Although it was a disappointing 2019 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams managed to end the year on a high note with their victory over the Arizona Cardinals to at least finish with a winning 9-7 record.
Regardless, there is still plenty of speculation regarding the future of some of the current key players on the roster. Whether they like it or not, the Rams are on the cusp of potentially undergoing some major turnover this offseason.
Los Angeles has a number of starters and key reserves set to hit the market and not much cap space to work with in order to bring them back. It appears even head coach Sean McVay is well-aware that some difficult decisions are on the way.
McVay admitted during his postgame press conference after the 31-24 win over Arizona that it will be unrealistic for the Rams to keep everyone:
“It’s so awesome to see these guys get rewarded, be able to take care of their families. You’d love to see everyone get paid, you’d love to be able to keep everybody. Unfortunately, that’s not real and that’s not realistic. If these guys are getting rewarded, that still is something you can take a lot of pride in. You’d always love to be able to retain your own guys. As you’re continuing to kind of navigate through what’s the best way to shape out our roster, given the financials and all those types of things, those are things that you work through. Frustrating, but something that you have to deal with, and everybody has to deal with that.”
It was already safe to assume that some changes were on the way after Los Angeles fell vastly short of expectations following their Super Bowl run in the 2018 campaign. Unfortunately, the lack of resources will only make it that much more difficult for them to avoid a significant overhaul.
The biggest question now is which players are going to be a priority for the Rams this offseason. Linebacker Cory Littleton is set to receive a lucrative payday after emerging from an undrafted special teams player to a bonafide shot caller at middle linebacker.
Meanwhile, safety Eric Weddle wasted no time in acknowledging his uncertain future due to the safety pairing of John Johnson III and Taylor Rapp. Edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. and defensive tackle Michael Brockers could also be on their way out if the price is right elsewhere.
Then, of course, there’s Jalen Ramsey, who the Rams gave up a pair of first-round picks to acquire from the Jacksonville Jaguars and will likely look to extend to a lucrative contract this offseason.
General manager Les Snead and McVay have a bunch of tough decisions to make as they look to get the Rams back into postseason contention in 2020.
