LA Rams News: Many 2020 rookies won’t make it to training camp

Roster reduction from the 2019 roster perspective

At the onset of 2020, the LA Rams signed nine players to future-reserve contracts. The team then added four new players via NFL Free agency, including two new kickers,  drafted nine players, and added 22 undrafted rookies after the 2020 NFL Draft. That equates to 44 additional players to the roster.  Doing the math, that means that the Rams entered the 2020 season with 46 players remaining on the roster.  How could this be?

While the LA Rams faced 18 players leaving via the 2020 NFL Free Agency market, the Rams carried many more than 53 players into the end of the 2019 season.  Whether good or bad fortune, the number of significant injuries to Rams players last season translated into many players moving to injured reserve, allowing the team to add a player from either the practice squad or signed from another team to the active roster.

Rams returning 46 is good for 2020

That illusion about the Rams 53 man roster shrinking to just 35 players contracted to return has proven to be fortunate for the team so far.  After all, the Rams found that carrying 13 players from 2019 into 2020 only needed a tweak or two from the team’s active roster to be prepared for 2020.  It’s that reason that gave the team confidence to draft just one offensive lineman, Tremayne Anchrum, in the 2020 NFL Draft, and added just one lineman after the draft by signing center Cohl Cabral.

Familiarity is at a premium this offseason.  We are already aware that the NFL preseason schedule has been cut in half. We also know that the NFL offseason programs have been limited to remote virtual training programs. With each passing day, rookies have lost that day to make a direct connection to other players and coaches. While returning players already have those connections, rookies and new arrivals to the team have yet to enjoy an opportunity to do so.