L.A. Woes: NFL Power Rankings Have Rams as One of Worst Teams
It's been just 15 months since the Los Angeles Rams paraded into the Coliseum, fresh off their second Super Bowl victory and riding the wave of four playoff appearances in coach Sean McVay's five years at the helm.
But things have changed. The Rams are coming off a disappointing 5-12 campaign marred by injuries and have endured an offseason headlined by the losses of cornerback Jalen Ramsey, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, and inside linebacker Bobby Wagner, among others.
Still - Los Angeles boasts quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald, all with McVay perusing the sidelines.
And yet, in Pro Football Focus' recent power rankings, the Rams' star power wasn't enough to garner respect, as Los Angeles slotted in at No. 30.
"The Rams took a step back this offseason instead of continuing to employ an aggressive roster construction approach, but trading Ramsey was a big loss nonetheless," PFF writes. "Their only notable addition was tight end Hunter Long, who had just 94 snaps last season and figures to be a depth option behind Tyler Higbee.
"Los Angeles was wise to be just as aggressive in tearing the roster down as it was building it up, but the team doesn’t figure to win many football games in 2023 as a result."
PFF added that the Rams have "embraced a full-on youth movement," citing the 14-man draft class that was ranked No. 9 league-wide and 26-player undrafted free agency group as signs they're "pushing their chips back in for 2024 and beyond," with the "best outcome" being well-position to draft a quarterback next spring.
The Kansas City Chiefs stand atop the list, followed by the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills.
After San Francisco, the next NFC West team is the Seattle Seahawks at No. 16. The Rams didn't bring up the rear, however, as the Arizona Cardinals came in at No. 32.
Considering the track record that McVay has put together and some of the high-end talent still present, it's entirely possible Los Angeles vastly outplays this ranking - especially if it stays healthy.
Will the Rams go back-to-back on playoff-less seasons or get back to their parading ways? The answer will be in soon enough ... but for now, early projections aren't in Los Angeles' favor.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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