Add The California Post on Google There is no exact science to creating a 53-man roster.Ninety different players show up to training camp, and nearly half of them know that they will not make the final cut. That’s the cruel part. Over the span of five weeks, all 32 NFL teams have to reduce their roster by 37 players.
For the Rams and every other team, those decisions have to be made by Sunday. General manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay must make the difficult decisions that will transform a locker room full of NFL dreams into a lean, mean 53-man team.Some players who are cut will make it on other teams. Others will negotiate to be on the practice squad if they clear waivers, and some may never play in the NFL again.For Los Angeles, however, the decisions are different. This is a roster built to win the Super Bowl this season.And somewhere outside the building, Aaron Donald hovers over everything like an impenetrable cloud.The Rams are still waiting for Donald’s decision on a potential comeback. Meanwhile, possible NFL discipline involving WR Puka Nacua and OL Alaric Jackson could eventually force another roster shuffle.So, the Rams 53-man roster could change again after Sunday.
Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett, Ty SimpsonThere’s no mystery over who stays. The question is who backs up Stafford in Australia.McVay has refused to choose between Bennett and Simpson, but his actions suggest Bennett remains QB2. Bennett received most of the second-team work throughout camp and frequently stepped in when Stafford rested. Then he didn’t play against the Chargers while Simpson started.McVay treats preseason playing time like evidence at a crime scene. The players he needs in September usually aren’t anywhere near it.Simpson impressed in the preseason, but the rookie isn’t Stafford’s backup yet.But that day is coming.Running backs (3)Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie RiversThe Rams essentially made this decision Thursday when they traded Jarquez Hunter to Miami for Tutu Atwell.Undrafted rookie Dean Connors made cutting him uncomfortable after catching his third touchdown of the preseason against the Chargers, but Williams and Corum are entrenched while Rivers has McVay’s trust and special teams value.
If Connors clears waivers, the Rams should sprint to get him onto the practice squad.
Wide receivers (7)Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell, CJ DanielsSeven receivers sounds excessive until you examine the circumstances.Nacua and Adams are stars. Whittington has become an important piece of the offense, while Smith provides speed and return ability. Mumpfield has done enough to stay.Then the Rams unexpectedly brought Atwell home.McVay said the move wasn’t connected to a potential Nacua suspension and shouldn’t affect receivers already “slotted” for the roster.That leaves Daniels, who caught 13 passes for 110 yards over the final two preseason games.Sometimes roster decisions aren’t complicated. Daniels earned the right to be here.
Tight ends (5)Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, Terrance Ferguson, Max KlareIf you’re wondering how McVay can justify five tight ends, you haven’t been paying attention to his offense the past year.The Rams aren’t collecting tight ends. They’re weaponizing them.
Los Angeles increasingly leaned into multiple TE formations last season, and Higbee, Parkinson, Allen, Ferguson and second-round rookie Klare give McVay the personnel to make 13 personnel a legitimate identity rather than an occasional wrinkle.
Offensive linemen (10)Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon Jr., David Quessenberry, Beaux Limmer, Keagen Trost, Dylan McMahon, Justin DedichPotential discipline involving Jackson makes depth here especially important.Jackson, Avila, Shelton, Dotson and McClendon form the projected starting five. Quessenberry offers veteran insurance at tackle, Limmer provides experience inside and Trost has developmental value despite his hamstring injury.Dedich’s hand injury complicates matters, but Los Angeles has invested too much in his development to walk away now.
Defensive linemen (5)Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, Tyler Davis, Tim KeenanFor now.Turner, Fiske and Ford give Los Angeles a formidable interior rotation, while Davis provides depth and Keenan, a seventh-round rookie, grabs the final spot.Then there’s Donald.If No. 99 decides he wants one more ride, somebody’s chair disappears when the music stops, and that’s likely Keenan.
Outside linebackers (5)Myles Garrett, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart, Desjuan Johnson, Wesley BaileyHere’s our first controversial decision.Bailey makes this team.
The undrafted rookie turned what initially looked like a practice squad audition into a legitimate roster campaign. He started against the Chargers, played only two snaps and generated a quarterback pressure before disappearing from the game.That doesn’t look like somebody fighting for employment.It looks like somebody whose coaches had seen enough.Garrett and Young give Los Angeles a terrifying starting combination, Stewart is part of the future, and Johnson provides positional flexibility.
Bailey is the wild card, but we predict he’s going to be on the 53.
Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Shaun Dolac, Grant StuardLandman and Speights should lead Chris Shula’s defense in the middle. Dolac gives Los Angeles another young linebacker to develop, while Stuard’s special teams value makes him exactly the kind of bottom-of-the-roster player contenders need.
Cornerbacks (4)Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Josh WallaceMcDuffie and Watson transformed this secondary upon arrival, Forbes has too much talent to abandon and Wallace has been playing on the inside, outside and even snaps at safety during training camp.
That leaves Cam Lampkin on the wrong side of the cut line, but a player whom they will want to try to add to the practice squad.
Safeties (4)Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McColloughNo need to overthink this group.Lake remains the communicator and captain. Curl gives Shula versatility, Kinchens looks poised for a breakout season and McCollough rounds out one of the deepest position groups on the roster.Specialists (3)
After special teams became a weekly adventure last season, the Rams would gladly settle for boring.
Mevis handles the kicking, Evans remains the punter and Cardona takes over long-snapping duties for new special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone.
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