For the second straight season, the Los Angeles Rams stumbled out of the gate but finished strong to reach the postseason. This time around, they did it as NFC West champions.

The Rams stormed into the postseason and rolled the 14-win Minnesota Vikings in one of the most lopsided contests of Wild Card Weekend.

Their season came to an end, however, against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round.

Though the 2024 season brought several ups and downs for L.A., it's hard to consider it anything but successful. Receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp both returned from early injuries, while a young defense improved throughout the season.

As was the case in 2023, the Rams got strong contributions from rookies like pass-rusher Jared Verse, defensive lineman Braden Fiske, safety Kamren Kinchens center Beaux Limmer and kicker Joshua Karty.

While some key contributors are getting older, the Rams figure to have a bright future. Now that their postseason has ended, it's time for head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead to begin the process of building upon what the team accomplished this season.

Here's a look at what lies ahead for the Rams in the 2025 offseason.

Free Agents

Unrestricted Free Agents

WR Tutu Atwell

DT Bobby Brown III

QB Jimmy Garoppolo

DT Mike Hoecht

OT Alaric Jackson

S John Johnson III

WR Tyler Johnson

TE Hunter Long

OT Conor McDermott

DL Larrell Murchison

OT Joseph Noteboom

LB Troy Reeder

WR Demarcus Robinson

LB Christian Rozeboom

Restricted/Exclusive-Rights Free Agents

LB Jake Hummel

C Dylan McMahon

RB Ronnie Rivers

Snead has spent the past couple of years restocking the roster with young talent. This has left a franchise that spent heavily to win Super Bowl LVI in a good spot financially. Los Angeles is projected to have $57.7 million in cap space available in the spring.

That's fortunate because Snead may want to lock up young starters, like left tackle Alaric Jackson and nose tackle Bobby Brown III. Jackson has been one of the most consistent performers on the offensive line and won't turn 27 until July. Brown is a two-year starter who won't turn 25 until August.

27-year-old defensive lineman Michael Hoecht wasn't a full-time starter in 2024, but he was a regular contributor and started all 17 games in 2023.

Though he'll turn 31 early next season, wide receiver Demarcus Robinson could also be an offseason priority. He isn't regularly a focal point of the passing attack, as Kupp and Nacua are, but he's established himself as a strong complementary target in McVay's offense.

The big question is how the Rams will handle starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is signed through 2026 but essentially surrendered his 2025 guarantees with last offseason's restructure. Stafford will likely want a new contract, assuming he wants to continue playing, which appears to be the case.

"I hope I've got three or four more left in me. We'll see," the 36-year-old told the Pardon My Take podcast in August (h/t Valentina Martinez of SI.com).

Stafford is set to carry a cap hit of $49.7 million in 2025. Another restructure or an extension could either raise or lower that number, depending on the specifics. Theoretically, much of his $23 million base salary could be converted to bonus money and spread over future years.

Potential Free-Agent/Trade Targets

While the Rams defense did grow throughout the 2024 campaign, it has room for improvement. The defensive front is solid, but adding to the back seven would be sensible.

Depending on how much Snead spends to retain players, he could make a move for a top-tier free agent like cornerback Charvarius Ward, cornerback Donte Jackson, linebacker Dre Greenlaw or linebacker Zack Baun.

If Snead looks for more budget-friendly options, cornerback Jonathan Jones, nickelback Mike Hilton and linebacker Devin Bush could be on his radar.

Assuming Jackson returns to the offensive line, Los Angeles' biggest offensive needs will be at right tackle and along the interior. Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith would be a terrific target to place opposite Steve Avila. Mekhi Becton, who converted from tackle to guard with the Philadelphia Eagles this season, is another strong candidate.

Guards like Kevin Zeitler and Nate Herbig might also interest the Rams. The right tackle market looks underwhelming, though Morgan Moses and Trent Brown might be considered as short-term depth options behind Rob Havenstein.

Snead hasn't been a major buyer on the trade market amid the Rams' youth movement, though that doesn't guarantee he won't consider all options in the offseason. Guard Wyatt Teller could be a prime target if the Cleveland Browns start parting out their financially bloated roster.

Underutilized Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts would also be a sensible target for L.A. The Rams don't have a truly dynamic receiving tight end on the roster, and adding Pitts would change that.

Quarterbacks like Justin Fields, Jacoby Brissett and Taylor Heinicke could draw interest if the Rams don't retain backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Draft Targets

The Rams currently have eight selections in the 2025 draft, though they don't have a second-round pick. Snead surrendered that selection to the Carolina Panthers in order to move up 13 spots for Fiske in 2024.

Los Angeles will have two third-round selections, as a result of league compensation awarded when the Falcons hired Raheem Morris as their head coach.

There's a good chance that the Rams consider trading out of the first round in order to add more Day 2 capital. If they stay put, however, a cornerback like Texas' Jahdae Barron or Virginia Tech's Mansoor Delane could make perfect sense.

"Delane's fluid movement and ability to read the quarterback would make him a strong fit for the Rams' mixed-coverage schemes, particularly in zone setups where his instincts can shine," Cory Giddings of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department said in November.

Los Angeles may not target an interior lineman in the first round, but prospects like Arizona's Jonah Savaiinaea, Parker Brailsford of Alabama and Georgia's Jared Wilson would make sense on Day 2.

Trading those two third-rounders to move into Round 2 will be an option.

Expect linebacker prospects like Georgia's Smael Mondon, Jr. and Iowa's Jay Higgins to also interest the Rams. The wild card here will be at quarterback. Even if Stafford signs an extension, he'll turn 37 in February, and the Rams need to start considering a succession plan.

Snead probably won't go all-in on a top prospect like Colorado's Shedeur Sanders or Miami's Cam Ward. However, taking a later flier on a QB like Texas Quinn Ewers or Carson Beck and allowing him to compete with Stetson Bennett could make sense.

*Cap, contract and free-agent status information via Spotrac. Draft information via Tankathon