Special teams hurt the Rams, but it’s far from their only problem

The Rams fell short of their ultimate goal of reaching the Super Bowl. They were done in, primarily, by a special teams unit that cost them at every critical turn and ultimately plunged the fatal knife into their heart in the NFC Championship game loss to the Seahawks.

It was a gut-wrenching way to lose, especially for a team that was so buttoned up everywhere else on the roster and got an MVP-caliber season from quarterback Matthew Stafford.

It will take some time for the Rams to recover, but this is an organization that has done an excellent job over the years of handling success and failure, then using whatever lessons were learned to prepare for the next challenge.

Clearly, special teams need to be a big point of emphasis during the offseason. The Rams cannot let that unit lead to their demise again, and so they’ll be aggressive in finding the necessary leader and personnel to fix it.

But other areas need to be improved.

The Rams must fill the holes on their roster to bolster their chances of having a successful season. Getty Images

Help is needed at cornerback, specifically on the perimeter, and in team speed. Primarily at wide receiver, where someone who can take the top off can help free up star wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, as well as the tight ends.

And let’s not forget the Rams have to convince Stafford to return, even if it means sweetening the pot on a potential new contract. The soon-to-be 38-year old quarterback is on the books for $40 million next season, which is a bargain for the level of play he provides.

The Rams have to be open to redoing the deal to put more money in his pocket for next year. If it means committing to another year in 2027, so be it.

From a salary cap standpoint, the Rams are in decent shape with a projected $45 million under the cap. They are also projected to have 10 draft picks, including two first-round picks (No. 13 and 29), and two seventh-round compensatory picks.

Between the cap space and draft capital, the Rams are in excellent position to let general manager Les Snead get to work on improving the roster.