Los Angeles Rams stack the deck around Matthew Stafford for another run with two huge free agency deals

The Los Angeles Rams didn't even get through a full season of a supposed rebuilding year before they were back in the hunt. Now they see their window open again, and they are going for it. Los Angeles signaled its intentions for 2024 on the opening day of the negotiating window, agreeing deals to sign […]

Nicholas McGee
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quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) celebrates after a touchdown by wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) in the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Rams didn't even get through a full season of a supposed rebuilding year before they were back in the hunt. Now they see their window open again, and they are going for it.

Los Angeles signaled its intentions for 2024 on the opening day of the negotiating window, agreeing deals to sign guard Jonah Jackson and tight end Colby Parkinson.

Jackson, per NFL Media's Mike Garafolo, has agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal with $34 million guaranteed.

Meanwhile Parkinson will put pen to paper on a three-year, $22.5 million contract with $15.5 million guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Following four seasons with the Detroit Lions, the bulk of which he spent blocking for former Rams quarterback Jared Goff, Jackson will now pass protect for Lions legend Matthew Stafford. 

However, the Rams have more likely added him into the mix primarily for his run-blocking acumen, which should aid a ground game that pivoted to more inside zone runs last season and ranked fourth in Expected Points Added per play over the final eight weeks of the season, a spell during which Los Angeles won seven games. The Rams then lost to Detroit in the wild card round.

Parkinson gives the Rams a reliable pass-catching threat at their second tight end spot. In 2023, his fourth with the Seattle Seahawks, he was 12th among tight ends with at least 25 targets in Expected Points Added per target, according to Sports Info Solutions. He ended the year five places above Tyler Higbee, whom he will now back up in Los Angeles.

The Rams' attack surged into life down the stretch, with Stafford retuning to the kind of form that saw him lead the Rams to Super Bowl glory at their home stadium at the end of the 2021 season.

With an ascending O-Line, two top-tier receivers in Cooper Kupp and breakout rookie Puka Nacua, along with a stud runner in Kyren Williams in the backfield, their offense was already well-positioned to carry the momentum into 2024. Now with more protection and running game help and another weapon in the passing game, Stafford is in an excellent spot to put the Rams in the thick of the Super Bowl hunt in the coming season.

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