With regards to the Los Angeles Rams special teams, fans are chafing and coaches are desperately trying to correct the steering of a unit that careening towards disaster. The most recent move came late this week when L.A. parted ways with Xavier Smith, the Rams primary punt returner of three seasons. The release should be considered a mostly symbolic move At this point, the Rams simply don’t have a lot of options to upgrade his absence. Any move made this close to game day should not be construed as permanent.
The L.A. braintrust does indeed have some in-house options, but should not be afraid to pull the trigger on a player from the outside that can improve the lineup.
Trying to look at the situation with a view longer than just the Philadelphia Eagles game, who can the Rams decide upon to rejuvenate their return game?
The current L.A. roster holds a couple of in-house options and a scan of available free agents provides six names that stand out as possible season-long replacements. Actually seven with the addition of Kyren Williams and although his profile is not in this exercise, the odds would favor him being the eventual choice.
I knew I had that laying around somewhereAlex Bachman – ( age 30) 5’ 11” 195 lb.
Originally signed by the Rama as an undrafted free agent back in 2019. He made stops with the New York Giants (2019-22), Houston Texans (1922-24), and Las Vegas Raiders (2025) before re-joining the Rams this August past. Over that six-year span, he’s played in 22 games with one start, totaling 151 reps on offense and 213 on special teams.
With 22 punt returns, last season with the Raiders was his first as a team’s primary returner. He accrued a modest 124 yards for a 5.6 average. His long was 25 yards and he had one fumble on the season. He has also put in work on coverage teams, making nine tackles over the pst two seasons. Bachman is physically bigger than most returners and it would be interesting to have access to his current speed numbers. Coming out in 2019, he ran a 4.47 forty with a 1. 58 10-yard split, quite similar to the man he endeavors to replace, Xavier Smith, just a shade less burst.
Brennan Presley – ( age 24) 5’ 8” 175 lb.
The Rams plucked him from the undrafted ranks in 2025. He fits the Rams mold of over-achievers that win with effort, toughness, and football IQ. With his 4.53 forty and 1.64 split, Presley is not super fast. He is however an outstanding open-field runner and was a highly productive returner in college. On offense, he shows excellent hands and is a disciplined route runner. He has a stash of receiving/return records at Oklahoma State.
80 days until Oklahoma State Cowboy football
— BuffalOKstate (@BuffalOKstate) June 12, 2024
#80 Brennan Presley with the 100 yard TD return in 2021 Bedlam. So excited he’s back for one more year. #GoPokespic.twitter.com/ffMfVo0vhx
Tutu Atwell – ( age 27) 5’ 9” 165 lb.
Yes, I’m going to throw his hat into the ring. Whether the Rams do anything to fit his skillset into the offense or not, Atwell does have the tools for the punt returner/WR 4 role. Unless he shows to be a fumbler in practice, he has shown an ability to track deep passes and at 4.39 in the forty and a1.49 split, he most certainly has the burst and long speed. He is a linear runner, not a darter, more of a swerver. As a rookie (2021), he did some return work (10 punts, 5 kickoffs) without distinction before a shoulder injury cut his season short.
Life in the streetsRay Ray McCloud – (age 29) 5’ 10 190 lb.
McCloud has made his bones as a vagabond return man. He began his NFL career as a Round 6 pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2018 and has made stops with the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, and Chicago Bears. All told, played 766 special teams reps over 100 games. Not limited just return for, McCloud has 24 starts and 2512 reps at wide receiver.
While his numbers have been decline the past couple of seasons and his speed testing of 4.49 forty and 1.56 split may not be accurate anymore, McCloud has 140 punts for a 9.5 average and 126 kickoffs at a 23 yard rate. He’s also added 159 receptions and a catch rate of 67.4 percent.
Tahj Washington – (age 25) 5’ 10” 174 lb.
A Round 7 selection by the Miami Dolphins in 2024. He was injured early in camp and spent the season on the Injured Reserve List. In 2025, he saw action in six games with one start 45 snaps on offense and interestingly, only four on special teams. Miami cut him this August
And the Philadelphia Eagles signed, only to release him in final cuts.
Washington is different from the other candidates in that he is not an experienced returner, only taking a handful in college and the NFL preseason. While not having elite speed or burst, 4.52 forty and 1.63 split, he was, however, an outstanding receiver in college with a gift for playmaking in the open field. He was also known as a tough competitor on coverage units and by his own reporting, chose to participate on special teams, even after became an offensive starter.
Mecole Hardman – (age 28) 5’ 10” 187 lb.
A former Round 2 pick in 2019 of the Kansas City Chiefs. Although he never became a full-time starter on offense, Hardman was a play making threat both as a receiver and kick returner. He
combined 4.33 speed in the forty and a 1.48 10-yard split with good open-field moves.
Over seven seasons, Hardman has played in 97 games with 28 starts, stacking up 2168 reps on offense and another 455 on special teams. Amongst the latter, he has returned 91 punts for 823 yards and 46 kickoff’s for 24.7 per..
Who you gonna call?Mecole Hardman with a HUGE punt return!
— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
📺: #KCvsSF on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909gepic.twitter.com/3kj1puP7EU
The Rams braintrust has decided on— Alex Bachman. Put into service off the practice squad.
Stu Jackson of therams.com reports,
“McVay said wide receiver Alex Bachman, who is currently on the team’s practice squad, will step into the punt returner role. Asked if he anticipates long-term trying to work some guys out to see if they might be fits at punt returner, McVay said “I think I’m interested to see how Alex does…”We’re always looking at if there’s way of improving the caliber of our team,” McVay said. “Those will be avenues that we’ll always explore within whatever parameters that we can do that within, and so I would certainly never say no. But I am also optimistic that I think we’re gonna see some good stuff from Alex on Sunday.”
While most Rams fans were not unhappy to see the move made to jettison Xavier Smith, I have to wonder how many would consider this move an upgrade. Although Bachman fielded a fair amount of kicks for the Las Vegas Raiders last year, he does not have a history as a returner., nor is he known as an open-field runner. His production was only mediocre It appears a lateral move, at best.
While most Rams fans were not unhappy to see the move made to jettison Xavier Smith, I have to wonder how many would consider this move an upgrade. Although Bachman fielded a fair amount of kicks for the Las Vegas Raiders last year, he does not have a history as a returner., nor is he known as an open-field runner. His production was only mediocre It appears a lateral move, at best.