The Los Angeles Rams still have one of the strongest rosters in the NFL heading into the 2022 season, but three losses will impact their chances to repeat.
The Los Angeles Rams put together an incredible season in 2021, emerging victorious at the end of it all and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in franchise history and for the first time in over 20 years.
Repeating in the NFL is nearly impossible these days, but it can be done. The question is — how will the Los Angeles Rams go about doing it?
They’ve reloaded for the 2022 season but some key losses for this team could prevent them from going back-to-back.
Let’s take a look at three of them.
Los Angeles Rams biggest loss no. 3: OT Andrew Whitworth (retired)
The Los Angeles Rams will be “breaking in” a new starting left tackle this season.
Joe Noteboom signed a rather hefty contract (three years, $40 million) given he’s been just a spot starter for the Rams since he was drafted out of TCU a handful of years ago.
The former third-round pick has big shoes to fill as the ageless wonder Andrew Whitworth has officially retired and passed on the mantle of blindside protector.
Whitworth was such a key player for the Rams both on the field, in the locker room, and in the community.
It’s not going to be easy to replace him.
Despite the fact that he was getting older, Whitworth’s ability in pass protection never really waned.
As the Rams have progressed through OTAs, Whitworth has made appearances on the sidelines as a guest but his playing days are behind him.
We’ll see in time whether Noteboom is able to capably fill his shoes on the field, but the Rams are banking $25 million guaranteed on it.
Los Angeles Rams critical loss no. 2: Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr.
This is cheating because it’s two players packed into one, but that only helps drive the point home.
Let’s first start by saying that I do like the Rams’ acquisition of Allen Robinson at the wide receiver position.
I think Robinson is poised to have the best year potentially of his entire career in 2022 which could lead to even more offensive firepower for the Rams.
However, there exists a scenario where the Los Angeles Rams really miss guys like Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr.
Both players will be coming off of major injuries this year and both could be playing for new teams. In Woods’ case, he for sure will be.
Woods was traded to the Tennessee Titans in a rather under-the-radar move earlier this offseason that went heavily in Tennessee’s favor.
Beckham remains a free agent after tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl but could still return to the Rams as their WR3 at some point.
In Woods’ case, specifically, I feel like the Rams are missing out. Is Allen Robinson a more dynamic player than Woods and a bigger contrast stylistically compared to Cooper Kupp? Probably.
The question is, was Woods simply a perfect fit in this offense? I felt like he was. The Rams decided to move on and we’ll find out if Robinson can be a better fit in the offense than Woods already was, or than Beckham proved to be last year.
Los Angeles Rams toughest loss in 2022: Von Miller, EDGE
The biggest loss of the offseason for the Los Angeles Rams is undoubtedly pass rusher Von Miller.
Miller took a six-year deal with the Buffalo Bills worth $120 million in total money, but a lot of that is just window dressing.
The Bills structured the deal so they could fit Miller on their salary cap for the next couple of years, and according to everything we were hearing during free agency, the Los Angeles Rams had every opportunity to re-sign Miller.
During the 2021 season, the Rams knew they needed a pass rush threat off the edge to put their defense over the top and Miller became available when the Denver Broncos realized they weren’t contending for anything last season.
The Rams traded a second-and-third-round pick to get Miller and they got a Super Bowl in return.
That’s a trade Les Snead will make 10 times out of 10.
Unfortunately, there was a real shot to re-sign Miller and keep that momentum going defensively, but the Rams couldn’t close the deal, for whatever reason.
Sure, Miller is getting older but that doesn’t really matter. At least, it hasn’t. He’s dealt with injuries like any player but Miller has shown no signs of slowing down as he progresses through his early 30s.
The Rams don’t really have an adequate replacement for Miller on the roster at this point. There are guys that could step up and play bigger roles for them this season, but they might need to strike another trade for someone to upgrade the pass rush off the edge.