I have no confidence that Adams will have the kind of year this year as last. WRs can fall off a cliff in a hurry. He also could get more pulls and tears as older players do.
Mumpfield has potential as a complete WR. Whittington to me is what he is. He doesn't look like a crisp route runner. He just is used as an underneath guy, gimmick guy. He will never be a down the field threat.
A guy like Lemon can solve two needs. A 2nd big play WR and a big play offensive player in general. And he can be a big time return threat for special teams.
Lemon is not the big outside the hash weapon I want the Rams to get in this class, but I have to admit he's a legit impact weapon in the slot. If he's there at 13 then McVay will probably sprint to the podium, because he's polished and smooth and explosive. Also the difference in a guy like Mumps or Whittington to Lemon is a gulf. Neither of them will ever be what Lemon will be in the NFL.
But the problem here is I think Puka's best role is in the slot in this offense. He's got the size and strength you want there, those mini-TE traits that Kupp also showed which allowed him to excel under McVay. Last season his slot usage jumped, now granted I didn't count his slot snaps but he was in there significantly more than in '24. So I think the slot is his future in this offense.
Lemon's big enough to play any of the three wideout spots. But the bigger weapon to complement Nacua in the slot feels like it makes for a stronger offense. Also it favors better maximizing of what Stafford brings. I mean imagine a real rangy X type with great hands late in games with 9 throwing it to them. And what that does to help the redzone as well, which is the key to modern offenses, to finish drives vs settle for field goals.
To me the ideal '26 pass game weapons would look something like this:
Wideout
-Big-Ass-Rookie (Let's say it's Boston, so 6'4")
-Adams (6')
Slot
-Nacua (6'2")
TE
-Ferguson (6'5")
That's a dangerous lineup of big weapons for Stafford. More potency in the redzone. More potency in 4 minute.
Draft alternatives at Big-Ass-Rookie would be Tate (6'3"), Tyson (6'2") early on, or numerous options later of which Lane's my favorite. Also a note re: Tyson is I love his film, but his injury history worries me. It's why I'd favor Boston.
Vet alternative at Big-Ass-Rookie would be Evans (6'5") in FA.
We don't know whether Ferguson is going to emerge in year two. He was very close to making some big plays for us last season, but had some bad luck in those moments when they came. So for me the question is can he position himself to get more of those moments. He'll need to improve, but if not then both Parkinson and Allen and the TE group in general offers big hands that can sit down in zones for Stafford. So I think TE as a room is good as it is for this offseason.
One last area the Rams could juice the pass game is at RB. But I think the only way that happens is if things line up for the Rams where they have to take the RB value in the draft. I don't think they will target the RB room for improvement, as they have enough fish to fry at other positions and their backs are not only good but two deep. What that would look like is Love falling to 13. Or Coleman or Johnson sitting on the board longer than expected, where they say fuck it we need to take this dude.
...... Well if I did and it was offensive I'm sorry in advance.
