The Los Angeles Rams’ offseason program began a month ago but on Tuesday, OTAs (organized team activities) officially get underway. This means there will be more on-field work and team drills, including 11-on-11 reps – albeit with no live contact.
The pads won’t come on until training camp but OTAs can still provide an early look at the team. The Rams have some newcomers who will be getting acclimated, including 23 rookies, while most of the roster from last season is back.
Here are five things to watch for as OTAs get started for the Rams.
Quarterback rotation
Matthew Stafford doesn’t need much work in spring practices. He’ll get his reps but I’m more interested in seeing how Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett do. Sean McVay said after Simpson was drafted that he’ll compete with Bennett for the backup job, which wasn’t just the coach humbling his rookie quarterback. It’s the truth.
The Rams offense is a complex one to learn and it could take Simpson some time to grasp. As Simpson settles in with his new team, look for Bennett to remain the QB2 behind Stafford for the time being. The real competition will start in training camp and the preseason, the first time the Rams have had a legitimate QB2 battle in years.
This spring, though, keep an eye on how each quarterback looks in drills, whether it’s simply their accuracy or footwork.
Wide receiver depth
The Rams opted not to add a true WR3 this offseason, electing to make CJ Daniels their only notable addition to the group. Tutu Atwell is gone, too, which opens the door wider for someone to step up as the No. 3 wideout. It’s just a big question as to who will seize the opportunity.
Will it be Jordan Whittington? Konata Mumpfield? Xavier Smith? Or maybe the rookie Daniels. We won’t learn much about how the Rams view this position battle during OTAs but there’s still a chance someone will start to emerge as the best option alongside Davante Adams and Puka Nacua.
Terrance Ferguson’s development
Part of the reason the Rams were so passive in the wide receiver market is how highly they view Ferguson. While a tight end by name, Ferguson can play wide receiver, tight end and line up in the slot for Los Angeles – something McVay said himself after the 2025 season ended.
He took advantage of his limited opportunities as a rookie last year but look for Ferguson to truly take the next step in Year 2. He can be a slot weapon for the Rams in their 12 and 13 personnel packages, which is a position he played a lot last season.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Rams deploy him in the tight end rotation this season, starting with OTAs.
Keagen Trost’s position flexibility
The Rams believe Trost can play all five offensive line positions, which is a testament to his incredible versatility. It’s now a matter of finding out where he fits best. During OTAs, we could get an idea of which position the Rams like him at, be it guard or tackle.
If they view him as a tackle initially, he could compete with David Quessenberry to be the team’s swing tackle behind Alaric Jackson and Warren McClendon Jr. If he plays mostly at guard, he’ll be a future candidate to replace either Steve Avila or Kevin Dotson, who are in the final year of their respective contracts.
Again, it’s only OTAs, but it could be a glimpse into the Rams’ future plans for Trost.
New-look CB group
We know Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson will be the Rams’ top cornerbacks this season, but how will their arrivals affect Quentin Lake, Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and other defensive backs? Considering McDuffie and Lake are both most effective in the slot, the Rams have to decide how to deploy them from snap to snap.
And that will have a ripple effect on Forbes. In packages where the Rams put McDuffie in the slot and Lake at safety, Forbes will have an opportunity to get on the field as an outside corner. But when the Rams keep McDuffie outside and Lake in the slot, there won’t really be room for Forbes.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: What to watch for as Rams OTAs get underway
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
