Are the Rams championship-ready now?

The biggest singular prize of NFL free agency might have gone to Minnesota in the form of Kirk Cousins, but it’s difficult to make the case that any team made more dramatic moves overall the past two months than the Los Angeles Rams. No one can say with any certainty that they’re capable of being the best team in the NFC, but there’s most certainly no more intriguing team going into 2018.

Through free agency and trades, the team acquired three stars on defense, locking in their starting cornerbacks in Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, then landing Ndamukong Suh to pair with Aaron Donald to create perhaps the most fearsome interior rush in the league. Whereas the Rams emerged as surprise contenders in 2017, they seem primed to enter a championship window the following year if things shake out as designed.

Depending on whom or what you believe, the Rams might not even be done with blockbuster acquisitions, as the team is said to be interested in trading for the volatile but supremely talented Odell Beckham Jr.

Though parting with Beckham would be a questionable move for the Giants, even in exchange for the two first-round picks the team is reportedly seeking, that would hardly be the case for the Rams. The Rams’ offense, and Jared Goff in particular, took off in the first year under head coach Sean McVay. If there was one thing the offense lacked, it was a true no. 1 receiver.

Maybe it was good for Goff’s development to learn to spread the ball around and not become overly dependent on one target. Still, having a rapport with a top receiver shouldn’t always be looked at as a crutch. It’s certainly a valuable luxury to have, even if you rely on creative playcalling otherwise. Sammy Watkins has the talent but didn’t prove to have the best connection with Goff outside the red zone in 2017, as he caught just 39 passes for 593 yards in his only season as a Ram before moving on to Kansas City this offseason.

Indeed, with Watkins’ departure, L.A.'s position of greatest need on offense is likely at receiver, with a reliable pass-catching tight end also a tempting upgrade. For what it’s worth, one semi-speculative rumor has Los Angeles as a potential trade destination for Rob Gronkowski. The Rams retained Tavon Austin, which is somewhat of a surprise given his mostly disappointing output since being selected eighth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. He’ll most likely remain as an offensive utility player rather than any specifically designated role. The Rams’ two starting receivers as of now project to be the mostly so-so Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. The latter had a fine rookie year and would be a good No. 2 possession-type receiver opposite a player like Beckham. As it is, he’s a solid contributor, but without Watkins, the Rams appear to be without someone who can take the top off a defense with any consistency. It’s nice that Todd Gurley is one of the league’s better receiving backs. Without a long-ball threat, however, defenses can get away with cheating up toward the line of scrimmage.

Beckham’s tendency to generate headlines scares some analysts and fans. The Rams have already showed an inclination to ignore that sort of concern by bringing in Peters and Talib, two players who hardly shy away from controversy. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips oversaw a championship defense in Denver that included Talib, so there’s no reason to believe he'll be unable get him to be productive in L.A. as well. At the same time, Phillips was perceived to be something of a pushover during some chaotic years as the head coach of the Cowboys, so it’s not inconceivable that things could get out of hand with him. Ultimately, no one is going to know until the season gets underway, but a bad start could prove disastrous with a lot of strong personalities.

Suh was still plenty good if not quite as dominant in his three years in Miami as he was his first five seasons in Detroit. Nevertheless, just being paired with Donald should open up ample opportunities to disrupt offenses. There are elements of the Rams' defense that will terrify opponents. That doesn’t mean they are without evident weakness. They were 28th against the run in 2017. Suh can help some in that regard, but the Rams still need improvement on the edge rush, as well as a new inside linebacker.

Among the team’s various wheelings and dealings of late, the Rams dealt Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn, two starters in the front seven. Ogletree struggled mightily the last few years while Quinn fell off some after stellar years in 2013 and 2014. There was considerable room for improvement, and the Rams have signaled they’re intent on pursuing it this offseason. At the very least, they’ve freed up enough cap space to swing a long-term deal with Donald and secure the core of the team for years to come.

The Rams only have two picks in the first three rounds, somewhat hindering their ability to draft players one would expect to be able to contribute immediately. They do have two picks in the fourth and five in the sixth round, so they have some ability to move around should they be so inclined. The flurry of moves in the offseason so far has them in great position to improve on the already impressive 11-5 finish from 2017. If they can nail a pick or two in the draft at need positions, it could prove to be the difference between another good season in 2018 and possibly a championship one.