The Los Angeles Rams have the core of their offense set to return for the 2024 season in Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams.
Los Angeles also made sure they built on the strength of their offensive line in free agency as they re-signed Kevin Dotson and lured Jonah Jackson away from the Detroit Lions. With Dotson and Jackson set to start at the guard spots, Steve Avila will move over to center, a spot he’s familiar with after playing there in college.
Head coach Sean McVay redesigned his offense to include more physical gap runs, unleashing Williams who turned in a Pro Bowl season behind an offensive line that controlled the line of scrimmage. While Williams was the workhorse, he had help throughout the 2023 season after he was forced to miss time with an ankle sprain.
Royce Freeman was one of the running backs who helped fill the void with Williams sidelined, but the veteran found a new home in free agency, via Todd Archer of ESPN:
The Cowboys have signed running back Royce Freeman to a one-year deal, according to source. Freeman had 319 yards on 77 carries with 2 touchdowns last year for the Los Angeles Rams. He was 3rd round pick of Denver in '18.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) April 17, 2024
Freeman signed with Los Angeles during training camp last year and was waived. However, he later ended up re-signing to their practice squad and was eventually called up once Williams got hurt.
For Dallas, signing Freeman gives them a veteran running back for a room that’s awfully thin after Tony Pollard signed with the Tennessee Titans early in free agency. Their current running back rotation includes Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and now Freeman.
While bringing back Freeman never seemed in the cards for the Rams, who appear committed to Williams as their lead back, the team will likely add more depth behind him, Ronnie Rivers and Zach Evans. McVay has been open in the past about wanting to ease the load on his starting running backs, so they could address the position either in the draft or later in the offseason.
Sean McVay eyeing offense with Rams’ first-round pick in 2024 NFL Draft
For the first time since 2016, Los Angeles will have their first round pick. There are a number of directions that the Rams could go in, namely the defensive line, but there is a belief that that McVay will target an offensive player.
