{
  "id": 5769360,
  "title": "13 Rams starters who will become free agents after 2026 season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/13-rams-starters-who-will-become-free-agents-after-2026-season",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-05T12:02:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/13-rams-starters-become-free-120218346.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Los Angeles Rams have made significant offseason moves, bringing in players like Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Aaron Donald. However, with Matthew Stafford's uncertain future and the impending expiration of contracts for 13 key starters, the team is facing a critical decision point for the 2026 season.\n\nOffensive and defensive starters who will be free agents include WR Puka Nacua, WR Davante Adams, DT Aaron Donald (likely retiring), RG Kevin Dotson, TE Colby Parkinson, C Coleman Shelton, OLB Byron Young, DT Kobie Turner, RT Warren McClendon Jr., LB Omar Speights (restricted free agent), K Harrison Mevis (exclusive rights free agent), and P Ethan Evans.\n\nPlayers like Nacua, Avila, Young, Turner, and McClendon are on modest rookie contracts and are likely to seek major raises in the 2027 offseason. Similarly, Donald's retirement is expected, and Speights can be retained as a restricted free agent. Dotson, Shelton, and Speights are the prime candidates for significant contracts next offseason due to their prime career stage.\n\nOther notable players who might leave include tight end Davis Allen, cornerbacks Xavier Smith and Emmanuel Forbes Jr., and safety Jaylen McCollough. The article highlights the Rams' challenge in retaining all their 2023 draftees, who have become high-end starters, and their potential loss of key players in free agency.",
  "summary": "The Rams are set to lose a lot of talent after this season if they don't extend some of their best players.",
  "key_points": [
    "13 Rams starters will become free agents after 2026 season",
    "Key players include Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Aaron Donald",
    "Retention challenges for Dotson, Shelton, Speights highlighted"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}