With 2024 NFL training camps just around the corner, it's time to get up to speed on all 32 NFL teams. Christian Gonzales has the lowdown on position battles, key players and notable subplots across the NFC West.
Catch up on the Los Angeles Rams' offseason developments and 2024 outlook below.
Training Camp Dates/Information
- Players report: July 23 (rookies and veterans)
- Location: Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, California (fan information)
Notable Roster Changes
| 2024 draft class | Selection |
|---|---|
| Jared Verse, DE, Florida State | Round 1 (No. 19 overall) |
| Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State | Round 2 (No. 39) |
| Blake Corum, RB, Michigan | Round 3 (No. 83) |
| Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami | Round 3 (No. 99) |
| Brennan Jackson, DE, Washington State | Round 5 (No. 154) |
| Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson | Round 6 (No. 196) |
| Joshua Karty, K, Stanford | Round 6 (No. 209) |
| Jordan Whittington, WR, Texas | Round 6 (No. 213) |
| Beaux Limmer, IOL, Arkansas | Round 6 (No. 217) |
| KT Leveston, OL, Kansas State | Round 7 (No. 254) |
Preseason Schedule
- Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys | 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 11
- Week 2: at Los Angeles Chargers | 7:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 17
- Week 3: at Houston Texans | 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 24
2024 Schedule Notes
- The Rams open the season with back-to-back road games and play three of their first four games on the road.
- The Rams finish the season with consecutive homes games.
- The Rams are slated to play five prime-time games, including a rematch of last season's playoff contest with the Detroit Lions (Matthew Stafford's former team) on Sunday Night Football in Week 1.
-- NFL Research
What You Need To Know
1) Matthew Stafford's contract situation is worth keeping an eye on. He is seeking an adjustment to his deal with more guaranteed money beyond the 2024 season, believing he has plenty left in the tank heading into his 16th NFL season. Head coach Sean McVay has said he expects Stafford to report at the start of training camp despite his desire for a reworked contract. If that expectation changes and the 36-year-old passer doesn't take the field, the Rams would be leaning on backups Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett at quarterback. Keep in mind that Garoppolo is suspended for the first two games of the season.
2) Can Puka Nacua replicate the success he enjoyed during his thrilling first season? The 2023 fifth-round pick set rookie records for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486). He was up to the challenge as the team's WR1 for much of the year, as Cooper Kupp missed five games due to injury, but Nacua is not going to sneak up on any defenses this time around. He apparently isn't feeling much pressure about the follow-up to his record-setting first season, and has said he's still trying to meet Kupp's standard. Los Angeles should have one of the league's best duos at the wide receiver position, especially if Kupp can reclaim his triple crown form, but how Nacua performs in Year 2 may determine what kind of run the Rams can make.
3) Running back Kyren Williams broke out in Sean McVay's offense last season, leading the league with 95.3 rush yards per game to go along with his 12 rushing touchdowns. Los Angeles brass has said this offseason that the club doesn't want to "totally run down" Williams, so it could lean on backups like third-round pick Blake Corum to limit the wear and tear on the RB1. For his part, Williams said he was excited about the addition of Corum, who was the only FBS player to score in every game in 2023.
4) It does not appear starting tight end Tyler Higbee will be taking snaps any time soon. Higbee, who had 47 catches for 495 yards and two touchdowns in 2023, suffered a torn ACL in January's playoff loss to Detroit, and the team is expecting him to open the season on the PUP list. Los Angeles signed former Seahawk Colby Parkinson, who tied his career-high marks in targets (34), receptions (25) and two touchdowns last season, but he started only four times in his four years with Seattle. With Davis Allen and Hunter Long returning at the position, the Rams need someone from the group to step up.
5) The Rams know no one can replace the retired Aaron Donald, but there is plenty of young front-line talent for them to be excited about in the first year without the future Hall of Famer. In 2023, the Rams were one of four teams to have at least three players with eight-plus sacks. Joining Donald in Los Angeles' trio were then-rookies Kobie Turner and Byron Young. The team made the D-line a focus in the 2024 NFL Draft, using top-40 picks on Florida State products Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. Verse had nine-plus sacks in each of his last three collegiate seasons, while Fiske recorded 43 tackles, nine tackles for loss and six sacks in his final season at FSU. Los Angeles will be relying heavily on its new additions to fill the void left by Donald's retirement.
