Between this quote and the one-year, $10 million fully guaranteed contract the Rams gave Atwell this offseason, it seems fair to assume he’ll be a key player in the offense next season. McVay said he hasn’t “done a good enough job of utilizing” the former second-round pick through the first four years of his career, but it sounds like that could change in 2025. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams will still operate as the team’s top two receivers, but the Rams have been one of the most 11-personnel-heavy teams since 2021, per PFF, which means Atwell should see plenty of time on the field if McVay sticks to his word. Atwell has shown flashes over the last two seasons with the increased workloads he has received. Since 2023, he has caught 81 passes for 1,045 and three touchdowns, averaging 12.9 YPR. It’s a long offseason, which means there’s plenty that can change between now and training camp, but Atwell could prove to be a very strong late-round pick in early fantasy drafts.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Atwell’s deal is fully-guaranteed. The former No. 57 overall pick hasn’t lived up to his lofty draft capital, but Atwell is coming off a career-high in catches (42) and receiving yards (562) and has totaled 81-1,045-3 over the last two seasons. The one-year deal makes a lot of sense for both parties, as Atwell is a four-year vet of Sean McVay’s system, and the Rams are rumored to be moving on from Cooper Kupp, which could create an opportunity for more targets in 2025. It’s unlikely Atwell will emerge as an every-down option, but the explosive receiver will undoubtedly have a role in 2025.

Atwell had a career-best 562 receiving yards on 62 targets in 2024 and figures to draw interest around the league from teams looking for a deep shot specialist. Phillip Dorsett bounced around the league to anyone who needed that sort of player over the past five years, and that seems a likely scenario for Atwell to emulate now that his rookie contract has expired.

Atwell posted career highs in receptions (42) and receiving yards (5620 this season but failed to find the end zone. The fourth-year receiver has never fully amounted to the caliber of player the Rams hoped for when they made him the 57th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and will likely be headed for free agency now that his rookie contract is set to expire at the end of the season. Whether it’s with the Rams or another team in 2025, the 5-foot-9 speedster is unlikely to serve as anything more than a role player in the future.