Why the Rams should consider reuniting with Robert Woods
The Tennessee Titans released Robert Woods on Wednesday, leading many Los Angeles Rams fans to shout from the rooftops that the team should bring him back. With the Rams looking to shake things up following a 5-12 campaign in 2022, should they consider reuniting with Woods?
The simple answer is yes, but before we discuss why a reunion makes sense, let’s discuss what Woods accomplished in his five years with the Rams. The former second-round pick out of USC signed with the Rams in free agency in 2017 ahead of Sean McVay’s first year as head coach.
Woods had never eclipsed 700 receiving yards in any season with the Buffalo Bills, however, the Rams saw potential in the California native. The former Trojan would immediately become a key cog in McVay’s offense. And in five seasons playing in Los Angeles, he accrued 367 receptions, 4,626 yards, and 23 touchdowns.
Besides having three seasons of 86-plus catches and two seasons of 1,100-plus yards, Woods was one of the most versatile receivers in the NFL due to his ability to contribute in the run game (whether it be as a blocker or ball carrier). Sadly, injuries happen in the NFL, and even though he got a Super Bowl ring last February, he ended the year on injured reserve due to a torn ACL.
In his lone season with the Titans after being traded by the Rams, Woods played in all 17 games (started in 15 of them) and recorded 53 catches for 527 yards (for a career-worst 9.9 yards per reception) and two touchdowns. Some may believe Woods doesn’t have any gas left in the tank, but he’ll be a full year removed from surgery on his knee ahead of his age-31 season.
What Woods would bring to the Rams is reliability, which is something the team didn’t have much of at the wide receiver position in 2022. Until Cooper Kupp went down with a season-ending ankle injury, the Rams struggled to get consistent play out of any of their other wideouts.
Allen Robinson is expected to return this season after undergoing season-ending foot surgery and a group of Kupp, Robinson, Woods, and Van Jefferson would certainly maximize the win-now window of Matthew Stafford. The veteran wide receiver could also aid in helping the run game get back on track under McVay.
Of course, the cost to sign Woods would ultimately decide if the Rams could even entertain the idea of signing the fan-favorite wide receiver. Maybe an incentive-laden deal gets a reunion in place, but it’s clear that the Rams should consider bringing back Woods this offseason for various reasons.
