This is The Gridiron Review’s Los Angeles Rams 2023 Offseason Team Breakdown. We provide you with all things you need to know about the Rams heading into FA and the draft. We also provide our thoughts on the needs of the team and how we think they can be addressed!

Los Angeles Rams 2022 Record: 5-12

Los Angeles Rams Salary Cap(According to Spotrac): $-14,952,453

Notable Free Agents(According to Spotrac):

• Baker Mayfield, QB
• David Edwards, OG
• A’Shawn Robinson, DL
• Greg Gaines, DL
• Troy Hill, CB
• David Long, CB
• Taylor Rapp, S
• Nick Scott, S

Team Needs: QB(Backup/Potential Stafford Successor), RB, OL(Depth… Maybe an upgrade), DL, OLB, CB, S

3 Free Agent Targets(In No Order):

1. Trysten Hill, DL
2. Lorenzo Carter, OLB
3. Nasir Adderley, S

Los Angeles Rams First Round Pick(s): None (Traded to Detroit for Stafford)

3 Draft Prospect Fits/Targets:

1. Holton Ahlers, QB, East Carolina
2. Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pitt
3. Ronnie Hickman, S, Ohio State

Our Rams Ideal Offseason Plans/Thoughts:

• Matt Stafford is coming off a plethora of injuries that held him out a majority of the season. John Wolford and Baker Mayfield are both FAs and Bryce Perkins has shown absolutely nothing to make anyone believe he’s more than a career backup. The Rams need to start thinking about the future of the QB position as well as an option that could play sooner than later assuming Stafford doesn’t come back 100%. We like Holton Ahlers as an option here since he resembles Stafford in play style (not comparing Ahlers to Stafford in skill). Ahlers has a pretty good arm, is mobile yet not a “running QB”, good leader, and has a strong control of the offense. It also helps that Ahlers shouldn’t be an early pick.
• Akers had a relatively strong finish to the season, but that was only after the Rams refused to trade him. Some people may have forgotten, but Akers and the Rams relationship was pretty much non-existent to start the season. We are still not sold on Akers as the feature/primary back next season. We think they could look to take Israel Abanikanda with one of their 3rd round picks to compete with the backs already in the room. He brings speed and a burst that they just don’t currently have.
• Selling their soul for a super bowl, although worth it in our opinion, is coming back to haunt them. Luckily for the Rams, the only starter on the offensive line that is a free agent is LG David Edwards. With -$15 million in cap you wonder if they’ll be able to bring Edwards back(although being under never seems to matter, the salary cap is just a thing of urban legend). They could probably upgrade a couple spots across the line, but with lack of cap and draft picks we wonder if they’ll just have to roll into next season with the same offensive line (More or less). We think at the very least they need to address the depth of their offensive line as most of their current reserves are FAs.
• Both of their big run defending defensive linemen, Robinson and Gaines, are free agents and you wonder if they’re going to cost too much to retain.  One name we like for the Rams is Trysten Hill if they elect to not re-sign the two mentioned above. The former second round pick played his college ball at UCF, and was known for his extremely quick get-off when he was coming out. Hill should be a young, cheap option, but also think about what a guy like Aaron Donald could teach him. Although not as much in the mold of Robinson or Gaines, Hill could revitalize his career in LA.
• The Rams need to address OLB desperately. They were playing 6’4”, 311 lb converted DL Michael Hoecht at OLB. You would think that at the very least that would be helpful against the run, but not necessarily. He looked sorely out of place and overmatched in most areas of the position. Teams would scheme outside runs to his side that he wouldn’t be able to catch and people would use him as the read key on option plays. He was a weak spot. Lorenzo Carter could be a solid and affordable option for the Rams at the OLB position. 
• Despite being arguably the strongest and deepest positional group for the Rams, the secondary could fall apart this offseason. There are already trade rumors surrounding Jalen Ramsey. Troy Hill, David Long, and a couple others are FAs. Assuming Ramsey doesn’t get moved they are probably going to be okay in regards to starters with Ramsey, Kendrick, and Durant, but depth should be addressed especially if no one is retained. Both starting safeties, Nick Scott and Taylor Rapp, are free agents as well. They could try to bring back one or both, depending on money, but if they are asking for more than they can afford we have a plan. We think they go after Chargers FA safety Nasir Adderley. They can pair him with Jordan Fuller as their SS, while also doubling down on safety and taking Ohio State’s Ronnie Hickman in the late 3rd or early 4th round. Hickman is a player we think has upside more so down the road and sitting a year or so could be the best thing for him. 
• Update Feb 23, 2023: ILB Bobby Wagner has been released by the Rams. We assume that this move was entirely cap related as Wagner is coming off an incredible 2022 campaign. Wagner should have plenty of interest this offseason, but this means that ILB now jumps to one of the bigger needs of the Rams with cap issues and limited draft capital.