The NFL offseason is like a smorgasbord of player and team rankings, speculations, and projections. It's a time when fans, especially those of the Los Angeles Rams, get to dream big. But while it's easy to get swept up in the hype, it's crucial to remember that these rankings are more about setting the stage for the season than predicting the future with certainty.
Recently, CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco dropped his Top 100 players list, and the Rams made quite the splash. Five Rams players found their names on the list, which is impressive on its own. But here's the kicker: the Rams have not one, not two, but three players in the top 10, and two of them are holding court at the very top.
That's not just a feather in the cap; it's practically a whole peacock. Such recognition is rare and sets the bar high for the Rams as they head into the new season, where expectations will be as lofty as the Hollywood Hills.
So, who are these Rams making waves in Prisco's Top 100?
With only 100 spots to fill and 32 teams vying for recognition, there's bound to be some tough calls. The Rams, while celebrating their stars, also have a couple of notable snubs.
Receiver Davante Adams, a future Hall of Famer in the making, and defensive lineman Kobie Turner, who excels despite constant double teams, just missed the cut. But here are the five who did make it:
- Edge Rusher Byron Young
Byron Young is coming off a season where he racked up 12 sacks. You might think he deserves a higher spot, and you'd have a point. This former third-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and he's riding a wave of momentum that could see him secure a lucrative extension.
- Cornerback Trent McDuffie
Trent McDuffie, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs, has already made a name for himself by shutting down some of the AFC's best receivers. Now, he's bringing his talents to the NFC with the Rams. While his role is still being defined, his versatility has been on display during OTAs, and Prisco's keen eye caught it.
- Wide Receiver Puka Nacua
Puka Nacua behind Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson? That's a head-scratcher.
Nacua just led the league in receptions, yards per game, and snagged the highest Pro Football Focus receiver grade ever. He's rightfully among the NFL's elite and deservedly in the top ten, if not the top five.
- Quarterback Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford's placement might stir some debate, but the defending MVP's stats speak volumes. Leading the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, while keeping interceptions to just eight, Stafford's performance last season was stellar.
His TD-to-INT ratio ranks among the best in history, trailing only legends like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. The Rams have smartly managed his offseason workload, keeping him fresh and ready for another grueling season.
- Edge Rusher Myles Garrett
Topping the list is Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Fresh off setting the single-season sacks record, Garrett is a force of nature.
With a solid supporting cast on defense and an explosive offense to back him up, Garrett is primed to wreak havoc. Under the guidance of defensive coordinator Chris Shula, expect Garrett to be unleashed in ways that maximize his game-changing potential.
As the Rams gear up for the season, these rankings set the stage for what could be a thrilling ride. With stars like these, the Rams are not just aiming to meet expectations-they're looking to redefine them.
In Other News...
Sean McVay Faces A Defining Rams Backup QB Decision
The Rams quarterback room has become a quiet but meaningful camp storyline, with a backup job still up for grabs behind the starter. Stetson Bennett is in the middle of it after spending his first two seasons trying to carve out a role, while Ty Simpson enters with the kind of draft status that usually brings instant attention and pressure. For Sean McVay, it is less about headlines than timing, development and figuring out which player is best suited to step in if the depth chart gets tested.
Simpsons path is being handled carefully because the Rams do not want to rush a passer whose college rsum was still short on starting experience. Bennett, meanwhile, has the advantage of having been around the system longer and of already showing he can manage an offense at Georgia, even if his NFL rsum is still waiting for its first live snap. Add in the uncertainty around the veteran options, and this is becoming one of those decisions that says plenty about how the Rams want to build the position, even before the rest of the league fully notices. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Fans Wont Love This New Backup QB Update
Matthew Stafford is still expected to open the season as the Rams starting quarterback, but the conversation behind him has gotten a lot more interesting. Los Angeles already moved on from Jimmy Garoppolo and then used a first-round pick on Ty Simpson in the 2026 NFL Draft, a move that looked like it might finally settle the long-term quarterback picture behind Stafford.
Instead, the latest read on the depth chart suggests the backup job is not headed to the rookie. For a team leaning on a 38-year-old starter, that matters, and it leaves the Rams with a much different kind of QB succession plan than many fans probably imagined when Simpson arrived. [Read more 🡒]
Puka Nacua Could Be On Verge Of A Different Kind Of Season
Puka Nacua already proved in 2023 that he can handle the spotlight, piling up a record-setting rookie season before injuries slowed him over the next two years. Even with that interruption, the conversation around him has hardly cooled, because the Rams still view him as one of the most dangerous young receivers in the league when he is on the field and healthy.
Now the setup feels different again. Nacua is heading into a season with real leverage in front of him, and the ingredients around him suggest another big run could be coming: his growing trust with Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams drawing attention on the other side, and an offense with enough answers to keep defenses from keying on one target. If the health piece finally holds, the Rams may be looking at a year that pushes Nacua into an entirely new category. [Read more 🡒]