Prediction of the 53 (I'm nuts, I know).

[tomas]

TE - Gerald Everett (starter), Kendall Blanton, Keenan Brown, Romello Brooker.

All three UDFAs are destined to be roster cuts. Other than QB,NFL tight end is the most difficult position to learn/play.

 

[dieterbrock]

There’s a difference between being traded and cut, plus Ogletree was signed the year before he was traded, if memory serves me correct.

Your memory is correct, signed extension in 2017 during the season, traded in March of 2018 before the draft.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Wow that lineup at TE is scary, Everett gets dinged up a lot. Trusting those other guys to start would be very risky.

That’s where my head is at. We need Higbee here for depth, if nothing else. Plus, I like him.

 

[oldnotdead]

Higbee is an under rated talent at TE. In another system he would be money. Both Higbee and Everett are very good TE's but are under utilized by McVay. Everett has the talent and upside to be an elite level player. But that doesn't mean you get rid of Higbee. He's a solid TE who gives McVay the ability to play 12 personnel (2 TE) and provides starter level play in rotation with Everett.

You draft and develop 2 good TE talents so why would you dump one? Elite teams are deep teams. This is exactly what you want.

 

[BonifayRam]

Hill just signed a 2 yr extension in may, why would we cut him?

I sure would not go in that direction. When both of your starting veteran former all pro corners will be UFA's in this upcoming March ....both will get very big paydays wherever they end up signing in the NFL.....then add the loss/vacancy of your top reserve corner for the last two seasons named Troy Hill to the Rams secondary ?????

Wow! Not so sure that it would be a good decision for any NFL team to be in that position. Who would be your outside starting corners? David Long & who else? Dom Hatfield?

 

[Memento]

I sincerely apologize for not replying immediately to you guys. I have no excuses; I'm truly sorry.

Hill just signed a 2 yr extension in may, why would we cut him?

Like others have mentioned, I'm trading Hill. I know that it's not a popular decision, but I don't think Hill is better than Peterson.

Nice job and a fun read, Memento.

Thanks for the work, young lady. Lol.

Thank you!

If Higbee actually gets traded we'll all have to come back and revisit this post! In the meantime, in 2017 I though we'd see more TE activity a la Jordan Reed. BUT I think Gurley actually took on that receiving role for the most part.

Our biggest potential achilles heel this year will be blocking up front, so I don't think Higgs will lose much playing time relative to last year. Maybe Everett becomes our quick-out YAC Jordan Reed though, who knows....

I'll definitely come back and say I'm wrong if Higbee isn't traded. I just think that Everett is ready to start right now and be a better Jordan Reed. And the rookie tight ends all look interesting; if I had to keep one, it would be Blanton, but I like Brown and Brooker as well.

This is a nice attempt with the info we have right now, Memento. But we won't know about the rookies until they put on pads. Nothing is real until we see that....

Thank you, and you're right; we'll know nothing until they put on pads.

Wow that lineup at TE is scary, Everett gets dinged up a lot. Trusting those other guys to start would be very risky.

I realize that it's scary, but I'm a fan of these tight ends.

Thanks for the Rams football topic Memento.

I do like Bachman who can play the slot as a backup to Kupp. Hall had surgery so he will try to get back in for training camp. I don't know if he is a fit for the Rams as a backup but, you never know.

https://dawindycity.com/2019/06/07/chicago-bears-impacts-emanuel-hall-injury/

Seems thin with only six. Looking for more rotation without Suh.

That's a lot of Lbers. I don't see them keeping 10 on the roster.

I think the Rams need Higbee. If they had more proven depth it could be possible if they aren't going to be able to resign him. We will see how the battle for the third TE shapes up.

There are always some surprises. Rams brought in lots of player picks and UDFAs who we need to see/get camp reports on. It's great to have the competition.

Hmm...didn't notice that about Hall. Bachman, I do like. And I realize that the defensive line has less bodies on it as usual, but I trust players like Lawler and Young to be able to step in, since they're a lot like Fox is. That's also why I'm carrying more linebackers than normal; some, such as Howard, can step into a big nickel if - fate forbid - Rapp got injured, while others, such as Lawler, Young, and Okoronkwo can step into the defensive line if there are problems there.

It's really early but at this point...

QB Goff - Bortles
RB Gurley - Brown - Henderson - Kelly
XWR - Woods - Reynolds
YWR - Kupp - Bachman - Greene
ZWR - Cooks - Hodge
TE - Everett - Higbee - Blanton
LT Whitworth - Noteboom - Edwards
LG Noteboom - Evans
C Allen - Blythe
RG - Demby - Blythe
RT - Havenstein - Evans - Edwards
Offense 25

DE Brockers - Franklin-Myers
NT Gaines - Sebastian-Day
DT Donald - Smart
WIL Fowler - Okoronkwo
OLB Ebukam - Matthews - Young
MIKE Littleton - Matthews
ILB Matthews - Kiser - Hager

RCB Talib - Long
LCB Peters - Hill
Slot Roby-Coleman - Williams
FS Weddle - Rapp - Scott
S Johnson - Rapp - Christian

Defense 25

LS McQuaide
P Hekker
K Zuerlein
KR Scott

Specialists 3

I think Blanton can push Mundt and give Goff a very tall (6'6") with 33.75" arms end zone jump ball target. I think With Scott and Henderson to return kicks there is no need for JoJo. I think Bachman takes his roster spot and Greene could also sneak on to the roster if they only carry 8 on the oline again.

Young is a definite bubble player but probably makes the roster unless one of the UDFA really stands out. But at this point they all look like fodder. Also on defense I think Darious Williams can sneak onto the roster if he shows he can play slot CB. I think defensively they are pretty set. In fact I think they are pretty set in almost all roster positions. I don't anticipate a lot of surprises. This team made it to the Super Bowl because it was talented and deep. It's going to be very hard for an UDFA to make it. There really are only a couple of backup spots to it will come down to how well they play STs.

I like your predictions, but I don't think that Smart makes this roster unless he really improves. Same with Christian; they'll likely go for a cheaper player. I love your thoughts on Blanton. Think that Fox makes the roster over Smart. Don't agree on Darious Williams over Kevin Peterson. Overall, though? I can't argue with much.

Morgan Fox is my guy! I think he has a ton of talent standing up

Yeah, I like Fox as well. I love his motor, I love his competitiveness, and he was dominant at his college. Wouldn't be surprised if he was a better Longacre.

Ogletree signed and we still traded him. Don’t think this makes a difference...

Yeah, that's my thinking. Snead's never been one to let contracts given out hinder him in a trade.

I don't believe Henderson will return punts, he never has and FWIW, the Rams like Natson and don't have an issue carrying him on the roster because he can return both punts & kickoffs and can offer a diversion as a wide out on the jet sweep, so unless they try a few others at punt returns I will be shocked if Natson is released.

Natson's tiny and has had ball security issues. If someone like Pharoh can get cut, Natson doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell at making the roster. I'll eat plenty of Kentucky-fried crow if Natson makes the roster, though.

There’s a difference between being traded and cut, plus Ogletree was signed the year before he was traded, if memory serves me correct.

True.

Like you said @Memento you’re nuts. Why trade Hill who they just signed to a two year contract and not someone like Petersen?
And to stick in a late round slow linebacker like Allen who will be lucky to make the practice over Hagar a stand out special teamer and good role and depth linebacker? Come on now.
Those are my only two differences. And by the way, I’m always right.
After the first four receivers of Woods, Cooks, Kupp, and Reynolds it’s a crapshoot and we all have our own favorites, and we can all justify why our guy should make the team.

Because I honestly feel like Peterson is a better player than Hill. And I honestly loved Allen's play. He may not be the fastest, but he's extremely instinctive. He outthinks his opponent, which I love in players.

Memento, agree with most of your projections except for Higbee, they really wouldn’t be able to get much in trade compensation since he is entering his final year of his contract and will be a FA next year.

Plus, I think Higbee keeps improving slightly each year, I think Rams will be glad to keep him for his last year

I think that the Chargers would be desperate enough. But like I said, I'm more than willing to eat crow if I'm wrong.

I agree I don't think they trade Higbee and go with untested guys behind him, IMO, Higbee made some huge plays last season and even with the emergence of Everett, the Rams will need Higbee too in order for McVay's offense to diversify.

True. Higbee could very well be necessary for McVay's offense to thrive. But I want Everett to start and I think that Blanton makes the team, which - in my honest opinion - could cause us to reassess our tight end situation.

Pretty nice summary @Memento thanks for the fun read and break from top ten NFL and ranking lists.

I think the bottom of the wideout depth chart and the third slot for TEs are up for grabs.

With the wideouts the guy who is in trouble is Hodge, who made the team last year on upside and hands (he needs a lot of route running work). And of course some holdovers like Thomas who are going to be out of time. Natson's only chance of a roster spot is improvement in his return game, so if he loses his job he's gone. I think Bachmann's game is something that will play well in this offense, but either way both he and Webster are going to be in play if they work hard and show some daily improvement in the offense.

At TE those new guys will have every opportunity to challenge Mundt. Since he's limited in the passing game all the new guys have to do is show some ability and willingness to block and they'll be in the mix.

I don't think moving Higbee is an option btw. They'll let him leave in FA and scoop what will hopefully be a round three pick (meaning I hope he'll have a strong season and sign a big contract elsewhere). If they do move him then it means they really like one of the young TEs that got added, but I think that whole path is dicey tbh.

OL is a really weird depth chart btw. Given that the question of who makes the roster is relatively easy to predict but there will be two new starters which means some good competition in camp. And I think RG will be opened up a bit for competition just to see what they have if nothing else, given that they'll be replacing Blythe next season when he leaves in FA. So huge competition but a pretty much set roster very interesting.

I honestly don't think that Hodge's spot is in jeopardy. He does well at special teams, and he has sticky hands. I do like both Bachman and Webster, but unless we carry seven at wide receiver, I don't think they both make the roster. Also ability and willingness to block? That's why I think Blanton makes the final roster.

I hope that Higbee has a huge season, but a round three compensatory pick is asking a lot. Right guard, I've made my point in numerous threads that Blythe is my man. I honestly think that Evans and - especially - Edwards need to take a redshirt year like Noteboom and Allen did.

All three UDFAs are destined to be roster cuts. Other than QB,NFL tight end is the most difficult position to learn/play.

Disagree. Maybe two are roster cuts, but at least one will make the roster over Mundt, who is small and too limited as a blocker to stick.

Your memory is correct, signed extension in 2017 during the season, traded in March of 2018 before the draft.

Yes.

That’s where my head is at. We need Higbee here for depth, if nothing else. Plus, I like him.

I like Higbee as well. He can definitely make the difficult catches, and he's a battering ram (pun not intended) as a runner in the open field. My only concern is his impending free agency.

Higbee is an under rated talent at TE. In another system he would be money. Both Higbee and Everett are very good TE's but are under utilized by McVay. Everett has the talent and upside to be an elite level player. But that doesn't mean you get rid of Higbee. He's a solid TE who gives McVay the ability to play 12 personnel (2 TE) and provides starter level play in rotation with Everett.

You draft and develop 2 good TE talents so why would you dump one? Elite teams are deep teams. This is exactly what you want.

Yeah, but there's potential in all of the rookie tight ends. (Of course, I said the same thing about Philip Lutzenkirchen - may he rest in peace.)

I sure would not go in that direction. When both of your starting veteran former all pro corners will be UFA's in this upcoming March ....both will get very big paydays wherever they end up signing in the NFL.....then add the loss/vacancy of your top reserve corner for the last two seasons named Troy Hill to the Rams secondary ?????

Wow! Not so sure that it would be a good decision for any NFL team to be in that position. Who would be your outside starting corners? David Long & who else? Dom Hatfield?

David Long will definitely be a starting cornerback, and I see the Rams scouring the cornerbacks in the next draft, as well as trades and cuts. I also assume that we'll re-sign Talib for one or two years.

I am hoping for a surprise WR to take the WR5 or WR6 spot. I am also hoping for a surprise on D. Perhaps a cut LB vet, Natrez Patrick at ILB or Copeland at DT.

Copeland is the guy I'd keep an eye on. He has tons of potential. If we go with more than six linemen, I see him making the team. Not a huge fan of Patrick. As for surprise receiver, isn't Hall enough?

 

[den-the-coach]

Natson's tiny and has had ball security issues. If someone like Pharoh can get cut, Natson doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell at making the roster. I'll eat plenty of Kentucky-fried crow if Natson makes the roster, though.

Pharoh Cooper they cut to keep Natson and he only lost one fumble last year. I agree Natson is tiny, but the Rams really don't have anyone else on the roster that has experience returning punts and I get this feeling that John Fassel likes Natson.....So Mi Lady.....Barring injury, I believe dinner will be served.

 

[nighttrain]

Pharoh Cooper they cut to keep Natson and he only lost one fumble last year. I agree Natson is tiny, but the Rams really don't have anyone else on the roster that has experience returning punts and I get this feeling that John Fassel likes Natson.....So Mi Lady.....Barring injury, I believe dinner will be served.

good lookin chicken, but i'm thinkin Bachman(new WR) might take over, i believe he ran a 4.4 forty and has some experience
train

 

[den-the-coach]

good lookin chicken, but i'm thinkin Bachman(new WR) might take over, i believe he ran a 4.4 forty and has some experience
train

FWIW at Wake Forest Alex Bachman returned 7 Punts for a total of 48 Yards in his 4 years in college....Not exactly an experienced punt returner, although I'm sure Rams will look at him in preseason.whereas Natson in college at Akron returned 72 Punts for 904 yards and six touchdowns....IMO, I'm looking for someone coming out of college that has returned at the very minimum of 25 punts currently on the Ram roster, No player has even returned 10 punts in college and unless the Rams like someone better that is released, I don't see Natson being challenged.

 

[fanotodd]

Hill: he's not getting cut. He's the #3 CB right now. He's not an every game starter for a championship roster, but he's still a legit NFL CB--at least AFA depth is concerned. I expect Long to eventually overtake him, but going into his first NFL camp, Long starts out behind Hill. The Rams are in trouble if they again lose a starting CB for a significant amount of time and Hill has to start several weeks in a row.

Higbee: I thought the Rams could get good value for him in a pre-draft trade. The only thing holding him back is the crew of excellent WRs on the field. I am one who is not bothered by a lack of targets to our TEs because of the that reason. Higbee might have welcomed a trade so he could get a better opportunity to shine. I think he made enough big plays in big games to catch the eye of other teams.

Now that camp is around the corner and the Rams didn't draft his replacement (even if it is to back up Everett) I don't think the Rams will move Higbee unless Everett plays that well in camp AND somebody steps up as a legit #2. The Rams might be better served to keep him one more season and let him hit FA next year. It could garner a decent comp pick.

 

[Tailback]

good lookin chicken, but i'm thinkin Bachman(new WR) might take over, i believe he ran a 4.4 forty and has some experience
train

In addition to Bachman, I think Nick Scott will be given a look also. He returned kickoffs some in College and was originally recruited as a RB until being moved to DB. He ran a 4.45 at his pro day.

 

[bubbaramfan]

You won't be eating crow alone Momento, if Natson makes the final 53, I'll be chowing down right along with you. Pass the salt. ball:

 

[Zaphod]

Higbee: I thought the Rams could get good value for him in a pre-draft trade. The only thing holding him back is the crew of excellent WRs on the field. I am one who is not bothered by a lack of targets to our TEs because of the that reason. Higbee might have welcomed a trade so he could get a better opportunity to shine. I think he made enough big plays in big games to catch the eye of other teams.

There is already turn over on the offensive line, and while there is certainly the opportunity to improve as a unit, you don't take chances on blocking when you have Todd Gurley on your team.

I do believe the Rams are serious about a repeat appearance in the Super Bowl, and for that reason I suggest it is highly likely that Higbee stays.