As the Rams gear up for their season opener against the Seahawks on Sunday, we’re taking a look at Los Angeles’ most important players for 2023. We previously put together a countdown before training camp, ranking the 23 most important players on the team, but a lot has changed since then.
Ahkello Witherspoon and John Johnson III have been signed, Alaric Jackson has emerged as the starting left tackle and Puka Nacua looks on track to play a significant role on offense.
Buy Rams TicketsSo with that being said, it’s a good time to re-rank the Rams’ 23 most important players for the upcoming season.
23
WR Puka Nacua
After an outstanding summer in training camp and the preseason, Nacua has put himself squarely in the conversation as one of the Rams’ top four receivers. He’s going to contribute at some point soon, with Sean McVay even mentioning that he’s one of the rookies Los Angeles is counting on. His time could come sooner rather than later, too, knowing Cooper Kupp is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.
22
DL Kobie Turner
Turner is another rookie McVay is excited about and he’s already listed as a co-starter at nose tackle with Bobby Brown III. Turner is undersized so I’m not sure how effective he’ll be against the run at nose tackle, but he can generate some pressure as a pass rusher.
21
OL Joe Noteboom
It’s unclear what’s next for Noteboom. He’s no longer the projected starter at left tackle and even Tremayne Anchrum Jr. has held him off at right guard. Despite that, Noteboom remains relatively important because I think there will be a point this season when he’s needed at either position. This offseason may not have gone the way he hoped but the Rams aren’t giving up on him.
20
NT Bobby Brown III
The preseason gave us an idea of how bad the Rams’ run defense could be this year, but Brown can change that narrative. He’s the team’s biggest defensive lineman and will be needed on early downs when they have to stop the run. This is his year to break out.
19
WR Tutu Atwell
Atwell was in line to be a starter this season anyway, but now with Kupp injured, his role is only going to grow. Atwell could be the Rams’ No. 2 receiver to start the year and based on the way he’s played this summer, he won’t just be a deep threat. The Rams will find ways to get him involved and put him in space where he can use his speed to create big plays.
18
OLB Byron Young
Someone has to step up at outside linebacker this season and Young is the perfect candidate to do so. He has a ton of athleticism and speed on the edge, and while he needs to refine his skill set as a pass rusher, the potential is there. He and Michael Hoecht will be major parts of the defense, which is admittedly somewhat scary.
17
CB Derion Kendrick
Kendrick is expected to be one of the Rams’ three starting cornerbacks, which has some fans a little bit worried after seeing the way he played in 2022. But McVay has raved about him all offseason and said how much he’s improved, so there’s hope. In an unproven secondary, it’d be great for the Rams if Kendrick can elevate his play in Year 2.
16
OLB Michael Hoecht
Hoecht has gone from backup defensive tackle to starting edge rusher. The Rams are high on him despite being bigger than traditional outside linebackers, so their faith will have to be trusted this season. Hoecht showed plenty of promise in limited action at outside linebacker last year, which is what helped earn him a spot on the roster in 2023.
15
C Coleman Shelton
Signs point toward Shelton starting at center for the Rams, beating out Brian Allen in their camp competition. Assuming that’s the case, Shelton will be a critical piece of the offense. His rapport with Matthew Stafford is important and as a bigger center than Allen, the hope is that he’ll hold up better against interior defenders, particularly in the running game.
14
S John Johnson III
Johnson was signed this offseason, making him one of the team’s most notable free-agent signings. While he isn’t locked in as a starting safety, he’s expected to be just that relatively soon, if not already. He’s a smart defender who knows this defense well, and the last time he was in Los Angeles, he was playing at a Pro Bowl level. He’ll help this defense greatly.
13
S Jordan Fuller
Fuller and Johnson are essentially 1A and 1B in terms of importance at safety, but Fuller gets the slight edge because of the expectations the coaching staff has for him. Fuller is a leader in the secondary and someone who can be trusted to prevent big plays on the back end, something that will be very important with such a young and unproven cornerback group in front of him.
12
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Witherspoon, another offseason addition, quickly ascended into a starting role alongside Cobie Durant. He played well in camp and got the preseason off, a vote of confidence from the coaching staff based on his play and talent. Witherspoon’s size will be helpful when the Rams face bigger receivers because the cornerback group is otherwise pretty small.
11
LG Steve Avila
It’s probably a stretch to say Avila is going to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie but don’t be surprised if he grades out as one of the better guards this season. Avila plays with an edge and loves finishing blocks, planting his guys on their backs to take them out of the play. He’s only a rookie but Avila is already one of the Rams’ most important players heading into 2023.
10
WR Van Jefferson
Jefferson’s importance grew after Kupp suffered his hamstring injury and eventual setback, potentially making him the No. 1 receiver on offense while Kupp is out. Regardless, Jefferson is going to be the No. 2 option, so he’ll get plenty of opportunities to put up impressive numbers as a receiver. Jefferson has deep speed but if he can improve his physicality at the catch point, he’ll create even more big plays downfield.
9
CB Cam Akers
This is a make-or-break year for Akers, who’s in the final year of his rookie contract. With Darrell Henderson Jr. gone, the backfield now belongs to Akers, and it’s his turn to capitalize on this huge opportunity. If Akers can become a workhorse back the way Todd Gurley once was, the offense will be much better off and fairly balanced. The biggest thing Akers must improve on is his receiving ability.
8
TE Tyler Higbee
Even if Higbee doesn’t have great speed or athleticism, he’s still a key piece of the offense, both as a receiver and a blocker. Brycen Hopkins will get opportunities as the No. 2 tight end, as well, but Higbee should see plenty of targets, especially if Kupp misses time. He’s a veteran leader and a chain-mover at tight end.
7
LT Alaric Jackson
Jackson is in line to start at left tackle after beating out Noteboom, making this the biggest opportunity of his young career thus far. He could turn out to be a great story as a former undrafted free agent, similar to Terence Steele in Dallas. The Rams need Jackson to stay healthy and play the way he did last season before he was sidelined with blood clots.
6
CB Cobie Durant
It’s not easy for anyone to fill the shoes of Jalen Ramsey but that’s what Durant will try to do this season. He’ll be the “star” in the Rams secondary, meaning he’ll line up in the slot and outside, moving all over the formation and helping set the tone on defense. He was a ballhawk already as a rookie in 2022, picking off three passes, but he’ll look to build on that this season as a full-time starter.
5
LB Ernest Jones
With Bobby Wagner gone, Jones takes over as the primary inside linebacker for the Rams. That’s huge because he now becomes the defensive signal caller, which means he’ll be on the field for just about every snap. Behind Aaron Donald, Jones will be the Rams’ most important defender, both from a production standpoint and getting everyone aligned pre-snap.
4
RT Rob Havenstein
Havenstein was the only lineman locked into a starting job this offseason and he maintained that throughout the summer. The offensive line is going to struggle if Havenstein misses any amount of time or takes a step back from the way he played the last few years, so they need him to stay healthy. He’s one of the most underrated right tackles in the league.
3
WR Cooper Kupp
We might quickly learn just how valuable Kupp is if he misses Week 1 (or more), not that anyone was doubting his importance to the Rams. The offense goes through him and beyond just being a dynamic receiver, he’s a great blocker who helps in the running game, too. His value can’t be measured and if he misses extended time, the Rams are going to be in big trouble offensively.
2
DT Aaron Donald
There’s never been a bigger talent gap from Donald to the Rams’ next-closest defender than there is this year. He has very little help on that side of the ball, which means two things: He’s sure to see more double- and triple-teams than he already does, and there’s even more pressure on him to produce huge numbers as a pass rusher. Donald remains one of the best defenders in the league and that’ll remain evident this year, but he doesn’t have a lot of help around him.
1
QB Matthew Stafford
There’s a lot of pressure on Stafford this year. After a poor 2022 season in which he missed half the year, Stafford needs to bounce back in a big way. Fortunately, he’s 100% healthy and not dealing with any elbow or back issues anymore, so the table is set for him to have a big year. As is the case with just about every team, Stafford is the Rams’ most important player and if he goes down, things will get ugly in a hurry.
