What Lies in Store for the Los Angeles Rams in the 2024 NFL Season?

The 2024 National Football League (NFL) season is less than seven weeks away, and the 32 franchises are finishing their preparations for a 17-game regular season and, hopefully, a run to the Super Bowl. Los Angeles Rams fans are cautiously optimistic about their team’s chance of enjoying a playoff run despite several key coaching changes and losing eight-time Pro Bowler Aaron Donald to retirement. Is this optimism misplaced, or could the Rams cause an upset and play a significant role in where the Vince Lombardi Trophy calls home this season?

A 3.2% Chance of Winning Super Bowl LIX

Although they rarely get things wrong, bookmakers tend to have their finger on the pulse regarding the teams most likely to win the Super Bowl. Florida sports betting sites have the Rams at +3000 to emerge victoriously at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, which works out at a 3.2% chance of glory. Surely the Rams have a better chance of causing an upset than that?

The bookies are spooked by several Rams’ coaching staff members leaving for the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons hired Raheem Morris as their head coach, and he took Zac Robinson and Jimmy Lake with him to Atlanta. Eric Henderson departed to join the USC Trojans, while Jeremy Springer is now a New England Patriot. That is a lot of changes.

This will also be the first season since 2013 that Aaron Donald has not been on the Rams’ roster. Donald is one of the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history, with 111 career sacks, but the 33-year-old called time on a glistening career in March.

Some Positives From Last Season

Having won the Super Bowl in 2021, Rams supporters believed their team could dominate the NFL, or the NFC West at the very least, for the foreseeable future. However, the injury-hit Rams slipped to a disappointing 5-12 record in 2022. The 2023 regular season started badly, with the Rams 3-6 by November 5.

Whatever Sean McVay and his coaching staff did during the bye week worked wonders. The Rams went 7-1 during the home stretch to finish 10-7 and reach the playoffs. The Detroit Lions defeated the Rams 24-23 in the NFC Wild Card game, with former Rams quarterback Jared Goff stealing the show.

Matthew Stafford’s return to form buoyed Rams fans. He threw for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, completing 62.6% of his attempts and averaging 264.3 yards per game.

Rookie Shine for the Rams

Rookie wide receiver Puka Nucua, a fifth-round pick, had a season to remember. He finished with 105 receptions and 1,486 yards, setting a new record for rookies in the NFL. Nucua’s receiving yards were the fourth-best in the NFL, while his six touchdowns ranked him ninth overall.

Kyren Williams was also outstanding at times. After hardly being used during his rookie season, the running back rushed for 1,144 yards, led the eague with 95.3 yards per game, and scored 12 rushing touchdowns. Williams also received 32 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

Donald’s Replacements Step Up to the Plate

Donald was again superb throughout the 2023 season, recording 53 tackles and another 8.0 sacks. However, Ernest Jones amassed 4.5 sacks and 145 tackles, including 14 for loss, while Byron Young enjoyed 8.0 sacks and 61 tackles. Michael Hoecht also got in on the defensive action with six sacks and 77 tackles.

New Additions to the Rams Roster for 2024

The Rams’ backroom staff has added several new players to the roster during the offseason. While many headlines have featured Donald’s retirement and quarterback Carson Wentz heading to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Super Bowl LIX favorite, the Rams have been wise in their dealings.

Experienced quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo signed a one-year deal after the Las Vegas Raiders released him a year into his three-year, $67.5 million contract. Although Garoppolo will miss the season’s first two games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, he is a more than capable understudy to Stafford in the pocket.

Perhaps the most exciting new additions are the defensive duo of Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. Verse and Fiske were part of the Florida State Seminoles team that went 13-1 in 2023. The Rams selected Verse as the 19th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the first first-round pick made by the Rams since Jared Goff in 2016. Verse is a starter for 2024, and while he can’t replace Donald, he can help plug the gap left by the great man’s departure.

The Rams traded up with the Carolina Panthers to acquire defensive tackle Fiske. Like Verse, Fiske should be a starter from Week 1, and the rapport Verse and Fiske showed in college will help the Rams this coming season.

Can the 2024 Rams Win the Super Bowl?

Winning the Super Bowl is a step too far for the Rams this season as they continue the rebuilding process. The Rams threw everything at acquiring Stafford from the Detroit Lions in 2021, and although it paid off because the Rams won the Super Bowl that year, the lack of first-round picks since then has hindered the Rams’ progress.

McVay has a talented roster at his disposal this year, particularly offensively. Stafford looked back to his best after an injury-hit 2022 season, while Nacua is coming off the back of an incredible rookie season. Cooper Kupp showed glimpses of his ability after a poor 2022, while running back Williams looks set to become a superstar.

The Rams roster is youthful, and there are some holes in the team defensively, but the offensive power should see them ruffle a few feathers during the coming season. This season is about finishing with a winning record and putting together a run in the playoffs to give supporters some hope for the 2025 campaign. This current roster looks more than capable of doing that. Expect the Rams to finish 10-7 or 11-6 in 20