Can Los Angeles Rams Buy Super Bowl With NFC's Most Expensive Offense?

The Los Angeles Rams are back to spending big, although less recklessly than their last Super Bowl run. Will their heavy investments in the offense pay off?

Quarterback cap hits are approaching $60 million. High-level receivers are seeing record-setting deals. Offensive linemen are better compensated than ever before.

Inflation may have boosted the total numbers of the league’s contracts, but the trends are clear—teams are spending on offense, especially positions that impact the passing offense.

In a passing league like today’s NFL, it’s no surprise some of the heaviest spenders come from team’s that seem to effortlessly move the ball through the air. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers

Dec 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) and wide

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

According to Warren Sharp, the Los Angeles Rams are set to have the NFC’s most expensive offense ($178.1 million) by cap space allotted, trailing only the Cleveland Browns ($188.8 million).

Each of the top-seven spending teams will be paying for a large quarterback contract, frequently the price to pay for top-tier performance at the sport’s most important position. The best way to build a Super Bowl team is with a star quarterback on a rookie deal. The second best way is having a star quarterback on any deal.

Los Angeles fared well here, with quarterback Matthew Stafford signing a four-year, $160 million extension—fair compensation for the Super Bowl he won in SoFi Stadium. Other teams, namely the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants (first and sixth in offensive spending, respectively) may be doomed from play under center that has been as poor as expensive.

It isn’t just Stafford running up the Rams’ tab, though. Receiver Cooper Kupp has the third-highest average annual value of anyone at his position, and tight end Tyler Higbee, who tore his ACL in the Wild Card game, is set to make $12.6 million. Four Rams lineman are currently looking at cap hits exceeding $10 million, including re-signed right guard Kevin Dotson and free-agent acquisition Jonah Jackson.

Head coach Sean McVay is said to be one hell of a recruiter, a trait that has paid dividends on both sides on the ball. Offensively, it has helped to reel in big offensive fish and retain the Rams’ own in their quest for another title. 

While spending on one side of the line of scrimmage is naturally going to take away from the other, Los Angeles is no different, boasting a young defense that will be tasked with taking a step forward without a stalwart defensive tackle like Aaron Donald. Free agency (and presumably early-round draft capital) will be utilized to mitigate the talent gap there. But general manager Les Snead’s spending is no mistake, nor is the success that has come from it.

Los Angeles has bought itself the stars to fuel a Super Bowl run. Filling in the gaps and taking down the rival 49ers will be integral in making sure that comes to fruition.