Rams veteran offensive star picked as top bounce-back candidate by PFF
Rams veteran offensive star picked as top bounce-back candidate by PFF
The Los Angeles Rams enjoyed a relatively successful 2024 season. They won the NFC West, made the postseason and lost in the Divisional Round by only six points.
L.A. even brought back some of their biggest names for 2025, including Matthew Stafford, Alaric Jackson and Tutu Atwell, while upgrading at other positions like receiver with Davante Adams, center with Coleman Shelton and inside linebacker with Nate Landman.
But not everyone had superstar seasons in 2024, and Pro Football Focus' Dalton Wasserman wrote that Stafford is the Rams' top bounceback candidate in 2025. Wasserman picked Stafford not because was bad this past season, though, but because he could be even better in 2025.
"Labeling Matthew Stafford a bounce-back candidate may seem odd, given his 24 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in 2024," Wasserman wrote. "However, his 73.3 passing grade was his second-lowest over the past nine seasons, and his 3.7% turnover-worthy play rate was his highest since 2017. For a veteran quarterback like Stafford, elite pass protection is essential — and the Rams didn't provide it last season, finishing with the NFL's third-worst pass-blocking grade. The difference was stark: Stafford earned a 90.6 passing grade from a clean pocket, compared to just 33.3 under pressure. If the Rams can keep him upright behind a healthier offensive line, Stafford could help lead another deep playoff run in 2025."
It's a bold take considering Stafford is only getting older at age 37, but it's a bet on Sean McVay's continued excellence as well as the development of the offensive line as well as the addition of Adams. Those three pieces lend itself to a better statistical season than a year ago, especially considering Stafford was without the since-departed Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua for a few games to open the season.
A fully healthy offense would do wonders for Stafford's numbers in 2025 and could propel the Rams into contention much fast this season.
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