The Los Angeles Rams have endured through the first day of the 2025 NFL Free Agency market. Some new faces were added. Some familiar faces remain. And some respected faces will be packing their bags to play elsewhere. Life comes at you fast in the NFL, and that has led to some tongue-in-cheek references to professional football as 'Not For Long.'
If you need to pause a moment and catch up to all of the comings, goings, and sticking arounds so far, you can check out our 2025 LA Rams Free Agency tracker. It's a great way to digest the summary of every personnel transaction that has occured so far. But it doesn't give you everything.
After a spirited and frantic Day 1 of free agency, the LA Rams are sill a bit thin at places. The addition of NT Poona Ford was a great first step to shoring up the Rams run defense. But the team lost NT Bobby Brown III, and is expected to lose NT Neville Gallimore and DL Laurell Murchison as well. And the team is projected to lose CB Ahkello Witherspoon, ILBs Christian Rozeboom, Troy Reeder, and Jake Hummel. While many might be tempted to chime in with less complimentary comments, the Rams have to replace those snaps with talented players.
So which positions should the Rams be looking to reinforce in Day 2 and beyond in free agency?
From my list, the Rams are still light at the wide receiver department. WIth the imminent release of WR Cooper Kupp, the team will still be down two wide receivers after adding Davante Adams and re-signing Tutu Atwell. The team will need to consider upgrading at the inside linebacker position. And the Rams secondary needs help at the cornerback position. How can the front office help?
Which players can Rams target on Day 2 of free agency?
After a rather frenzied first day of player additions, NFL teams have a chance to stop, look, and listen. It's one thing to set off on a course at the start of that day. But at day's end, it's important to review where the team has ended up, and be ready to make any necessary course corrections.
Did the Rams sign the right players for the right amounts? Did the team spend a bit too much in the heat of earnest negotiations? Did the Rams manage to add a player or two for less than expected, and thereby adding the chance of signing another player as well?
And then, perhaps more importantly, the Rams have to draw up a new list of free agents who could upgrade the Rams roster. With fewer players, the negotiations may be a bit more challenging. But with fewer opportunities, the two siders are evening out. So who might the Rams add? Here are some still-available free agents who could be solid upgrades for the Rams in 2025.
CB Asante Samuel Jr.
A former teammate of newly added NT Poona Ford, young cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. lost nearly all of 2024 due to a recurring shoulder injury that persisted. He is emerging from his rookie contract with the hope to return to the football field and reclaim his career track to become one of the NFL's best cover corners.
While NFL teams did not scoop him up quickly, his upside is substantial. And the fact that he could remain in Los Angeles while signing with a new team is a rate but inviting advantage. The Rams have not brought back CB Ahkello Witherspoon. If they are unsold on doing so, Asante Samuel Jr. is a rock solid secondary player to add to a developing staunch secondary.
LB Shaq Thompson
If the Rams are truly serious about upgrading the defense, then they need to pick up the phone and contact ILB Shaq Thompson's agent. Thompson suffered a season-ending Achilles Tendon injury in 2024. Much like former Rams CB Tre'Davious White, Thompson played in eight NFL seasons before injuries ended his season in both 2023 and 2024.
His mobility and performance has suffered most in pass coverage. But he remains a force to be reckoned with as a run stuffer. And with the Rams losing three players at the position, I would argue that Shaq Thompson's upside in 2025 is better than any of them.
OT Andre Dillard
The LA Rams are set at the starting offensive tackle position. But rather than bring in a young raw offensive linemen who hasn't whetted his teeth in the NFL, why not find and sign an offensive tackle who is comfortable in a relief role, but who has the chops to step up as an instant starter? The Rams can land such a player if they take aim at offensive tackle Andre Dillard.
Dillard is a 29-year-old offensive tackle who has extensive experience in the NFL as both a relief player and as a starter. While he only played for 13 offensive snaps in 2024, he has the ability to toggle to either the left or right side. And at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, he is the ideal size for a swing tackle. He agreed to play for the Green Bay Packers on a one-year deal for $1.125 million in 2024. I suspect that a team friendly deal can lure him in to take over for outbound swing-tackle Joe Noteboom.
WR Van Jefferson
While Van Jefferson has not begun to realize his NFL potential, he does have a chance to restore his luster in the Rams offense while helping the team to improve as well. Jefferson was traded early in 2023 by the Rams when the team was about to commit to WRs Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp in the offense. SInce that trade, Jefferson has struggled to become 'that guy,' in either the Atlanta Falcons or Pittsburgh Steelers offenses.
But a curious thing happened in 2024 in the Steelers offense. Jefferson improved in many ways. His catch percentage skyrocketted from 42.9 percent to 60.0 percent. His YAC numbers lept from 1.4 YAC/reception to 3.3 YAC/reception. Even the quarterback rating skyrocketed when targeting him, leaping from a dismal 22.3 in 2023 to 97.5 in 2024.
The Rams may feature Puka Nacua and Davante Adams in 2025, but there is still a vacancy in this offense for a Demarcus Robinson type. And Van Jefferson is an ideal option to fill that void. It's not that I want Jefferson back for auld lang syne's sake. His best career performance occured in 2021, the year the Rams won Super Bowl LVI. Jefferson can stretch the field, clear out zones, and block. Best of all, he was a significant contributor to this offense that was at its best under Matthew Stafford.
He'll be an immediate competitor for a significant role in this offense, and he won't break the back in the process.
