What Was Wrong With The Rams Passing Game in 2022?
The LA Rams passing game relied too heavily on Cooper Kupp and that led to a sharp decline in scoring and to Kupp suffering a season-ending injury. Most of their reliance on Kupp stemmed from the inability to work Allen Robinson into the offense as well as Van Jefferson missing seven games with an injury. Robinson is on the permanent trading block and reuniting with Odell Beckham Jr is finally officially off the table.
So what can be done to alleviate the pressure on Kupp and give Matthew Stafford another reliable target? Tutu Atwell is still not a reliable starter despite his much-improved 2022, and Tyler Higbee is perhaps on the way out with no other real tight end waiting in the wings.
The Rams also have higher priorities with their early draft picks so there isn’t a rookie that can immediately come in and revitalize the offense.
Van Jefferson is the Answer!
This leaves Van Jefferson as the most important non-Kupp player on the offense. He can stretch the field in ways that the Rams absolutely could not last year. A healthy Van Jefferson solves so much of what plagued the Rams last year and given that he’s in a contract year, there’s reason to believe that he will have his most productive year yet. If he does then the offense can reach its Super Bowl-contending heights again.