The 2025 NFL season for the Los Angeles Rams feels like a new frontier. For the first time since becoming the head coach of the team, Sean McVay is no longer designing plays to target veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Instead, Kupp will be catching passes from Seattle Seahawks’ new quarterback, Sam Darnold.
So, where does this leave the Rams’ offense? It’s entering a fresh chapter with a new target for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams have added six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro wide receiver, Davante Adams, who is about to begin his 12th NFL season. According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, Adams plans to finish his career with the Rams.
However, it’s too early to settle into complacency. In the past eight seasons, Adams has never had fewer than 997 receiving yards, and he’s scored fewer than eight touchdowns only once (in 2019, when he missed four games). In 2024, he caught 85 of 141 passes for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns. Known for his ability to create separation without the need for motion, formations, or clearing zones, Adams remains one of the NFL’s most elusive and skilled wide receivers.
Now, he joins McVay’s offense, with Stafford throwing him passes. If the Rams are searching for explosive weapons, Adams should be at the top of that list. With a 4.51-second 40-yard dash time (compared to Kupp’s 4.62 seconds), Adams had a 71-yard reception in 2025, and out of his 1,063 yards in 2024, 473 came from yards after the catch (YAC). Last season, quarterbacks posted a 95.4 passer rating when targeting him.
In short, Adams remains a formidable offensive weapon. However, playing under McVay and in the Rams’ complex but disciplined offense will present a new challenge for him. He has thrived with the Green Bay Packers, who run a version of McVay’s offense, but this will be his first year in the “real McCoy.”
Adams has built a career as a high-volume wide receiver, and that’s where questions arise. The Rams’ offense has the capacity to throw a large number of passes to Adams in 2025, but will they? Historically, players like Robert Woods, Desean Jackson, Allen Robinson, Van Jefferson, and Tutu Atwell have struggled not with producing, but with staying involved in the offense.
Since 2019, Cooper Kupp has been the primary target in the Rams’ passing game, averaging 124 targets per season (about 10 per game). In his first two seasons, Puka Nacua has averaged 9.5 targets per game. With Adams now joining the mix, the concern is whether his arrival will lead to fewer targets for others. The Rams only have so many passes to distribute, and Puka Nacua is likely to remain the most targeted wide receiver if he stays healthy.
In the end, both the Rams offense and Adams will face new challenges this season. Hopefully, the combination will revitalize the offense, making it one of the most dangerous in the NFL again. But there are no guarantees, which is part of what makes this upcoming season so exciting.
