Matthew Stafford announced his return, and now the Los Angeles Rams will need to bolster several units to make a deep playoff run.
Despite the Los Angeles Rams making it to the NFC Championship game, the team has several roster decisions to make ahead of free agency.
Los Angeles would have been in a heap of trouble had Matthew Stafford chosen to walk away, but he announced his return following his MVP win. With Stafford set for a return, general manager Les Snead said the team would have a plan in place to support the quarterback.
That said, here is a look at the units that need to be improved ahead of the 2026 season.
Wide Receiver
Yes, saying the Rams have a need at wide receiver might sound like a ridiculous notion, considering Davante Adams and Puka Nacua are in the building. However, apart from those two, the roster needs another option.
Adams was second on the team in yardage with 789 receiving yards, but 14 touchdowns more than made up for not getting 1,000.
Beyond that, the Rams had no other receiver achieve 500 yards. Tight end Colby Parkinson started to emerge as a viable pass-catching threat, but managed 408 yards and eight touchdowns.
Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell were both hurt, and the Rams were forced to rely on young talent like Xavier Smith and Konata Mumpfield. Smith managed 308 yards, while Mumpfield pulled in 92.
If the Rams want to capitalize on Stafford's potential final season, they will need an upgrade at wide receiver. Another veteran presence would be the case.
Offensive line
There are too many questions on the Rams' offensive line, which is integral to protecting Stafford. The unit did play well, as he was only sacked 23 times throughout the season.
That does not mean there is no room for improvement. In fact, keeping Stafford upright and healthy is of the utmost importance.
That's not to mention the run game getting a boost from a solidified line.
Steve Avila is a question mark regarding a new contract. Per PFF, he ranked ninth out of 81 qualified guards with an overall grade of 76.8.
He expressed his desire to remain with the Rams long-term, and Snead will need to figure out extending him, along with Nacua.
The issue is that Avila and Kevin Dotson both missed two games due to injuries, and losing quality offensive linemen left the Rams to scramble.
Rob Havenstein is also potentially contemplating retirement. He suffered from an ankle injury and knee bursitis, leading to Warren McClendon Jr. stepping in at the tackle position.
Keeping Havenstein as a quality backup and rotational player would be great, along with adding some more development in the draft.
Secondary
The Rams were the fourth-worst in the league when allowing passing yards, giving up an average of 276.0 passing yards per game. The issue is similar to that of the offensive line, as multiple injuries watered down the unit.
Roger McCreary, Akhello Witherspoon, and Quentin Lake all missed multiple games.
McCreary and Witherspoon are also in need of new contracts, but it will be hard to take a flier on them given their injuries in 2025. Snead will need to determine if the Rams will want to keep one or both.
Los Angeles needs a true shutdown corner. There are multiple options upcoming in free agency, such as former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers corner Trevon Diggs.
Diggs dealt with his own injury issues, and that could be a cause for concern, but he did lead the league in interceptions.
The Rams also have two first-round picks, and they could choose to use the No. 13 overall to take one of the top corners in the draft.
Either way, the Rams were too often carved up by superb passing offenses, making the unit one of the most important to amplify for the 2026 season.