The 2022 season was a difficult one for the Los Angeles Rams. The reigning Super Bowl champions didn’t even have a chance to defend their title as they fell woefully short of expectations.
The Rams ended up going 5-12 during the season as injuries derailed any hopes they had of repeating as champions. An unprecedented number of injuries occurred to the offensive line, which set the offense back. Without their normal dominant defense, things got ugly quickly.
Without much draft capital, the front office will have to get creative when figuring out how to upgrade the roster. Regression to the mean when it comes to player health should help out a lot, but there are a few positions that could use an upgrade. Here are three free agents that the Rams should pursue this offseason.
3. CB Patrick Peterson
Jalen Ramsey had an up-and-down performance for the Rams in 2022. He missed the Pro Bowl or All-Pro team for the first time since his rookie season as he struggled in pass coverage at times, especially against upper-echelon talent.
Bringing in another capable corner to take some pressure off of Ramsey would be a good idea. With Troy Hill and David Hill hitting free agency, adding a veteran such as Patrick Peterson would make a lot of sense.
Peterson had a great bounce-back season in 2022 with the Minnesota Vikings as really the only bright spot in their secondary. While his days of being a lockdown No. 1 corner are likely behind him, he would be a nice complement opposite of Ramsey as someone still capable of getting the job done on a weekly basis.
2. EDGE Jadeveon Clowney
The Rams felt the loss of Von Miller in free agency to the Buffalo Bills throughout the 2022 season. They lacked that star pass rusher on the edge, which is integral to a defense finding success.
Leonard Floyd had a nice season with nine sacks and Bobby Wagner continues to produce as he had six. But, adding another player that can set the edge, such as Jadeveon Clowney, would be good for business.
Clowney hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations of being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft but he should have some pass-rushing juice left. If not, the Rams are at least getting a stout edge-setter in the run game. Coming off a two-sack season, Clowney could be signed for relatively cheap.
1. WR Darius Slayton
The passing offense for Los Angeles last season was abysmal, to say the least. Matthew Stafford’s elbow injury kept him from throwing much in the regular season and the lack of reps and chemistry with his pass catchers really showed during the regular season.
Getting him healthy is imperative, but the team also needs to diversify the skill sets of their pass catchers. Beyond Cooper Kupp, the Rams got very little production. Adding a deep threat such as Darius Slayton would help get things back on track.
While Slayton sometimes struggles with drops, his big play ability is something this offense lacks. He has recorded at least 700 yards in three out of his four pro seasons and averages 15 yards per reception in his career with the New York Giants.
