Rams' 2026 Free Agents, Targets and Draft Needs After NFL Playoff Loss

The Los Angeles Rams were unable to repeat as NFC West champions in 2025, but they still spent most of the season looking like one of the best teams in the entire NFL.

The offseason addition of Davante Adams helped to open up an already potent passing attack, while the Rams' young defense continued to show growth. With a healthy Matthew Stafford at quarterback and the season Sean McVay running the show, L.A. loomed as a Super Bowl threat.

Now that Los Angeles' postseason has come to an end, McVay and general manager Les Snead must begin the work of rebuilding in the offseason.

The Rams don't enter the offseason with many glaring holes, but there are areas on the roster that can be improved. There will also be players worth retaining in free agency, which will open on March 11. Snead and McVay will also have to navigate the 2026 draft, which is scheduled to begin on April 23.

In other words, there's plenty of work to be done if L.A. hopes to again be a title contender in 2026. Here's a look at what's ahead of the Rams in the offseason.

Free Agents

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Rams S Kamren Curl

Unrestricted Free Agents

WR Tutu Atwell

S Kamren Curl

CB Cobie Durant

QB Jimmy Garoppolo

OT Rob Havenstein

TE Tyler Higbee

OT D.J. Humphries

OT David Quessenberry

CB Roger McCreary

LB Troy Reeder

CB Ahkello Witherspoon

Restricted/Exclusive-Rights Free Agents

G Justin Dedich

WR Xavier Smith

Edge Keir Thomas

Snead recently extended standouts Nate Landman and Quentin Lake, and quarterback Matthew Stafford should probably be next on his priority list. While Stafford isn't scheduled to be a free agent, he's likely to have his contract addressed at some point in the offseason.

The Rams allowed Stafford to test the trade market last offseason before agreeing to a revised deal. He's now entering a contract year and will have $40 million in 2026 compensation guaranteed on March 16. Snead should look to extend Stafford well ahead of free agency, because any new deal could heavily impact the team's cap outlook.

Los Angeles is currently projected to have $59.5 million in 2026 cap space.

As far as actual free agents go, safety Kamren Curl and cornerback Cobie Durant may be the only real priorities who haven't already gotten new deals.

David Quessenberry and D.J. Humphries are fine depth pieces but aren't essential. Rob Havenstein has struggled to stay healthy over the last two years, and Roger McCreary has only been used sparingly since being acquired via trade.

Tyler Higbee has been a good pass-catching tight end, but the emergence of Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson this season should make him expendable. Jimmy Garoppolo may be one of the league's better backup quarterbacks, but Snead certainly won't break the bank to bring him back.

Potential Free-Agent/Trade Targets

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

CB Riq Woolen

Snead has done a tremendous job of turning over an aging roster with an expensive payroll in the years since L.A.'s last Super Bowl victory. The Rams are now loaded with young players who are poised to provide a long-term foundation, and they have the assets needed to build on that foundation.

The Rams will eventually need to find a successor to Stafford, but the future is otherwise very bright.

The big question is whether Snead will return to taking the big swings that helped deliver that Super Bowl after the 2021 season. That could very well depend on Stafford's plan for returning in 2026 and beyond. If the Rams believe they have one last chance to chase a Super Bowl with Stafford before hitting the rest button, they may go after a big-name free agent or trade target like Trey Hendrickson, Maxx Crosby or Tyreek Hill.

Otherwise, Los Angeles will likely look to continue its youth movement. Younger players on expiring contracts, like cornerback Jakorian Bennett and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, are more realistic trade targets as potential bargains.

In free agency, the Rams will probably skew younger as well. Expect impending free agents like cornerback Riq Woolen, right tackle Jonah Williams, receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, and other players under 30 to be near the top of L.A.'s wish list.

The Rams may only be interested in older players if they are truly elite difference-makers, like 2025 addition Davante Adams, or if Garoppolo signs elsewhere. Los Angeles has a developmental quarterback in Stetson Bennett IV, but a veteran like Marcus Mariota or Case Keenum might be more sensible as Stafford's understudy.

Draft Targets

Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Alabama QB Ty Simpson

Given the Rams' recent success in the draft—and their knack for uncovering late-round gems like Puka Nacua—they may be more inclined to hang onto all 10 draft picks they currently own until draft day.

Los Angeles' cache of draft capital includes a pair of first-round picks, thanks to a 2025 draft-day trade with the Atlanta Falcons. Could this be the year in which Snead finally uses a top draft selection to get Stafford's heir? The Bleacher Report Scouting Department seems to think so, pairing L.A. with Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in its post-regular season mock draft:

"When protected, he can get into a rhythm and play surgically," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department said of Simpson. "He's relatively inexperienced after starting only one collegiate season. The idea of sitting behind an established veteran, particularly Stafford, while working with an elite play-caller would do wonders for his NFL projection."

The B/R Scouting Department mocked Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to the Rams with their second first-round pick.

Los Angeles may not have a realistic shot at Simpson in the middle of Round 1, given the presence of QB-needy teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns picking earlier in the order. However, a prospect like Texas A&M receiver Kevin Concepcion or Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy could make plenty of sense on opening night, too.

The Rams could then consider QB prospects like Miami's Carson Beck and Clemson's Cade Klubnik later in the draft.

Expect tackle prospects like Florida's Austin Barber and Georgia's Monroe Freeling to be relatively high on L.A.'s board, since it'll likely be looking for a long-term replacement for Havenstein.

Developmental prospects like Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine, Rutgers receiver Ian Strong, Texas safety Michael Taaffe, and Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss should interest the Rams on Day 3.

*Cap, contract and free-agent status information via Spotrac. Draft information via Tankathon