Feb. 2, 2026, 4:00 p.m. PT
Two of the biggest non-Matthew Stafford roster decisions for the Los Angeles Rams this offseason revolve around what to do with veteran tackle Rob Havenstein and Tyler Higbee.
Both are long-time Rams players who are impending free agents and coming off injury-plagued seasons. Havenstein, who was drafted by the Rams in 2015, will be 34 in 2026 and missed 13 games this year, including the playoffs. Higbee, meanwhile, was a 2016 draft pick and turns 33, but missed seven games with an injury.
While a decision with both will have to be made sooner rather than later, head coach Sean McVay said he’s giving both players time to assess their respective situations.
“I think it’s very similar to Matthew… Give them a little bit of time, let them digest, unpack the emotions of where they’re at,” McVay told reporters Monday. “Whether they continue to play, or whether they don’t want to play anymore, they’ve been legacy players, they’ve been legacy human beings, more importantly.”
This approach is classic McVay. While football is a business, he understands that people are at the center of and Havenstein and Higbee won’t take these decisions lightly. Havenstein sounded unsure about his future immediately after the NFC championship loss, and Higbee hasn’t made any comments about his plans yet.
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It sounds, though, like McVay will try to honor whatever decisions each player makes while balancing what the team is able to do as well. Havenstein likely lost his starting role on the right side after Warren McClendon stepped in admirably in 2025.
Similarly, Higbee took a backseat to Colby Parkinson throughout the season while he recovered from his injury, and the Rams’ second-rounder, Terrance Ferguson, also saw more opportunities toward the end of the season. Higbee still finished the year with 25 receptions for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
