In order to get their salary cap situation back in order last offseason, the Los Angeles Rams essentially sat out free agency and only brought in cheap veterans to supplement the young talent and stars on their roster.
One of those was wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who played for both the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens but struggled to find a constant role in either organization.
The same was the case to start the season with the Rams as their wide receiving corps was filled with guys they drafted such as Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell and Van Jefferson.
As the season went on though, Robinson began to emerge. The Rams decided to trade Jefferson and then Atwell went down with an injury, leaving Robinson as the team’s third receiver.
He developed an immediate chemistry with Matthew Stafford and the other receivers, playing a huge part in the Rams’ offense being one of the best in the league down the stretch.
Now, it looks like Robinson will be returning on a one-year deal before reaching free agency, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
The #Rams and WR Demarcus Robinson have agreed to terms on a 1-year deal worth $5M, per @KatzBrosSports. He stays in LA after a productive season last year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 23, 2024
Overall in 16 games for the Rams last season, Robinson had 26 receptions for 371 yards and four touchdowns. Most of that came in the back half of the season as he has 21 receptions for 314 yards and four touchdowns in his final five games of the regular season.
Given that success and expanded role, it makes sense that Robinson wanted to return to the Rams and that they wanted him back.
It remains to be seen what other moves the Rams will make in free agency and the draft, but it appears they will head into the 2024 season with Kupp, Nacua, Robinson and Atwell as their top four receivers, which is a very formidable group. Robinson developed into a reliable third receiver for L.A. in 2023 and should only build off that with another offseason working with Stafford and the team’s staff.
Rams release veteran center Brian Allen
The Rams also recently made another roster move, choosing to part ways with veteran center Brian Allen. Despite being the team’s starting center during their Super Bowl run, Allen has dealt with a few injuries since and wound up losing his starting job to Coleman Shelton in 2023.
By releasing Allen, the Rams saved some salary cap space, which they can now use to address other areas of the roster such as wide receiver with the reunion with Robinson already taking place.