Rams WRs units among most improved following free agency, per NFL analyst
It's hard to tell exactly which elements of which teams improved the most just from free agency. Yes, signing good players is helpful, but things can change when teams actually hit the field and start playing.
The Los Angeles Rams haven't made a lot of big moves, but the ones they did could significantly alter their 2025 season. Retaining key players like Matthew Stafford and Alaric Jackson are more status quo moves than anything, but swapping Davante Adams for Cooper Kupp at receiver is the type of team-changing move that can swing the pendulum one way or the other.
The Athletic's Ted Nguyen went a step further and contended that the addition of Adams made the Rams receiving corps one of the most-improved units in the NFL through the first week of free agency. Although it was just one move — and the Rams lost Kupp, Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson, Adams' presence alongside Puka Nacua gives Los Angeles a sensational one-two punch at receiver.
From Nguyen:
"Adams struggled with drops last season, but he’s still a destroyer of man coverage. Last season, he ranked 12th in yards per route run against man coverage (2.69) while dropping 14.8 percent of his passes against man coverage (fourth-highest among receivers with at least 30 targets). Adams typically has very reliable hands, so this was an outlier season. If his drop rate regresses to the mean, he can still produce a high level in his most stable situation in years.
"Puka Nacua might be the best receiver Adams has ever played with, so Adams will theoretically see his lowest rate of double-teams since the beginning of his career. With coach Sean McVay’s play calling and Matthew Stafford’s arm talent, Adams looks to be set up for a rebound season. The Rams’ offense hasn’t had this sort of threat on the outside since Odell Beckham Jr. joined the team midseason in 2021 when L.A. won the Super Bowl."
Adams is an aging receiver who signed a relatively large contract, but he's still a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro who has been a better receiver than Kupp their entire careers. He also plays the receiver position a bit differently than Kupp, which gives McVay another wrinkle to add to the already-impressive offense.
This is all before the 2025 NFL Draft, too, where the Rams could easily add another pass-catcher early alongside Adams, Nacua and Tutu Atwell. The Rams have other needs that the team may target earlier, but L.A. might not be done upgrading at receiver this offseason.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL analyst says Rams WRs units among most improved after free agency
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