Three Rams Predicted To Make All-Pro Teams
The Los Angeles Rams are holding a 5-2 record after their Week 8 bye, before hosting the New Orleans Saints on November 2nd.
The offense and defense are clicking for the Rams this season. The offense ranks in the top half of the league, while the defense is allowing only 16.7 points per game this season, the third-fewest in the
The Rams have some injuries on offense that are preventing them from playing their best football.
Even with the few knocks on both sides of the ball, Sports Illustrated’s Mett Verderame
Matthew Stafford
GettyMatthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams.
Matt Verderame predicts that Matthew Stafford will be the second-team All-Pro at the quarterback position — he predicts Patrick Mahomes will be the first-team QB.
“Stafford entered his Week 8 bye with 1,866 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. The Rams have one of the league’s most explosive pass-catching duos, with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and Stafford has taken full advantage.” Verderame wrote.
If Stafford were to make the All-Pro team, it would be the first time in his career. The player has been a Pro Bowler twice in his career, in the 2014 and 2023 seasons, but has never been an All-Pro.
Through seven games this season, Stafford has been averaging 266.6 passing yards per game, while having 17 pass touchdowns, tied for the most in the league.
Puka Nacua
Harry How/Getty ImagesWide receiver Puka Nacua
Puka Nacua has been dealing with an ankle injury for the last few weeks, but he could be the best receiver in the league before that.
The former BYU wide receiver logged 500 receiving yards in the first four games of the season, before cooling down the last couple of weeks.
Verderame believes Nacua will make the 2025 All-Pro team on the first team. This will be Puka’s first time in his career.
“Nacua is also an obvious call with 616 yards and two scores despite missing two weeks,” Verdame said of the wide receiver.
Puka is currently on track to play in Week 9 against the Saints, which will bring much-needed value to the team as Tutu Atwell was placed on the injured reserve.
Byron Young
GettyLA Rams EDGE rusher Byron Young
After the first seven weeks of the 2025 NFL season, EDGE rusher Byron Young led the league with nine sacks. The Rams had their bye in Week 8, which allowed other defenders to catch up, but it doesn’t take away how great Young has been playing this season.
“Finally, Young has nine sacks in seven games, creating havoc on a Rams front headlined by Jared Verse, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year,” Verderame said about the pass rusher, while he predicts that Young will make the second-team All-Pro.
While the NFL writer didn’t say much about Young, the Rams defender does all the talking on the field.
The third-year defender has nine sacks before the team’s bye week and will easily get double-digit sacks, the first time since the 2021 season when Aaron Donald was still playing.
Young also has 39 tackles this season for the Rams, which is the fourth most on the team. He also has one forced fumble.
If the Rams defender continues to take down opposing quarterbacks, he could put himself in a position to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Mike Macdonald Tips 275-Pounder to Fix Seahawks’ Run Game
Mike Macdonald knows the Seattle Seahawks need more from their running game, but the head coach expects the return of a 275-pounder to increase “flexibility” on the ground, at a time when offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is experimenting with changes to his familiar zone-base rushing schemes.
Macdonald is referring to beefy fullback Robbie Ouzts, who is expected to play against the Washington Commanders in Week 9. He’s missed the last four games because of an ankle injury, but believes the blocking back’s return is “great. It wasn’t a long practice, but got some good reps in,” per The Tacoma News Tribune’s Gregg Bell.
Having Ouzts back in the lineup will mean a shift in how the Seahawks deploy personnel in the running game. As Macdonald pointed out, “We’ve majored in 12 personnel, 13 personnel. We’ll see how the game plan shakes out, but Robbie provides more two-back flexibility than probably we’ve had.”
New, heavier formations can unlock the so far unfulfilled potential the Seahawks have when running the ball. Kubiak is trying to make the ground game the foundation of his offense, but the results have been far from inspiring.
Seahawks Need Changes in the Running Game
Despite the breakaway talents of Kenneth Walker III, along with the rugged dependability of Zach Charbonnet, the Seahawks are scaring nobody with their running game. They “rank eighth in the league in rushing attempts, but are 30th in yards-per-carry average (3.7), per Seahawks.com Senior Reporter John Boyle.
Numbers like those aren’t befitting of Kubiak’s expertise with the famed zone-stretch system. That staple play isn’t yielding much for Walker and Co., but “Teams are dedicated to stopping it — the Seahawks face loaded boxes at the highest rate in the league,” according to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic.
Kubiak is attempting to change things to include more counter, gap and straight-ahead power runs. Those plays were used with mixed results during the 27-19 win over the Houston Texans in Week 7.
As Dugar explained, “The pivot would then be to gash teams between the tackles, which the Seahawks attempted — with a little bit of success — against the Texans. But is that the best use of the personnel? They have a light, athletic offensive line, which is why a scheme based on running off the ball was supposed to pop.”
Tight ends not physical enough to hold blocks is another problem, so the Seahawks need to get bigger along the line of scrimmage. Enter Ouzts.
Robbie Ouzts’ Return Boosts One-Dimensional Offense
He’s just a rookie, but 2025 NFL draft fifth-round pick Ouzts has already made a positive impact. Like when he helped Walker rush for 105 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2.
Ouzts delivered a series of crushing blocks, with the best highlighted by NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger.
That’s the kind of difference a fullback the size of a defensive lineman can make. Putting some more oomph into their rushing concepts is how the Seahawks move the ball more effectively on the ground.
It’s also how Kubiak can begin transitioning away from having backs attack the perimeter behind zone blocking. Instead, Ouzts can lead the way for a smash-mouth approach finally productive enough to adequately complement prolific quarterback Sam Darnold, who is playing at an MVP-worthy level.
