The Los Angeles Rams overhauled their roster this offseason. Lacking salary cap space, the team was forced to release or trade some key contributors and saw plenty of players depart in free agency. General manager Les Snead has been hesitant to refer to this as a rebuilding year, but that is certainly what it feels like.
The Rams still have some big names on the roster, led by defensive tackle Aaron Donald, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and quarterback Matthew Stafford. But, beyond those three, there are going to be plenty of new faces stepping into the lineup for big roles.
Not many recognizable names exist on the defensive side of the ball. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey was traded to the Miami Dolphins while linebacker Bobby Wagner and edge rusher Leonard Floyd were both released.
On offense, the team lost a ton of their depth across the board. Backup quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and John Wolford both departed. Offensive linemen David Edwards and Chandler Brewer left in free agency as well along with wide receivers Jacob Harris and Brandon Powell. Allen Robinson was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a salary dump.
That is a lot of holes to fill but the Rams weren’t very active in free agency. Only one player, quarterback Brett Rypien, was signed away from another team, heading to Los Angeles from the Denver Broncos. Most of the depth replacement will come via the 2023 NFL Draft, but the Rams did add a veteran to the mix.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Rams have agreed to terms with wide receiver Demarcus Robinson. Robinson spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens, appearing in all 17 games, after being released by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Coming off of the best season of his career in many regards, it was a little surprising that Robinson was still available this late into the offseason. He caught 48 passes for 458 yards and two touchdowns last season, impressive numbers when considering that Lamar Jackson only played in 12 games.
Robinson brings championship experience with him, as he was on the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl-winning team during the 2019 season. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the Chiefs before moving on in free agency last year and landing with the Rams this year.
The Rams are a good landing spot for Robinson, who has a shot to get into the lineup consistently. The only player with a locked-in role ahead of him is Kupp as everything else should be up for grabs with Allen Robinson no longer in the picture.
