
The Los Angeles Rams have assembled one of the strongest teams in the NFL, with an offense that dominated the league during the 2025 season.
Yet even after coming just one win short of the Super Bowl, head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford might still benefit from adding another playmaker to the mix. One name that keeps coming up as a smart potential fit is Deebo Samuel, the versatile veteran who’s still out there as a free agent.
Samuel, a former Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro, spent last season with the Washington Commanders and put up solid numbers despite some quarterback instability.
He’s the kind of player who can line up as a wide receiver, motion into the backfield like a running back, or even contribute on special teams. That kind of flexibility could be exactly what the Rams need to shore up their receiving depth, especially after dealing with injuries at the position last year.
NFL.com analyst Matt Okada recently highlighted receiver depth as the Rams’ most notable remaining roster concern, even while praising the overall talent on the team.
He pointed out that the Rams didn’t invest heavily in the wide receiver position during the draft, passing on early opportunities and only selecting one late. Okada suggested that bringing in someone like Samuel would give McVay a creative tool he could really put to good use.
“After passing on a chance to draft WR Makai Lemon — and wideouts in general until the sixth round of the draft — I’m pinpointing the WR3 spot as an area of concern,” Okada wrote. “I would love to see Sean McVay get his hands on versatile free agent Deebo Samuel.”
The current top receivers in LA—Davante Adams and Puka Nacua—have been productive, but there are understandable questions about long-term durability. Adams is turning 34 this year and missed a few games last season, during which the team went 1-2.
Nacua, known for his physical style, also has some injury history in his background, even though he played through most of the recent campaign. Behind those two, the production dropped off noticeably, with the team’s third receiver posting modest stats that probably wouldn’t be enough to satisfy a player of Samuel’s caliber on his own.
Samuel turned 30 earlier this year. While he’s had his share of injury issues in the past, a team like the Rams could manage his workload more carefully, leaning on his strengths without overexposing him.
Last season with the Commanders, he caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns while sharing the field with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who only played in seven games. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers compared to the league’s very best, but they show he’s still a reliable contributor who can create mismatches.
Financially, Samuel has earned over $82 million in his career and could be looking for a deal in the range of $15 million or more per year. Projections have floated two-year contracts around $30 million as a realistic target. The Rams have the cap space to make something work if they see him as a difference-maker, though the lack of movement so far from both sides suggests the fit might not be a perfect match in terms of money and role.
In the end, adding Samuel wouldn’t just be about filling a spot on the depth chart. It would give McVay another chess piece to deploy in those multi-tight end sets and creative formations the Rams love to run.
With Adams and Nacua drawing defensive attention, a healthy and motivated Samuel could open things up even more for everyone else. Whether it happens remains to be seen, but it’s clear the idea has legs among those watching the Rams closely this offseason.
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