The Los Angeles Rams announced they agreed to terms on a one-year contract with defensive tackle Larrell Murchison.
Murchison hit unrestricted free agency at the beginning of the new league year, but returns to Los Angeles after missing the entirety of the 2024 season due to injury.
Murchison suffered an arm injury in the Rams’ first preseason game and placed on injured reserve, forcing him to miss the first four games of the 2024 season. However, upon returning to practice Murchison then broke his foot which sidelined him for the remainder of the year.
The defensive tackle was originally selected in the fifth-round by the Tennessee Titans and spent three seasons with the team. In 2022, the Titans waived Murchison twice which opened the door for Los Angeles to claim him off waivers.
Since coming to the Rams, Murchison has served as a depth piece along the defensive line and his return ensures they’ll have quality backups should injuries occur to any of the regulars. L.A.’s defensive line is one of the best young groups in the NFL as it features Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner and Byron Young. The Rams added to the front by agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Poona Ford, aiding their run defense.
The Rams did lose Bobby Brown and Michael Hoecht in free agency to the Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills, respectively, so there should be more opportunities for Murchison to crack the rotation. However, the 2025 NFL Draft features a plethora of defensive tackle prospects and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them add to the room.
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula showed in his first year on the job that he can extract the most out of this roster, so Murchison could be in position to make an impact assuming he’s able to stay on the field. His injury history is a bit concerning, but given he only signed a one-year deal it’s a low-risk move for the Rams.
Defensively, Los Angeles should be able to take a leap forward after starting last season off slowly. The offense should also rebound after a relatively down year due to injuries, so it’ll be exciting to see just how far the Rams can go next season.
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