Latest news with #LesSnead
USA Today
11-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN gives interesting evaluation of Rams' long-term future
The Los Angeles Rams have rarely been known as a long-term-looking franchise since Sean McVay and Les Snead joined forces in 2017. They've focused on winning now and playing in the postseason over building sustainability for the long haul. In the end, though, they've still maintained status as a contender through the years. But will that continue? ESPN analysts Ben Solak, Louis Riddick, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder created a "Future Power Rankings" to see which teams are built for more than just the next year or so. The rankings are based on ratings for each team's quarterback situation (20%), roster (30%), front office (25%) and coaching staff (25%). The Rams came in at No. 13 with a score of 82.2. This is how their ratings netted out: The Rams quarterback rating is low because Matthew Stafford is 37 and on the final legs of his NFL career. This was the main point of concern for Riddick, who wrote that the Rams' true lack of a succession plan beyond (maybe) Jimmy Garoppolo makes the situation tough to ascertain. However, Solak noted that "coach Sean McVay and wide receiver Puka Nacua give this offense a very good floor ..." and that "edge rusher Jared Verse, safety Kamren Kinchens, linebacker Omar Speights ... look like impactful players for years to come." In the end, Walder gave an optimistic outlook of the what the Rams will do in 2025 and beyond. The Rams will be a relative long shot to make the playoffs … but do it anyway. After a final run with Stafford in 2025, they will reset in 2026 and enter 2027 with a new, young quarterback -- plus a boatload of cap space. They'll make trades for stars to spend that money and get back to the postseason faster than most imagined. Who that quarterback will be remains to be seen, though. The Rams reportedly love Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who may not come out of college until ... 2027. We'll see what McVay and Snead have in store for the future.
New York Times
07-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Matthew Stafford has an aggravated disc in his back, but the Rams don't seem worried
LOS ANGELES — When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams during the tenures of coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead's, multiple things are often true at the same time. For example … It is true, after speaking with several team sources in recent weeks about quarterback Matthew Stafford's back, that the Rams aren't worried about Stafford's status for the coming season. Advertisement It is also true that the situation looks and feels worrisome to just about everybody else. Stafford, McVay told reporters on Thursday, has been dealing with an aggravated disc in his back and had an epidural as a part of his treatment. (NFL Network first reported his condition on Wednesday.) Stafford, who McVay has called 'week to week,' will work out — including throwing — on Saturday ahead of the Rams' first preseason game against the Cowboys. Barring a setback, Stafford should resume practicing in some capacity next week as he ramps back up into a full workload. That plan had been previously agreed upon by the Rams, Stafford and Dr. Robert Watkins, a spine specialist Stafford has been seeing, according to McVay. 'If this was in-season, he would be playing right now,' McVay added. 'We have taken a very cautious approach. But if we were playing a game this week, he would be playing in the game.' The 37-year-old quarterback has dealt with back issues at various points of his career, in part because of the wear and tear that comes with his 16-season NFL tenure and in part because he's played behind some bad or injury-laden offensive lines in Detroit and Los Angeles. Among Stafford's most frightening episodes was the leg numbness he experienced after a spinal cord contusion suffered in Week 11 of 2022. That year, as the Rams' offensive line went through 11 different combinations in 11 weeks because of injuries, Stafford took 29 sacks in just nine games. McVay said that Stafford's current back issue is not related to that 2022 contusion. But the point stands: This guy has taken a beating over his long career. He's played through a lot — more than is often revealed to the public, as with last year's late-season rib injury. That is why, in part, the Rams initially planned to put Stafford on a modified workout plan in training camp before the back issue popped up. The original plan would have withheld Stafford from throwing or practicing fully for one out of every four days. It's also why re-signing backup Jimmy Garoppolo was a quietly important piece of the Rams' offseason. Garoppolo has taken all of Stafford's snaps so far in training camp, including at joint practices with the Dallas Cowboys this week. Third-string quarterback Stetson Bennett, who will play in the preseason while Garoppolo sits — McVay usually does not play starters or key backups — has taken the limited second-string snaps. Advertisement McVay, especially, believes the Rams can win games with Garoppolo, if he had to start. In fact, when Stafford's return to L.A. was in question this offseason, the Rams were preparing either to go after Aaron Rodgers (who eventually signed with Pittsburgh) or to turn to Garoppolo for the 2025 season, multiple team and league sources said at that time. Having a quality veteran backup quarterback has eased team leadership's fears about Stafford, at least right now, because McVay is able to install his actual offense with Garoppolo, who has experience both with McVay and in other versions of this system. Receivers, running backs, tight ends and linemen aren't getting a limited version of the installation, and defensive players are still practicing against a competitive offense. Was that last throw from Jimmy a no-looker? 😂 — Rams Bros. (@RamsBrothers) August 6, 2025 Still, there are packages within the offense that only Stafford, because of his unique arm talent, brings to life. He got some of that work in the spring, especially with veteran receiver Davante Adams (who signed with the Rams in free agency). But it does bear noting, if we're bringing up 'multiple truths,' that the Rams view training camp joint practices as the most valuable reps the team gets in the entire offseason. McVay specifically schedules these sessions against competitive defenses he wants to study, because he won't use starters or any of his own new concepts in the televised preseason games. Joint practices become a competitive testing ground for new ideas and close-to-live play. Stafford did not get those reps, and according to McVay, he will not participate in the upcoming joint practices with the Chargers, either. The Rams will face two of the NFL's best defenses over their first three regular-season games: the Texans in Week 1, and the Eagles in Week 3. In 2022, when Stafford was limited in training camp by an elbow injury but started the season, the Rams faced a ferocious Bills defensive front in their home opener and Stafford was sacked seven times. The Rams didn't recover from that game all year. Perhaps the most important, yet least discussed, element in this situation involves the Rams' offensive line. Starting left tackle Alaric Jackson is recovering from blood clots and is not practicing. Starting right tackle Rob Havenstein returned to practice in training camp after missing spring workouts while recovering from dual shoulder procedures. Late-summer addition D.J. Humphries and backup swing tackle Warren McClendon are rotating at left tackle (Humphries, who would start in place of Jackson, has not had any reps with Stafford yet) and free agent signing David Quessenberry backs up Havenstein. Standout starting right guard Kevin Dotson suffered a chest contusion in a joint practice against the Cowboys and will miss some time, though McVay said Thursday he should be back at practice 'soon'. Advertisement So, the Rams may not seem worried about Stafford right now. But multiple things being true, even after he returns, they've still got to keep him upright in September, October, November … If not, a season with confetti-dotted expectations could quickly become another mess. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kyren Williams agrees to a three-year contract extension with the Rams
Kyren Williams will carry the ball for the Rams this season and beyond. On Tuesday, the Rams and the fourth-year pro agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension, a person with knowledge of the situation said. The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been signed. The extension includes about $23 million in guarantees, the person said. Williams' extension is the first by the Rams for a running back since they gave Todd Gurley a then-record deal in 2018. Read more: Rams aren't just trying to win over L.A. They strive to be 'the world's team' The Rams and Williams' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had been negotiating since the end of the 2024 season. General manager Les Snead had said the Rams would 'definitely like to engineer a long-term partnership,' with Williams, but progress was slow. Williams, a 2022 fifth-round draft pick from Notre Dame, is scheduled to earn $5.4 million in the final season of his rookie contract, according to Williams rushed for more than 1,100 yards in each of the last two seasons, and is regarded as an integral part of an offense that features quarterback Matthew Stafford and receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Williams said at the start of training camp that he gave no thought to not reporting or not participating in drills. Rosenhaus met with Rams executives at Loyola Marymount on July 23 but no agreement was reached then. Williams said throughout the offseason and at the start of camp that he was confident a deal with the Rams would get done. And now it has. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rams open training camp: Analyzing their biggest concerns
Sean McVay has led the Rams to two Super Bowl appearances, one championship and six playoff appearances. Now, as he prepares for his ninth season, the 39-year-old coach once again has a team regarded as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The roster includes experience — quarterback Matthew Stafford is entering his 17th season — and young stars such as receiver Puka Nacua and edge rusher Jared Verse, the 2024 NFL defensive rookie of the year. 'I love the natural, just zest and the joy that this group has,' McVay said this week as players reported for training camp at Loyola Marymount. After Stafford and the Rams agreed to terms on a contract adjustment last spring, general manager Les Snead provided McVay and Stafford with a bonus of sorts by signing receiver Davante Adams. The three-time All-Pro joins Nacua, receiver Tutu Atwell, running back Kyren Williams and tight ends Tyler Higbee and Terrance Ferguson to give the offense multiple weapons. Snead also signed center Coleman Shelton — a member of the Rams' Super Bowl LVI championship team — and defensive lineman Poona Ford. Ford will bolster a front that includes Verse, edge rusher Byron Young and tackles Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, among others. 'We are stacked,' Williams said. Which is not to say that McVay, Snead and the Rams do not have concerns. Here are five issues to watch as the Rams prepare for their Sept. 7 opener against the Houston Texans: How sore is Matthew Stafford's back? Stafford, 37, will not participate in team drills during the first week of workouts because of back soreness. According to McVay: No big deal. And it might not be. Yet any time the most important player on the team is sidelined, it cannot be passed off as a non-issue, especially if the problem persists. Stafford is already among the top 10 all-time in several NFL career passing categories, and he needs only 191 yards passing to reach 60,000. Veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo will take first-team reps during the first week of practices. Can the offensive tackles adequately protect the quarterback? In March, the Rams awarded left tackle Alaric Jackson a three-year contract that includes $35 million in guarantees. Three months later, McVay announced that Jackson was dealing with blood-clot issues in his legs for the second time in his career. The Rams quickly signed veteran D.J. Humphries to fill the void. Jackson reported to training camp, but McVay gave no timeline for when he might be cleared to fully participate or play. Humphries, 31, made the Pro Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, but he suffered a major knee injury near the end of the 2023 season. In 2024, Humphries signed with the Kansas City Chiefs but played in only two games. Right tackle Rob Havenstein, 33, had surgery on both shoulders after last season. The 10-year veteran said he would not be limited during camp. Third-year pro Warren McClendon Jr. and veteran David Quessenberry are other tackles on the roster. Should Snead have signed a cornerback? With an improving pass rush led by Verse, the Rams stood pat during free agency and the draft, deciding not to add a cornerback. Darious Williams, 32, and Ahkello Witherspoon, 30, are the projected starters with Cobie Durant and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. expected to play large roles for a position group that also includes Derion Kendrick and Josh Wallace, among others. The Rams believe Forbes, a 2023 first-round pick by the Washington Commanders, has taken a major leap since they claimed him off waivers last December. The Rams are hoping to avoid the disaster that was last year's training camp: Kendrick suffered a season-ending knee injury during the first workout, Williams a significant hamstring injury during the second. Will Rams and Kyren Williams reach agreement on an extension? Williams is scheduled to earn $5.4 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract, according to The Rams and Drew Rosenhaus, Williams' agent, negotiated throughout the offseason, and they were scheduled to meet again Wednesday, McVay said. Williams has rushed for at least 1,100 yards in each of the last two seasons and scored 31 touchdowns in that span. The Rams would like to keep him beyond this season, but at what price? The Rams have not signed a running back to an extension since they awarded Todd Gurley a then-record deal in 2018. Which rookies will establish themselves as potential contributors? Ferguson, a second-round draft pick from Oregon, is expected to play a major role and eventually supplant Higbee. Josaiah Stewart will work into the edge rushing rotation with Verse and Young. Running back Jarquez Hunter and Blake Corum will back up Williams, Ty Hamilton could bolster the defensive line, and linebacker Chris 'Pooh' Paul Jr. and receiver Konata Mumpfield will compete for roles in their position groups and special teams. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Goff calls Rams immature for ‘blindsiding' him with trade
Jared Goff is still talking about the trade that sent him from the Los Angeles Rams to the Detroit Lions in 2021, and he's still unhappy about how the deal went down without a warning from Sean McVay or Les Snead. In the premiere of season 2 of Quarterback, Netflix's documentary series of three NFL quarterbacks during the 2024 season, Goff calls it a 'blindside' when referring to the trade that sent him and two first round picks to the Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford. Taking things a step further, Goff essentially says that it was 'immature' for the Rams to trade him to the Lions without letting him know ahead of time that being moved was even a possibility: 'I would say about 30 seconds after that phone call (with McVay telling him he was traded), it was on Twitter. You feel like you've been betrayed, or like you're not wanted. And I think for me, ultimately it was the fact that there was not a conversation had, and there wasn't like a, 'Hey we're thinking of moving on' type of thing. There was nothing. You wish that it wasn't such a blindside and that there was some sort of maturity I guess to have that conversation and to be able to let me know what was going on and how things went down, and why this is happening.' While only Jared Goff knows what it was like to be Jared Goff on the Rams in 2020, it's hard to believe that being traded was a total blindside: Advertisement Goff would seemingly know as well as anybody that Jared Goff was essentially benched for John Wolford at the end of the regular season and that he only rectified his place as the starter when Wolford was removed from L.A.'s wild card game against the Seahawks with a head injury. Maybe Goff wasn't going to be replaced by Wolford in 2021, but he must have sensed that Sean McVay was considering outside options. If Goff literally had no idea that his job with the Rams was in jeopardy, then if anybody needed to remind him of how the 2020 season ended it should have been his agent. It shouldn't be a warning from the team that is actively looking for other starting options on the market but can't say for sure if maybe they will fail and need to turn back to Goff. Although it came later, we all saw how that played out for Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns in the 2022 offseason. It's not pretty. Goff was asking for something that the Rams couldn't give him. He also wouldn't have been traded if he hadn't played so poorly in 2020, necessitating an upgrade to Stafford that soon resulted in the franchise's first Super Bowl win as the L.A. Rams. Advertisement Goff wanted better. So did the Rams. More from
