8 biggest bargains on the Rams' roster for 2025

USA Today

3 days ago

8 biggest bargains on the Rams' roster for 2025
As of now, the Los Angeles Rams only have one player with a cap hit higher than $18 million in 2025. It's Matthew Stafford, whose cap charge is a whopping $47.5 million – second-highest of any quarterback in the NFL.
He's still a great value when it comes to annual salary, but for cash paid in 2025, there are much bigger bargains on the Rams' roster. Unsurprisingly, many of them are still on their rookie contracts and awaiting their deserved paydays, but for the time being, they're certified bargains for Los Angeles in the upcoming season.
Take Puka Nacua, for instance. He'll only cost the Rams $1.1 million this year because he's a former fifth-round pick on a rookie deal. Or Jared Verse and his $3.4 million cap hit as the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Here are the eight biggest bargains on the Rams' roster for 2025, with all cap figures from Over The Cap.
WR Puka Nacua: $1.1 million cap hit
There may not be a bigger bargain anywhere in the NFL than Nacua, whose cap hit is just a shade over $1 million in 2025. Of course, that's only because he's a former fifth-round pick who's still on his rookie contract, making it extremely affordable and team-friendly for the Rams.
That's likely to change in 2026 when Nacua is eligible for a new contract for the first time, which could lead to a huge payday for the receiver if the Rams don't want to let him play out his rookie deal. Nacua has been one of the 10 best receivers in the league since being drafted two years ago and as long as he can stay healthy, he'll keep ascending.
OLB Jared Verse: $3.4 million cap hit
Verse is only entering his second year in the NFL and he's already among the top nine favorites to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. His cap hits are going to get progressively larger in the next few years but even considering the total value of his four-year deal ($15.1 million), he's a certified bargain.
Look for Verse to become one of the game's five best edge rushers next season, and he's already there in some people's minds. He's the complete package on the outside, from speed to power to an unrelenting motor.
LT Alaric Jackson: $7 million cap hit
Jackson's new contract, which he just signed this offseason, pays him $19.3 million per year. That may not seem like a bargain, but there are 11 left tackles who have a higher salary than Jackson, and he's regarded as one of the 10-15 best at his position.
He's especially cheap this year thanks to the way the Rams structured his deal, keep his cap hit at only $7 million for 2025. That's the eighth-highest on the team but is still cheap compared to Tutu Atwell ($10 million), Colby Parkinson ($9.8 million) and even Darious Williams ($9.2 million).
DT Kobie Turner: $1.5 million cap hit
Turner has quickly become one of the best interior defenders in football in just two seasons, and he probably should've won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 over Will Anderson Jr.
As a former third-round pick, his contract is still extremely cheap for the Rams and though that'll change soon when he's eligible for an extension next year, Los Angeles will gladly dish out only $1.5 million for a Pro Bowl-caliber defensive lineman this year.
DB Quentin Lake: $3.4 million cap hit
Lake's gotten a nice pay raise through the NFL's performance-based bonuses, which rewards players drafted outside the first two rounds for contributing significantly while on rookie deals. But even with a cap hit of $3.4 million, he's well worth the money as a former sixth-round pick.
He played every snap except for a handful of plays in Week 18 when the Rams rested their starters, so he's always on the field for Los Angeles. And his versatility as a cornerback and safety make him incredibly valuable.
LG Steve Avila: $2.5 million cap hit
Avila only makes $2.3 million per year on his rookie deal as a second-round selection and his cap of $2.5 million is only 27th among all left guards in the NFL. He may not be one of the best at his position just yet, but he's trending in that direction. And now that he'll get to focus solely on playing left guard in 2025, he should get even better.
Avila is going to be a cornerstone player for the Rams for years to come, and he could earn himself a lucrative extension as early as next year.
QB Jimmy Garoppolo: $3.1 million cap hit
Garoppolo returned to the Rams with another one-year deal to be Matthew Stafford's backup and it's hard to find a better value among No. 2 quarterbacks across the NFL. He proved last year in Week 18 that he can still play and in the event of an injury under center, he's more than capable of taking the reins of the offense.
His $3.1 million cap hit ranks 41st among all quarterbacks in the league, just to put it into perspective.
P Ethan Evans: $1.1 million cap hit
There are currently 26 punters set to have a higher cap hit than Evans in 2025, and based on last season's performance, he's much more talented than the 27th-best punter in the NFL. He's on his rookie contract still so that helps but comparing his talent to his cost, Evans is a terrific value for the Rams.