No team ever starts the offseason on a “high note” unless they win the Super Bowl, but the Los Angeles Rams certainly couldn’t have felt any better after losing to the Detroit Lions in the wild card round. Going into the 2023 season, the Rams were predicted to finish third or fourth in the division and win six to eight games due to expected holes in the offensive and defensive lines as well as the health and durability of Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp. However, by the end of the season, the Rams had finished 10-7, advanced to the postseason, and discovered several new franchise building blocks in Puka Nacua, Kevin Dotson, Kobie Turner, and Byron Young.
In addition to signing guard Jonah Jackson to a somewhat larger salary, the Rams re-signed Dotson to a new contract after he left the Lions for Los Angeles. The Rams intend to have the greatest interior offensive line in the league by switching Avila from left guard to center.
The team also succeeded in getting Joe Noteboom to renegotiate his contract; as a result, he will now back up tackles Rob Havenstein and A.J. Jackson with Warren McClendon and A.J. Arcuri. The second noteworthy offensive move was the addition of tight end Colby Parkinson from the Seahawks as a backup and enhancement for Tyler Higbee. Jimmy Garoppolo took Carson Wentz’s spot as Stafford’s backup quarterback.
The Rams have strengthened their defensive line by adding safety Kamren Curl and cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams via free agency. Les Snead was quiet throughout the free agency period on the defensive line, but he later selected defensive end Jared Verse with pick 19 and moved up to select defensive tackle Braden Fiske in the second round.
