The Los Angeles Rams don’t have to trim their roster down to 53 players for another four months, so there’s a long way to go until they get to that point. There are still OTAs, minicamp and training camp, as well as preseason games that will help the coaching staff sort out which players to keep and who to cut.
While the draft just wrapped up, it’s never too early to project which players will make up the eventual 53-man roster in September. Some positions are much easier to predict than others, but with so much still unsettled for the Rams, it’s difficult to say who will be around for the upcoming season.
Here’s my best attempt at projecting the final roster four months out.
Quarterback (3)
Matthew Stafford
Jimmy Garoppolo
Stetson Bennett
Bennett still has some work to do in order to make the team, but the fact that he’s back in the building is a good sign. He might get scooped up off waivers if the Rams cut him in an attempt to sneak him onto the practice squad. For that reason, I think they’ll give him another shot in 2024, especially after passing on QBs in the draft.
Running back (4)
Kyren Williams
Blake Corum
Boston Scott
Ronnie Rivers
Good luck sorting through the Rams’ running back room. The only sure things are Williams and Corum, who are certain to make the team. After that, it’ll likely be a battle between three players for one or two spots. It’s a bad sign for Zach Evans that the Rams not only took Corum early, but also signed Scott shortly after the draft.
The team was already pretty low on him last year, choosing not to give him a chance after both Williams and Rivers got hurt.
Wide receiver (6)
Cooper Kupp
Puka Nacua
Demarcus Robinson
Tutu Atwell
Ben Skowronek
Jordan Whittington
Drake Stoops is an UDFA to keep an eye on in the wide receiver room. He could also be a candidate to help on put returns, which only increases his value. For now, I’ll have the above six players penciled in. It’s the safest group with the most experience, but don’t rule out Stoops, Xavier Smith or Tyler Johnson sneaking onto the roster as a seventh receiver.
Tight end (3)
Colby Parkinson
Davis Allen
Hunter Long
In this projection, Tyler Higbee starts the season on the PUP list, so he won’t take up a roster spot. If he’s somehow ready for Week 1, he would likely bump Long off the roster. That’s a big “if” right now, though, because he’s still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL, which is a serious injury.
Offensive tackle (4)
Alaric Jackson
Rob Havenstein
Joe Noteboom
Warren McClendon Jr.
The last tackle spot will come down to A.J. Arcuri and McClendon, which is an early camp battle to watch. McClendon is more of a right tackle, while Arcuri fits best at left tackle, and with Noteboom already on the roster as a backup to Jackson, McClendon can be a true backup to Havenstein.
Guard (3)
Jonah Jackson
Kevin Dotson
KT Leveston
The guard depth wasn’t great heading into the draft so the Rams selected Leveston in the seventh round, as well as Beaux Limmer in the sixth – another player who can line up at guard. With Leveston, Limmer and Noteboom all capable of playing guard, the Rams should be set behind Jackson and Dotson.
Center (2)
Steve Avila
Beaux Limmer
Limmer will have some competition from Mike McAllister at center but it’s hard to imagine the Rams cutting Limmer this offseason with his athleticism, strength and upside. He can be an immediate backup to Avila, as well as a developmental prospect for down the road. Limmer is someone they’ll want to keep around.
Defensive line (5)
Kobie Turner
Bobby Brown III
Braden Fiske
Tyler Davis
Desjuan Johnson
Turner and Fiske are both locks to make the team, while Brown and Davis both have a very good chance to stick around, too. Johnson is someone to watch for that second-year leap after getting limited opportunties last season. In this projection, Larrell Murchison and Cory Durden get left off the roster. It’s a young and unproven group, but one with high upside thanks to Turner and Fiske.
Edge rusher (6)
Byron Young
Jared Verse
Michael Hoecht
Brennan Jackson
Ochaun Mathis
Nick Hampton
Young, Verse and Jackson are all going to make the 53-man roster. Hoecht most likely will, too, after the Rams used an RFA tender on him. After that, it’s wide open. Zach VanValkenburg is in the mix, as is Keir Thomas. It’s also possible the Rams will only keep five, which would put Mathis or Hampton in danger of being cut.
Inside linebacker (4)
Ernest Jones
Christian Rozeboom
Troy Reeder
Omar Speights
Speights is an undrafted rookie who could make a strong impression in practice this offseason before the season begins. Jones is truly the only lock at this position despite Rozeboom and Reeder both signing one-year extensions this offseason. Jacob Hummel is a player the coaching staff likes so he’s someone to watch, as well.
Cornerback (5)
Darious Williams
Tre’Davious White
Cobie Durant
Tre Tomlinson
Shaun Jolly
Williams and White will be the starting outside cornerbacks this season. But who backs them up is very much unclear right now. Durant, Tomlinson and Derion Kendrick will all be battling for roster spots, though Durant has the best chance of them all to make the team. Jolly is a candidate to back up Quentin Lake in the slot, so that gives him a better chance to make the 53-man roster.
Safety (5)
Kamren Curl
Quentin Lake
Kamren Kinchens
Russ Yeast
Jason Taylor II
Lake is a nickel defender but I’m putting him with the safeties because he’s more likely to play there than he is outside cornerback. No matter where he’s pegged to play, he’s going to make the team, as are Curl and Kinchens. Yeast should also stick around in 2024, while Taylor could improve this season after being limited by injury as a rookie in 2023.
Special teams (3)
K Joshua Karty
P Ethan Evans
LS Alex Ward
Barring a major surprise, these three players will be the Rams’ specialists in 2024. Karty was a sixth-round pick, Evans was a seventh-rounder in 2023 and Ward was their primary long snapper last season.
