The Los Angeles Rams have been masters of making trades and prominent veteran acquisitions. But if Kevin O’Connell gets a HC gig, who could follow him?
The NFL head coach carousel is going to spin once again in the 2022 NFL offseason, and Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell figures to be one of the latest from the Sean McVay coaching tree to get an opportunity elsewhere to be a head coach.
The Rams already had to block O’Connell from making a “lateral” move in 2021 when the Chargers and former Rams DC Brandon Staley tried to pry O’Connell away to join him with the other LA team.
Although McVay and the Rams are allowed to block a lateral move, they won’t be able to prevent O’Connell from taking a head coaching gig if one is presented to him, and if that’s the case, what players — 2022 free agents — might follow O’Connell to his next NFL destination?
Los Angeles Rams free agents that could follow Kevin O’Connell to his next team
1. Odell Beckham Jr., WR
If Kevin O’Connell gets a head coaching gig elsewhere in the NFL, depending on the location, we could see him land a pretty big free agent with Odell Beckham Jr. set to hit the market.
On the surface, the Rams seem like a tremendous long-term fit for Beckham given the spotlight that is certainly on him there, but with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Van Jefferson already on the roster, Beckham appears to be a true one-year rental for the Rams.
Maybe O’Connell will get a shot with a team like the Raiders where Beckham would be a really nice fit, or maybe O’Connell will get a gig in Chicago with the Bears where Beckham could also fill a huge area of need.
There are plenty of possible matches with these two depending on whether or not, of course, O’Connell lands a job somewhere else. Beckham should have plenty of suitors as a free agent and while a return to the Rams shouldn’t be ruled out, it feels like he’s in LA to help this team accomplish a goal this season. Beyond this upcoming playoff run?
It wouldn’t be shocking to see him go where O’Connell goes, if that does indeed happen.
2. Sony Michel, RB
For the last five weeks, Sony Michel has really turned things up for the Los Angeles Rams.
For the first 12 weeks of the season, his role was much more on the “minimal” side than I think many envisioned it would be when the Rams acquired the former first-round pick out of Georgia.
From Week 13 to present, Michel has been heavily involved in the Rams’ offense. He went from having 367 yards from scrimmage and two total touchdowns in the Rams’ first 11 games to having 557 yards from scrimmage and three rushing touchdowns over the last five, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
The increased workload has been fruitful for the Rams, who are not coincidentally on a five-game winning streak since Michel’s involvement has ramped up.
Although he’s proving to be a valuable acquisition down the stretch this season, will he want to come back to the Rams after this year with a healthy Cam Akers standing in his way?
I feel like Michel is one Rams free agent that could very well follow a coordinator like Kevin O’Connell to his next stop.
Depending on what kind of situation O’Connell steps into, Michel is a talented back who has proven playoff mettle and plenty of experience to be a featured back wherever he goes.
3. Austin Corbett, OG
Although the Los Angeles Rams will potentially try and prioritize bringing back a player of Corbett’s age and caliber, there’s a chance the former second-round pick out of Nevada will reach free agency.
Even if that’s unlikely and the Rams decide to tag Corbett or find a way to get a long-term deal done, let’s say O’Connell gets a gig with the Raiders. Corbett might have great interest in returning to the state he played his college ball where there is no income tax.
If Corbett were to reach free agency, there would likely be teams lined up to try and sign him and the relational equity he’s got with O’Connell would certainly work in O’Connell’s favor.
Again, this all depends on whether or not O’Connell gets a head coaching gig elsewhere. It feels like that’s where things are trending and we know how much the NFL loves the Sean McVay coaching tree already.
With the success the Rams are having this year and the fact that O’Connell was blocked last year, we could see him get a head coaching job elsewhere, a chance to call plays, and a chance to recruit some of the players he has had in Los Angeles to come and play for him at his next destination.