LA Rams 22 UDFA suddenly extremely vital to team’s future success

22 undrafted free agents

The LA Rams front office and coaching staff are in groundbreaking territory right now. Never before has the NFL imposed roster reductions before coaches ever meet players. How can a team count on a player added to the roster after the draft to play at an NFL level without ever seeing them in drills?  But that is where the team is right now. Anywhere a player might be in a virtual tie in the competition, or even relatively close, the financial impact of that player’s contract will like to be a far larger tie-breaker than ever before.

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That means wherever an undrafted player can make a positive impact, the LA Rams now have a financial incentive to ensure he does so. Undrafted rookies cost the team $610,000 this season, while drafted rookies and NFL minimums start at $675,000. That’s a small pay differential, yes. But multiplied across 10 players, it could be the difference of coming in under the salary cap or coming in over it.  These are unprecedented times, which means the Rams will need to consider all unprecedented measures possible.

Undrafted by incredibly talented players in the on-deck circle

The Rams signed 22 players after the 2020 NFL Draft.  Of that group, many will have their sights on making the roster. While the lack of any face-to-face time with the team prior to roster cuts for training camp certainly limited their chances significantly, the new likelihood of shaving $40 million from the team’s payroll may balance that out in their favor.  We know the team added two running backs with solid talent.  We know that the special teams return duties may be filled by one of the many speedy additions to the roster after the draft. We have looked into the blazing speed of undrafted receiver Brandon Polk. We have even examined the likelihood of three undrafted players making a bid for a starting role on the team this year.

This is a huge season and challenge for head coach Sean McVay and the entire Rams coaching staff.  While the Rams overcame lofty expectations in 2018, the team is facing a tarnished outlook in 2020. The Rams are at an important crossroads for the team and for McVay’s legacy. Can the LA Rams do more with less in 2020 better than any other NFL team?  In a whirlwind of partial information, no landmarks, and no compass points, only teams led by strong innovators and doers will succeed. This is no longer a question of best business practices. It’s a competitive question of survival. Bet on the Rams and McVay every time.