The 2022 season was a disappointing one for the Los Angeles Rams. They were unable to recapture any of the success that they found the previous season when they took home the Lombardi Trophy, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl.
A big reason for their struggles was the offensive line being hit hard by injuries. Playing third and fourth stringers led to the offense falling apart at the seams as they were unable to protect Matthew Stafford or open up holes in the running game.
Fixing that unit is a priority, but having better luck when it comes to injuries should be enough to get them on track. What the Rams need to do is find some more weapons for their passing game.
Cooper Kupp was the only person that found any success catching the ball last season. The free agent signing of Allen Robinson proved to be a bust in Year 1 as he and Stafford never got on the same page. Finding reliable options behind Kupp that diversify the passing attack is a must this offseason.
Los Angeles could try and run things back with Tutu Atwell and Van Jefferson, but it would not be surprising to see them scour free agency for an upgrade. One player that would be of interest to them is Mecole Hardman of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Hardman was a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and was never able to consistently carve out a role with the Chiefs. 2022 was his best opportunity with Tyreek Hill moving on, but his season was derailed by injuries as he missed the first games of his career, appearing in only eight.
The Rams’ offense has been missing some speed and athleticism, which Hardman would bring to the table. He is a dynamic player, offering big play ability. In 2022, he also carved out a prominent role near the red zone and scored six total touchdowns.
In his career, Hardman has averaged 13.8 yards per reception and 6.3 yards per rushing attempt. While his role on special teams has been scaled back in recent seasons, Hardman was a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler as a return man in his rookie season.
That is another area that the Rams could use help in. They were 26th in punt return yards and 24th in average while ranking 19th in kick return yards but 28th in average yards.
