Los Angeles Rams 2026 NFL Season Preview

Offense

The Rams return 10 starters from an offense that led the NFL in scoring, helped Stafford to his first career MVP award and boosted wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to the NFL lead in receptions and receiving touchdowns, respectively.

The Rams also return all four tight ends from a team that ran twice as many snaps with 13-personnel — three tight ends, one wide receiver, one running back — as any other team in the NFL. And it appears that the Rams are gearing up to try to build on that success after selecting a tight end — Ohio State’s Max Klare — in the second round of the draft for a second consecutive season.

The package helped both their rushing and passing attacks in 2025. The attention paid to defend the run against the heavy personnel opened up one-on-one matchups, particularly in the red zone, for Adams, an expert at beating man coverage. The Rams installed 13-personnel midseason, so a full offseason of planning around the scheme should enable head coach Sean McVay and newly promoted offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase the opportunity to expand on what the Rams did in 2025.

On the ground, the Rams have found a lot of success with the pairing of running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. The Rams will continue to split carries between the two, expecting the lessened workload to make Williams more explosive when he does carry the ball.

But the matter of the most concern for the Rams offense — and perhaps for the team as a whole — is the controversy that has swirled around Nacua, the All-Pro wide receiver who has come under the microscope for his actions off the field. After a lawsuit alleging that he bit a woman during a night out, followed by a stint in a rehabilitation center, Nacua reported to Woodland Hills for the start of the Rams’ offseason program. He remains at the heart of everything the Rams are trying to do on offense, but it’s unclear if the team will sign him to what could be a record-breaking contract extension as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.

Defense

Outside linebacker Jared Verse was an important piece of this defense, which is why the Cleveland Browns demanded he be part of the Garrett trade. Verse will be missed, but in Garrett the Rams have a true game-wrecker. Garrett set the NFL record last season with 23.0 sacks for a team that was usually playing from behind. If the Rams’ offense does its part, Garrett will be in position to pin his ears back and get after the quarterback even more.

The Rams’ other two big veteran acquisitions this offseason — McDuffie and Watson — represented a clear desire to upgrade their biggest weakness from 2025, the cornerback room. But the Rams didn’t just try to improve the talent at the position; they also signed players who will play corner in a fundamentally different way.

McDuffie and Watson both came up in the system of Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. They learned to play the position physically, in press at the line of scrimmage and at the point of the catch. More importantly, they play tough in the run game, lowering their shoulders and shedding blocks to make stops. After a year getting killed by outside-zone runs, the Rams needed corners like McDuffie and Watson to set a tone in those situations.

As for the pass rush, all the double-teams and chip blocks on Garrett will create space for teammates Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske.

The Rams will also need some more consistent play out of their inside linebackers. Nate Landman and Omar Speights both specialize in the run game, but their struggles during the playoffs put them under a microscope entering the offseason. The Rams’ only move to improve the position was a two-year, $4.45 million deal for special-teams ace Grant Stuard. But he might have a window to compete for Speights’ role.

Specialists

Placekicking was a disaster in the early parts of last season for the Rams, costing them two wins. But Harrison Mevis came in and fixed that issue, marking 12-of-13 field-goal attempts and all 39 of his extra-point tries. The Rams trust Mevis moving forward, both for his accuracy and distance, and they brought in veteran long-snapper Joe Cardona to shore up the operation. Punter Ethan Evans continues to provide steady leg strength and directionality.

The Rams hired new special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone this offseason, hoping to fix a special teams unit that gave up big returns and didn’t get much traction in the return game. If the Rams do decide to keep five tight ends on their roster, it would provide the team with more mobile bodies who can block on dynamic kickoff returns.

Xavier Smith will compete to retain his job returning punts after his critical fumble in the NFC Championship Game. Jordan Whittington and Corum haven’t been explosive in kickoff returns, but the Rams did not bring in any competition for them.

Final Analysis

The Rams are clearly all-in on winning their second Super Bowl in six seasons, this one scheduled for their home SoFi Stadium — just like after the 2021 season. There are 18 starters from last year back in 2026, and that would have been sufficient to keep the Rams a serious contender. With the additions they’ve made, expectations are at an all-time high.