The other day, I was reflecting on how many Rams put together career years in 2021 on their way to a championship.
Cooper Kupp, Rob Havenstein, and Brian Allen came to mind on offense. A straightforward case can be made that Matthew Stafford's debut season as a Ram was also the best of his 13 years.
Jalen Ramsey, Greg Gaines, and Nick Scott were leading candidates on defense. While Matt Gayand Brandon Powell achieved in the kicking game.
A range of contributors – from All-Pros to practice squad signees – had to step up in indelible ways. Those mentioned above demonstrated sustained success for large stretches of the season. But as we all witnessed, there were also breakout moments for Kendall Blanton, Brycen Hopkins, David Long Jr., Travin Howard, and so many others.
As the Rams pause for the summer and set their sights on training camp, the question for this time of year becomes: Who's next?
Which deep draft pick is poised to become the next Jordan Fuller? Or Sebastian Joseph-Day?
Which returning starter can take a Kupp-like step toward stardom?
In celebration of Los Angeles wide receiver Cooper Kupp's birthday, take a look through the best photos of his Triple Crown, NFL Offensive Player of the Year & Super Bowl MVP-winning season.
Behind the scenes of the Los Angeles Rams open video directed by Award-winning director Wally Pfister.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football during Week 5 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the Houston Texans in Week 8 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Green Bay Packers during Week 12 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Indiniapolis Colts in Week 2 of the 2021 season.
MVP Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams encounters Iron Man, Spider-Man, a member of the Dora Milaje and Black Panther inside Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure park in Anaheim, Calif., Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. Kupp visited the Disneyland Resort one day after the Los Angeles Rams' victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers during Week 18 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Indiniapolis Colts in Week 2 of the 2021 season.
Wide Receiver (10) Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Championship Game, Sunday, January 30, 2022, in Inglewood, CA. The Rams won 20-17. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) hurdles over a defender during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday, December 13, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Wide Receiver (10) Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams enters the field with an American Flag during player introductions before playing against the Tennessee Titans in an NFL game, Sunday, November 7, 2021, in Inglewood, CA. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Wide Receiver (10) Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs against the Cincinnati Bengals during Super Bowl LVI, February 13, 2022, in Inglewood, CA. The Rams won 23-20. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15 of the 2021 regular season.
Los Angeles Rams host 2021 training camp practice at UC Irvine.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Baltimore Ravens during Week 17 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams celebrate the Super Bowl LVI Championship at the LA city parade.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the Houston Texans in Week 8 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings during Week 16 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings during Week 16 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the Detroit Lions in Week 7 of the 2021 season.
Wide Receiver (10) Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams passes the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during Super Bowl LVI, February 13, 2022, in Inglewood, CA. The Rams won 23-20. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
Wide Receiver (10) Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs against the Chicago Bears during the Rams 34-14 victory in an NFL Week 1 game, Sunday, September 12, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Indiniapolis Colts in Week 2 of the 2021 season.
MVP Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams celebrate Super Bowl victory with a jubilant cavalcade down Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 14, 2022. The players visited the Disneyland Resort one day after the Los Angeles Rams' victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
Wide Receiver (10) Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game, Sunday, January 9, 2022, in Inglewood, CA. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the Detroit Lions in Week 7 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the Houston Texans in Week 8 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Baltimore Ravens during Week 17 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals during Week 14 of the 2021 regular season.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) at the 2022 NFL Honors, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (Cooper Neill/NFL)
Wide Receiver (10) Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Championship Game, Sunday, January 30, 2022, in Inglewood, CA. The Rams won 20-17. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals during Week 14 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks during Week 15 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the Detroit Lions in Week 7 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks during Week 15 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams hit the practice field to prepare for the Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Green Bay Packers during Week 12 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams celebrate the Super Bowl LVI Championship at the LA city parade.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the Detroit Lions in Week 7 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers during Week 18 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Tampa Bay Bucceneers in Week 3 of the 2021 season. The Los Angeles Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Giants in Week 6 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the Detroit Lions in Week 7 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams celebrate the Super Bowl LVI Championship at the LA city parade.
Inglewood, CA: October 3, 2021: Los Angeles Rams host the Arizona Cardinals at Sofi Stadium. (Carrie Giordano/Los Angeles Rams)
The Los Angeles Rams took on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals during Week 14 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football during Week 5 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals during Week 14 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Indiniapolis Colts in Week 2 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams took on the Detroit Lions in Week 7 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Jacksonville Jaguars during Week 13 of the 2021 regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
Wide Receiver (10) Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams poses on Super Bowl LVI Media Day, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Thousand Oaks, CA. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Indiniapolis Colts in Week 2 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Tampa Bay Bucceneers in Week 3 of the 2021 season. The Los Angeles Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3 of the 2021 season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers during Week 18 of the 2021 regular season.
Over the course of the next few weeks, I'll attempt to identify a candidate in each tier of the roster, from rookies all the way up to the pool of veterans. Because for the Rams to repeat, they'll absolutely need breakout performances and career years.
For some individuals, that might entail statistical achievements beyond what they've demonstrated to this point. For others, it could simply mean winning a starting job and bringing certainty to the depth chart where there is currently some doubt.
We'll begin the series with the Draft Class of 2022, even though it's inherently the least predictable – no one from the group has even participated in a padded practice, after all.
Drafted Candidates: OG Logan Bruss, CB Cobie Durant, RB Kyren Williams, DB Quentin Lake, DB Derion Kendrick, OLB Daniel Hardy, DB Russ Yeast, OT AJ Arcuri
The Favorite: Logan Bruss
Not only was Bruss the first selection of this class and the only Day Two pick, but head coach Sean McVay essentially penciled him in as the starter at right guard that same night. In that context, he becomes the most obvious selection of this entire exercise. There are other options to replace Austin Corbett, but the best-case scenario is that Bruss is ready to roll against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, September 8.
One to Watch: P Cameron Dicker
Here in June, the only other rookie that I could currently envision having a Bruss-sized impact on the upcoming season would be a college free agent competing for the right to fill Johnny Hekker's shoes. If Dicker were to beat out veteran punter Riley Dixon, then he would figure to be the second rookie to secure a starting role going into the 2022 campaign.
Up next: We'll examine the Class of 2021.
