Rams Haven’t ‘Had An X Receiver’ Like Davante Adams
The Los Angeles Rams enter 2025 with as much intrigue as any NFC contender. After a busy offseason that saw Davante Adams land in Los Angeles, expectations quickly shifted from cautious optimism to real Super Bowl conversations.
But as always, the question isn’t just about who is on the roster — it’s about how Sean McVay can unlock his stars.
On The Athletic Football Show, Derrik Klassen highlighted why Adams’ presence could completely change the trajectory of the Rams’ season.
Rams Offense Could Resemble Like 2022 Version
With the Las Vegas Raiders, and eventually the New York Jets to conclude last season, Adams carried the offenses even as the quarterback carousel spun out of control. His route-running precision and physicality against man coverage immediately give Stafford — or Jimmy Garoppolo, if needed — a reliable No. 1 option on every snap.
The Rams’ 2021 offense, which leaned heavily on empty formations and relied on Stafford’s arm talent to pick apart defenses, now has a chance to return. McVay thrived in that style, keeping defenses spread out and leveraging matchups downfield. With Adams in the fold, Klassen believes the Rams can revisit that philosophy
The Los Angeles Rams enter 2025 with as much intrigue as any NFC contender. After a busy offseason that saw Davante Adams land in Los Angeles, expectations quickly shifted from cautious optimism to real Super Bowl conversations. But as always, the question isn’t just about who is on the roster — it’s about how Sean McVay can unlock his stars.
On The Athletic Football Show, Derrik Klassen highlighted why Adams’ presence could completely change the trajectory of the Rams’ season.
“This is aggressive framing, but the last time this team had an X receiver like this they won the Super Bowl,” Klassen said. “There’s a couple of reasons that I’m excited for that. One, I’m still not entirely sold on the run game. So the fact that Davante Adams can come in and they can maybe get back to some of that 2021 offense, maybe being a little bit more of a gun and empty team, I think that’s really exciting.”
That Super Bowl offense was one of the most balanced, explosive units in recent memory. McVay leaned heavily on Matthew Stafford’s arm, relied on an elite WR1 in Cooper Kupp, and dialed up aggressive passing concepts that kept defenses reeling all the way through the Super Bowl.
Now, with Kupp gone and Adams taking over as the true X, the Rams may not need to reinvent themselves. Instead, they can turn back the clock — letting Stafford operate out of the gun, spreading defenses thin, and creating matchup nightmares with Adams’ ability to separate at every level of the field.
Stafford’s Health and Adams’ Role
Of course, none of this works without Stafford. He missed much of training camp dealing with a back injury, and while the Rams remain confident in his availability, the uncertainty lingers. If Stafford is upright, Adams becomes the central figure in re-establishing an identity McVay has thrived with before.
The alternative is a heavier reliance on the run game, where questions still exist despite Kyren Williams’ breakout year and new contract extension. Klassen’s skepticism is valid: if the Rams can’t consistently control the line of scrimmage, they’ll need Adams’ presence to win them games.
Against elite defenses in the NFC, that margin for error matters. Adams can dictate coverages, open up space for complementary receivers, and reduce the pressure on Williams and the run game to carry the offense.
AFC Notes: J.K. Dobbins, Bo Nix, Broncos, Chargers
Broncos
Bo Nix is entering the second year of his career after his breakout rookie campaign in 2024. Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning is confident Nix is “made of the right stuff” to continue being a highly successful quarterback.
“Bo is made of the right stuff. He’s a little bit older, carries himself the right way. And all of it should help as he moves forward in his career,” Manning said, via Troy Renck of the Denver Post. “I am just happy that Bo is the established starter. For a number of years, they had quarterback competitions. That’s hard on the receivers, the coaches, the play-caller, and the quarterback. Now, they’ve got their guy.”
Manning thinks Nix showed talent beyond his years as a rookie.
“I just don’t see that as being a big factor for him. Rookie quarterbacks are supposed to struggle, and then the game slows down. But, it sure looked like it slowed down a lot for him last year,” Manning said. “Like with C.J. Stroud, Bo didn’t play like a rookie. … I believe experience is the best teacher, and he got great experience last year.”
Manning added that playing under Sean Payton for a second season should be beneficial for Nix.
“The continuity, more than anything else. There are times when guys go into their second year, and they are going on their third coordinator,” Manning said. “He has an experienced head coach in Sean, who is his play-caller. Having that same voice and verbiage is so critical. We expect Sean to be here for a long time, so Bo will use that to his advantage.”
Broncos
Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins had a resurgence in his career after missing 2022 with a knee injury and 2023 with a torn Achilles. His surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, said he grew a close relationship with Dobbins and praised him for his perseverance.
“I can’t say enough about him,” ElAttrache said, via Luca Evans of The Denver Post. “I mean, he’s the kind of guy that I would like to have as a friend forever. He’s that kind of person.”
ElAttrache pointed out that damaged ligaments can never return to their previous health, but Dobbins has worked hard on his rehab.
“You never want to expect they’re going to be 22 years old again,” ElAttrache said. “You can’t turn back the clock and go before, when he was that number one (running back) for the Ravens. But, having said that, his performance was still right there.”
Chargers
Chargers DC Jesse Minter still holds on to rejection letters from graduate assistant jobs that he applied to across the country, accumulating 98 in total. Minter said the rejections are a reminder to be grateful for where he is now.
“Because that’s just how I operate,” Minter said, via Daniel Popper of The Athletic. “It’s just that reminder of the joy that it is, the blessing that it is, the opportunity that you have, not to take it for granted and not to ever feel like you’ve arrived.”
Minter said he’s always tried to operate without an ego and build a culture of letting people know their value.
“A lot of coaches have crazy egos, and I think there’s a difference in being confident in yourself and sure of yourself, and then having an ego,” Minter said. “I’ve always tried really, really hard to not have an ego, to really try to build a situation where everybody feels like they have value, where everybody feels like they’re part of the success.”
- Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Chargers RB Najee Harris participated in three-straight practices last week and was cleared for contact on Friday.
