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Jets HC Aaron Glenn Amenable To Aaron Rodgers Return; Rodgers Willing To Play For Glenn

By | at January 26, 2025 10:10 pm

The Jets have their new head coach (Aaron Glenn) and general manager (Darren Mougey) in place. They also have 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers under contract through 2025. Although there is plenty of non-QB work for the new power brokers to accomplish – including hiring an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator – one can reasonably expect Rodgers-Jets rumors to begin circulating anew.

Before New York agreed to terms with Glenn and Mougey, Rodgers acknowledged that his future with the club would be up to the new hirees (though he also has plenty of say in the matter himself, of course, especially since retirement is a real option). According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Glenn is open to a Rodgers return, and the quarterback is likewise amenable to playing for the first-time HC (video link).

We heard back in November that the Jets were likely to part ways with Rodgers this offseason, a sentiment that was echoed earlier this month. After his first Jets campaign in 2023 was cut short after just four snaps, Rodgers played an entire season in 2024, though the results generally fell short of expectations. For what it’s worth, Glenn still viewed Rodgers as an elite quarterback at the time he was traded from the Packers, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini notes. While plenty has changed since, Glenn did coach against Rodgers four times while an NFC North DC.

Additionally, due to the looming presence of a $35MM roster bonus that can be paid at any time prior to Week 1 of the 2025 season, it would be more expensive to part ways with Rodgers in 2026 than it would be if New York elected to move on now and avoid paying out the bonus.

On the other hand, it’s not as if the Jets have a young passer waiting in the wings, and their No. 7 overall draft slot may not be high enough to select one of the top signal-callers in this year’s crop absent a trade-up maneuver (and the 2025 class of QBs is considered to be a weak one anyway). And, since the Jets do have a number of talented players on both sides of the ball, Glenn and Mougey may feel that Rodgers, coupled with a non-Nathaniel Hackett OC, gives them the best chance to start their tenures out on the right foot by turning in a competitive 2025 season.

The relatively weak QB draft class could bolster the asking prices of several veteran passers who are likely to hit free agency. Rodgers would theoretically be among that group if the Jets choose to cut him, but recent reports have suggested he may not generate a particularly strong market. That could partially explain his preference to remain with New York should he opt to continue his playing career. 

In 17 games in 2024, Rodgers led the team to a 5-12 record and completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. That amounted to a traditional quarterback rating of 90.5 (just below league average) and a QBR of 49.5, which trailed the likes of Aidan O’Connell and Mason Rudolph.

51 comments New York Jets

Bears To Hire Dennis Allen As DC, Declan Doyle As OC

By | at January 26, 2025 10:05 pm

Bears new head coach Ben Johnson is starting to fill key positions on his staff, hiring ex-Saints head coach Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Johnson has also landed on Broncos tight ends coach Declan Doyle as his offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Hiring Allen is hardly a surprise; he was mentioned as Johnson’s preferred DC as soon as the former Lions coach arrived in Chicago. Doyle interviewed with the Bears, but his relative youth and inexperience made him a somewhat unexpected pick. Notably, both coaches are part of Sean Payton‘s coaching tree and even overlapped for one season in New Orleans.

The Bears also elected to retain special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, despite reported interest in Darren Rizzi, another Payton disciple. This has been a big day for the 2024 Saints’ play-callers, despite the team’s 5-12 record. The Seahawks hired 2024 Saints OC Klint Kubiak as well.

At 28 years old, Doyle will be the youngest active coordinator and one of the youngest in NFL history; he has just five NFL seasons under his belt. Doyle’s first three came as an offensive assistant with the Saints, two under Payton and one under Allen. He then reunited with Payton in Denver, though the Broncos’ tight ends hardly featured in the offense during Doyle’s tenure.

Doyle won’t call plays in Chicago, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Those duties will remain with Johnson, though Doyle will obviously play a crucial role in shaping the Bears’ offense as they head into a second season with last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams. Doyle’s priority will likely be a leaky offensive line that allowed a league-high 68 sacks in 2024. Their struggles contributed to the Bears finishing near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories, including a league-low 4,820 total yards. Doyle’s key offensive weapons include wide receivers D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze as well as running back D’Andre Swift. The former tight ends coach will also look to revitalize Cole Kmet, who took a step back last season after posting career-highs in receptions and receiving yards in 2023.

Allen, meanwhile, will take over a Bears defense that finished 27th in yards allowed but 13th in points allowed in 2024. Chicago’s run defense was among the worst in the league, but they allowed just 17 touchdowns through the air, the fewest in the NFL. Allen will have a solid starting secondary, though the future of safety Jaquan Brisker is uncertain after missing most of the season due to his third concussion in three years. Allen will have more work to do along the defensive line, where the Bears lack high-level talent outside of Montez Sweat.

The Saints fired Allen after 2 1/2 seasons. The franchise’s continuity plan did not work, but GM Mickey Loomis was not ready to move on compared to where ownership was. Allen went 18-25 as Saints HC; that followed a miserable 8-28 mark overseeing the Raiders from 2012-14. While Allen has not worked out as a head coach, he played a key role in forming Saints contenders during his second stint in New Orleans. After Allen’s Oakland ouster, he reunited with Payton and soon took over as Saints DC.

After a woeful mid-2010s stretch, the Saints’ defense recovered under Allen. From 2017-21, the team posted a top-10 total defense in five consecutive seasons. This Bears chance will be Allen’s fifth as either a DC or HC. Following a tenure in which he collected a Super Bowl ring as Saints DBs coach, Allen will begin the 2025 season having either been a head coach or DC in 15 of the past 16 seasons. That represents considerable experience compared to Doyle, who will be riding shotgun to Johnson on offense.

With his three coordinators in place, as well as a few key assistants, Johnson’s first (and arguably most important) moves as head coach are complete. Now, he will turn his attention to the Bears’ offseason roster priorities as he tries to return the storied franchise to competitive relevance.

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Seahawks Hire Klint Kubiak As OC

By | at January 26, 2025 9:59 pm

The Seahawks are hiring Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the same position in Seattle, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Kubiak emerged as an early favorite for the job and completed a second, in-person interview last week. He will replace Ryan Grubb, who lasted just one year after being picked as Mike Macdonald‘s first offensive coordinator.

While the Saints have not made a final decision in their search for a new head coach, Kubiak was not expected to stay on the staff in New Orleans. He interviewed with the Browns before they promoted Tommy Rees and was mentioned as a possibility for the Texans after they fired Bobby Slowik. This will be Kubiak’s third OC opportunity, following stints with the Vikings and Saints.

Seattle has plenty of obvious appeal for Kubiak. Working under a defensive-minded head coach like Macdonald will give Kubiak a freer rein over the offense. He’s accustomed to such an arrangement, as his first two OC jobs were under defensive coaches (Mike Zimmer in Minnesota, Dennis Allen in New Orleans).

The Seahawks also have a stable quarterback situation with Geno Smith and an elite duo at wide receiver in D.K. Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kubiak will have to reform a leaky offensive line that allowed 54 sacks in 2024 (third-most in the NFL), though he will do so with Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas returning at left and right tackle, respectively. Lucas’ health will be crucial, but the pair of linemen can provide a solid foundation to the rest of the unit.

Both sides will be hoping that their new partnership lasts more than one year. Kubiak will become the Seahawks’ third offensive coordinator in three years, while his two previous stints as OC were only for one season.

Before deciding on Kubiak, Seattle interviewed a total of seven candidates, the most of any team seeking a new offensive coordinator to date. That list includes Ravens run game coordinator Travis Switzer, who interviewed for the job over the weekend, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Switzer helped offensive coordinator Todd Monken find the best ways to unleash Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in the Ravens’ league-leading rushing offense in 2024. He also has a history with Macdonald after the two overlapped for six years in Baltimore.

The Seahawks still seemed to prefer Kubiak the entire time. His early flashes of brilliance last season were quickly derailed by a litany of injuries that left the Saints’ offense limping to the finish line. New Orleans still outpaced Seattle’s inefficient rushing offense, which was a key factor in Grubb’s dismissal. Macdonald will be hoping that Kubiak can find the best way to utilize Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet in 2025.

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2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at January 26, 2025 9:57 pm

Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. As most HC-needy teams have now filled their open positions, the coordinator carousel has accelerated. Here is how the market looks now. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-21-25 (1:59pm CT)

Offensive coordinators

Chicago Bears (Out: Chris Beatty)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Ken Dorsey)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Brian Schottenheimer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Ben Johnson)

  • John Morton, pass-game coordinator (Broncos): Hired

Houston Texans (Out: Bobby Slowik)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Press Taylor)

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Klint Kubiak)

New York Jets (Out: Nathaniel Hackett)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Promoted

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Ryan Grubb)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Liam Coen)

Defensive coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)

Chicago Bears (Out: Eric Washington)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Mike Zimmer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Aaron Glenn)

  • Larry Foote, inside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Kelvin Sheppard, linebackers coach (Lions): Promoted

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

  • Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach/running game coordinator (Packers): Hired
  • Jonathan Cooley, pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
  • Patrick Graham, former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
  • Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/27
  • Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/28

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: DeMarcus Covington)

  • Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/21
  • Terrell Williams, defensive line coach (Lions): Hired

New Orleans Saints (Out: Joe Woods)

New York Jets (Out: Jeff Ulbrich)

  • Chris Harris, former defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/29
  • Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): To be hired

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)

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Saints To Interview Kellen Moore Before Super Bowl

By | at January 26, 2025 9:48 pm

JANUARY 26: With the Eagles advancing to the Super Bowl, the Saints did not want to wait until February to speak with Moore about their head coaching vacancy. Their decision-makers will travel to Philadelphia to interview Moore in-person Monday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, positioning him as a frontrunner for the job.

Interestingly, Moore will be in New Orleans the week after, where the Eagles will be using the Saints’ facility as they prepare for another championship matchup with the Chiefs, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football.

JANUARY 25: With Joe Brady electing to remain in place with the Bills for at least one more year, another candidate is out of the running for the Saints’ head coaching position. New Orleans is the only team with a HC vacancy, and the list of staffers still in the running is well known at this point.

Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver have now conducted second interviews with the Saints. Their in-person meeting were slightly delayed by the weather earlier this week, something which also pushed back the team’s timing regarding Mike McCarthy. The former Cowboys head coach is free to speak with the Saints at any time, but a higher priority appears to be in place.

Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football confirms McCarthy remains interested in interviewing for the Saints’ head coaching gig. Interestingly, though, he adds the team does not plan on speaking with him before conducting a second interview with Kellen Moore. The latter was unable for a meeting of any kind this week with the Eagles preparing for the NFC title game, but he can speak with the Saints next week regardless of its outcome.

On Monday, it was reported McCarthy’s interview was set to take place over the coming days. That has not proven to be the case despite his status as a coaching free agent. The 61-year-old had a Bears interview request blocked by the Cowboys while the possibility remained he would remain with Dallas for next season. McCarthy and the Cowboys ultimately parted ways, though, leaving the former Saints OC on the lookout for his next opportunity.

Shortly after the most recent McCarthy update regarding New Orleans’ search, it was learned Moore was among the targets of a second interview request. If the Eagles lose tomorrow, the former Cowboys and Chargers OC will be free to speak with New Orleans and (if offered) take the HC position at any time. Even if Philadelphia advances to the Super Bowl, Moore will be available for an in-person interview during the bye week which is in place before the game. Of course, the 35-year-old could not be hired by the Saints until after the Super Bowl if the team elected to go in that direction.

Kafka and Weaver are in the same position as McCarthy in that their timelines are not tied to this weekend’s results. Especially with that in mind, it is telling that the Saints do not intend to move forward with their search until Moore (who was at one point viewed as the frontrunner for the Cowboys’ gig) becomes available. With every other head coaching vacancy now filled, New Orleans does not have the threat of Moore taking another position and the team can therefore afford to remain patient.

7 comments New Orleans Saints Philadelphia Eagles

Cowboys Conduct DC Interview With Andre Curtis; Matt Eberflus Remains Likely Hire

By | at January 26, 2025 4:59 pm

With Mike Zimmer no longer in the fold, the Cowboys are in need of a new defensive coordinator. Matt Eberflus is a name to watch closely on that front, but at least one other option has received a look.

Dallas conducted a DC interview with Andre Curtis, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. Curtis has experience in a number of positional roles across his time in the NFL, the most recent being as the Bears’ safeties coach. He has held that title since 2022.

Curtis began his coaching career at the Virginia Military Institute, working as the program’s linebackers coach for four years. That was followed by a two-year stint at Georgia Southern before he received his first NFL opportunity. The 48-year-old held a role on the Giants’ staff from 2006-08, and after that he worked with the Rams, Saints and Seahawks. Curtis worked his way up to passing game coordinator at the end of his Seattle tenure, serving in that role for three years.

As DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr. notes, this interview satisfies the Rooney Rule requirement for the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator spot. He adds, however, that Eberflus is still on track to earn the position. Eberflus had his first head coaching stint come to an abrupt end midway through the season when the Bears fired him, but prior to his Chicago posting he built up his stock as the Colts’ DC. It would be feasible for the 54-year-old’s next coaching opportunity came at the coordinator level.

Hill notes, though, that Curtis is a prime candidate to work as Dallas’ defensive backs coach. Having worked together with Eberflus in Chicago, the pair could look to continue their relationship with the Cowboys. Familiarity also exists between Curtis and new head coach Brian Schottenheimer dating back to their shared time in Seattle. Nothing is in place yet, but at this point it would come as no surprise if Curtis’ next stop in his coaching stop were to come in Dallas.

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Titans To Hire Dave Ziegler As Assistant GM

By | at January 26, 2025 3:56 pm

Mike Borgonzi is in place as the Titans’ new general manager. He will not have the final say on certain roster-building fronts, but he has a number of key decisions to make regarding the rest of Tennessee’s front office.

Once it was learned Borgonzi was the Titans’ pick for GM, Dave Ziegler‘s name emerged as one to watch regarding a role of some kind on the staff. To no surprise, then, the two are set to work together in 2025. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports a deal is being finalized to make Ziegler Tennessee’s next assistant general manager.

When Chad Brinker – now the Titans’ lead executive – was hired in 2023, Anthony Robinson was also brought in as an assistant GM. The latter was fired earlier this month alongside Ran Carthon, however, leaving Brinker in place to play a lead role in reshaping the Tennessee front office. Ziegler will bring notable experience to that group given his NFL tenure.

The 47-year-old’s front office career began in 2010 with the Broncos. Ziegler worked as a Denver scout for two seasons before moving on to the Patriots in 2013. During his New England tenure, he worked his way up to director of player personnel before receiving his first GM opportunity. Hired alongside Josh McDaniels, Ziegler was tasked with bring the ‘Patriot Way’ to the Raiders in 2022. Their efforts on that front did not go according to plan, though, and midway through their second season in place they were both fired.

Ziegler did not need to wait long to find his next opportunity, taking on a role with the Saints in July. As Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football notes, Ziegler has played a key role in the team’s ongoing head coaching search (New Orleans’ vacancy is the only one which remains around the league). His absence will therefore be felt by the Saints moving forward.

The Titans will of course be a team to watch closely as the draft approaches given Borgonzi’s stated willingness to entertain offers for the No. 1 pick. Considering Ziegler’s background in scouting, he will no doubt have a key role in evaluating the 2025 prospect class and thus in shaping the Titans’ overall plan regarding the draft. Beyond that, it will be interesting to see how he fits into the team’s front office structure.

3 comments New Orleans Saints Tennessee Titans

Seahawks Conduct OC Interview With Packers’ Adam Stenavich

By | at January 26, 2025 2:24 pm

A pair of finalists recently emerged regarding the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator vacancy. The team is continuing to expand its list of candidates, however.

Seattle has met with Packers OC Adam Stenavich, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. Stenavich just finished his sixth season in Green Bay, and with the team out of contention for the Super Bowl he could be hired away at any time. It will be interesting to see if a second interview is arranged in the near future.

Stenavich worked as a graduate assistant at Michigan in 2012 and ’13 before working as an offensive line coach at Northern Arizona and then San Jose State. His first NFL gig came 2017 with the 49ers. The 41-year-old worked as an assistant O-line coach in San Francisco for two seasons before joining Matt LaFleur‘s initial Packers staff in 2019.

For three years, Stenavich served as Green Bay’s offensive line coach; in 2021, he had run game coordinator added to his title. When Nathaniel Hackett and Luke Getsy departed during the 2022 offseason, it came as little surprise he was promoted to OC. LaFleur has continued to handle play-calling duties since then, but Stenavich’s stock has risen during his time in a coordinator role.

The Bears met with Stenavich as part of their wide-ranging HC search. Chicago ultimately went in a different intra-divisional direction by bringing in former Lions OC Ben Johnson. No other teams spoke with Stenavich for a head coaching gig, but now he is a candidate for one of the league’s coordinator openings. Seattle has already interviewed Klint Kubiak and Grant Udinski twice, so it will be worth watching closely to see if the team adds Stenavich to the groups of finalists.

Via PFR’s OC/DC Tracker, here is an updated look at the Seahawks’ ongoing search to find Ryan Grubb‘s replacement:

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Mike Zimmer Will Not Return To Cowboys, Likely To Retire

By | at January 26, 2025 12:43 pm

When the Cowboys elected to part ways with former head coach Mike McCarthy earlier this month, the writing was on the wall for defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who joined the Dallas staff in 2024 and whose future with the club was tied to McCarthy’s. Zimmer has now confirmed that he will not return to the Cowboys as a member of new HC Brian Schottenheimer’s staff, and that he will likely retire from coaching in the NFL (per WFAA’s Ed Werder, who confirms prior reports that Matt Eberflus is in line to replace Zimmer as DC).

Given that Zimmer is now 68, retirement was an obvious option as soon as it became clear he was unlikely to be back with the Cowboys in 2025. Now, it seems he is more certain about stepping away from the NFL sidelines for good. Werder adds Zimmer likely would have been interested in Dallas’ HC position had he received an offer, but that did not come to pass. 

Zimmer began his coaching career as a defensive assistant with the University of Missouri in 1979, and his first professional gig came as a defensive assistant on the Cowboys’ staff in 1994 (he earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the club in 1995). He worked his way up the Dallas ranks and operated as the team’s defensive coordinator from 2000-06 before taking the same job with the Falcons in 2007 and then working as the Bengals’ DC from 2008-13.

Although Cincinnati famously never won a playoff game during Marvin Lewis‘ tenure as head coach, Zimmer’s arrival in the Queen City coincided with the team’s ascension to regular competitiveness. During his six-year stint as defensive coordinator, the Bengals never finished lower than 15th in total defense and posted two top-10 and two top-five finishes in that span. That run of success garnered Zimmer head coaching interest, and the Vikings hired him as their HC in 2014.

Over the course of eight years in Minnesota, Zimmer coached the team to a record of .500 or better five times. The Vikings made three playoff appearances during his tenure, but after a pair of losing seasons in 2020 and ’21 – along with no runs beyond the divisional round during his overall time in Minnesota – Zimmer was dismissed. For the following two years, he remained out of the pro game by handling a consultant role under Deion Sanders at Jackson State and then Colorado.

After seeing Dan Quinn depart to take the Commanders’ head coaching gig, the Cowboys prioritized experience in looking for his replacement. Rex Ryan was firmly in the running last offseason, but in the end Zimmer returned to his former position amidst high expectations. Quinn led Dallas’ defense to a fifth-place finish in both points and yards allowed in 2023, and a repeat of that performance would have gone a long way in allowing for another postseason appearance this past year.

In addition to Zimmer’s unit losing a number of key players after they followed Quinn to Washington, though, injuries were a defining aspect of the campaign. The likes of Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Trevon Diggs and DeMarvion Overshown (amongst others) all missed time with major ailments and the Cowboys ranked near the bottom of the league in several defensive categories. Especially with McCarthy not coming back, Zimmer’s decision to step away comes as little surprise.

The latter said in August he would welcome the opportunity to once again serve as a head coach in the NFL, but he added he felt that would be unlikely. Interest in Zimmer could be generated if he changed course and elected to continue coaching, but for the time being it appears his time on the sidelines is coming to an end after 23 years as either a coordinator or head coach at the pro level.

Rory Parks contributed to this post. 

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Rams Could Consider Matthew Stafford Trade; Latest On Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams

By | at January 26, 2025 12:12 pm

The Rams naturally want to get clarity on quarterback Matthew Stafford’s status sooner rather than later. Although it is not yet a sure thing, it sounds as if the soon-to-be 37-year-old passer is prepared to continue his playing career. His contract, however, continues to be a talking point.

While Stafford is under club control through 2026, last summer’s restructure – which frontloaded most of his guarantees into 2024 – essentially turned his deal into a year-to-year accord. With a $23MM base salary and only $4MM in guaranteed money due in 2025, Stafford’s current pact is a team-friendly one, and therefore one which could be attractive to other clubs in need of a short-term QB fix (even if such a club would need to make an upward adjustment to the contract).

Indeed, both Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic (subscription required) and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believe that a Stafford trade is on the table. Given that the Rams just advanced to the second round of the playoffs, have a bevy of talented young players, and do not have an immediate Stafford successor in place, such a move would be surprising. That is especially true since Stafford is unlikely to fetch the high-end draft capital that the Rams dealt to the Lions to acquire him several years ago, and since Los Angeles’ first pick in the upcoming draft is the No. 26 overall selection.

Still, GM Les Snead did not shoot down the notion and merely suggested that he would not actively seek a trade. 

“[I]t’ll take someone calling or us reaching out if we want to [make a trade],” Snead said (via Florio). “Those are the things that’ll be determined down the road here.”

Of course, hammering out a new or reworked contract with Stafford is also a real possibility. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 draft may not be at the height of his powers, but he is still a capable player, and a team like the Rams that has designs on another postseason run in 2025 will be hard-pressed to find an obvious plug-and-play upgrade. Indeed, head coach Sean McVay said last year that he is happy to have Stafford as his QB1 for as long as Stafford wants to play.

Wide receiver Cooper Kupp, another key piece of the club’s recent Super Bowl-winning outfit, is facing an even more uncertain LA future. The 2021 Triple Crown winner has struggled to stay healthy since that historic campaign, playing in 33 of a possible 51 regular season games over the past three years. His production has slipped accordingly, and he finished the 2024 season with 67 catches for 710 yards and six scores in 12 games. He still saw 100 targets but posted a 67% catch percentage, well below the marks he achieved from 2018-2022.

Kupp, 31, has clearly been surpassed by Puka Nacua in the Rams’ WR hierarchy, and his $29.78MM cap number in 2025 could be untenable for Los Angeles. Only $5MM of his $12.5MM base salary is guaranteed, and he has a roster bonus of $7.5MM that will not trigger until March 19. The Rams, who shopped the Eastern Washington product in advance of the 2024 trade deadline, will certainly want to execute a trade or release before that date. 

For his part, Kupp confirmed that he will continue his playing career, though he realizes he may have played his last game for the Rams.

“Who knows what is going to happen?” he said. “A lot of stuff is out of my control. We’ll see (what) it’s going to be. There was obviously stuff that was going on early in the season and we’ll see. I don’t have any clarity on what that’s gonna look like. Obviously would love to be in L.A., but I don’t know what that is gonna look like.”

Running back Kyren Williams, on the other hand, looks like he will remain in Southern California for the foreseeable future. Now that he has accrued three years of service time, he is eligible for an extension, and Snead suggested he is amenable to having those conversations with Williams’ camp.

“He’s a Ram,” Snead said of Williams (via Rodrigue, who indicated that is language team brass uses for “heartbeat” players). 

“I think [an extension is] something that’s going to be on the plate,” Snead added. “[Williams] would be someone that after three years you could begin discussing, let’s call it, renegotiating, starting anew. Because I do think Kyren is someone who is a Ram and has a very impactful role for us” (via Stu Jackson of the team’s official website).

Williams has seized Los Angeles’ RB1 job over the past two years, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2023 and tallying 316 carries for 1,299 yards (4.1 YPC) and 16 combined TDs in 2024.

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