Rams training camp storylines: Matthew Stafford’s contract, replacing a legend

In their first season without defensive great Aaron Donald, Rams are rebuilding their defensive line.

On Tuesday, the Rams will report to Loyola Marymount ahead of Wednesday’s first training camp practice. Many of the same leaders and breakout stars from 2023’s surprise playoff appearance return, but much has changed for the franchise, as well, including the loss of a pillar of the Rams’ past decade.

Here’s a look at four storylines worth monitoring as the Rams open training camp this week.

Replacing a legend in the aggregate

From the moment defensive tackle Aaron Donald announced his retirement, the Rams have insisted that one player will not replace the future Hall of Famer by himself. The message was shared both publicly with the media and behind closed doors as coaches reminded rookie tackle Kobie Turner to stay himself rather than try to be anyone else.

Turner will still be a big part of the new-look Rams defensive front, as will fellow second-year standout Byron Young at outside linebacker. But the Rams supported their “Moneyball” approach to filling Donald’s void by selecting Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse and defensive tackle Braden Fiske with their first two picks in the NFL draft. They added Washington State’s Brennan Jackson and Clemson’s Tyler Davis to the mix on day three.

The rookies impressed veterans during OTAs, but the true tests will come when pads come on, and when the Rams practice against the Cowboys, Chargers and Texans this preseason. And Turner and Young will need to prove that their productive rookie seasons weren’t only the product of lining up alongside Donald.

New general

Sticking with the defense, the Rams will be led by first-year defensive coordinator Chris Shula this season after the Falcons hired away Raheem Morris to be their head coach.

Shula has been a part of the Rams coaching staff for the entirety of Sean McVay’s tenure as head coach. So Shula has served under Morris, Wade Phillips and Brandon Staley, and brings in-depth experience working at all levels of the defense. In a sense, we can expect Shula to be a continuation of the defense’s evolution over the last seven years.

But that doesn’t mean we should expect everything to stay the same, especially following Donald’s retirement. Shula has maintained that any changes to the scheme will be based on the personnel he has at his disposal. Training camp will be our first look at what changes he might implement in 2024.

Stafford contract watch

Almost the moment it became clear the Rams wouldn’t use a first-round pick on a quarterback in April, word leaked that Matthew Stafford was dissatisfied with his contract situation.

The veteran who won a Super Bowl with the Rams following his first season with the team in 2021 signed a team-friendly deal following that championship run, with no guaranteed money on it following the 2024 season. Following a strong age-35 season in which he helped the Rams to a surprise playoff run, Stafford wanted that rectified.

Rams head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead acknowledged their talks with Stafford and reiterated their desire for him to stay in L.A., but declined to go into specifics on how much progress had been made in regards to reworking the deal.

Stafford, for his part, participated in the Rams’ full offseason program — though he declined to hold a press conference during the spring — and McVay said in June that the quarterback is expected to report for training camp. But it’s a situation that bears monitoring as the Rams arrive at LMU.

Managing the lead back

Running back Kyren Williams is expected to be ready to go for the start of training camp after missing all of the Rams’ offseason program with a foot injury suffered during workouts. This will be Williams’ first camp as the unquestioned lead back after emerging following the preseason to take Cam Akers’ job last fall.

Despite being a third-year player, the Rams could take a conservative approach with Williams this camp. The running back, who took 228 carries for 1,144 yards and 12 TDs last season despite missing four games, has dealt with hand, foot and ankle injuries during his first two seasons.

McVay has often joked about how it’s up to him and his staff to hold Williams back because of how hard he works, but we might see that come to reality in a more concrete way this camp. Perhaps some veteran rest days or pitch counts to make sure Williams’ body is fresh for the regular season.