The Los Angeles Rams should cut ties with their former draft pick as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent next month.
The Los Angeles Rams are coming off yet another brutal end to their season, which came at the hands of their divisional rivals, the Seattle Seahawks.
While the Rams were one game away from representing the NFC in the Super Bowl, the roster issues were made evident in the NFC Championship. Now the page has turned to the 2026 season, where the Rams have a lot to address.
One of the many things they will need to decide on is the future of their former draft pick and wide receiver, Tutu Atwell. Atwell is set to be an unrestricted free agent next month.
The Rams signed the 26-year-old before he could hit free agency last offseason to a one-year, $10 million deal. The deal came as quite a shock, considering his lack of productivity throughout his career in L.A. The thought with the new contract suggested that the offense would use him more often than they did in the past.
That was far from the case in 2025, as he recorded career lows across the board. In 2025, Atwell only played in 10 games with four starts and tallied six catches on 15 targets for 192 yards and one touchdown.
It was quite the head scratcher at the time, with L.A. signing him again, and even more so when he hardly took the field. It's clear Sean McVay and the Rams do not view Atwell as a major producer for the team, which is why they need to let him walk when free agency hits in mid-March.
The Rams need to upgrade their No. 3 wide receiver mightily. The future of Davante Adams in L.A. is a bit murky, but if the Rams decide to keep him or even replace him with someone younger, they'd still be in a good spot.
The Rams' in-house options are solid, led by Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, and Xavier Smith. However, for L.A. to take their offense to the next level, they'd need to look elsewhere.
Whether that is free agency or the draft, the Rams will have options. As far as free agency goes, the Rams could look at pass catchers like Mike Evans, Jauan Jennings, George Pickens, Romeo Doubs, Rashid Shaheed, Alec Pierce, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Deebo Samuel, to name a few.
Regarding the draft, L.A. could use one of their two first-round picks on a young wide receiver who could not only help them this season but also for years to come. Even if L.A. decides to use their later round draft picks on a wide receiver, they have a great track record of picking excellent, young talent.
The Rams have options, and it may be time for them to explore them.