The Los Angeles Rams and the other 31 NFL Franchises must have their rosters cut down to 53 players by Tuesday, August 27th. And like the others, the Rams have several difficult decisions to make to get to that number. But with Sean McVay’s stance on playing starters in the preseason, the team has tipped their hand on many of their decisions.
Los Angeles Rams 53-Man Roster Prediction: Offense
Quarterbacks: 3
Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garoppolo, Stetson Bennett
Cut: Dresser Winn
Winn will remain on the roster for the first two weeks while Jimmy Garoppolo serves his two-game PED suspension.
Running Backs: 4
Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers
Cut: Boston Scott, Zach Evans, SaRodorick Thompson
Scott was brought in for his special teams chops but was out-dueled by Xavier Smith. Evans is no longer the scheme fit he was when he was drafted and did not make a big impression in the preseason. Thompson was added because Scott and Evans were banged up in Week 2.
Wide Receivers: 7
Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Whittington, Tyler Johnson, Tutu Atwell, Xavier Smith
Cut: Drake Stoops, Sam Wiglusz, JJ Laap
Smith allows the Rams to alleviate a difficult decision. The Rams usually retain only six receivers, but with Smith emerging as a return threat allows them to keep them all.
Tight Ends: 3
Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, Hunter Long
IR: Tyler Higbee
Cut: Hunter Long, Nikola Kalinic, Miller Foristall
Higbee likely will start the year on the injured/reserve list. Long will be retained until he returns.
Offensive Line: 10
Starters: Alaric Jackson, Jonah Jackson, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson, Rob Havenstein
Backups: Joe Noteboom, Zach Thomas, Beaux Limmer, Justin Dedich, Warren McClendon
Cut: Logan Bruss, AJ Arcuri, Conor McDermott, Mike McAllister, KT Levenston, Grant Miller, Alec Lindstrom, Blake Larson, Matt Kaskey
This one is murky, as it is unclear the severity of injuries to Alaric, and Jonah Jackson, and Rob Havenstein. If any of the above start the season on the IR they will keep different depth pieces. Alaric will miss the first two games due to an NFL conduct policy. Levenston may be put on IR as he has missed most of training camp with an injury.
Los Angeles Rams 53-Man Roster Prediction: Defense
Edge: 5
Jared Verse, Byron Young, Michael Hoecht, Nick Hampton, Brennan Jackson
Cut: Ochaun Matthis, Zach VanValkenburg, Keir Thomas
Interior Defensive Line: 6
Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Bobby Brown, Tyler Davis, Carlos Watkins, Dejuan Johnson
Injured Reserve: Larrell Murchison (projected)
Cut: Cory Durden, Anthony Goodlow, Tuli Letuligasenoa, David Olajiga
Linebackers: 4
Ernest Jones, Christian Rozeboom, Troy Reeder, Omar Speights
Cut: Jake Hummel, Olakunle Fatukasi, Eli Neal
Both Hummel and Speights had great preseason showings. Speights was able to make more splash plays that gave him the edge.
Cornerbacks: 5
Darious Williams, Tre’Davious White, Quentin Lake, Cobie Durant, Russ Yeast
Cut: Tre’ Tomlinson, Cameron McCutcheon, Shaun Jolly, Josh Wallace, Cam Lampkin, Charles Woods
Safeties: 4
Kam Curl, John Johnson, Kam Kinchens, Tanner Ingle
Cut: Jaylen McCollough, Jason Taylor
Los Angeles Rams 53-Man Roster Prediction: Special Teams
Special Team Specialists: 3
Punter: Ethan Evans, Kicker: Joshua Karty, Long Snapper: Alex Ward