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The Los Angeles Rams wrapped up OTAs this week and are now preparing for minicamp in Maui. OTAs didn’t involve any hitting or pads, but the Rams were able to run 11-on-11 drills and ramp up the competition level a bit.
Things will continue to heat up in minicamp and eventually training camp as the Rams get ready for the 2025 season, which is shaping up to be one with Super Bowl potential. Now that OTAs are in the books, here are seven things we learned from the last three weeks of practice.
Emmanuel Forbes has bulked up and stood out
Sean McVay said this week that Forbes is “bulking up,” which is a good sign for the young cornerback who came into the NFL with concerns about his weight and overall frame. It’s still early in the offseason because the pads haven’t even come on yet and players still aren’t hitting, but he’s made a strong impression on the coaching staff.
“He’s got great movement. He’s got a really good concept trigger,” McVay said. “You can see the ball production where he’s doing things that had never been done before at the collegiate level in terms of being able to get your hands on the ball and then go score. I’ve really been pleased with him. There’s been a lot of positive guys that have really stood out or really kind of taken their game to another level. I’m looking forward to seeing once we put the pads on and getting into some of the preseason games, let’s continue to apply that. But been really pleased with Emmanuel and he’s done a great job.”
With the cornerback spot wide open, Forbes has a chance to carve out a role in the secondary this season.
Braden Fiske’s knee is good to go
Fiske underwent a minor procedure on his knee this offseason after getting hurt in the January playoff loss to the Eagles. There was no real concern about him missing time in 2025 but OTAs have been really encouraging for the second-year defensive lineman.
Fiske said he’s ahead of schedule in his rehab and is already a full-go in practice, feeling no limitations or ill effects from the offseason surgery. He’s poised for a big year in 2025 after leading the team in sacks last season.
Davante Adams having a positive impact on and off the field
Adams and Matthew Stafford have been building chemistry on the practice field this offseason as the veteran receiver enters his first year with the Rams. He’s already having an impact on his new team, both as a pass catcher and in the locker room.
Puka Nacua has talked about how much advice Adams has shared already, while McVay has raved about his football intelligence in the film room and in practice. As a receiver who’s been in the league for more than a decade, Adams has seen a bevvy of coverages and defensive techniques, so he’s as experienced as they come.
“The way he sees the game is pretty impressive,” McVay said. “He sees the game through a quarterback lens and he’s got so many experiences and really understands it from an all-22 perspective. A lot of it is asking questions about things that maybe I’ve seen over the course of his career or how do we apply it? Or how is it similar to maybe things I’ve seen him do? But he loves football. There’s a consistent passion. There’s a real understanding of how it all kind of fits together, the spacing, timing, rhythm. We talk about other stuff outside of football, but the way that his mind works, I’ve really enjoyed being able to learn from him as well.”
Kyren Williams and Rams still negotiating extension
Williams is entering the final year of his rookie contract so he’s eligible for a new deal. His camp and the Rams’ brass have been negotiating an extension all offseason, though no deal has come together yet.
The good news is Williams hasn’t missed a single practice and there’s no indication he plans to hold out. McVay expects full attendance at minicamp in Maui and he’s happy to have Williams continuing to work every day.
“He’s been here, been leading, been doing exactly what Kyren does,” McVay said. “And so, been pleased. We’ll see if there’s an opportunity to be able to land that plane.”
No movement on Jalen Ramsey trade front
Ramsey remains available for a trade and hasn’t yet been moved by the Dolphins. The Rams have been one of the teams frequently linked to Ramsey but it doesn’t seem like they’re especially motivated to get a deal done.
McVay provided an update this week and said the Rams “haven’t had a lot of those discussions” about Ramsey, suggesting maybe their interest has cooled. McVay has also expressed confidence in the cornerbacks the Rams already have so he seems comfortable with their current group.
Nate Landman’s communication has caught Chris Shula’s eye
No one should be surprised if Landman winds up being a starting linebacker for the Rams in Week 1. He was one of their free-agent additions this offseason, coming over from the Falcons where he played for Jimmy Lake and Raheem Morris.
Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula has been impressed by his communication in the middle of the defense, so perhaps he’s someone who could be a candidate to wear the green dot as the signal caller.
“Nate Landman has been excellent with his communication on the second level. We had heard great things about him from Atlanta,” Shula said.
Puka Nacua has improved his route running
As good as Nacua has been in his first two seasons, there’s always room for improvement. He worked hard again this offseason, training with Cooper Kupp, Tyler Higbee and Jordan Whittington, putting him on track for another strong year in 2025.
Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur has seen Nacua develop his route running and mentioned the excellent shape Nacua is in, saying he’s “cutting a little bit better than he was a year ago.”
“I just think he’s just fine-tuned some things. I think if we watched his routes on air from a year ago, I think he’s cutting a little bit better than he was a year ago. I think he’s breaking down a little bit better. He’s always had incredible hands. That’s an elite skill set of his on top of toughness and his physicality. But I think he’s even more confident.”
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