The Facts: High-priced additions paid off in the form of a Super Bowl ring to cap the Rams' 2021 season, but a dearth of drafted reinforcements and money to spend on lower-level free agents left the Rams in a top-heavy state. When those players suffered injuries, Los Angeles' lack of depth became painfully evident, leading to a 5-12 finish that lacked intrigue by the time Thanksgiving arrived. The Rams can't accept a similar outcome in 2023. It's time for GM Les Snead to initiate a remodel of the franchise, and he's planning on doing so with Stafford as his team's foundation. "I think we're going to definitely rely on Matthew, he's definitely one of our pillars," Snead said on Thursday during his pre-free agency news conference.

Diehards Line: After leading Los Angeles to a title in his first season, Stafford's injuries cut short his 2022 campaign and forced the Rams to cycle through John Wolford, Bryce Perkins and finally, free-agent addition Baker Mayfield. Without Stafford, the Rams can't expect to achieve much more than their third-place finish in 2022. And because Stafford remains on the roster, Snead believes the Rams can improve quicker than a traditional rebuild. Stafford's existence -- and a cap number that stands at $20 million in 2023 before ballooning to $49.5 million in 2024 -- means the Rams have reason to act with a focus on the short term. It also means they might want to set their sights a little lower than championship-level play.