2026 NFL offseason preview: Los Angeles Rams' plans hinge on Matthew Stafford's decision

The NFL offseason has begun, and Yahoo Sports is previewing the coming months for all 32 teams, from free agency through the draft and more.

2025 season record: 12-5 (o 9.5 wins), second in NFC West, lost to Seahawks in NFC championship, second in DVOA

Overview

Throughout the offseason, there were concerns about the health and longevity of Matthew Stafford. There were trade discussions. There was an Ammortal Chamber. Would Stafford’s back hold up? Well, it might have been the best season of Stafford’s career. The quarterback played at an MVP level and the Rams finished the season second in DVOA, but will Stafford, 37, run it back in 2026 after coming up painfully short of a Super Bowl run?

So many things went well for the Rams during the regular season. They found a running game that led the league in success rate. A shift to 13 personnel midway through the season allowed the Rams to control the game through the air and on the ground with bigger bodies on the field. Sean McVay has been excellent at figuring out which levers to pull to evolve this offense, and the tight end-heavy move was a success.

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Meanwhile, the defense was one of the best coordinated units in the league, which puts DC Chris Shula in the head coach candidate conversation around the league.

The Rams spent most of the season looking like the best and most complete team in the NFL, but came up just short of reaching the Super Bowl with a close loss to the Seahawks in the NFC title game. Will the major players carry over into 2026 or will this be the start of the next evolution of the franchise under McVay?

Cap/cuts outlook

The Rams have more than $45 million in projected salary-cap space, the eighth-highest among all NFL teams, according to OvertheCap. There’s a lot of room to play with here. It also hinges on the future of Matthew Stafford. Should the quarterback, who turns 38 years old in February, retire, the Rams would open another $6.4 million in cap space, but would likely have to use a chunk of their cap to find a new quarterback since the team appears to be out of range for a rookie in what might be a one-quarterback draft. A Davante Adams retirement would also free up $14 million in space. The most likely cap casualty is Darious Williams, which would create $7.5 million in cap space.

Key pending free agents

S Kam Curl
OL Rob Havenstein
TE Tyler Higbee
WR Tutu Atwell

Curl was a bargain signing in free agency two years ago when the safety market tanked, and he’s been an integral part of the back end of the Rams’ defense. Curl led all defensive backs in tackles and was fourth among safeties in defeats (a run stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage), per FTN. Havenstein has been a big piece of the Rams’ offensive line, but in his absence, Warren McClendon Jr. has played excellent at right tackle (12th in pass block win rate and second in run block win rate) and could be a cheaper path forward at the position.

Positional needs

Cornerback
Wide receiver
Linebacker

Outside corner was the one place where the Rams’ defense could get picked on this season. On throws to outside receivers, the Rams ranked fourth in EPA per play, but were 28th in yards allowed per attempt. Some splash plays on the outside covered up some overall weaknesses, but that’s a tough way to live for an extended period of time. The wide receiver need depends on Davante Adams. If he returns, the Rams could still upgrade at the third receiver spot when the offense is in 11 personnel — a more consistent deep threat could be on the table. If Adams retires — he joked he’ll retire when Stafford retires earlier in the season — then a bigger need for a No. 2 receiver behind Puka Nacua becomes immediate. Getting a linebacker with a little more coverage range could be helpful. Omar Speights was 16th at the position in yards allowed per coverage snap, while Nate Landman was 52nd.

2026 NFL Draft picks

1st round, pick No. 13 (ATL)
1st round, pick No. 29
2nd round
3rd round
5th round
6th round (CLE)
6th round
7th round (BAL)
7th round (projected compensatory)
7th round (projected compensatory)

Good draft fit

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

If McCoy’s injury profile were clean, he’d probably be the first cornerback taken. But he didn’t play a snap this past season after tearing his ACL during offseason training last year. That might push him to the bottom of either of the Rams’ picks in the mid- or late first round. McCoy has good size, and if he retains his pre-injury movement, he could be a difference-maker on the outside.

Betting nugget

The Rams were one of the NFL’s best teams against the spread this regular season at 12-5, the franchise’s best mark against the number since 1999 when the Rams went 13-3 ATS. — Ben Fawkes

2026 NFL offseason preview: Los Angeles Rams’ plans hinge on Matthew Stafford’s decision

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