefon Diggs. He will be counted on as a key member of the team’s passing attack, but Skowronek’s run blocking and special teams acumen will make him a valued role player.

The latter had a negligible role on offense in 2021 and ’23. In between that time, however, he logged a snap share of 82% and made 39 catches. Skowronek will not be counted on to command many targets in Houston, considering the other pass-catchers the team has aside from Diggs. The Texans return the likes of Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Robert Woods at the receiver position. They also have tight end Dalton Schultz under contract for the next three years.

Expectations will be high for the Texans moving forward after their surprise run to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2023. If Skowronek is able to hold down a depth role this season, he could set himself up for an extended stay in Houston or boost his free agent market in 2025. For the Rams, meanwhile, this move will place an increased emphasis on starters Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua remaining healthy and productive moving forward, as they were last season.

Los Angeles re-signed both Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson this offseason, and the latter in particular will be counted on to serve as depth WR contributor. The Rams also have new tight end Colby Parkinson in place as another secondary pass-catcher. They will proceed without Skowronek’s third phase contributions as they look to build off their own postseason appearance from last season.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/9/24

May 9th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

As a number of teams prepare for rookie minicamps this weekend, Thursday has represented a signing day of sorts for rookie draftees. Here is the latest batch of mid- and late-rounders to sign their four-year rookie deals:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

  • T Travis Clayton (seventh round, England)

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New Orleans Saints

  • QB Spencer Rattler (fifth round, South Carolina)
  • WR Bub Means (fifth round, Pittsburgh)
  • LB Jaylan Ford (fifth round, Texas)
  • DT Khristian Boyd (sixth round, Northern Iowa)
  • T Josiah Ezirim (seventh round, Eastern Kentucky)

New York Giants

Tennessee Titans

Rams To Waive WR Ben Skowronek

May 9th, 2024 at 10:57am CST by Adam La Rose

As teams around the NFL continue to churn out the bottom of their offseason rosters, Ben Skowronek is set to see his time in Los Angeles come to an end. The former seventh-round wide receiver will be waived, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

Skowronek joined the team in 2021, and during his rookie campaign he played all-but exclusively on special teams. Things changed the following season with respect to his playing time, however. Skowronek logged an offensive snap share of 82% in 2022, a season in which the Rams dealt with a number of injuries on both sides of the ball. He totaled 376 scoreless yards on 39 receptions.

Los Angeles had Cooper Kupp available for 12 games this past season, and he and standout rookie Puka Nacua formed an effective receiver tandem. That relegated Skowronek back to a rotational role on offense, although his special teams abilities gave him a heavy third phase workload. The 26-year-old was a team captain in 2023, but this move will bring an end to his Rams tenure.

Skowronek had one year remaining on his rookie contract, and a release will save the Rams just over $1MM in cap space. Los Angeles entered Thursday with $11.3MM in breathing space, although a portion of that will be required to sign the team’s rookie class. Moving on from Skowronek will create a bit more flexibility for late offseason additions.

If he clears waivers, the Notre Dame product will now be free to join a new team as many veterans seek out deals in the post-draft wave of free agency. Skowronek’s limited production will hurt his market, but his experience and blocking abilities could lead to interest from teams seeking out WR depth.

Seahawks’ GM, HC Discuss Byron Murphy Pick; Team Not Expected To Trade From DL Group

May 8th, 2024 at 3:45pm CST by Rory Parks

MAY 8: The Rams also made an offer for the Seahawks’ No. 16 pick, according to Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline. Los Angeles, which also attempted to trade up higher for Brock Bowers, is believed to have been targeting Murphy. The Eagles’ interest stemmed from a fear they would lose Quinyon Mitchell had they not traded up. Mitchell ended up falling to Philly at No. 22, while the Rams went with Florida State D-lineman Jared Verse at No. 19.

MAY 5: Going into this year’s draft, guard was arguably the Seahawks’ biggest need. And as ESPN’s Brady Henderson writes, Seattle had targeted Alabama’s JC Latham, who was selected by the Titans with the No. 7 overall pick (the ‘Hawks would have slid Latham, a collegiate tackle, to the interior of their O-line, at least in the early stages of his pro career).

[RELATED: Murphy Signs Rookie Deal]

A number of this year’s top defensive prospects fell lower than expected due to an unprecedented run on offensive talent. When the Seahawks were on the clock with the No. 16 pick, only one defensive player, UCLA edge defender Laiatu Latu, was off the board, and he went to the Colts at No. 15. That left Texas DT Byron Murphy II available for Seattle, whom the team saw as the best defender in the 2024 class. The ‘Hawks ultimately turned in the card for the former Longhorn.

As offensive players were flying off the board, the Seahawks — who did not have a second-round choice — were fielding trade offers that would have allowed them to move down the board and pick up additional draft capital in the process. Per Henderson, the ‘Hawks received offers from the Steelers, Eagles, Vikings, and Falcons (who were trying to trade back into the first round after surprisingly drafting QB Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 choice). The Packers were also interested in acquiring Seattle’s No. 16 selection, but Green Bay ultimately did not make an offer.

With Murphy still available but with Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, Dre’Mont Jones, Johnathan Hankins, and several recent draftees already on the roster, GM John Schneider was tempted to trade back. However, Seattle is not in rebuild mode, and Schneider felt that Murphy was too good to pass up.

“I’d be lying to you if I said we didn’t think about [trading back],” Schneider said. “But [Murphy], he was just too good. He influences the game, like a lot. He’s got that ability to jump off the ball and get up field. He can play edges, he can play square, he can rush the passer inside, he gets up and down the line of scrimmage.”

New head coach Mike Macdonald added, “he just plays our style of football, really. And then he’s so talented. Versatility along the front, such an aggressive player, plays violently, heavy hands for a guy [of] shorter stature, flexible, pass-rush flexibility — you name it. Yeah, just really excited to have him.”

With all of the D-linemen on the roster and the Seahawks’ shortage of cap space — per OverTheCap.com, Seattle is the only team in the red as of the time of this writing — it would be fair to expect the club to deal from its DL surplus. However, Henderson said the team has no such plans, especially since Macdonald intends to rotate his players more frequently than his predecessor, Pete Carroll.

In related news, the team is expected to have outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu back for training camp, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Nwosu, who recorded 9.5 sacks in his first Seattle slate in 2022, suffered a pectoral strain in October and missed the remainder of the 2023 campaign. He is under contract through 2026 by virtue of the three-year, $45MM extension he signed in July.

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