The Rams win the Super Bowl if …
Matthew Stafford comes back
The Rams’ Super Bowl hopes vanish if Stafford decides to retire. He played this season at such a high level that finding a suitable replacement is almost impossible. Where do they even begin to look?
For the club to have a chance of getting to the Super Bowl, it needs its quarterback to commit.
They add Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean
The Rams have gotten by on their backend thanks to great schemes and a solid pass rush. But it’s time to legitimately address a position that, at various times during the last two seasons, let them down.
According to Pro Football Focus, Dean ranked fourth among cornerbacks with a grade of 81.5 and allowed a 46.9 passer rating when quarterbacks threw in his direction. That was tops in the NFL. Dean would elevate the Rams’ secondary and be a viable defensive component against some of the NFL’s better receivers.
They sign Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd
The Rams don’t like paying linebackers big money, but they might need to rethink that position with Lloyd, who just wrapped up the last year of his rookie contract by finishing as PFF’s third-best linebacker. According to PFF, Lloyd finished within the top 10 at linebacker in run defense, pass coverage and pass rush.
They bring back John Fassel
Fassel has been one of the NFL’s best special teams coordinators, including with the Rams from 2012 to 2019. Since Fassel’s departure, the Rams’ special teams have continually slipped, and this season that unit was directly responsible for multiple losses.
The Rams ranked 31st in special teams expected points added this season. Last year, they were 24th, and the year before, 32nd.
It all came to a head in the NFC Championship game when Xavier Smith’s muffed punt set up the Seahawks at the Rams’ 17-yard line, leading to a third-quarter touchdown throw that ended up being the difference. The Rams would have to offer Fassel a promotion to pry him out of Tennessee, but a hefty pay raise and an associate head coach title could do it.
The Rams are a cutting-edge organization, yet they are letting one phase of the game cut them at the knees. This is beyond a talent issue; it’s coaching and scheme.
Fassel solves all that.
They re-sign CB Cobie Durant
The Rams need secondary help, but Durant is someone they have to bring back. He’s set to hit free agency in March, but the Rams can take care of that by coming to terms on a new deal long before it gets to that point.
He won’t break the bank, but they have to be willing to splurge a little bit to make sure their best cornerback is on the field next season.
The Rams gave up 216.7 yards per game through the air in 2025 (19th in the NFL). Part of that was their offense building leads and forcing opponents to throw to get back into the game. But it was also a talent issue, and the last thing the Rams can do is let one of their best players leave in free agency.
They convince Rob Havenstein to stay
The veteran right tackle is the longest-tenured player on the team and could simply opt to hang up his cleats. But if he still wants to play, he is absolutely someone the Rams need to hold onto.
Havenstein was still playing at a high level before ankle and knee injuries sidelined him for the last seven games. At 33 years old, he still has something to offer, and the Rams are better off with his production and leadership.
Havenstein is slated to become a free agent in March. Money probably won’t be the deciding factor, but he’s still a difference-maker, and the Rams need him.
They hire replacements for any losses on the coaching staff
Success sometimes comes with a cost. In the Rams’ case, it’s continually rebuilding the coaching staff to make up for assistants leaving for promotions.
Three Rams assistants are interviewing for head coaching opportunities this cycle: defensive coordinator Chris Shula, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
LaFleur is a finalist with the Cardinals, meaning coach Sean McVay could be looking for a new right-hand man on offense. Maybe that’s Scheelhaase, if he doesn’t get offered by the Browns or gets an opportunity to run his own offense as a coordinator.
If so, that is two big holes the Rams might have to fill on the coaching staff.
Shula seems the likeliest to stay, for at least one more season. That stability will be welcomed for a staff that is constantly losing great thinkers and leaders to other jobs.
