Analysis: Meanwhile, 2021 fourth-rounder Jacob Harris is bouncing back from a knee injury, but at this stage Blanton -- who is presumably past a shoulder issue that slowed him in Super Bowl LVI -- and Hopkins remain next up for tight end targets in the event that Higbee misses time this season.

Analysis: Despite picking up the serious injury just before training camp, Akers was given a chance to return at some point during the 2021 campaign when the Rams opted to place him on the reserve/non-football injury list on Aug. 31 versus injured reserve, the latter of which would have made him ineligible to play. He eventually was activated prior to Week 16 and made his season debut Week 18, and during the Rams' run to a Super Bowl LVI victory he served as the team's primary running back. In those five games, though, Akers averaged just 2.4 yards on his 72 carries, corralled 11 of 13 passes for 86 yards and didn't score a touchdown. During Thursday's media appearance, he relayed, "I wouldn't say I did well. ... I did what I was supposed to do, but obviously that's not enough for me." As he puts the injury further in the rearview mirror, the soon-to-be 23-year-old (in June) will look to fulfill his standing as a 2020 second-round pick, with his primary competition Darrell Henderson, a three-year pro.

Analysis: As an exclusive rights free agent, Wolford couldn't negotiate with another team after being tendered by Los Angeles at the end of March. The 26-year-old quarterback has finally signed the tender, making him the official backup quarterback to Matthew Stafford for the 2022 campaign. Wolford made three garbage-time appearances in 2021, but the Wake Forest product's most memorable NFL moment came a season prior. While Jared Goff was sidelined due to thumb surgery for Week 17 of the 2020 season, Wolford drew his first career start and led the Rams to a playoff-clinching win over the Cardinals.

Analysis: Stafford initially used a brace after the shot but doesn't need one as the Rams begin their offseason program Tuesday. He's surrounded by many of the same players from last year, minus left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who retired, and wide receivers Robert Woods, now with the Titans, and Odell Beckham, who remains unsigned as a free agent. The Rams signed Allen Robinson to replace Woods and Beckham, and the team seemingly has a competent replacement for Whitworth in 2018 third-round pick Joe Noteboom, who signed a three-year extension in March. It's a good setup for Stafford on the heels of his career year in 2021.

Analysis: As an exclusive rights free agent, Wolford can no longer negotiate with another team after being tendered by Los Angeles, which means he'll return to the Rams in 2022 as the backup to No. 1 quarterback Matthew Stafford. Wolford made three appearances in garbage time in 2021, with the Wake Forest's products most memorable NFL moments having come the season prior. While Jared Goff was sidelined due to thumb surgery for Week 17 of the 2020 season, Wolford started and led Los Angeles to a playoff-clinching win over the Cardinals.

Analysis: Stafford still had one year left on his deal, but the Rams made sure to lock up the Super Bowl winning quarterback at a relatively affordable rate with upper-echelon quarterback play exploding in price over the last month. While Stafford will average $40 million per season over the duration of his extension, the move was made in an effort to free up more space for potential free-agent signings according to Schefter. The Rams already signed burgeoning star wide receiver Allen Robinson in the offseason and have been rumored to be interested in re-signing Odell Beckham, whose torn ACL in the Super Bowl could have him return to the field in November.

Analysis: Pelissero's initial report puts the deal at $46.5 million -- a $15.5 average annual value -- with nearly two-thirds of the money guaranteed at signing ($30.7 million). Robinson may have had offers with larger AAVs from other teams, but the reigning champs enticed him with the chance to play for a ring as well as the strong contract guarantees. Plus, he'll work with an above-average starting QB for the first time in his career, though this does mean Robinson will be the second or third receiving option, behind Cooper Kupp and possibly Robert Woods (knee). Of course, Woods is no lock to be ready for Week 1, and this deal might also shut the door on Odell Beckham (knee) returning to Los Angeles. Robinson turns 29 in August, and he had back-to-back seasons with over 1,100 yards before crashing in 2021 with 410 yards in 12 games.

Analysis: Beckham suffered a torn ACL in the Super Bowl and underwent surgery on Feb. 23. It's expected that he will return to the field towards the latter portion of a six-to-nine month timeline, lining him up for a return in the middle of the 2022 campaign. It's less certain where Beckham will be playing, as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent once the new league year begins. Rapoport noted that there is mutual interest between Beckham and the Rams for a reunion, but that his recovery timeline could impact whether a deal ultimately gets done.

Analysis: Beckham required the procedure after suffering a non-contact ACL tear during the Rams' win over the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13. The timing of the 29-year-old's injury means that he almost certainly won't be ready for the start of the 2022 campaign, and his availability for the entire season could be in question given that he tore the ACL in the same knee in October 2020. Beckham is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason after having maxed out his incentive-laden one-year deal with Los Angeles, but both sides could share interest in agreeing on a new contract.

Analysis: Koski originally joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Cal Poly in 2020. The 25-year-old was with the active roster for five games this season, where he handled punt and kick returns, but he never played an offensive snap. Koski will now focus on earning more opportunities next season.

Analysis: Michel saw only seven snaps, as Darrell Henderson, who was returning from a knee injury, leaped past him on the running back positional depth chart. Michel spent the final weeks of the regular season as the Rams' lead back, with Cam Akers missing the first 17 weeks of the season due to a torn Achilles and Henderson dealing with an MCL sprain. The extra work down the stretch helped him compile 845 yards on 208 carries and four touchdowns on the ground along with 21 receptions on 33 targets for 128 yards and another touchdown through the air. The Patriots declined the fifth year on Michel's contract before trading him to the Rams in August, so he will be a free agent this offseason. With Akers and Henderson already under contract for 2022, there's a good chance Michel will be looking for a new home once free agency opens.

Analysis: Skowronek saw career highs in snaps and targets, as Odell Beckham left late in the first half with an ACL injury. The rookie Skowronek played a limited role this season, compiling 11 receptions on 20 targets for 133 yards while operating as the Rams' No, 4 wideout on the positional depth chart. How big of a role Skowronek will have moving forward will largely depend on what happens with Beckham, as not only did he potentially suffer a significant injury during the Super Bowl, he is also set to be a free agent.

Analysis: Blanton stepped up during the NFC Championship Game in place of Tyler Higbee, who tore his ACL during the first half, and caught all five of his targets for 57 yards. However, he 6-foot-6 tight end was limited during the Super Bowl after suffering a shoulder injury, according to Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In Blanton's absence, Brycen Hopkins stepped up as the primary tight end and caught all four of his targets for 47 yards across 39 offensive snaps.

Analysis: If the torn ACL is confirmed, Beckham will be looking at a lengthy recovery period as the 2022 NFL season approaches. The wideout, who turns 30 on Nov. 5, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and given the timing of his injury, an early-season absence figures to be in the cards for Beckham, who recorded a 44/537/5 stat line in 14 regular season games (six with Cleveland and eight with Los Angeles) during the 2021 campaign.

Analysis: After drawing only one target in total over the first 12 regular-season and playoff appearances of his career, Hopkins saw a surprising amount of involvement on the biggest stage. With Tyler Higbee (knee) placed on injured reserve in advance of the Super Bowl, Kendall Blanton drew the start at tight end, but it was Hopkins who operated as the top pass-catching option at the position. He ended up out-snapping Blanton, 39-30, and had a key third-down reception with just over four minutes remaining on the Rams' game-winning scoring drive. Higbee should be back to full strength for the Rams' offseason program and is under contract through 2023, but Hopkins' Super Bowl performance could be a springboard for him to take on a more enhanced role as Higbee's top backup next season.

Analysis: Activated from injured reserve on Friday after last having played in Week 16, Henderson was still the clear complementary option to lead back Cam Akers in terms of rushing volume. However, the third-year back made an appreciable impact as a receiver, particularly on his catches of 25 and 15 yards in the second and third quarters, respectively. Henderson's knee should be back to full strength early in the offseason if it isn't already, and he and Akers could have quite the competition for the No. 1 running back job in training camp this coming summer.

Analysis: The speedster came into the game still somewhat nursing a knee injury he'd suffered in the NFC Championship Game, and perhaps that played a role in his limited production even after Odell Beckham left the game for good in the second quarter due to his own knee issue. Jefferson was also the target on Matthew Stafford's first interception late in the first half, a ball that the Bengals' Jessie Bates came down with in the end zone. However, Jefferson's reception total actually tied him for second on the Rams for the night, and it qualified as his highest since Week 17. Looking ahead to the 2022 season, Jefferson will be aiming to build on the significant step forward he took during a sophomore campaign that saw him contribute a 50-802-6 line across 17 games.

Analysis: Akers comfortably paced the backfield in carries even with Darrell Henderson making his return from injured reserve, but as was the case most of the postseason, he found running room very much at a premium. The second-year back nearly outpaced his rushing yardage total through the air on just three touches, underscoring the tough sledding he encountered on the ground. Naturally, the Super Bowl win for his team is the ultimate consolation, and Akers could also certainly be heartened by the fact he made a very rapid recovery from the Achilles tear he suffered in July. With a full offseason to get back to full strength ahead of him, the FSU product will undoubtedly aim for a major comeback effort in the Rams' 2022 title-defense season.

Analysis: Kupp delivered handsomely when it mattered most after what many felt was an MVP-worthy season, snagging a game-winning one-yard touchdown grab with 1:25 remaining. However, that memorable catch tells only part of the story for the fifth-year pro, who missed his first career opportunity to play in the Super Bowl after the 2018 season due to a torn ACL. Kupp also recorded an 11-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter to give the Rams a two-possession lead at the time, and prior to his championship-clinching score, he had a clutch seven-yard rush on fourth down and catches of eight, 22 and eight yards on that final drive, as well as a four-yard touchdown reception nullified by offsetting penalties. Kupp could have arguably had an even bigger performance had Odell Beckham, who was commanding a good bit of attention with strong early-game play, hadn't exited for good in the first half with a knee injury. The Super Bowl MVP award Kupp earned with the performance is a fitting cap on a season that also saw him named Offensive Player of the Year and put together a stellar three-game playoff run in which he logged 25 receptions for 386 yards and four touchdowns.

Analysis: The veteran signal-caller culminated his first season outside of the football purgatory known as Detroit with a thrilling game-winning drive to secure a Super Bowl championship for the Rams on their home field. On his way there, Stafford had to navigate the absence of trusted tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) and the first-half exit of Odell Beckham, who suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury of his own. Stafford had opened the game clicking on all cylinders while connecting on nine of his first 10 pass attempts, including touchdown passes of 17 and 11 yards to Beckham and Cooper Kupp, respectively. However, the entire air attack mostly fell into a malaise following Beckham's exit, with Los Angeles only managing a 41-yard Matt Gay field goal until a game-winning 15-play, 79-yard march late in the fourth quarter. Stafford turned back to Kupp, who the Bengals had focused on heavily after Beckham's departure, to spearhead the drive and capped it off with a perfect back-shoulder throw to his star wideout for the game-winning touchdown. The memorable finish caps off a wildly successful first season in L.A. for Stafford, who finished the regular season with his highest passing yardage total (4,886) since the 2012 season and a career-high-tying 41 touchdown passes.