Los Angeles Rams NFC West

Stafford was set to enter the 2026 campaign in the final year of his two-year, $84 million contract that he signed with Los Angeles ahead of the 2025 season, but he now will be under contract through 2027. The 38-year-old is coming off of an MVP campaign in which he compiled 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns while completing 65 percent of his passes over 17 regular-season contests. His new deal is worth up to $60 million dollars, so Stafford could earn up to $105 million over the next two seasons. The Rams drafted the quarterback's successor in Ty Simpson 13th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Simpson may get a chance to sit behind Stafford for multiple years.

Connors began his career at junior college before rushing for 977 yards and six touchdowns on 77 carries during the 2025 season while at Houston. With the Rams lacking proven talent at running back behind Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, Connors has a chance to earn a spot on the final roster.

Jones, who was with Arkansas in 2025, finished his collegiate career with 80 catches for 1,352 yards and 20 touchdowns. While he will likely face an uphill battle to make the team's final roster, he's a candidate to land on the practice squad.

Keenan spent all five years of his college career in Alabama, serving as a full-time starter at nose tackle from 2023 to 2025. His most productive season came in 2024, when he posted 40 total tackles, including 2.5 sacks, and one pass defense across 13 games, which was in stark contrast to the numbers he put up in 2025 (16 total tackles over 12 games). Keenan is on the shorter side at 6-foot-1 but is hard to move at 327 pounds. That size, coupled with instinctual play and refined hands, means he can be effective in clogging up the run lanes at the NFL level. Poona Ford should be the Rams' starting nose tackle in 2026, so Keenan's main competition for rotational snaps will come from 2025 fifth-rounder Ty Hamilton.

Smith signed a $1.075 million tender to remain with the Rams in 2026. The depth wide receiver is all set to suit up as a special teams player who also can provide offensive utility for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Smith hauled in 18 receptions for 303 yards over 16 regular-season contests in 2025, a significant improvement from his two receptions for six yards in the Rams' 2024 campaign.

Thomas signed with the Rams in May of 2022 as an undrafted free agent and appeared in 17 regular-season games in his first three NFL seasons. He missed the entire 2025 season while on injured reserve due to an undisclosed issue. Thomas will compete for a depth role on defense and as a contributor on special teams for the 2026 season.

Higbee will remain with the Rams after just completing his 10th campaign with the team, catching 25 of 36 targets for 281 yards and three touchdowns over 10 regular-season contests in 2025. The 33-year-old will look to compete with Colby Parkinson for the No. 1 role at tight end next season, though Los Angeles has proven to use multiple tight ends often in the past.

Mevis was lined up to be an exclusive rights free agent, but it's no surprise the Rams decided to tender him, which will prevent him from being able to negotiate with other teams. The undrafted kicker out of Missouri latched on with Los Angeles' practice squad in November last year and eventually earned his way to a role as the team's starting kicker. He debuted Week 10 against San Francisco and finished the regular season having converted 12 of 13 field-goal tries and all 39 of his point-after attempts. Mevis then went 6-for-6 on FG tries and 9-for-9 on PATs in the postseason, all but assuring that he'll enter training camp as the frontrunner for the team's kicking job in 2026.

The 35-year-old lineman appeared in 13 regular-season games for Los Angeles during the 2025 campaign, seeing 18 snaps on offense and another 73 via special teams. Quessenberry will again compete for a backup tackle job.

Fiske had an exceptional rookie year in 2024, logging 8.5 sacks as he took the league by storm alongside fellow rookie Jared Verse. His 2025 numbers may look meager in comparison, but Fiske was consistently disruptive and a reliable contributor to the Rams' defensive success. The 26-year-old has yet to miss a game through two seasons and is all set to continue wreaking havoc in 2026 alongside Verse, Byron Young, Poona Ford and Kobie Turner (hamstring).

Forbes ended the 2024 season as a healthy scratch for the Rams after being waived by the Commanders in early December. After an offseason of work with his new team, the cornerback has grown into a player who better reflects the first-round draft capital used to acquire him. The 25-year-old was a consistent contributor throughout the 2025 season and will likely compete for a starting outside cornerback job. Forbes has one year left on his rookie deal, and even though the Rams picked him up off waivers, they cannot exercise the fifth-year option typically associated with first-round picks because they are not the team that drafted him.

Bennett has yet to appear in a regular-season game across his first two seasons in the NFL. With Jimmy Garoppolo set to become a free agent this offseason, Bennett could have a chance to compete for the team's backup quarterback spot for the 2026 campaign.