2. Derion Kendrick, CB
One player who Rams fans didn't see much of in 2024 was Derion Kendrick. The veteran cornerback suffered a torn ACL last July, effectively ending his third NFL campaign before it even began. As a result, his future in Los Angeles is now up in the air.
The fact of the matter is that Kendrick was already on thin ice before tearing his ACL. The former Georgia Bulldog displayed abysmal coverage and a lack of discipline in his first two seasons with the Rams, allowing 82 receptions on 125 targets (65.6%) for 1,194 yards, six touchdowns, and a 109.2 passer rating while taking 14 penalties.
A turnaround for Kendrick is unlikely after missing a full year with a serious knee injury. Even if he's only turning 25 years old in August, that's a big uphill battle for any player.
As Kendrick prepares for the final year of his rookie contract, there's a good chance that he won't be back in L.A. next season. The Rams can create over $3.2 million in savings by releasing or trading him at any point this offseason, which is an amount better spent on other players rather than a CB whose future is marred by questions.
Unless head coach Sean McVay's staff is fully confident in a bounce-back performance, don't be surprised if Kendrick is lining up on another defense this fall.
3. Colby Parkinson, TE
The Rams attempted to bolster their tight end room last offseason by signing Colby Parkinson to a three-year, $22.5 million contract. GM Snead was willing to roll the dice on the former Stanford Cardinal after he tallied 618 yards and four TDs on 57 catches across four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.
Unfortunately, Parkinson's first year in Los Angeles was a bust. The 6-foot-7 TE caught a career-low 61.2% of his targets, converting 30 catches into only 294 receiving yards and a score in 17 games while finishing with a 63.2 Pro Football Focus offense grade — only 37th-best at his position.
Even if he's still a decent TE2/3, Parkinson is hardly worth the $9.8 million cap hit he's scheduled to carry in 2025. Fortunately, the Rams can free up over $3.1 million in space with a pre-June 1 release, and the potential savings will increase to $5.25 million after that date. They can even create $7.75 million in savings with a post-June 1 trade.
With Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen under contract through 2026, the Rams can afford to move on from Parkinson this offseason. Not only can Los Angeles find potential replacements in free agency, but the 2025 NFL draft will also feature its fair share of promising TE prospects featuring more upside than Parkinson.
Free agent signings can turn into cautionary tales, and that appears to be exactly the case for the Rams and Parkinson. Hopefully, they will opt for an offseason divorce rather than risk the contract becoming even uglier once the new season begins.