The Rams are staring at a roster squeeze that could leave several familiar faces on the outside looking in next season. With more than two dozen pending free agents and extension money already spoken for in key spots, general manager Les Snead has a tough balancing act ahead. And for three veterans in particular, the path back to Los Angeles looks shaky at best.
Tutu Atwell is the clearest case of a player whose role has simply never materialized the way the Rams likely hoped. The trade that brought him back to Los Angeles “made little sense when it was announced,” and the fit has looked even stranger since.
Even with limited snaps from Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, plus little production from the rest of the receiver room, Atwell has remained on the bench. That becomes even harder to explain when tight end injuries are part of the picture.
Atwell has talent, but this offense has not shown much interest in using it, and that lack of game-day involvement makes a return in 2027 feel unlikely.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. has carved out a more useful niche, but his future still looks cloudy. He has been a steady depth corner, allowing just a 50 percent completion rate, yet he has also given up a touchdown in 112 defensive snaps and has not proven to be a reliable tackler.
The Rams can make a case for keeping him around in a limited role, but the roster math is working against him. Los Angeles has already spent heavily on the secondary through recent extensions and additions, and there may not be enough room left in the budget for Forbes.
It’s a numbers game, plain and simple.
David Quessenberry may be the toughest player to project because he has done his job well. He stepped in at left tackle in Week 6 when Alaric Jackson served his one-game suspension, and while he allowed a sack in that game, Pro Football Focus has been kind to him overall.
Through seven games and 61 offensive snaps, he carries an 83.0 overall grade. Even so, the Rams’ offensive line situation makes his return uncertain.
The team could lose four starters in 2027, and Quessenberry would likely rank behind Coleman Shelton, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson, and Warren McClendon in priority. That makes it hard to see where the money comes from, especially with the Rams trying to keep the line intact after a season in which the group has been excellent without drawing much individual recognition.
There is one obvious caveat: if any of these players is willing to take a very team-friendly deal, the picture could change. But as things stand now, Atwell, Forbes, and Quessenberry all look headed toward life elsewhere in 2027.
In Other News...
Rams Defense Suddenly Has A Myles Garrett Question Again
The Rams have spent most of the early season waiting on a defensive boost, and Myles Garretts name has stayed at the center of that conversation since he landed on injured reserve with the knee injury he suffered in Week 1. His absence has been felt on a unit that the Rams believe can still improve, and any news around his recovery has carried extra weight because of what he means to the front seven.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, there is optimism Garrett could return to practice as soon as this week and potentially play soon after. For a defense looking for a lift down the stretch, that kind of timeline matters, even if the next step still has to come before anyone can count on him being back in game action. [Read more 🡒]
Rams May Be Making The Smart Call With Trent McDuffie
The Rams spent the offseason trying to raise the floor of their defense, and Trent McDuffie was one of the key additions meant to help do it. He has played well when available, but the groin injury that has already cost him multiple games has complicated the early returns, leaving Los Angeles to balance his value against the reality of a long season.
McDuffie is listed as questionable for Week 8, and the cautious approach makes sense with a softer matchup on the schedule. Josh Wallace has held up reasonably well in his place, which gives the Rams some flexibility to avoid rushing McDuffie back before he is fully ready. For a defense that added Myles Garrett, McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to change its outlook, the bigger picture may matter more than forcing one player into action too soon. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face A Trade Deadline Twist In Josh Downs Pursuit
The Colts sudden sell-off has put Josh Downs squarely on the market, and the Rams are among the teams keeping close watch. Indianapolis has already moved on from Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, and Downs has now officially asked to be traded, turning a once-unthinkable possibility into one of the more intriguing deadline storylines for a Los Angeles team that could use more help at receiver.
What makes the situation tricky is that the Colts still appear to prefer keeping Downs, even while valuing him at a third-round pick. Trade discussions around Jonathan Taylor have also picked up, and the order in which Indianapolis chooses to move assets could shape whether Los Angeles gets a real opening on Downs or has to wait and see how the rest of the Colts deadline picture unfolds. [Read more 🡒]