WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Two things were known entering free agency for the Rams and their approach to the roster, based on what general manager Les Snead told local media during a March 3 video conference:
- It would be about maximizing Matthew Stafford with QB1 committing to play in 2026.
- Like most years under the partnership of Snead and head coach Sean McVay, it would be about using free agency to address needs to then avoid a desperate approach to this year's draft.
"Here's what we know, we identify players in the draft but you're not necessarily certain if they're going to be there when you pick," Snead said on March 3. "A lot of times, our macro philosophy is if we can use free agency to not be desperate in the draft, we more than likely will be better drafters because we're not reaching and we're not desperate. We're not going in there with a major void or major hole that has to be filled. That's usually the approach. It's not always the case, but we would love to approach it where when the draft starts that Thursday night that we could pencil in a starting lineup or an opening day batting order on paper. At that point in time, we could get through that game. We could be competitive in that game. We'd like to be able to say 'We'd have a chance to win that game more times than not.' Then we use the draft to improve from there but not necessarily be desperate going into the draft. There's a possibility that desperation could cause you to make 'less than decisions' in the draft."
As the initial wave of free agency subsides, it's fair to say that a major need was addressed.
With multiple cornerbacks from the 2025 rotation becoming free agents, Los Angeles was bound to address the position. It acquired Trent McDuffie in a trade with Kansas City, then reunited McDuffie with a former teammate in the Chiefs secondary when it signed Jaylen Watson to a three-year deal. L.A. also re-signed safety Kam Curl – who had a career year last season – to a three-year deal. Their skillsets should allow the Rams to play tighter coverage to complement their pass rush.
Most mock drafts pre-free agency had the Rams doubling down on the secondary in some form or fashion because of the impending departures of cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon, Cobie Durant and Roger McCreary, as well as Curl up until his new contract. Witherspoon, Durant and McCreary became unrestricted free agents at the start of the new league year Wednesday; the Cowboys announced Friday morning they had agreed to terms with Durant on a one-year deal.
Part of that equation – pick 29 – is no longer a variable in it having been included in the McDuffie trade, leaving the Rams with pick 13, which was acquired in last year's trade with the Falcons.
After the start of free agency and the announcement of those transactions, most mocks have Los Angeles adding another weapon for Stafford, be it USC wide receiver Makai Lemon or Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, if you're going off the most frequent names appearing at that slot.
How they use the pick at this point is anyone's guess for the next five weeks. All options are on the table for the Rams, and that's a good thing. And it will ultimately fall back to achieving the first goal, no matter the direction taken or side of the ball addressed.
"I think the philosophy behind that is if you reach for need… and we're saying we're reaching because we truly don't believe that player is worthy of that pick, there's a possibility that if you reach for a need, when it's all said and done, you still have a need but you use a draft pick on it," Snead said, when asked about not wanting to reach for draft picks. "In football there are a lot of players that play different position groups. For most positions, you can have another quality player that gives you an edge and then you can use them in a rotation. You can use those players as a tool for the good. Then we all know football, there can be attrition so when you have good players at positions and if someone were to need a couple weeks to get over a bump or a bruise, you're ready. You slide someone right up. That's the macro philosophy behind that. If you reach for a need, there's a relatively good chance you still have a need on the other side of that pick."
