LA Rams 53-man Final roster predictions

At weeks end, the LA Rams will set their final 53-man roster. Who will make the cuts? Here is our final projection

For the LA Rams, most of the hard work is over.  In other words, it’s all over but the shouting. The gates at SoFi stadium are locked once more and will remain so until the Rams opening game against the Dallas Cowboys. Players who arrived from the 2019 roster, the 2019 practice squad, the 2020 NFL Draft, and free agency, both before and after the draft, converged to compete for a roster spot.

That competition is all but over now. Yes, the Rams will continue to practice. The training camp moves forward. But the top 45-48 roster spots are all but spoken for now. Players now are competing for tie-breakers. With each play now, those bubble players must show to the coaches and to teammates why they are so critical to belong with the rest.

Time to prune

80 players to 53 is a huge and painstaking process for coaches and players alike. One silver lining for the 2020 roster is the expansion of the practice squad to 16 players. Of those practice squad slots, four are categorized as protected.  The LA Rams can make incredible use of those practice squad slots, as long as they can sign the players needed to fill them.

It’s the final doorway to step across to finally be on that side of the NFL season. 53 players to compete against opposing team 53 players. Who goes? Who stays? Who slides to the practice squad?   In the end, the LA Rams are on their way to reclaim the NFC West crown. Who is in?

Offense – 2019- (22), 2020- (23) PS–7

The 2019 roster carried 22 players. What will that number be in 2020? Let’s break it down for you.
Quarterbacks: 2019 – 2 2020-2
The Rams will take no extra precautions with the quarterback position. The Rams will enter the 2020 season with Jared Goff as the starter and John Wolford as the backup.
53-man roster – Jared Goff, John Wolford
Practice Squad (1st protected)  – QB Bryce Perkins

Running backs: 2019 – 3 2020-4
With Darrell Henderson nursing a minor hamstring injury, the LA Rams will carry an extra running back into the season opener. That means the Rams will look to Malcolm Brown, Cam Akers, and Xavier Jones to gain yards against the Dallas Cowboys. Once Henderson’s hamstring is fully healed, look for the Rams to park him on the practice squad.
53-man roster – Malcolm Brown, Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson, Xavier Jones
Bubble/Cut – RB John Kelly

Wide Receivers: 2019 – 6 2020-5
The top-four LA Rams wide receivers could be recited from memory. They are Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Josh Reynolds, and Van Jefferson. Even with Kupp’s low ankle sprain, he will be good to go in week one.  So now it becomes who fills the last spot(s). While KR/WR Nsimba Webster will be active on the offense, he shows up on the Special Team section. So the final roster spot will come down to one of two players: Trishton Jackson or Earnest Edwards.

While the Rams carried six receivers in 2019, the team will need a roster spot to protect drafted tight-end Brycen Hopkins. Judging by the limited reports out of training camp, I’ll lean towards Trishton Jackson as the fifth and final receiver to make the Rams roster. I would not be overly surprised if the Rams assigned Earnest Edwards to the active roster. But I think he’s destined for the practice squad.
53-man roster – Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Josh Reynolds, Van Jefferson, Trishton Jackson
Practice Squad – Earnest Edwards, Easop Winston
Bubble/Cut – J.J. Koski

Offensive trenches

With the offensive skill players set, the roster will now focus upon the men in the trenches. While the Rams have a surplus of 2019 starters, the team truly needs to balance the needs of this year with the development of next year’s players.
Tight ends: 2019 – 3 2020-4
The LA Rams need to protect the tight end, Brycen Hopkins, for 20201. That being said, the team cannot afford to place him on waivers and risk another tight-end starving team signing him up. The team will certainly bring back Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett. Johnny Mundt will revive his role as the blocking tight end. Kendall Blanton has been modestly productive and knows the Rams offense. The Rams will likely sign him to the practice squad

53-man Roster: Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee, Johnny Mundt, Brycen Hopkins
Practice squad – Kendall Blanton
Bubble/cut – N/A

Offensive line 2019 – 8 2020-8

The LA Rams can’t afford to exchange precious few draft-picks to fill holes in the offensive line this year. While that may not impact their active roster, the team will most certainly up the slots for linemen on the practice squad.  The team will likely carry the starters, a swing tackle, a swing interior offensive lineman, and a swing player.  Just like Brycen Hopkins, the team won’t give other teams to “poach” drafted rookie Tremayne Anchrum. That will likely ‘bump’ the Rams swingman Jamil Demby to the practice squad

53-man Roster: Andrew Whitworth, Joseph Noteboom, Austin Blythe, Austin Corbett, Rob Havenstein, Bobby Evans, David Edwards, Tremayne Anchrum
Practice squad: Cohl Cabral, Jamil Demby, Brian Allen
Opt-out: Chandler Brewer
Bubble/cut – Coleman Shelton, Jeremiah Kolone

Defense – 2019 (27) , 2020 (26) PS-8

Defensive line 2019 – 6 2020-6
The LA Rams are in a bit of an enigma over the status of free agent NT A’Shawn Robinson. While his status is in a bit of limbo, the Rams must decide how to manage the rapid rotations designed to keep the starters fresh.

53-man Roster: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Sebastion Joseph Day, Greg Gaines, Morgan Fox, Marquise Copeland
Reserve/PUP: A’Shawn Robinson
Practice squad: Michael Hoecht, Marquise Copeland
Bubble/cut: Eric Banks

Outside LB 2019 – 6 2020-5

With the Rams moving on from both Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews, the team will certainly be looking for players who can replace them.  They may have them already as the team added both Leonard Floyd and Terrell Lewis in the offseason.

53-man Roster: Leonard Floyd, Samsun Ebukam, Terrell Lewis, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Natrez Patrick
Practice squad: Jonah Williams
Bubble/cut: Jachai Polite

Inside LB 2019 – 4 2020-4

The LA Rams inside linebacker competition are awfully tough to call right now. While Micah Kiser is clearly one of the starters, the injury to Travin Howard has thrown the roster into minor chaos. Will he be back quickly? If it’s a sprain or strain, versus and ACL, those are different matters altogether.

53-man Roster: Micah Kiser, Kenny Young, Troy Reeder, Clay Johnston
Reserve I/R (8 weeks): Travin Howard
Practice squad: Christian Rozeboom, Derrick Moncrief
Bubble/cut: Daniel Bituli

Secondary

The LA Rams will be featuring more nickel and dime packages than many NFL teams. With that in play, the Rams will lean as heavily towards their defensive backs as last season. That means a strong secondary roster.

Cornerback 2019 – 6 2020-6
With the projected loss of four cornerbacks to free agency in 2021, the Rams will most likely aim at carrying more than a normal allotment. With the Rams facing a mass exodus in 2021 of cornerbacks, the team will balance out their roster with younger players who can develop for next season. The  Rams will carry a heavy group of practice squad defensive backs with an eye on 2021.

53-man Roster: Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill, Darious Williams, Donte Deayon, David Long Jr., Adonis Alexander
Practice squad: Dayan Ghanwoloku Juju Hughes
Bubble/cut: Tyrique McGee

Safety 2019 – 5 2020-5

The Rams are projected to lose veteran safety John Johnson in 2021. While that isn’t as hard hit as many positions, the team will need to groom his replacement this year

53-man Roster: Taylor Rapp, John Johnston III, Terrell Burgess, Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott
Practice squad: Jake Gervase
Bubble/cut: N/A

Special Teams – 2019 (4), 2020 (4) PS-1

The LA Rams special teams, while it encompasses the entire gamut of kicks, punts, coverage, and return roles on the team, special teams have typically taken on the limited numbers of roles unique to those units. That means that the team will typically carry a long snapper, punter, kicker, and perhaps a return specialist on the team’s special team category.

The LA Rams will finally have the answer over who will be the team’s kicker. Despite the late camp push from Austin MacGinnis, the Rams will likely go with Lirim Hajrullahu.  Not only does he bring a history of kicking game-winners under pressure, but he is a solid punter as well.

53-man Roster: Long Snapper Jake McQuaide, Punter Johnny Hekker, KR/WR Nsimba Webster, K Lirim Hajrullahu
Practice squad: There is a chance that the Rams add a second K to the practice squad due to COVID-19. If so, it’s MacGinnis.
Bubble/cut: K Sam Sloman

Roster summary

There is always a chance that the Rams will favor a veteran over a drafted rookie. If that is the case, then drafted rookies like Brycen Hopkins, Tremayne Anchrum, and Clay Johnston may spend 2020 in large part on the practice squad.  The toughest part for players, and perhaps some fans, is that period between the roster cuts and the practice squad signings.

This is the best estimate we have so far. Since this training camp has been so muddled with virtual information, almost no direct contact, and trickles about the players and team training camp performances, it’s a good place to start. And there is that expanded practice roster. The team will only need to reduce the 80 man roster to 69 (53 active plus 16 practice squad). The Rams can accomplish this by placing both A’Shawn Robinson and Travin Howard on injured reserve, plus nine cuts.  What are your thoughts?