Do LA Rams have spots for 7 2020 practice squad players?
By Bret Stuter
Summary
Okay, so here we are, and the LA Rams roster is chock-full of young hopeful, and talented players. It’s a new season, and all of the players who were oh-so-close to landing a spot on the 2020 53-man roster are coming back with a vengeance. The 2021 NFL Free Agency market claimed 10 Rams players, and two more are still as of yet unclaimed. The Rams only added two free agents, wide receiver DeSean Jackson and punter Corey Bojorquez.
Of course, Bojorquez is likely heading for the practice squad, so the net result to the 53-man roster is losing nine players to free agency and picking up nine players via the draft. From the rote math, last year’s players have their work cut out for them to earn a roster spot.
Still, the Rams went awfully heavy with offensive weapons, and awfully light on the offensive line, linebacker, and cornerback. You could logically expect that WR Trishton Jackson, RB Xavier Jones, and RB Raymond Calais to face still competition to remain with the team, while players like Chandler Brewer, Donte Deayon, and Christian Rozeboom might have an easier path due to roster needs for the 17 game 2021 season.
Practice squad players are more than camp bodies in the LA Rams player-development formula. They are next year’s replacements, the players who are redshirted for a year and are expected to compete for a larger role with the team the following year. While many will not do so, many will earn more playing time.
The LA Rams will continue to feature developing players from within as long as they continue to trade away first-round draft picks. As of right now, the drought of Day One picks will not end until 2024. But don’t count on seeing the Rams draft early even then. As long as the team can churn out NFL players from the practice squad, they will more than content to exchange picks for game-changing players.