Who Stays? Who Goes?
Sheriff Joe Bags | RamsShowcase.com
The LA Rams had their season end a bit prematurely (if you ask me) and now the freshly extended Sean McVay and Les Snead combo has some decisions to make.
Last season, the Rams made some difficult decisions on their own roster and didn’t hit the open market with open wallets. LT Alaric Jackson, QB Matthew Stafford, QB Jimmy Garoppolo, and WR Tutu Atwell all got extensions to stick around before the open market came calling. RB Ronnie Rivers, LB Troy Reeder and CB Ahkello Witherspoon were also signed back, but after the free agency period had started.
Some needs were addressed by adding LB Nate Landman and DT Poona Ford. Some were added for a need the team created themselves as the Rams added Davante Adams to take the roster spot of Super Bowl LVI MVP Cooper Kupp.
The release of Cooper Kupp was not predicted by many and it’s unclear if we will have any feather ruffling players let go this season, but it’s certainly not impossible with the team once again falling short of lofty expectation.
There are a plenty of names the Rams will be making decisions on and not all of them will be popular. While we wait for the news to begin dropping, I’ll take my own shot at guessing who we will see in horns as we head into 2026.
The full list is below, but here’s a video version from the Rams Showcase podcast!
YouTube: https://youtu.be/LSfaN8ERDgQ
RT Rob Havenstein
Big Rob will be 34 by the time the next season begins, but that’s not insane when you consider our gunslinger is 38. Rob ended the season with an injury, but could have possibly played in the Super Bowl if the Rams had defeated Seattle. The good news for the Rams is that Warren McClendon played awesome in place of Havenstein. No denying that Big Rob is still the man and probably the more talented option, we’ve seen a recent history of the Rams being fine with moving off someone a little early.
VERDICT: Goes..
TE Tyler Higbee
Big Rig Higs was part of the draft class when the Rams first returned to Los Angeles. Part of the Jared Goff draft. Since then, Higbee has settled in nicely as probably the best tight end in Rams history. If that sentence made your eye brows raise, feel free to offer 1st place replacements in a comment or message somewhere to me. Higbee had the lowest snap percentage of all the Rams tight ends throughout the postseason and the likes of Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson seem to give some cushion in the room when it comes to seeing a veteran leave. At 33 years old, I don’t see Higbee not playing in 2026, but I do think the Rams move on. One I hope I’m wrong on.
VERDICT: Goes…
WR Tutu Atwell
The Rams surprised some fans last offseason when they decided to give Atwell a 1-year $10 million fully guaranteed contract. I don’t see them making that same mistake again although I do think that the comments from Sean McVay are largely true when it comes to Tutu that the Rams didn’t realize they would lean so heavy on the 13-personnel set up. I also see a world where we have a team that does a good job of getting their best players on the field and Atwell ended his Rams stint (presumably) by being inactive in the two most important games of the season. I think two things can be true; both Tutu Atwell got lost in the roster with wide outs being used more sparingly, and he simply hasn’t played at his potential. We’ve seen some flashes, but there has been no level of consistency.
VERDICT: Goes
S Kam Curl
Curl is a tackling robot and a bright spot in the Rams secondary. The Rams absolutely need to get better in coverage and Curl has his share in the Rams back end seemingly falling apart slowly as the season went on. Curl is still extremely talented and has a knack for being in the right spot when it really matters. Rams don’t have many of those in the secondary so it was easy for teams to target other players. I am pretty close to 50-50 on my prediction on Curl, but because I like him and want him back, I am going to lean like I’ve got a field goal that’s curving right towards the upright.
VERDICT: Stays
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
At this point it feels a lot like Matthew Stafford will be playing at least one more season. I’m not sold the 34 year old Jimmy G has no real reason to retire but I’m also not sure there’s really a market for him elsewhere. Seems like if he’s wanting to stay, may as well let him. He helped the Rams get some really great work done during training camp, knows the system, knows the team, can help with another OC coming in (or moving up), and has plenty of NFL experience if he were to be needed that should give Rams fans some peace of mind. No one is as good as Stafford, but Garoppolo can play quarterback at the NFL level.
VERDICT: Stays
LT DJ Humphries
Humphries filled in for one game as AJ Jackson nursed an injury. It was pretty obvious that a back up was in (something we didn’t really see at RT later in the season when Rob Havenstein was out). At 32 years old, I’m not sure there are many tables pounded to keep him in horns.
VERDICT: Goes
CB Roger McCreary
McCreary showed up late to the Rams so does get a bit of a pass when it comes to the fanbases wrath towards the cornerback room. Getting the starting nod in the postseason shows the trust the staff has in him (over others on the roster) feels telling. Aubrey Pleasant has been in the conversation for some other jobs in other places, but it does feel like the Rams defensive staff will largely stay in place. McCreary has a chance to have some conversations and get a decent deal done to stick around in Los Angeles in a role to lead the next grouping at the position. Seems like Roger is in the 20-25%ish secondary players that could be around when the new season begins.
VERDICT: Stays
RT David Quessenberry
Quessenberry felt like a fine depth piece for the season, but at 35, I’m not sure this is someone the Rams keep around. I just can’t shake the feeling that some team that had a bad offensive line last year might want him around for depth or maybe to give a year as a starter while some young guys develop.
VERDICT: Goes
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Witherspoon ended the season on IR, but before getting hurt it was becoming difficult to trust him in coverage. He’s not alone in the cause of concern from the secondary, but the inconsistency in Witherspoon’s play is ultimately why I believe the Rams choose to move on.
VERDICT: Goes
LS Jake McQuaide
Recently turned 38. Certainly not over the hill, especially for a long snapper. McQuaide played for the Rams for many many years and returned this season after Alex Ward begin to struggle. I’d say that if Jake wants to come back, let him come back.
VERDICT: Stays
TE Nick Vannett
Because of my prediction on Higbee, I do think Vannett has a chance to stick around. Of course always possible that he doesn’t want to fit into the Mr. Smith mess that is the Rams tight end room.
VERDICT: Stays
LB Troy Reeder
You, I, or anyone else has absolutely no reason to think the Rams don’t want to bring back Troy Reeder.
VERDICT: Stays
RB Ronnie Rivers
The Rams don’t use rookies all the time. There are exceptions to that rule (Jordan Fuller, Puka Nacua), but it seems like one of the guys who was somewhat given a ‘redshirt’ season… seems like we could be seeing more Jarquez Hunter this year. For this reason I’m going to guess that Rivers finds a home on a new team in a rotational role.
CB Cobie Durant
The Landshark has had a really fun Rams career. Plenty of sweet memories of pick 6s. My personal favorite being against the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas indeed (from this Colorado native). Durant has had some incredible moments, but has largely been inconsistent. I think Durant is part of the grouping that the coaching staff is looking to replace.
VERDICT: Goes
CB Derion Kendrick
I am a known DK supporter, but there’s really nothing telling me that the Rams definitely want to bring him back. With the cornerback position largely getting a revamp, I’m going to guess that DK moves on.
VERDICT: Goes
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