A bigger role in the offense awaited wide receiver Josh Reynolds after the Rams traded Brandin Cooks to the Texans last spring. While Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp handled the bulk of the reps, Reynolds had been viewed by Los Angeles teammates and head coach Sean McVay as a third starter. Though Reynolds had a quiet 2017 rookie season, he emerged from it with 50 catches for 728 yards and six touchdowns over his next two.
In that expanded role in his fourth season, Reynolds posted 52 catches for 618 yards – both career-highs – plus two touchdowns while playing in all 16 regular season games for the fourth-straight year. Those 618 yards were third-most among Rams receivers in 2020. He also recorded at least four catches in seven of those 16 games.
However, with his rookie contract expiring, the former 2017 fourth-round pick is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 17.
So what's next for the Rams and Reynolds?
The Rams could re-sign the 6-foot-3, 196-pound receiver. If brought back, Reynolds would provide Los Angeles with an experienced and durable big-play threat – see his career average of 12.8 yards per reception through his first four seasons, and the 40-yard touchdown catch against the 49ers in Week 6 as examples. When knee bursitis prevented Kupp from playing in the divisional round of the playoffs against the packers, Reynolds caught three passes for 65 yards.
If Reynolds and the Rams decide to go in different directions, the Rams could turn to wide receiver Van Jefferson, whom they selected with the No. 57 overall pick acquired in the Cooks trade with the Texans last year, as a replacement. While Jefferson didn't get a ton of opportunities as a rookie, he showed flashes when afforded an expanded role of being a capable third option after Woods and Kupp. The Rams could also look for Reynolds' replacement through free agency or the draft.
Take a look back at the top shots of the Rams wide receivers from the 2020 season.
Wide Receiver (12) Van Jefferson of the Los Angeles Rams against the Dallas Cowboys during the Rams 20-17 victory against the Cowboys in an NFL Week 1 regular season game, Sunday, September 13, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (Will Navarro/LA Rams)
Wide receiver (10) Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs against the Dallas Cowboys during the Rams 20-17 victory against the Cowboys in an NFL Week 1 regular season game, Sunday, September 13, 2020, in Inglewood,Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Wide receiver (11) Josh Reynolds of the Los Angeles Rams cortices a pass and runs against the Dallas Cowboys during the Rams 20-17 victory against the Cowboys in an NFL Week 1 regular season game, Sunday, September 13, 2020, in Inglewood,Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Wide receiver (17) Robert Woods of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the Rams 38-28 victory over the Cardinals during an NFL regular season Week 13 football game, Sunday, December 6, 2020, in Glendale, AZ. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Wide Receiver (17) Robert Woods of the Los Angeles Rams face off against a divisional rival Seattle Seahawks during an NFL Week 10 regular season game, Sunday, November 15, 2020, in Inglewood, CA. The Los Angeles Rams win 23-16. (Will Navarro/LA Rams)
Wide receiver (11) Josh Reynolds of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs against the Seattle Seahawks during the Rams 23-16 victory over the Seahawks in an NFL Week 10 regular season game, Sunday, November 15, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Wide receiver (17) Robert Woods of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs against the Seattle Seahawks during the Rams 23-16 victory over the Seahawks in an NFL Week 10 regular season game, Sunday, November 15, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Wide Receiver (11) Josh Reynolds of the Los Angeles Rams against the Dallas Cowboys during the Rams 20-17 victory against the Cowboys in an NFL Week 1 regular season game, Sunday, September 13, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (Will Navarro/LA Rams)
Josh Reynolds of the Los Angeles Rams makes a catch and runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the Rams 18-7 victory in a Week 17 game, Sunday, January 3, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
