53-man roster projection 1.0 post-draft edition...

[den-the-coach]

Rams 53-man roster projection 1.0 – Post draft edition

By Blaine Grisak of DowntownRams

The NFL Draft and free agency is over. Now that we know that information and prediction who will make the Los Angeles Rams’ final roster.

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With the NFL Draft officially over for the Los Angeles Rams, it’s going to be interesting how the rest of the offseason pans out.The bulk of the Rams’ offseason maneuvers are done. All that’s left is some minor tinkering that’ll take place throughout training camp as the club gets a look at players and players become unavailable.

Now that we know the Rams’ draft picks, we can use them in our first 53-man roster projection of the offseason. Rookies will be noted in italics.

Quarterback (2)

Matthew Stafford
John Wolford

It might be surprising to see the Rams keeping just two quarterbacks, but the Rams simply don’t have the roster space to keep three.

Running Back (4)

Cam Akers
Darrell Henderson
Xavier Jones
Jake Funk

The Rams have a good 1-2 punch with Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson. Jones could provide a change of pace and bring some good depth behind them while Funk adds special teams value. It will be interesting to see if Akers takes more of a command of the backfield in year two or if the Rams continue a fairly even split. Funk and Calais each bring special teams value, but I’ll give the edge to the draft pick.

Tight End (4)

Tyler Higbee
Brycen Hopkins
Johnny Mundt
Jacob Harris

Four tight ends might seem like a lot, but its the same number that the Rams kept last season. The Rams won’t be able to cut Harris and put him on the practice squad as he was such a high selection. Higbee and Hopkins will be the top two players in this group with Mundt adding some good depth.

Wide Receiver (6)

Robert Woods
Cooper Kupp
Van Jefferson
Desean Jackson
TuTu Atwell
Ben Skowronek

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Rams keep seven wide receivers, but six seems like a good number. The Rams could also keep a player or two on the practice squad. The battle for the last wide receiver spot will be one to keep an eye on this offseason.

Offensive Line (9)

Andrew Whitworth
Rob Havenstein
Bobby Evans
David Edwards
Joseph Noteboom
Austin Corbett
Tremayne Anchrum
Brian Allen
Jordan Meredith

Offensive line is where things get interesting because the Rams actually have a lot of depth here. There might be one or two open spots

Defensive Line (6)

Aaron Donald
A’Shawn Robinson
Sebastian Joseph-Day
Greg Gaines
Marquise Copeland
Bobby Brown III

The defensive line looks very good for the Rams. The sixth spot will be a battle between guys like Eric Banks and Marquise Copeland, but the top three are pretty much set in stone with Bobby Brown rotating in as a rookie.

EDGE (5)

Leonard Floyd
Terrell Lewis
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Earnest Brown IV
Justin Hollins

Edge is another spot that the Rams are very thin at. Leonard Floyd provides stability on one side, but Lewis, Okoronkwo, and others will rotate opposite of him. Brown IV will play in Morgan Fox’s old role and Justin Hollins also provides some depth. As a draft pick, Chris Garrett might be a surprise cut, but I think the Rams put him on the practice squad and develop him in year one.

Linebacker (5)

Micah Kiser
Troy Reeder
Ernest Jones
Christian Rozeboom
Travin Howard

A surprising cut might be that of Kenny Young, but I think the Rams really like what they have out of Christian Rozeboom. Young hasn’t provided a lot and with the addition of Jones, he moves down to the fourth guy on the depth chart. Kiser and Reeder should be the top two guys to start the year with Jones working his way in.

Cornerback (4)

Jalen Ramsey
Darious Williams
Robert Rochell
David Long

Four might not seem like a big number for cornerbacks and that’s because it isn’t. However, the Rams don’t have a lot of depth here and they have safeties that can come down and play along the line of scrimmage such as Rapp and Burgess. Adding a fifth wouldn’t be a shock, but I’m going to roll with four.

Safety (5)

Jordan Fuller
Terrell Burgess
Taylor Rapp
Nick Scott
Jovan Grant

Special Teams (3)

Johnny Hekker
Matt Gay
Colin Holba

There should be a lot less of a competition this year at kicker. The one competition that will draw everyone’s attention is the one at long snapper. I’m going to flip a coin and say Colin Holba gets the gig. Holba has experience with DeCamillis in Jacksonville.

Practice Squad (8)

WR Jeremiah Haydel
EDGE Chris Garrett
CB Dont’e Deayon
T Alaric Jackson
QB Brycen Perkins
S Troy Warner
K Austin MacGinnis
DL Eric Banks
OT Max Pircher

I would guess that these eight players will be in consideration for the practice squad. The Rams can also look elsewhere to fill the remaining spots.

 

[den-the-coach]

Obviously I have some disagreements here as I believe Mr. Grisak forgot about Coleman Shelton because IMO, he would be the 9th Offensive linemen over UDRFA Jordan Meredith. Also I like Eric Banks over Marquise Copeland and I believe they will carry 5 CB's as I see Dont’e Deayon finally making the final 53.

I do fine his tidbit about the long snapper interesting as I like Steven Wirtel over Colin Holba, however, Holba has more experience and did work with Joe DeCamillis in Jacksonville.

 

[Allen2McVay]

No Chandler Brewer!?!

Mr. Grisak - I don't think we can be friends any longer.

 

[OldSchool]

Shelton is one of the guys McVay cited as battling for the center job so curious he loses out and loses his roster spot. Chanlder Brewer is also a curious omission. Our return guys are non existent as well it's sad.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Obviously I have some disagreements here as I believe Mr. Grisak forgot about Coleman Shelton because IMO, he would be the 9th Offensive linemen over UDRFA Jordan Meredith. Also I like Eric Banks over Marquise Copeland and I believe they will carry 5 CB's as I see Dont’e Deayon finally making the final 53.

I do fine his tidbit about the long snapper interesting as I like Steven Wirtel over Colin Holba, however, Holba has more experience and did work with Joe DeCamillis in Jacksonville.

I believe Dont'e Deayon is listed at 5' 9" and 160 lbs ... same size at Tutu Atwell

 

[den-the-coach]

I believe Dont'e Deayon is listed at 5' 9" and 160 lbs ... same size at Tutu Atwell

He is, but Deayon IMO, is solid in coverage and is able to get his head turned around, so this is the year, he has to make it or he will go elsewhere. UDFA CB Brontae Harris offers some upside and could push Deayon out as Harris is 5-10 190lbs and an excellent athlete so the Rams might have found something there.

 

[Allen2McVay]

He is, but Deayon IMO, is solid in coverage and is able to get his head turned around, so this is the year, he has to make it or he will go elsewhere. UDFA CB Brontae Harris offers some upside and could push Deayon out as Harris is 5-10 190lbs and an excellent athlete so the Rams might have found something there.

I didn't mean it as a criticism of Deayon.

I just like the idea that Atwell has someone he can talk to.

 

[den-the-coach]

Our return guys are non existent as well it's sad.

IMO, Kick Returner will most likely be Funk if he makes the team and stays healthy, however, Punt Returner will be where the opportunity lies. Jeremiah Haydel an UDFA from Texas State has excellent return skills both as a KR & more importantly a Punt Returner.

The problem is, IMO, Haydel won't make the roster because being a WR, you can only keep so many. It appears that Atwell & Jackson will return punts, so hopefully, they will be able to do that and stay healthy too.

 

[OldSchool]

IMO, Kick Returner will most likely be Funk if he makes the team and stays healthy, however, Punt Returner will be where the opportunity lies. Jeremiah Haydel an UDFA from Texas State has excellent return skills both as a KR & more importantly a Punt Returner.

The problem is, IMO, Haydel won't make the roster because being a WR, you can only keep so many. It appears that Atwell & Jackson will return punts, so hopefully, they will be able to do that and stay healthy too.

Those 2 as our punt return options is frightening and yeah Haydel is a PS guy no way we keep enough WR's that he's on the roster. And Funk isn't exactly inspiring as a KR only did it like 12 times in college for 18 yards a return. Special teams don't look to be very special again.

 

[Merlin]

Predicting a 53 man roster right now is an exercise in frustration. I'd much rather read an analysis on the relative chances of all involved, to include their strengths and weaknesses, vice a prediction that will inevitably be wrong.

Just another reason I avoid "Fan Media" sites. They're just clickbait and garbage content.

 

[BC Ramfan]

No Chandler Brewer!?!

Mr. Grisak - I don't think we can be friends any longer.

Agree with A2M: Brewer makes it easily and maybe even Shelton over Allen.
Can't see starting both Reeder and Kiser (maybe against the Ravens). I think Howard starts as the chase/coverage ILB.
Lots of possibilities for Safety #5. Gervase?

Isn't the practice squad 12 this year? With 2 available for call-up to the 53 and returnable to the PS?

Add 4:
M Hoecht DL
JR Reed S
T. Jackson WR
B Harris CB (need more CBs, maybe a late cut instead).

BC

 

[Memento]

I'll do a fifty-three man roster (starters, bold; rookies, italics) and twelve-man practice squad. Because I can. @Merlin I promise to do my own thing; rather than just name players who go there, I'm going to go into the players themselves. So...here we go with a very long-ass post:

QB (2) - Matthew Stafford, John Wolford.

(Matthew Stafford of Georiga. The man. The myth. The legend...hopefully. I'm in on him since he's a Ram, but I hope he brings us a Super Bowl championship. He has a big arm, but I'm concerned about injuries.

(John Wolford is as good of a backup as we're going to find. His playing style concerns me, but there's no denying his gumption, his guts, his fearlessness on the field. And it helps that he's mobile with a decent arm.

(No surprises at quarterback this time; Devlin "Duck" Hodges is the odd man out.)

RB (4) - Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, Xavier Jones, Jake Funk.

(Cam Akers of Florida State proved his worth last year. He's not prime Gurley, but he doesn't have to be to be a great running back. He'll get 55% of the carries at least, and he should make a lot of Rams fans happy with him.

(Darrell Henderson of Memphis is the blazing fast, breakaway slasher back on our roster. I doubt he unseats Akers, but I could easily see him get at least 30% of the carries.

(Xavier Jones of SMU fame was not so long ago the darling of this forum. He didn't get a lot of snaps after Akers or Henderson, but he was a solid special teams player who probably could tote the rock if needed.

(Jake Funk, the former Maryland Terrapin, has had two ACL surgeries on the same knee. It's concerning, but his good Pro Day, his solid year this year, and his ability to play special teams puts him on this spot.

(All five of the running backs make either the active roster or the practice squad. I worry about health from at least three of them, which is the reason why there's so many.)

TE (4) - Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins, Jacob Harris, Ben Skowronek.

(Tyler Higbee out of Western Kentucky has been a good tight end since 2017. I love his attitude while blocking, I love his ability to break tackles in the open field. I just am concerned about injuries.

(Brycen Hopkins is an enigma wrapped in a conundrum. The former Purdue Boilermaker doesn't have the blocking ability his father did, and I'm concerned about drops. But with the other tight ends needing time, and his seniority on the pecking order, he'll get the first crack at the job.

(Jacob Harris is not a pick to help us now. The tight end out of Central Florida is too thin, not experienced enough. But I get this feeling that he could be an absolutely dominant tight end if developed right. Meanwhile, he is still a solid special teams player, and should be active.

(Ben Skowronek out of Notre Dame could be our own chess piece similar to what the 69ers have in Kyle Juszczyk. He's listed as a wide receiver, but he could definitely have an eventual role as an H-back. He's big, strong, has great hands...what's not to like?

(Yes, I believe that Mundt is cut. He saves money, his spot is basically taken by Harris/Skowronek, and Hopkins takes the Everett role. Kendall Blanton, as biased as I am for Mizzou players, doesn't stand a chance at making this roster either.)

WR (5) - Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Desean Jackson, Chatarius Atwell.

(Robert Woods is a hometown man from Southern California, and he's quietly been one of the best receivers in the NFL with his ability to get yards after the catch, eat up space, and pluck the ball from the air with the greatest of ease. He's our number one receiver in a corps filled with good receivers.

(Cooper Kupp is a fantastic third down receiver, and he's only gotten better with time. The former Eastern Washington record-setting receiver has deceptive speed and the route running to make opposing corners look absolutely silly. My only concern is injuires.

(Van Jefferson is underrated on this forum, I feel. The former Florida Gator didn't have a great year last year, but I feel that he's just as fast as Atwell and we're lucky he dropped to us last year. He could be money in any range with his route running: short, intermediate, and deep.

(Desean Jackson is someone I don't know if we should count on. But if he's healthy this year, he could completely change the dynamics of this offense. We'll have to wait and see with the former Golden Bear, but I'm cautiously optimistic.

(Chatarius Atwell out of Louisville is our second round pick. He has speed for days, but I remain concerned about his weight, his inability to break many tackles. Still, he'll make this roster, and I bet - once Kupp and Woods eventually leave - he'll be our Desean Jackson-lite.

(Nsimba Webster fails to make the roster, which isn't surprising. Landen Akers and J.J. Koski are the others who don't make the roster.)

OL (10) - Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Austin Corbett, Bobby Evans, Rob Havenstein, Chandler Brewer, Tremayne Anchrum, Joseph Noteboom, Alaric Jackson, Coleman Shelton.

(Andrew Whitworth, the ageless wonder out of Lousiana State, is an absolutely amazing left tackle, one of the best in the business. What more needs to be said?

(David Edwards gives our new center a solid option on the left side. Honestly, I didn't expect the former Wisconsin Badger to be as good as he was, but I'm glad I was wrong, and I hope to see Edwards dominate on the left side.

(Austin Corbett moves to center to replace Blythe. The former Nevada Wolfpack has been nothing but solid for us, a steal of a fifth round pick from the Browns, and honestly, if he plays well at center, I want him to be the absolute top priority in free agency next year.

(Bobby Evans may have struggled with pass-protection, but I can see him correcting his mistakes...and the former Oklahoma Sooner is a dominant run blocker. Our running backs should see plenty of daylight with him and Havenstein.

(Rob Havenstein out of Wisconsin is quite underrated as a right tackle. He'll provide support from the right side, especially in the running game, and if he's not matched up against speed rushers, he should be a solid lineman.

(Chandler Brewer could easily be our swing tackle. The lineman out of Middle Tennessee overcame non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and took the year off this year for that reason, but he's back and he played extremely well in 2019.

(Tremayne Anchrum, I believe, can play any position on the line. The Clemson alum actually played a few snaps at left tackle last year, but I'm interested to see what he can do on the interior. He's our super sub.

(Joseph Noteboom of TCU is on his final year, and struggles against the run, but he's a very good pass protector, and he provides insurance in case Whitworth goes down.

(Alaric Jackson is the rare undrafted rookie who makes this roster, and for good reason: the Iowa Hawkeye likely doesn't make it to the practice squad. He can play both guard slots and right tackle in a pinch.

(Coleman Shelton, the former Washington Huskie, takes the backup center job. He's not huge, but he's at least bigger than Allen, technically refined, definitely a solid backup.

(No, Brian Allen does not make the roster. I'm sorry, I'm not an Allen fan, I'm just not. I was a Jamil Demby fan, but that's waned as well. They're the only two who don't make either the roster or practice squad.)

DL (6) - Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, A'Shawn Robinson, Greg Gaines, Bobby Brown III, Earnest Brown IV.

(Aaron Donald. Pittsburgh Panther. Top fifteen pick. Three time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (and counting). 6x First Team All-Pro (and counting). And future Hall of Famer. What more needs to be said?

(Sebastian Joseph-Day has turned himself from a sixth round pick out of Rutgers that nobody expected much from to our starting nose tackle and arguably the second best player on the line. We're going to miss him when he goes to free agency this year.

(A'Shawn Robinson out of Alabama is a total enigma. He didn't play all that well last year, especially with his health, but I think that he could be solid. He's definitely a great run-stopper.

(Greg Gaines is the backup nose tackle, and the former Washington Huskie should do that job well. I think he'll make a huge leap this year.

(Bobby Brown III is my favorite pick in this draft. He reminds me of a young Albert Haynesworth: big, strong, quick. The former Texas A&M Aggie could end up being the pass-rusher we need on the line aside from Donald.

(Earnest Brown IV, the Northwestern defensive lineman, reminds me of William Hayes with his size and hand strength. I hear Morgan Fox comparisons, but he's not the athlete Fox was, and he'll need serious time in the weight room. But I think he could easily surprise us.

(No real surprises here. Marquise Copeland and George Silvanic don't make the roster.)

LB (9) - Leonard Floyd, Terrell Lewis, Ernest Jones, Travin Howard, Justin Hollins, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Chris Garrett, Micah Kiser, Christian Rozeboom.

(Leonard Floyd is a surprise re-signing. I hope he lives up to his contract, and the former Georgia Bulldog was a solid pass-rushing option and the lone consistent force in our linebacking corps.

(Terrell Lewis will be the starter this year. I'm going with this prediction, and I'll stick with it. He's got ridiculous talent, and I pray for good health so the former Alabama defender can prove it to us all.

(Ernest Jones, the rookie from South Carolina, I think will be the only rookie in this class who starts from Day One. His run-stuffing and leadership can't be denied; he's seriously giving me John Johnson III vibes at linebacker, where an underrated late third round pick surprises us all.

(Travin Howard will be the other starter at linebacker, likely taking that spot on obvious passing downs. He's light, but he has legit sideline-to-sideline speed, and the former TCU Horned Frog has a clear shot if they cut Kenny Young like I expect them to.

(Justin Hollins, the former Oregon Duck, can play inside and outside, is one of our versatile chess pieces, and reminds me of a younger Floyd with his length, ability to stop the run and get after the quarterback.

(Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, the former Oklahoma Sooner whom we all thought was a steal...he's been all right. He's definitely a good pass-rusher, but you don't want him on the field on all downs. Still, he should serve an important role on our defense.

(Chris Garrett out of Concordia-St. Paul is someone I admittedly never scouted. I love the pure stats, though, and with Reeder, Young, and Lawler not making the roster, he has a legit shot to make it, along with fellow edge rusher John Daka. I think Garrett wins the spot, though.

(Micah Kiser could easily sub in for Howard on obvious running downs. The former Virginia Cavalier is a guy whom we all thought was a steal, and as a fifth round pick, it's hard to say he wasn't, since he was a starter.

(Christian Rozeboom out of South Dakota State, left college with his name in record books. He led the team with 475 tackles, had eight interceptions, and twenty-nine tackles for a loss in his college career. He could end up being a good linebacker if he only gets a chance.

(Yeah, Troy Reeder and Kenny Young don't make the roster. I've never been a Reeder fan, and cutting Young in June actually saves us money on the cap. Justin Lawler also doesn't make the roster; he's just been too injured and unreliable. Others who didn't make the roster are Derrick Moncrief and Max Roberts.)

DB (10) - Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp, David Long Jr.., Robert Rochell, Terrell Burgess, JuJu Hughes, J.R. Reed, Paris Ford.

(Jalen Ramsey of Florida State. What can one say? If not for Donald, he'd be our best defensive player, and his synergy with others in the secondary cannot be stressed enough. We're lucky and blessed to have two HOF caliber players on our defense.

(Darious Williams of UAB was the guy who came out of literally nowhere to become our second-best secondary player next to Ramsey. He'll be there for one more year, and I expect him to get a very big contract, as he deserves.

(Jordan Fuller, of Ohio State, had a breakout year last year, was incredibly instinctive, and made so many plays on the backend. He should be a starter on this defense.

(Taylor Rapp had a bad year last year, but I honestly think he could bounce back, and he's a good player in the secondary. The former Washington Huskie could have a big year.

(David Long Jr. has taken a lot of flak over his tenure as a Ram, but I think it's his year to shine. I think he plays the normal nickelback position, and the former Michigan Wolverine can prove his detractors wrong.

(Robert Rochell of Arkansas State is arguably one of my favorite draft picks this year. He reminds me of a better Marcus Peters, more physical in run support and with a more team-oriented attitude. He'll sit behind Ramsey, Williams, and Long, but we could see him start next year and play excellent special teams this year.

(Terrell Burgess of Utah State got injured early on, but he played amazing in that game, and it should be a hell of a competition against Long and Rochell for the nickelback slot. I still think Burgess starts in big nickel packages.

(JuJu Hughes, a former Fresno State Bulldog, is a smaller than most of our safeties, but he's athletic and has a nose for the football. He played in quite a few of our games, and I won't doubt him.

(J.R. Reed is a solid and instinctive football player, and the former Georgia Bulldog fits perfectly in what we want out of our safeties: interchangeable at the position, and he should be a dominant special teams player as well.

(Paris Ford ran a poor forty yard dash, but I love the former Pittsburgh Panther's game. He reminds me of a young Toby Wright with his fearless hits on the field.

(I realize that means that Nick Scott doesn't make the team, but I could see them cutting him for salary relief. Deayon and Gervase also don't make the team in the numbers crunch.)

ST (3) - Matt Gay, Corey Bojorquez, Steven Wirtel.

(Matt Gay of Utah is someone that Johnny Hekker suggested to us, and he was one of the few special parts of our special teams last year, nailing several large field goals. You never know about kickers, but I think we found a good one.

(Corey Bojorquez of New Mexico is replacing Hekker. I'm sorry, I love Hekker, I really do, but his salary is huge for a punter, Bojorquez played just as well last year, and he's only twenty-four.

(Steven Wirtel (Iowa State) and Colin Holba (Louisville) are competing for the long-snapper job, but I chose Wirtel because he's younger and because @den-the-coach likes him.

Practice Squad (12 + International Bonus) - Max Pircher (OT - International), Bryce Perkins (QB), Raymond Calais (RB/KR), Trishton Jackson (WR), Jeremiah Haydel (WR/Return Specialist), Jordan Meredith (OL), Eric Banks (DE), Michael Hoecht (NT), Jonah Williams (DE), John Daka (OLB), Brontae Harris (CB), Troy Warner (S), Austin MacGinnis (K/P)

(Max Pircher of Italy being an international signing means that while we can keep an extra spot for him on the practice squad, we can't bring him up to play in the NFL. That works out fine for us; Pircher is only twenty-one and has a lot of his frame to grow into, as he's 6'7", 300 lbs.

(I really like Bryce Perkins. The Virginia product is very mobile, and has a good arm. I'm concerned about his throwing motion, but he's as good a bet as any to eventually unseat Wolford.

(Raymond Calais is a fast running back from Louisiana-Lafayettte who also brings value with returns. I prefer Funk as a special teams player, but Calais has a purpose here. He played in a few games with us, and he should get looks in camp.

(I actually like Trishton Jackson. He's a speedy receiver from Syracuse who can take the top off of defenses. Unfortunately, the roster crunch didn't allow him to make the active roster, but I believe he has practice squad eligibility, and if he does...why not keep him?

(Jeremiah Haydel, like I mentioned, is a return specialist we can keep on the practice squad. He didn't test well at his Pro Day, but the Texas State product was an All-American return specialist in both kicks and punts.

(Jordan Meredith, a former Western Kentucky Hilltopper like Higbee, is a beast in the running game, an absolute mauler. He doesn't give much ground, but he does struggle on passing downs. He has the size of a center, and should be a solid player.

(Eric Banks actually made last year's roster with Robinson out. He's a former quarterback and basketball player who switched to defensive line at his high-school coach's advice before starring at Texas San-Antonio, alongside Marcus Davenport (Saints). I like this kid a lot.

(Michael Hoecht, a former Ivy Leaguer from Brown, has absolutely insane athleticism. I don't know if he manages to put it all together on the football field, but he's a good option on the practice squad who should compete for a spot on the team.

(Jonah Williams, formerly of Weber State, is another athletic freak who should also compete for a spot on the defensive line. If he gains more weight (last time I checked, he was 275 lbs. or something like that), he could definitely back up Donald if EB4 falters.

(John Daka, a former James Madison Duke and the first man of Zambian descent to make an NFL team, is a smaller edge rusher at 6'2", 240 lbs., but his production in college - 47.5 tackles for a loss and 27.5 sacks - is impossible to ignore.

(Brontae Harris is a nickel cornerback formerly of UAB. He's 5'9", 180 lbs., but he plays much bigger than his size, is willing and able in run support, and while his coverage needs work, he could be a solid player.

(Troy Warner, the younger brother of linebacker Fred Warner, made a name of his own at BYU. He fits the mold of our safeties: able to play in multiple looks, and I hope he plays with us instead of San Fran...because I think he could be a solid NFL player.

(Austin MacGinnis a former Kentucky placekicker who was selected as All-SEC for four years in a row, also learned to become a punter in the NFL to get more looks. He's Covid insurance.

Hope I didn't bore y'all with this huge line of text.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Memento
Lots of good thought, comments and analysis.

Disagree on Johnny Mundt and Nick Scott. Think they both fill roles (Mundt as a blocker), contribute on Special Teams and are well-liked by McVay.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Brian Allen and Jordan Meredith over Coleman Shelton, Chandler Brewer and Alaric Jackson?

I am not seeing it.

 

[FaulkSF]

@Memento how dare you insinuate our boy Demby will be cut from the 53. He is the talent and glue that holds this team together!

 

[FrantikRam]

I'll do a fifty-three man roster (starters, bold; rookies, italics) and twelve-man practice squad. Because I can. @Merlin I promise to do my own thing; rather than just name players who go there, I'm going to go into the players themselves. So...here we go with a very long-ass post:

QB (2) - Matthew Stafford, John Wolford.

(Matthew Stafford of Georiga. The man. The myth. The legend...hopefully. I'm in on him since he's a Ram, but I hope he brings us a Super Bowl championship. He has a big arm, but I'm concerned about injuries.

(John Wolford is as good of a backup as we're going to find. His playing style concerns me, but there's no denying his gumption, his guts, his fearlessness on the field. And it helps that he's mobile with a decent arm.

(No surprises at quarterback this time; Devlin "Duck" Hodges is the odd man out.)

RB (4) - Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, Xavier Jones, Jake Funk.

(Cam Akers of Florida State proved his worth last year. He's not prime Gurley, but he doesn't have to be to be a great running back. He'll get 55% of the carries at least, and he should make a lot of Rams fans happy with him.

(Darrell Henderson of Memphis is the blazing fast, breakaway slasher back on our roster. I doubt he unseats Akers, but I could easily see him get at least 30% of the carries.

(Xavier Jones of SMU fame was not so long ago the darling of this forum. He didn't get a lot of snaps after Akers or Henderson, but he was a solid special teams player who probably could tote the rock if needed.

(Jake Funk, the former Maryland Terrapin, has had two ACL surgeries on the same knee. It's concerning, but his good Pro Day, his solid year this year, and his ability to play special teams puts him on this spot.

(All five of the running backs make either the active roster or the practice squad. I worry about health from at least three of them, which is the reason why there's so many.)

TE (4) - Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins, Jacob Harris, Ben Skowronek.

(Tyler Higbee out of Western Kentucky has been a good tight end since 2017. I love his attitude while blocking, I love his ability to break tackles in the open field. I just am concerned about injuries.

(Brycen Hopkins is an enigma wrapped in a conundrum. The former Purdue Boilermaker doesn't have the blocking ability his father did, and I'm concerned about drops. But with the other tight ends needing time, and his seniority on the pecking order, he'll get the first crack at the job.

(Jacob Harris is not a pick to help us now. The tight end out of Central Florida is too thin, not experienced enough. But I get this feeling that he could be an absolutely dominant tight end if developed right. Meanwhile, he is still a solid special teams player, and should be active.

(Ben Skowronek out of Notre Dame could be our own chess piece similar to what the 69ers have in Kyle Juszczyk. He's listed as a wide receiver, but he could definitely have an eventual role as an H-back. He's big, strong, has great hands...what's not to like?

(Yes, I believe that Mundt is cut. He saves money, his spot is basically taken by Harris/Skowronek, and Hopkins takes the Everett role. Kendall Blanton, as biased as I am for Mizzou players, doesn't stand a chance at making this roster either.)

WR (5) - Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Desean Jackson, Chatarius Atwell.

(Robert Woods is a hometown man from Southern California, and he's quietly been one of the best receivers in the NFL with his ability to get yards after the catch, eat up space, and pluck the ball from the air with the greatest of ease. He's our number one receiver in a corps filled with good receivers.

(Cooper Kupp is a fantastic third down receiver, and he's only gotten better with time. The former Eastern Washington record-setting receiver has deceptive speed and the route running to make opposing corners look absolutely silly. My only concern is injuires.

(Van Jefferson is underrated on this forum, I feel. The former Florida Gator didn't have a great year last year, but I feel that he's just as fast as Atwell and we're lucky he dropped to us last year. He could be money in any range with his route running: short, intermediate, and deep.

(Desean Jackson is someone I don't know if we should count on. But if he's healthy this year, he could completely change the dynamics of this offense. We'll have to wait and see with the former Golden Bear, but I'm cautiously optimistic.

(Chatarius Atwell out of Louisville is our second round pick. He has speed for days, but I remain concerned about his weight, his inability to break many tackles. Still, he'll make this roster, and I bet - once Kupp and Woods eventually leave - he'll be our Desean Jackson-lite.

(Nsimba Webster fails to make the roster, which isn't surprising. Landen Akers and J.J. Koski are the others who don't make the roster.)

OL (10) - Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Austin Corbett, Bobby Evans, Rob Havenstein, Chandler Brewer, Tremayne Anchrum, Joseph Noteboom, Alaric Jackson, Coleman Shelton.

(Andrew Whitworth, the ageless wonder out of Lousiana State, is an absolutely amazing left tackle, one of the best in the business. What more needs to be said?

(David Edwards gives our new center a solid option on the left side. Honestly, I didn't expect the former Wisconsin Badger to be as good as he was, but I'm glad I was wrong, and I hope to see Edwards dominate on the left side.

(Austin Corbett moves to center to replace Blythe. The former Nevada Wolfpack has been nothing but solid for us, a steal of a fifth round pick from the Browns, and honestly, if he plays well at center, I want him to be the absolute top priority in free agency next year.

(Bobby Evans may have struggled with pass-protection, but I can see him correcting his mistakes...and the former Oklahoma Sooner is a dominant run blocker. Our running backs should see plenty of daylight with him and Havenstein.

(Rob Havenstein out of Wisconsin is quite underrated as a right tackle. He'll provide support from the right side, especially in the running game, and if he's not matched up against speed rushers, he should be a solid lineman.

(Chandler Brewer could easily be our swing tackle. The lineman out of Middle Tennessee overcame non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and took the year off this year for that reason, but he's back and he played extremely well in 2019.

(Tremayne Anchrum, I believe, can play any position on the line. The Clemson alum actually played a few snaps at left tackle last year, but I'm interested to see what he can do on the interior. He's our super sub.

(Joseph Noteboom of TCU is on his final year, and struggles against the run, but he's a very good pass protector, and he provides insurance in case Whitworth goes down.

(Alaric Jackson is the rare undrafted rookie who makes this roster, and for good reason: the Iowa Hawkeye likely doesn't make it to the practice squad. He can play both guard slots and right tackle in a pinch.

(Coleman Shelton, the former Washington Huskie, takes the backup center job. He's not huge, but he's at least bigger than Allen, technically refined, definitely a solid backup.

(No, Brian Allen does not make the roster. I'm sorry, I'm not an Allen fan, I'm just not. I was a Jamil Demby fan, but that's waned as well. They're the only two who don't make either the roster or practice squad.)

DL (6) - Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, A'Shawn Robinson, Greg Gaines, Bobby Brown III, Earnest Brown IV.

(Aaron Donald. Pittsburgh Panther. Top fifteen pick. Three time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (and counting). 6x First Team All-Pro (and counting). And future Hall of Famer. What more needs to be said?

(Sebastian Joseph-Day has turned himself from a sixth round pick out of Rutgers that nobody expected much from to our starting nose tackle and arguably the second best player on the line. We're going to miss him when he goes to free agency this year.

(A'Shawn Robinson out of Alabama is a total enigma. He didn't play all that well last year, especially with his health, but I think that he could be solid. He's definitely a great run-stopper.

(Greg Gaines is the backup nose tackle, and the former Washington Huskie should do that job well. I think he'll make a huge leap this year.

(Bobby Brown III is my favorite pick in this draft. He reminds me of a young Albert Haynesworth: big, strong, quick. The former Texas A&M Aggie could end up being the pass-rusher we need on the line aside from Donald.

(Earnest Brown IV, the Northwestern defensive lineman, reminds me of William Hayes with his size and hand strength. I hear Morgan Fox comparisons, but he's not the athlete Fox was, and he'll need serious time in the weight room. But I think he could easily surprise us.

(No real surprises here. Marquise Copeland and George Silvanic don't make the roster.)

LB (9) - Leonard Floyd, Terrell Lewis, Ernest Jones, Travin Howard, Justin Hollins, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Chris Garrett, Micah Kiser, Christian Rozeboom.

(Leonard Floyd is a surprise re-signing. I hope he lives up to his contract, and the former Georgia Bulldog was a solid pass-rushing option and the lone consistent force in our linebacking corps.

(Terrell Lewis will be the starter this year. I'm going with this prediction, and I'll stick with it. He's got ridiculous talent, and I pray for good health so the former Alabama defender can prove it to us all.

(Ernest Jones, the rookie from South Carolina, I think will be the only rookie in this class who starts from Day One. His run-stuffing and leadership can't be denied; he's seriously giving me John Johnson III vibes at linebacker, where an underrated late third round pick surprises us all.

(Travin Howard will be the other starter at linebacker, likely taking that spot on obvious passing downs. He's light, but he has legit sideline-to-sideline speed, and the former TCU Horned Frog has a clear shot if they cut Kenny Young like I expect them to.

(Justin Hollins, the former Oregon Duck, can play inside and outside, is one of our versatile chess pieces, and reminds me of a younger Floyd with his length, ability to stop the run and get after the quarterback.

(Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, the former Oklahoma Sooner whom we all thought was a steal...he's been all right. He's definitely a good pass-rusher, but you don't want him on the field on all downs. Still, he should serve an important role on our defense.

(Chris Garrett out of Concordia-St. Paul is someone I admittedly never scouted. I love the pure stats, though, and with Reeder, Young, and Lawler not making the roster, he has a legit shot to make it, along with fellow edge rusher John Daka. I think Garrett wins the spot, though.

(Micah Kiser could easily sub in for Howard on obvious running downs. The former Virginia Cavalier is a guy whom we all thought was a steal, and as a fifth round pick, it's hard to say he wasn't, since he was a starter.

(Christian Rozeboom out of South Dakota State, left college with his name in record books. He led the team with 475 tackles, had eight interceptions, and twenty-nine tackles for a loss in his college career. He could end up being a good linebacker if he only gets a chance.

(Yeah, Troy Reeder and Kenny Young don't make the roster. I've never been a Reeder fan, and cutting Young in June actually saves us money on the cap. Justin Lawler also doesn't make the roster; he's just been too injured and unreliable. Others who didn't make the roster are Derrick Moncrief and Max Roberts.)

DB (10) - Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp, David Long Jr.., Robert Rochell, Terrell Burgess, JuJu Hughes, J.R. Reed, Paris Ford.

(Jalen Ramsey of Florida State. What can one say? If not for Donald, he'd be our best defensive player, and his synergy with others in the secondary cannot be stressed enough. We're lucky and blessed to have two HOF caliber players on our defense.

(Darious Williams of UAB was the guy who came out of literally nowhere to become our second-best secondary player next to Ramsey. He'll be there for one more year, and I expect him to get a very big contract, as he deserves.

(Jordan Fuller, of Ohio State, had a breakout year last year, was incredibly instinctive, and made so many plays on the backend. He should be a starter on this defense.

(Taylor Rapp had a bad year last year, but I honestly think he could bounce back, and he's a good player in the secondary. The former Washington Huskie could have a big year.

(David Long Jr. has taken a lot of flak over his tenure as a Ram, but I think it's his year to shine. I think he plays the normal nickelback position, and the former Michigan Wolverine can prove his detractors wrong.

(Robert Rochell of Arkansas State is arguably one of my favorite draft picks this year. He reminds me of a better Marcus Peters, more physical in run support and with a more team-oriented attitude. He'll sit behind Ramsey, Williams, and Long, but we could see him start next year and play excellent special teams this year.

(Terrell Burgess of Utah State got injured early on, but he played amazing in that game, and it should be a hell of a competition against Long and Rochell for the nickelback slot. I still think Burgess starts in big nickel packages.

(JuJu Hughes, a former Fresno State Bulldog, is a smaller than most of our safeties, but he's athletic and has a nose for the football. He played in quite a few of our games, and I won't doubt him.

(J.R. Reed is a solid and instinctive football player, and the former Georgia Bulldog fits perfectly in what we want out of our safeties: interchangeable at the position, and he should be a dominant special teams player as well.

(Paris Ford ran a poor forty yard dash, but I love the former Pittsburgh Panther's game. He reminds me of a young Toby Wright with his fearless hits on the field.

(I realize that means that Nick Scott doesn't make the team, but I could see them cutting him for salary relief. Deayon and Gervase also don't make the team in the numbers crunch.)

ST (3) - Matt Gay, Corey Bojorquez, Steven Wirtel.

(Matt Gay of Utah is someone that Johnny Hekker suggested to us, and he was one of the few special parts of our special teams last year, nailing several large field goals. You never know about kickers, but I think we found a good one.

(Corey Bojorquez of New Mexico is replacing Hekker. I'm sorry, I love Hekker, I really do, but his salary is huge for a punter, Bojorquez played just as well last year, and he's only twenty-four.

(Steven Wirtel (Iowa State) and Colin Holba (Louisville) are competing for the long-snapper job, but I chose Wirtel because he's younger and because @den-the-coach likes him.

Practice Squad (12 + International Bonus) - Max Pircher (OT - International), Bryce Perkins (QB), Raymond Calais (RB/KR), Trishton Jackson (WR), Jeremiah Haydel (WR/Return Specialist), Jordan Meredith (OL), Eric Banks (DE), Michael Hoecht (NT), Jonah Williams (DE), John Daka (OLB), Brontae Harris (CB), Troy Warner (S), Austin MacGinnis (K/P)

(Max Pircher of Italy being an international signing means that while we can keep an extra spot for him on the practice squad, we can't bring him up to play in the NFL. That works out fine for us; Pircher is only twenty-one and has a lot of his frame to grow into, as he's 6'7", 300 lbs.

(I really like Bryce Perkins. The Virginia product is very mobile, and has a good arm. I'm concerned about his throwing motion, but he's as good a bet as any to eventually unseat Wolford.

(Raymond Calais is a fast running back from Louisiana-Lafayettte who also brings value with returns. I prefer Funk as a special teams player, but Calais has a purpose here. He played in a few games with us, and he should get looks in camp.

(I actually like Trishton Jackson. He's a speedy receiver from Syracuse who can take the top off of defenses. Unfortunately, the roster crunch didn't allow him to make the active roster, but I believe he has practice squad eligibility, and if he does...why not keep him?

(Jeremiah Haydel, like I mentioned, is a return specialist we can keep on the practice squad. He didn't test well at his Pro Day, but the Texas State product was an All-American return specialist in both kicks and punts.

(Jordan Meredith, a former Western Kentucky Hilltopper like Higbee, is a beast in the running game, an absolute mauler. He doesn't give much ground, but he does struggle on passing downs. He has the size of a center, and should be a solid player.

(Eric Banks actually made last year's roster with Robinson out. He's a former quarterback and basketball player who switched to defensive line at his high-school coach's advice before starring at Texas San-Antonio, alongside Marcus Davenport (Saints). I like this kid a lot.

(Michael Hoecht, a former Ivy Leaguer from Brown, has absolutely insane athleticism. I don't know if he manages to put it all together on the football field, but he's a good option on the practice squad who should compete for a spot on the team.

(Jonah Williams, formerly of Weber State, is another athletic freak who should also compete for a spot on the defensive line. If he gains more weight (last time I checked, he was 275 lbs. or something like that), he could definitely back up Donald if EB4 falters.

(John Daka, a former James Madison Duke and the first man of Zambian descent to make an NFL team, is a smaller edge rusher at 6'2", 240 lbs., but his production in college - 47.5 tackles for a loss and 27.5 sacks - is impossible to ignore.

(Brontae Harris is a nickel cornerback formerly of UAB. He's 5'9", 180 lbs., but he plays much bigger than his size, is willing and able in run support, and while his coverage needs work, he could be a solid player.

(Troy Warner, the younger brother of linebacker Fred Warner, made a name of his own at BYU. He fits the mold of our safeties: able to play in multiple looks, and I hope he plays with us instead of San Fran...because I think he could be a solid NFL player.

(Austin MacGinnis a former Kentucky placekicker who was selected as All-SEC for four years in a row, also learned to become a punter in the NFL to get more looks. He's Covid insurance.

Hope I didn't bore y'all with this huge line of text.

Outstanding post.

The only things I disagree on are in place of the three new safeties I think we will keep Mundt, Scott and Deayon.

But either way I think this will be at least 90% accurate to our final 53

 

[Rams43]

A yeoman’s effort, Memento, and a very good read.

Just naming the projected starters gets tricky at some positions, much less the likely depth rotational players.

To get this 90% right from an early May vantage point would be an outstanding accomplishment.

Hell, our long snapper is a coin flip at this point!

 

[FrantikRam]

Predicting a 53 man roster right now is an exercise in frustration. I'd much rather read an analysis on the relative chances of all involved, to include their strengths and weaknesses, vice a prediction that will inevitably be wrong.

Just another reason I avoid "Fan Media" sites. They're just clickbait and garbage content.

I mostly agree but I think it's fun to identify the roster locks and likely players to make the team so that I can spend more time focusing on the positions up for grabs in preseason

 

[Memphis Ram]

Wouldn't shock me to see the Lions, Packers, Chargers, and perhaps even Seattle poach some of these guys I'm seeing on these mock practice squads.

 

[den-the-coach]

Hell, our long snapper is a coin flip at this point!

And he might not even be on the roster if another one sakes loose. Keep in mind Colin Holba has had multiple opportunities, but has never stuck, however, this is the first time Steven Wirtel will have a chance to become a long snapper at the NFL level, plus, if both fail to impress, you could see the Rams claim someone off waivers too.