The Los Angeles Rams are tendering exclusive free agent rights on three players.
With free agency right around the corner, the Los Angeles Rams are set to ensure they can keep the core of their roster intact for another potential NFC Championship run.
Despite having quite a few pending free agents, the Rams have formally tendered exclusive rights on three players: wide receiver Xavier Smith, kicker Harrison Mevis, and offensive line Justin Dedich.
Tendering exclusive free agent rights means that a player who has played less than three seasons with an expiring contract can be offered the league minimum for one year. It also means said player cannot negotiate with any other team in free agency.
It makes perfect sense that the Rams tendered these three players.
Dedich is a potential ascending lineman who can offer depth and rotation. Since arriving as an undrafted free agent out of USC, the young guard has appeared in 32 games and has started in 10, which includes the postseason.
Mevis, otherwise known as the "Thiccer Kicker," came through in fine style for the Rams. He posted a 92.3 accuracy percentage, was 100 percent accurate on extra points, and had a long of 52 yards.
Mevis also kicked the game-winner, which sent the Rams to the NFC Championship.
Smith has shown flashes of brilliance, including being used plenty in punt returns. He did have a huge flub in the NFC Championship, dropping a return that ultimately led to a Seattle Seahawks touchdown.
Still, Smith put together a performance of 303 all-purpose yards, 27 punt returns, 251 return yards, and a 9.3 return yard average.
Smith has some growing to do, but the Rams will have a dedicated punt returner with the upcoming third-year wide receiver returning.
With plenty of football ahead of all three players, the Rams are betting that they can get far more out of Dedich, Mevis, and Smith. Should all three impress even more in 2026, they could be in line for bigger contracts.
Free agency is always a bit unpredictable, and Los Angeles might lose some important players. With potential exits for cornerbacks Akhello Witherspoon, Roger McCreary, and Decobie Durant, the team has enough to worry about in terms of rebuilding their secondary.
Tendering the exclusive rights on three young starters and depth players is a smart move for general manager Les Snead, and the hope for the Rams is all three can contribute in the same manner they did in 2025.