With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine now behind them, teams have shifted their focus to free agency, which opens on March 9. And the Los Angeles Rams are already making calculated moves to strengthen Matthew Stafford’s offense after his MVP campaign. Because of that, on Monday, the franchise confirmed a trio of familiar deals.

“We have tendered exclusive rights (to) free agents Justin Dedich, Harrison Mevis, and Xavier Smith,” the Rams announced on X.

All three qualified as exclusive rights free agents because of their draft status and limited accrued seasons. To reach unrestricted status, a player must log four accrued seasons, while three seasons are required to become a restricted free agent. And the double signing of offensive lineman Justin Dedich and wide receiver Xavier Smith directly supports Stafford. Together, they accounted for nine starts last season, and that kind of familiarity matters.

Dedich has appeared in 29 games across two years, mostly serving as a steady interior option for the Rams. While he often worked behind starters, he consistently delivered when called upon. This past season, Dedich stepped into larger roles when Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson dealt with injuries. As a result, he proved he could handle meaningful snaps.

Meanwhile, Smith enjoyed career highs in 2025, highlighted by a breakout showing against the Carolina Panthers during the regular season. After carving out his place in 2024, Smith now enters his third year, which has often been a leap season in Sean McVay’s system.

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Then the third signing, Harrison Mevis, quietly solved a major problem. The Rams’ Special Teams unit struggled before his arrival, yet Mevis brought stability. He missed just one kick all season, converting 12-of-13 field goal attempts and all 39 extra point attempts in the regular season.

His clean approach eliminated the block issues that once haunted Joshua Karty. That precision set up the biggest kick of his career in snowy Chicago, where he drilled the game-winner to send the Rams to the NFC Championship Game. Given that performance, he looks locked in as the long-term answer.

But among the trio, Smith carries a slight edge after spending 2023 on the practice squad, which gave him valuable system knowledge. Combined with Matthew Stafford leading one of the league’s most productive offenses, these double decisions make sense.

Matthew Stafford led the Rams’ offense in 2025

The Los Angeles Rams closed the 2025 regular season as the top-scoring offense in football. Sean McVay’s group averaged 30.5 points per game, and that surge started with Matthew Stafford’s MVP-level run. He led the league in passing yards and touchdowns, while Puka Nacua topped the NFL in catches and Davante Adams paced everyone in receiving scores. As a result, Rams House witnessed one of the most explosive attacks in franchise history.

The Rams also stayed balanced and protected the ball at an elite level. In fact, they became the first team ever to record at least 4,500 net passing yards, 2,000 rushing yards, and 15 or fewer turnovers in a single season. They finished with 4,557 passing yards, 2,152 rushing yards, and just 15 giveaways. That is rare territory for any team, and it becomes even more impressive when the quarterback is 37 and entering his 17th season.

At the same time, Stafford thrived in McVay’s play-action system. He attempted 214 play action passes, the most in the Next Gen Stats era, and completed 144 for 1,786 yards and 20 touchdowns. McVay blends his run and pass looks so closely that defenses often freeze for a split second.

However, for all that firepower, the Rams fell short of the ultimate goal. They finished 12-5 and reached the NFC Championship Game, yet the Seahawks edged them.

So now all eyes are on Stafford and the Rams in the coming 2026 season.