After seeing their offense struggle to create big plays and move the ball consistently last season, the Los Angeles Rams had a clear goal in mind this offseason: give Matthew Stafford some help.
And so they made a big splash the day before free agency began, signing Davante Adams to a two-year, $44 million deal. He was the top wide receiver on the market and with ties to the West Coast, it’s a signing that made sense for both sides.
Adams joins Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell as a top option in the Rams’ offense for 2025, giving Stafford another reliable target and Sean McVay a chess piece on the field. Even with as much money as the Rams gave the 32-year-old wideout, it’s a move that’s been viewed as a win.
ESPN polled its experts on the best signings or trades of free agency so far and two picked the Rams’ addition of Adams.
Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: The Rams signing wide receiver Davante Adams. He’s an upgrade over Cooper Kupp on his new two-year deal, as Adams can get loose against press coverage and create separation to the ball. Opposite Puka Nacua, Adams can win one-on-one as the “X” receiver, plus he will be schemed to attack zone voids off motion and in play-action. This is a really good fit for Sean McVay’s offense.
As hard as it is to say that Adams is an upgrade over Kupp, it’s almost undeniably true. He doesn’t have the injury history or durability concerns that Kupp does and despite being a little bit older, he has more speed and elusiveness in the open field. He should be able to create big plays down the field and pick up yards after the catch, something Kupp has struggled to do in the last two seasons.
Lindsey Thiry, national NFL reporter: The Rams signing Adams. After retaining Matthew Stafford with a reworked contract, the addition of Adams provides Stafford a 1-2 punch along with Nacua. For a team that missed the NFC Championship Game by a mere play last season, the addition of Adams should be enough to help bring another deep playoff run.
Nacua will probably still remain the No. 1 option for Stafford, given their chemistry and Nacua’s high volume of targets throughout the last two seasons, but Adams is as good a WR2 as there is in the NFL.
The Rams offense got better this offseason, which could help them chase another championship in 2025.
