The Rams are going to look very different next season.
Legal tampering has reached the NFL and it is the most hilarious concept ever.
To think that no teams have been talking with one another behind closed doors is completely absurd. It is one of those things that we all just accept for what it is, but whatever the case free agency is here and that is what matters most.
Building on the point at hand… we have already seen multiple trades across the league and several players either returning to their teams or (ones who were eligible to sign elsewhere already) find new ones.
We here at The Skinny Post, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, have some thoughts on it all.
Davante Adams is going to the Rams… cool or not really?
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
RJ:
It goes without saying that we have seen an aging superstar find a new team, oftentimes on the West Coast, only for it all to fizzle and never be anything truly exciting.
But the Los Angeles Rams have continually been a team that can take players looking for a new chapter in their careers and make lemonade out of it all. Remember that Jalen Ramsey, Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller were all a part of the team that won the Super Bowl four years ago.
What excites me most about the Davante Adams decision to join them is that he is forging his own path independent of Aaron Rodgers. The only time we ever got to see this in the NFL was when he (perhaps foolishly) hitched his wagon to Derek Carr. Matthew Stafford is a very capable quarterback who may be able to get some of what is left out of him for the greater good.
Sign me all the way up for this.
Michael:
I really thought Adams had a chance of landing with the Chargers, but after hearing he’s headed to the Rams, it actually makes a ton of sense. He had a ton of success in Green Bay under Matt LaFleur and LeFleur sure is part of the Sean McVay coaching tree having spent time under the latter as the Rams offensive coordinator.
If there’s any other coach aside from LaFleur who will know how to get the absolute most out of Adams at this stage of his career, it’s McVay. Now that’s he’s about to be paired with Puka Nacua and Matthew Stafford, I’m expecting one heck of a bounce-back season for Adams in LA.
Do you blame D.K. Metcalf for throwing out his demands in a trade partner in favor of earning $30+ million from Steelers?
Michael:
I blame Metcalf ONLY A LITTLE because I held out hope he would end up with the Chargers, but that sure wasn’t the case. When reports said he wanted warm weather and consistent quarterback play, the Chargers just seemed right, along with the Texans, Rams, and several other teams. But in the end, money sure does talk, and $30+ million a year for a receiver is no joke.
Now the only downside for Metcalf is not actually knowing who will be throwing him passes this upcoming season. Right now, it looks like it could be Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers. For his sake, I hope it’s Wilson who already has developed a rapport with him during their time together in Seattle.
If that’s the case, he could end up having a really good time in Pittsburgh, freezing weather and all.
RJ:
Absolutely not.
D.K. has been an incredible player for the Seahawks and I understand if he feels like a change of scenery is in order in general.
But what’s more is that Seattle just dealt away Geno Smith and while they brought in Sam Darnold… I don’t know that I feel like they are anywhere close to contending. It feels like a soft rebuild of sorts.
Maybe the Steelers have a plan at quarterback, but at the very least they had an open checkbook and a chance for D.K. to really cash in. Good for him.
Does anybody really care where Aaron Rodgers ends up?
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
RJ:
On its surface the idea of a Hall of Fame quarterback having the chance to choose his new team in free agency is riveting. We were all captivated when Peyton Manning became the first in the modern age to have the opportunity 13 years ago (isn’t that insane?) and even when Tom Brady got a shot half a decade ago (also wild).
While each of those situations were fascinating, they were also met with tempered expectations. We didn’t know exactly what Manning or Brady had left in the tank and in the case of Aaron Rodgers it feels like we have already found that answer out. He seems to be not very good anymore (relative to the player he was in his prime).
Beyond Aaron’s own limitations (as we see them) these days… none of the teams he could conceivably play for would be interesting situations should he sign there. Rodgers to the New York Giants? Yawn. The idea of the Minnesota Vikings would be fun if not for the fact that it would literally be his Favre arc reaching its full and total conclusion.
Boring.
Michael:
When the dust settles, I honestly think Rodgers ends up going with one of the final teams that would have him, not so much that he lands where he ideally would like to. Teams like the Steelers and Seahawks seemed to be focused on Sam Darnold. The Seahawks landed Darnold, and the Steelers could very well go get Rodgers. My guess is Darnold lands with the Steelers since they have the better skill group to surround their quarterback which means Rodgers could very well land with the Giants or Seahawks, both of which are lacking in weapons.
Knowing Rodgers, I could see him thinking long and hard about hanging up the cleats if his only options to play in 2025 include a handful of teams with worse supporting casts than the Jets had last season, and we all saw how that went for him.
You touched on the Vikings as an option, but I don’t see it. They need to focus on the team around J.J. McCarthy and need to use every bit of their cap space elsewhere away from the quarterback spot.
Who won the Laremy Tunsil trade and why was it the Commanders?
Michael:
Laremy Tunsil allowed the second-lowest amount of pressure in the NFL in 2024. He’s been protecting one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL the past two seasons and the Texans have made the playoffs in back-to-back years. You know what a team should NOT do with that type of recent success? Trade away their franchise left tackle with absolutely zero potential replacements currently on the roster.
That’s exactly what Houston did with Tunsil.
In all, the Texans send Tunsil and a 2025 fourth-rounder in exchange for four draft picks, including a 2026 second-rounder and a 2025 third-rounder. In my opinion, the Commanders fleeced the Texans because the haul of picks really combines to be the value of a low first-round pick.
Jayden Daniels is probably crying tears of joy right now. CJ Stroud on the other hand? Different kind of tears.
RJ:
It is insane to me how the Commanders and Texans took quarterbacks No. 2 overall, saw it produce insane success in the first year and that only ONE YEAR after the Texans went into Year 2… they did this.
What is Houston doing? This is a huge steal for Washington and they are supporting their guy. C.J. Stroud was sacked a ton with Tunsil on the team last year and this sets them even further back from getting over the hump.
The Commanders got a taste of real success and clearly want more. I admire that.
I have zero idea what the Texans are up to.
