The brain trust of Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay is known for its big offseason bets. Lately, blockbuster trades or bold draft picks have dominated their time together, which has led to some very interesting seasons.
Now in 2026, the Rams could be in for another great spring. Los Angeles has an estimated $44 million in salary cap space (ninth in the league), according to Over the Cap, and quarterback Matthew Stafford will return for another season after being named MVP.
advertise
Despite making headlines in recent years, the Rams have historically not spent heavily in free agency. According to OTC, Los Angeles has spent the 10th-most money on free agents since 2020 — $129,628,750. That number has been spread over just 14 players over the past six seasons, tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for the fourth-fewest contracts. Unsurprisingly, though, that means the Rams spent the most money per player in free agency: $9,259,196.
What this all means is that the Rams have been very smart with their spending. Look at 2025: The Rams’ biggest free agent acquisition is Davante Adams, who has a two-year, $44 million contract. Other signings include bargain deals for Nate Randleman, Coleman Shelton and Puna Ford. They’re not breaking the bank anywhere. Meanwhile, Snead and company are focused on bringing back Alaric Jackson, Matthew Stafford and Kyren Williams.
So while the Rams have clear needs in the secondary, it seems unlikely that they’ll spend big money on a big-name player on the market. Instead, they want to allocate fewer resources to players for whom they also have strong feelings.
We’ll see how this plays out in March, though. The Rams will certainly be looking for another year with Stafford at the helm.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL Free Agency: History Shows Rams Won’t Spend Big Money
