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Los Angeles Rams News & Rumors

Broncos To Discuss Courtland Sutton Extension; Team Not Interested In Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel?

February 25th, 2025 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Courtland Sutton has now put together back-to-back quality seasons. After helping Russell Wilson rebound from a disastrous 2022 with a 10-touchdown 2023, the Broncos’ top wide receiver aided Bo Nix to boost the team’s playoff chances.

Sutton’s second career 1,000-yard season performed heavy lifting in Denver’s journey to a 10-7 record and first playoff berth in nine years. The veteran wide receiver remains tied to the $15MM-per-year extension he signed during the 2021 season. On one hand, Sutton secured a reasonable deal for a player with his accomplishments at the time. On the other, he tied himself down as multiple market booms transformed the position’s salary landscape.

That four-year, $60MM pact is up after the 2025 season. The Broncos were believed to have made this offseason the point they would discuss new terms with Sutton, after only agreeing to a minor incentive package in 2024. The talented receiver/trade-rumor mainstay is on the team’s extension radar, though it does not seem likely a new deal emerges soon within days or weeks.

“[GM] George [Paton] and I were just talking about it. Those discussions will take place [between] George, Courtland’s [agent],” Sean Payton said (via 9News’ Mike Klis). “We felt he had a real good season; he’s important to what we’re doing. So all of that will happen in time and I don’t think now’s the time.”

Paton did say he will meet with Sutton’s agent at the Combine. Sutton, 29, has made the interesting transition from a player thrown into trade rumors at just about every trade window between the 2022 and ’24 deadlines — these cycles including the Broncos declining a 49ers third-round pick — to one the Broncos are again ready to build around. After unloading Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick last year, Denver has Sutton still in place from the John Elway era. While Jeudy did re-emerge (particularly in a monster revenge performance in Denver) with a solid season after being traded, the Broncos saw Sutton post 1,081 receiving yards and eight TDs in 2024. The 6-foot-4 target played the lead role in Nix throwing the second-most TD passes (29) by a rookie in NFL history.

Among active WR deals, Sutton ranks 22nd in AAV. He is due a nonguaranteed $13.5MM, an amount Sutton and his agent have informed the Broncos (via Klis) will be untenable for 2025. While the Broncos have some time to resolve this matter, augmenting their skill-position corps around their WR1 will be a near-future task.

Even if the seven-year vet is retained on a deal more in line with today’s market, the Broncos have questions at receiver. Two-for-two in first-team All-Pro nods as a return man, Marvin Mims has slowly made progress on offense. The team also saw sporadic production from rookies Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin, but it can be argued the Broncos are in need of another piece. Payton, however, pointed to a tight end being a higher priority compared to receiver. Today brought more in that direction.

The Broncos are not believed to be interested in Cooper Kupp or Deebo Samuel in trades, the Denver Post’s Troy Renck adds. Both NFC West standouts are not expected back with their respective teams, but the Rams and 49ers also have been linked to potentially cutting the All-Pros. This would open the door for receiver-needy teams and potentially affect the lot of veteran free agents at the position.

Samuel would be closer to what Payton seeks in his perpetual quest to add a “joker” performer to his offense. Denver lacked reliable pass catchers at running back and tight end last season. Samuel profiles as an inside playmaker, albeit an injury-prone one coming off a down season. He amassed just 670 receiving yards in 15 games and has frequently battled short-term injuries; a more serious Jones fracture is also on Samuel’s medical sheet. Making his name as a slot ace, Kupp has also seen injuries hamper him since his triple-crown season in 2021.

Options will be available to the Broncos in free agency, as Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen are all high-end route runners out of contract. Diontae Johnson also profiles as such, but he burned plenty of bridges (while torpedoing his value) during a turbulent 2024. The draft will also be an avenue for the Broncos to add a piece at receiver, as the team searches for RB and TE upgrades as well.

Bengals To Add Sean Desai To Staff

February 25th, 2025 at 2:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a quick demotion from his role as Eagles defensive coordinator, Sean Desai resurfaced in Los Angeles on Sean McVay‘s staff. The veteran defensive coach is now on his way to a fifth team in five years.

The two-time DC is expected to join the Bengals’ staff, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. This will mark a reunion for Desai and new Cincinnati DC Al Golden. The two worked together on Golden’s Miami Hurricanes staff in 2011. Desai served as the Hurricanes’ assistant director of football ops that year.

Desai has seen both his NFL DC stops end after one season. The Vic Fangio disciple succeeded Chuck Pagano as Bears DC in 2021, and while the team had some success on that side of the ball that season, Matt Nagy being fired scattered his staff as well. The Bears ranked sixth in total defense that year, despite Khalil Mack going down midseason with a foot injury. Robert Quinn proceeded to break Richard Dent‘s single-season franchise sack record, totaling 18.5.

Following a one-off with the Seahawks in 2022, Desai landed the Eagles’ DC job. Philly looked to have had Fangio in mind to take over, but timing involving the clunky Jonathan Gannon exit scuttled that. As Fangio proved out of place in Miami, Desai did not succeed in Philly. Nick Sirianni stripped Desai of play-calling responsibilities as the Eagles’ defense struggled to match its 2022 form, leading to Matt Patricia being elevated. Patricia could not stop the bleeding, and the two staffers oversaw a collapse that ended with a Buccaneers runaway wild-card win.

As the Eagles’ belated Fangio hire produced a Super Bowl LIX romp, Desai spent the year as a Rams senior defensive assistant. This Bengals gig will be Desai’s third senior assistant-type role in four years, as he was not assigned to a specific position in Seattle, either. But Desai will bring considerable experience to Golden’s staff. The 41-year-old staffer has been in the NFL since 2013.

Matthew Stafford Seeking $50MM Per Year; Multiple Teams Showing Trade Interest

February 24th, 2025 at 11:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

The future of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford continues to dominate the news cycle as the new league year approaches. The Super Bowl winner will manage to secure a new pact ahead of the 2025 season, but whether or not it comes from Los Angeles remains to be seen.

One of the many recent developments in this situation indicated Stafford is seeking a raise from what he is currently set to collect. As a result of last offseason’s stopgap financial compromise between team and player, the two-time Pro Bowler is owed $32MM as things stand (without much of it being guaranteed). With respect to how much of a pay bump Stafford is seeking, further clarity has emerged.

The 37-year-old is looking to join the signal-callers earning $50MM per year or more, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager reports (video link). That list currently sits at nine, and each of the players on it are younger than Stafford; only Dak Prescott and Jared Goff are QBs over the age of 30 who find themselves in the upper echelon of compensation. On the other hand, Jalen Hurts is the only $50MM-per-year passer whose resume includes a Super Bowl title.

In the wake of the Rams’ victory in Super Bowl LVI, Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Aaron Donald received new contracts cementing their status as the team’s core moving forward. The latter retired after the 2023 season, while Kupp is known to be on the trade block (and in danger of being released if no suitor is found). Moving on from Stafford would allow for the Rams to reset under center and complete the transition to a much younger – and much less expensive – nucleus.

Stafford and his camp have permission to gauge the trade market, and the upcoming Combine will no doubt result in all parties learning more about how much (in terms of draft capital and finances) teams are willing to pay. Any number of suitors could emerge given Stafford’s potential to serve as a short-term quarterback upgrade, and some teams are known to have made contact so far. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports the Giants, Browns, Steelers and Raiders are among those which have expressed interest.

The Giants are known to be in the market for a veteran passer as well as a long-term solution brought about via the draft. A deal for Stafford would meet the first of those goals, and if healthy he could prove to be a worthwhile addition over a short period. New York owns the No. 3 pick in April’s draft, capital the team will not be willing to part with. Whether or not the Rams can work out a trade built around second- (rather than first-)round compensation will be key in determining if a deal can be finalized.

The Browns are set to be without Deshaun Watson for most or potentially all of 2025, and another restructure to his pact will help create the space needed for an inexpensive veteran addition. Provided he is released by the Falcons, Kirk Cousins will be a name to watch on that front based on his history with Kevin Stefanski and the offset language in his contract. Stafford, by contrast, would be a far more expensive target.

At least one of Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will likely be retained by Pittsburgh this offseason, and a mutual interest exists for a new deal in both cases. A commitment from the Steelers to operate as the clear-cut starter will be an obvious sticking point whichever way the team goes, though, and adding Stafford via trade would leave Wilson and Fields on the move this spring. Pittsburgh would be better placed financially than New York or Cleveland to absorb a raise, but the same holds true of other teams as well.

One of those is the Raiders. Vegas entered Monday with the second-most spending power in the NFL, and quarterback is a clear area of need. As a result, it came as no surprise when a report from yesterday noted the Raiders could be a Stafford suitor. New general manager John Spytek would no doubt avoid trading away the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, so another package or one centered on a 2026 Day 1 selection (a possibility Breer mentions) would be required for talks to yield progress.

Schrager adds no animosity exists between Stafford and Rams head coach Sean McVay, and the door is open to another Rams restructure ending speculation on this front. Still, given the extent to which a trade is receiving consideration, a reconciliation between the parties would be at least somewhat awkward at this point. Los Angeles will look for a long-term successor under center in the near future regardless, but it remains uncertain if that will be necessary in 2025.

Rams Add Alex Van Pelt To Coaching Staff

February 24th, 2025 at 6:46pm CST by Ben Levine

The Rams formally announced their coaching staff this afternoon, and a previously unreported name was notably listed as a senior offensive assistant. Per the team, Alex Van Pelt is one of the six new additions to the staff for the 2025 campaign.

A long-time NFL coach, this is likely a temporary stop for the 54-year-old. Van Pelt has served in a variety of roles throughout his career. He mostly made a name for himself as a QBs coach, including a stint as Aaron Rodgers‘ coach in Green Bay between 2014 and 2017.

The veteran coach had a four-year gig as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator, and his stint ended in somewhat surprising fashion following the 2023 campaign despite the Browns’ top-10 finish in points scored. He quickly landed on his feet as the Patriots OC in 2024 but wasn’t retained as part of Mike Vrabel‘s new staff. Van Pelt’s New England stint saw plenty of ups and downs, with the coach earning credit for Drake Maye‘s development while drawing criticism for his play-calling and lack of creativity.

Now, he’ll have an opportunity to rehabilitate his image while working under one the NFL’s most lauded offensive minds in Sean McVay. At 54 years old, Van Pelt could look to reenter the coordinator carousel next offseason. At the very least, he should be able to garner a promotion from his new Rams gig.

The rest of the Rams’ new staff members includes tight ends coach Scott Huff, pass rush coordinator Drew Wilkins, senior defensive assistant Jimmy Lake, assistant special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, and game management coordinator Dan Shamash.

Rams Seeking First-Round Pick For Matthew Stafford; Raiders Could Show Interest?

February 23rd, 2025 at 9:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

As uncertainly looms over the future of Matthew Stafford, speculation about a potential trade will no doubt continue to intensify. The veteran quarterback’s camp has permission from the Rams to gauge his market value, and a degree of clarity on the asking price for any potential deal appears to have emerged.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the Rams will alter the trade cost in a swap depending on how much money an acquiring team is willing to take on. Stafford and Los Angeles reached a one-year agreement on a revised deal last offseason, but the acceleration of money into 2024 left team in player in a similar situation for this spring. The 37-year-old will play in 2025, and the Rams have made it clear they are on board with keeping him as their starter as long as his career continues.

Considering the updates which have emerged in recent days on this situation, it would come as no surprise if a firm asking price were to emerge from the Rams. Per Bonsignore, Los Angeles would look to collect a first-round pick and more in a Stafford swap. He notes suitors will attempt to drop the cost to a package built on a second-round selection. Depending on how strong Stafford’s market proves to be, Los Angeles could be in line to receive notable draft compensation in the event efforts to work out another restructured pact fell through.

The two-time Pro Bowler is currently owed $32MM in 2025 and $31MM during the final year of his pact. Only roster bonuses totaling $4MM this year and $5MM next represent locked in compensation, however, so new guarantees (along with at least a modest raise) will be needed for an arrangement to be made. The Rams are currently mid-pack in terms of projected cap space and the team does not have a quarterback successor in the fold as things stand.

Those factors could very well help the team repeat its efforts from 2024 and grant Stafford another one-year bump in pay. If the Rams receive viable trade offers, on the other hand, they could elect to move on and start over at the position (as they will need to in the near future anyway). The former Lion has generally provided strong play during his four years in Los Angeles, although injuries and the threat of declining production represent obvious reasons for any team to hesitate regarding a lucrative commitment.

To little surprise, Bonsignore names the Raiders as a potential player in the Stafford sweepstakes. New owner Tom Brady has proven to be a highly influential voice in the organization, having played a central role in the hiring of John Spytek as general manager and Pete Carroll as head coach. Vegas is among the teams in need of a new long-term answer at the quarterback spot, but both of the two passers seen as being worthy of a Day 1 selection in this year’s draft could be off the board by the time the team is on the clock at No. 6.

Adding a bridge starter would help the Raiders’ outlook for 2025, and with a Gardner Minshew release expected, they will be in the market for a veteran. The likes of Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson could be targets in free agency provided they become available, but a trade for Stafford would provide Vegas with a short-term upgrade. Whether or not the Raiders or any other interested party will be prepared to meet the Rams’ asking price will make for one of the league’s top storylines over the near future.

Rams Give QB Matthew Stafford Permission To Speak With Other Teams

February 22nd, 2025 at 10:45pm CST by Ely Allen

We’ve seen some interesting developments in the past couple of months concerning the future of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles. Today’s newest update comes from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network who tells us that the team has given Stafford’s agent permission to speak with other teams about his value. Rapoport makes it clear that this is not a trade request, just an external appraisal.

Following the end of the Rams’ 2024 campaign, Stafford began to contemplate his future in the league, potentially weighing the possibility of retirement before ultimately making the decision to play in 2025, after some pressure for clarity from the team. As the team was waiting for that clarity, though, the Rams made it known that they were considering trading the veteran quarterback. This rumor led to interest from several teams who began to contact Los Angeles with interest in Stafford.

With today’s update, we see that the Rams have been hearing these offers and are hoping to use them to assist in their contract negotiations. Our previous most recent update hinted that the 37-year-old was seeking a raise on his next deal. This new tactic from the Rams could be seen as an attempt to let the rest of the league do their work for them. This would be similar to what the Ravens attempted last year, when they placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson, and most teams expected them to match any offer sheet after letting other teams determine Jackson’s worth.

This is a less official version of this. This is closer to the MLB’s arbitration process, in which the team and player can’t come to an agreement on a player’s value, so they use a third-party arbiter to make the determination for them. As the Rams and Stafford struggle to find level ground in contract discussions, the hope is that outside teams will participate and give their two cents on what Stafford’s next contract should look like.

More likely, teams, if they don’t really believe they have a chance to land Stafford in a trade, could try to inflate the cost of a Stafford deal in order to handicap the Rams as much as possible. This possibility is underlined by a report from Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo, who tells us that these other teams don’t believe this means the Rams and Stafford are headed for a split and that trade compensation will remain a hurdle to them actually acquiring the passer.

Another hurdle to acquiring Stafford via trade is the $45.3MM in dead money trading Stafford’s contract would cost the Rams, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OvertheCap.com. Still, Fitzgerald believes that the Rams would be willing to deal Stafford for a return they deem worthy, but if that adequate trade offer doesn’t come, they would work with the veteran on a modified contract.

Jaguars Hire James Gladstone As GM

February 21st, 2025 at 10:08pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Jaguars are hiring Rams director of scouting strategy James Gladstone as their next general manager, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The team confirmed the hire via social media, and Jaguars owner Shad Khan released a statement (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) calling Gladstone “exceptional in every regard.” Gladstone will reunite with Liam Coen, a Rams assistant from 2018-20 and their OC in 2022. Although Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham was viewed as the frontrunner, it certainly makes sense Coen would want a former coworker to start fresh with him in Jacksonville.

Gladstone will become the youngest general manager in the league at 34 years old. He was previously a high school coach in St. Louis before being hired by Rams general manager Les Snead. Gladstone has spent the last eight years in Los Angeles including the last four as director of scouting strategy. Gladstone will become a GM four years after former Rams staffer Brad Holmes took over in Detroit. Holmes’ Lions success surely did not hurt Gladstone’s chances, though Coen’s status in Jacksonville probably played a bigger role here.

The Rams consistently hit on their draft picks in Gladstone’s tenure despite trading away most of their first-round picks. He will hope to bring that success to Jacksonville, which had an inconsistent drafting record under Trent Baalke. The Jaguars currently hold the fifth overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, giving Gladstone a chance to add an elite prospect with his first pick as GM.

Snead may look to an internal promotion to replace Gladstone in Los Angeles. Candidates could include director of data and analytics Jake Temme and scouting strategist Nicole Blake, per Jordan Rodrigue of The Athletic.

Gladstone was not considered a frontrunner for the Jaguars’ GM job when the team first requested to interview him, partially because he was not considered for any of the other vacancies this hiring cycle. He impressed team decision-makers enough in his first interview to earn a second, solidifying him as a finalist for the job in Jacksonville. Now, he will team up with Coen in an effort to rebuild the team after a 4-13 showing in 2024.

The Jaguars’ GM vacancy was the last to be filled of this year’s hiring cycle, so Gladstone will have to move quickly to prepare the roster for free agency. Jacksonville currently has just under $40MM in cap space, but could create another $35MM of room by moving on from Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, and Josh Reynolds. Reynolds made just one catch in 2024 and won’t be worth his $4.26MM cap hit next season. Kirk and Engram both played well in 2022 and 2023, but experienced a downtick in production last year before going down with season-ending injuries. They represent the team’s two biggest cap hits in 2025, so the new regime may prefer to cut ties rather than extend players they didn’t originally sign.

Gladstone beat out a number of veteran executives for the GM role in Jacksonville in what Khan called “a painstaking but energizing interview process.” Below is a full list of their candidates:

‘Several’ Teams Contact Rams On Matthew Stafford; QB Targeting Raise?

February 19th, 2025 at 9:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

A popular talking point ahead of free agency has centered around this year’s quarterback options — both in terms of veteran FAs and the rookie crop — not being overly impressive. If the Vikings use the franchise tag to keep Sam Darnold off the market, the top prize would be off the board. In that scenario, monitoring the Rams may become necessary. Teams are already closely watching this situation.

Matthew Stafford‘s name has come up as a potential trade candidate for a bit, and Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports several teams have indeed called the Rams on the veteran passer. The Rams did shop Stafford when he was coming off a multi-injury 2022 but have since seen him reestablish form as a top-10 QB, helping the team to back-to-back playoff berths.

GM Les Snead did not exactly slam the door on Stafford being moved, but Schultz indicates Sean McVay and others inside the organization want the QB retained. The Rams need to identify a post-Stafford answer at some point, but with Aaron Donald retired and Cooper Kupp appearing set to be traded, this remains a Stafford-centered franchise. This creates some leverage for the talented quarterback, who remains tied to a team-friendly contract.

Stafford is indeed seeking a pay raise that would place him closer to the top 10 earners at the position, according to Schultz. This would be an interesting component for Los Angeles, which thus far has only been linked to another restructure. A Stafford push for better guarantees last year did not yield a major win for the QB, who saw the Rams move $5MM from future years into 2024 and had them insert a $4MM 2025 roster bonus as part of that agreement. Even at the time of signing the four-year, $160MM deal, Stafford left money on the table to help the Rams build around him. With the pillars from that point gone or leaving, the NFL’s current 15th-highest-paid player may be angling for a final payday.

When Stafford signed his Rams extension in April 2022, the $50MM-per-year club consisted of only Aaron Rodgers‘ complex Packers contract, one the team traded a year in. There are now nine $50MM-AAV passers, including a few who have not displayed Stafford-level form to date. QBR slotted Stafford sixth in 2023 and 12th in 2024, with both years featuring Kupp injuries; 2024 also brought an extended period without Kupp and Puka Nacua, which nearly submarined the Rams’ season. Stafford helped the team revive it, going from 1-4 to a narrow divisional-round loss to the eventual champion Eagles.

The Rams have not seen Stetson Bennett become a legitimate successor option, and backup Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent-to-be. This does not seem like the ideal draft for the Rams to address their post-Stafford future; then again, Stafford (when healthy) has proven talented enough he will keep the team away from the early draft slots that would bring franchise-level QBs. This represents an interesting offseason for the four-year Rams starter to strike, if indeed he is intent on securing a new deal. His current pact runs through 2026.

If the Rams do reverse course and give serious consideration to moving on now, Schultz adds a package that includes a first-round pick would be sought. The Rams needed to trade two first-round picks and a third to move Jared Goff‘s contract in the 2021 Stafford swap, and thanks in part to the 2024 restructure, trading Stafford before June 1 would bring a significant dead money charge ($45.33MM). That would check in behind only Russell Wilson and Rodgers’ upcoming Jets hit for largest in NFL history.

Having quickly reformed as a contender following a woeful Super Bowl title-defense season, the Rams would certainly be poised — McVay’s gifts notwithstanding — to take a step back if they traded Stafford. A deal in which another QB comes back would be interesting, and needy teams certainly exist here. Though, a team parting with a starter-caliber quarterback (and a first-round pick) to acquire a soon-to-be 37-year-old with a notable recent injury history would be a tougher scenario to envision. The Combine will provide a better gauge of what Stafford would bring back in a trade.

It is possible this is resolved with the contract adjustment Stafford seeks, though he has not shown an indication he would use a trade request as leverage in a negotiation. The Rams are projected to hold more than $44MM in cap space, which is a mid-pack number. A Kupp trade will bring back a few million more, as the Rams are prepared to take on some salary to facilitate a move. Kupp’s status aside, the lingering Stafford matter — particularly given this year’s available QBs — will be the most significant piece of the Rams’ offseason.

Rams Did Not Approach Cooper Kupp About Pay Cut; Teams Monitoring Matthew Stafford

February 18th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

After eight years with the Rams, Cooper Kupp‘s time with the franchise is set to come to an end. A trade partner is being sought out, and a release before the start of the new league also looms as a possibility.

Since the Super Bowl LVI MVP is due $20MM in 2025 (with a scheduled cap hit of $29.78MM), pulling off a trade could be challenging. The Rams could be prepared to retain money as part of an agreement, something which would likely be necessary to facilitate a swap. A pair of general managers informed Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post Los Angeles is prepared to eat at least $5MM in a potential Kupp trade.

With a release possible before the 31-year-old’s $7.5MM roster bonus is paid out (on March 17), suitors could of course wait for Kupp to hit the open market. Such a scenario could have been avoided with a restructure resulting in a pay cut and reduced salary cap charge. Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports, however, that the Rams never approached the former ‘Triple Crown’ winner about adjusting his pact (subscription required). Los Angeles is clearly prepared to move forward with a receiving corps led by Puka Nacua and a less expensive supporting cast.

Kupp has remained consistent in terms of touchdown production over the past three years (scoring 17 times in that span), but he has seen his yards per game average drop from 90.2 to 61.4 to 59.2 since the start of the 2022 season. Injuries have been an issue in each of those campaigns, something which will hinder the Eastern Washington product’s value. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes, $5MM of Kupp’s pending roster bonus is guaranteed in full, and it includes offset language. It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds in the lead-in to free agency.

The Kupp circumstances are taking place against the backdrop of renewed uncertainty regarding quarterback Matthew Stafford. Once again in need of a restructured pact, the 37-year-old intends to play in 2025. A fifth season with the Rams would be welcomed by team and player, but speculation has swirled about a potential trade. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes teams around the league are monitoring the Stafford situation, which could very well be resolved with another round of guaranteed compensation being accelerated on his pact.

Led by several young contributors on both sides of the ball, the Rams managed a run to the divisional round of the postseason this past year. Expectations will be high in 2025, but Kupp is set to be on another team next season while uncertainty still looms over whether or not Stafford will still be in place.

NFC West Coaching Updates: Cardinals, Scheelhaase, 49ers

February 18th, 2025 at 10:01pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cardinals are not one of the teams to hire a new head coach this offseason, necessitating the hiring of a new surrounding staff, but they still made a few updates this offseason. For instance, we’ve already reported on the hirings of offensive line coach Justin Frye, defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere, and linebackers coach Cristian Garcia.

In addition to those, Matt Feeney was hired as outside linebackers coach after three years in Las Vegas, the most recent of which he spent as assistant defensive backs coach after two years as a defensive quality control coach. Alec Osborne joins Feeney as a new hire and will serve as a defensive quality control coach.

Arizona also announced two internal promotions. After working as assistant quarterbacks coach this year and an offensive quality control coach before that, Conner Senger has been promoted to pass game specialist. Lastly, Blaine Gautier, who served two seasons as the Bill Bidwill Coaching Fellow, will now work as an offensive quality control coach in 2025.

Here are a couple other coaching updates out of the NFC West:

  • Rams pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase interviewed for both the Buccaneers’ and Jaguars’ offensive coordinator jobs this hiring cycle and was even considered a favorite for the job in Jacksonville before it was announced that he would stay in Los Angeles. Perhaps a reward for staying but certainly in recognition of the interest he sparked around the league, the Rams have promoted Scheelhaase to passing game coordinator, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He’ll continue to learn under head coach Sean McVay with increased responsibilities in 2025.
  • Lastly, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the 49ers have a new cornerbacks coach in Ray Brown. Brown most recently spent the 2024 season as the secondary coach at Boston College after a two-year stint coaching cornerbacks at Washington State.
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