ESPN predicts Rams' 53-man roster

[Prime Time]

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2018/08/29/nfl-rams-roster-preseason-cuts-final-projection/

Rams 53-man roster projection: Final edition before cutdown day
By: Cameron DaSilva

Quarterback (2)

• Jared Goff, Sean Mannion

For weeks, we’ve had Brandon Allen penciled in as Goff’s backup. However, with Mannion sitting out Thursday’s preseason game and Sean McVay saying the Rams “feel good” about him as the No. 2 guy, all indications point toward him winning the job.

Allen will most likely be cut and Luis Perez will be signed to the practice squad, assuming he doesn’t get snatched up by another team.

Running back (3)

• Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, John Kelly

It was hard leaving Justin Davis off this roster, but his hamstring injury simply hasn’t provided him the chance to prove himself quite enough. The Rams could easily keep four running backs, but with Brown and Kelly likely entrenched as Gurley’s backups, three seems like the right number.

Wide receiver (6)

• Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas

No changes here from last week’s projection. Reynolds and Thomas will be the primary backups behind Coops, Woods and Kupp, while Cooper will obviously be the top return man on the roster. KhaDarel Hodge was the first man out from this group, but it’s possible the Rams take him over Thomas.

Tight end (3)

• Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Temarrick Hemingway

Hemingway wasn’t in danger of being cut when camp opened, but he’s had a terrible summer in L.A. Drops and errors in the preseason and practice have plagued him, but the Rams likely feel comfortable enough keeping him over Johnny Mundt – especially with Everett still hurt.

Offensive line (8)*

• Andrew Whitworth, Rodger Saffold, John Sullivan, Jamon Brown*, Rob Havenstein, Joseph Noteboom, Brian Allen, Jamil Demby, Austin Blythe

Cornelius Lucas just missed the cut as the Rams go with three rookies and Blythe to back up the starters. Brown won’t count toward a roster spot for two weeks, which is when Blythe will step in as the starter. Noteboom will be the swing tackle, Allen will slot in behind Sullivan and Demby can simply do it all. It’s a very versatile group.

Defensive line (7)

• Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh, Michael Brockers, Tanzel Smart, Ethan Westbrooks, John Franklin-Myers, Sebastian Joseph-Day

Here’s where things get tricky. Smart hasn’t done much this preseason to impress coaches, while Joseph-Day has flashed his talent and is a rookie with an edge. Ultimately, both will probably make the roster but neither are locks as of now. The rest of the group, however, is set and ready to obliterate the Raiders’ offensive line in Week 1.

Outside linebacker (6)*

• Samson Ebukam, Matt Longacre, Justin Lawler, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo*, Trevon Young, Ryan Davis, Dominique Easley

Last week, we projected Junior Galette here. It seemed like he was on track to sign with Los Angeles before the Rams passed for undisclosed reasons. Instead, Easley gets his spot. McVay seems excited about him moving to outside linebacker, saying he anticipates he and Longacre being a “big part of this thing moving forward” as they’ll be rested Thursday against the Saints.

Okoronkwo will likely start on the PUP list, so he won’t take up a roster spot. Ejuan Price is making a late charge and could sneak onto the roster, but he falls just short here.

Inside linebacker (6)

• Cory Littleton, Mark Barron, Micah Kiser, Ramik Wilson, Bryce Hager, Tegray Scales

Out is Travin Howard and in is Hager, who’s impressed this preseason. Howard’s ankle injury early in camp limited him to just a handful of snaps against the Texans, which might not be enough to earn a roster spot. Scales, however, was limited even more on Saturday, which could mean he’s either falling out of favor or the Rams want to keep him healthy for the regular season.

Cornerback (5)

• Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Troy Hill, Sam Shields

Troy Hill is someone who could be a trade candidate or outright cut, while Shields has done enough to earn a spot on the 53-man squad this preseason. Dominique Hatfield is just on the bubble, as is Taurean Nixon, but both fall short.

Safety (4)

• Lamarcus Joyner, John Johnson, Blake Countess, Marqui Christian

Christian has played a bit of a hybrid linebacker-safety role this preseason, which only hurts Travin Howard’s chances of making the team even more. Countess has valuable versatility at safety and cornerback, but beyond those two, the Rams don’t have many options.

Specialists (3)

• Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide

Nothing to see here.

 

[whitedk57]

WR - Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Pharoh Cooper, Josh Reynolds, Mike Thomas, KhaDarel Hodge. (Here all your receivers are belong to us. Seriously, though, Hodge cannot fall to the practice squad; he won't get there. At the same time, I don't want to cut our other receivers in Cooper, who is an All-Pro returner, Reynolds, who has rare size and speed, and Thomas, who is arguably the best gunner in the league.)

I totally agree on Hodge. He put too much on tape to be ignored.

 

[ReekofRams]

I totally agree on Hodge. He put too much on tape to be ignored.

He has a lot to learn when it comes to running routes.

 

[OldSchool]

He has a lot to learn when it comes to running routes.

Which is what makes him a PS player. Shows flashes but shows he has stuff to learn still.