LA Rams: Projecting the final 53 man Rams roster for 2021

Offense

The LA Rams 2021 offensive roster will likely be a slightly different configuration in 2021, as the team has a different starting point and the 2022 NFL Draft is already expected to be quite shallow in terms of receiving talent.

Quarterbacks

(Team carried two in 2020) Active roster: Matthew Stafford and John Wolford  Practice squad: Bryce Perkins

The LA Rams had pretty much decided the depth chart from the moment that OTAs began in the spring. The only decision point was whether Perkins would perform well enough to earn a roster spot. His 61.95 percent completion rate for 551 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception was promising, but he was unable to get the ball to open receivers on multiple occasions.

Running backs

(Team carried five in 2020)  Active roster:  Darrell Henderson, Sony Michel, Jake Funk, a player to be determined. Practice squad: Xavier Jones Waived: Otis Anderson Jr.

While mildly surprised, the fact that Jake Funk saw no action in the final preseason game suggests that he made the cut to the 53-man roster. While I believe Xavier Jones did enough both as a rusher and as a receiver, he did fail to pick up the blitz on two occasions. He appeared to be injured late in the contest. Otis Anderson arrived too late in the process team to catch up with the rest of the field. The Rams will likely go with four running backs, so they will pick up a final rushing option off the waiver wire.

Wide receivers

(Team carried six in 2020) Active roster: Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, DeSean Jackson, Tutu Atwell, Trishton Jackson, J.J. Koski. Injured Reserve: Ben Skowronek Practice Squad: Jeremiah Haydel Waived: Landon Akers

When the Rams lost Raymond Calais, the team shifted their kick return game from a running back slot to a wide receiver slot. While Jeremiah Haydel has been up to the challenge, I’m sitting on the fence as to whether that gets him a roster spot. Instead, I’ll give the final spot to J.J. Koski, in the belief that he will assume a role in the return portion. Or the Rams could expand the role of Tutu Atwell to take on those duties.

Tight Ends

(Team carried four in 2020) Active Roster: Tyler Higbee, Johnny Mundt, Kendall Blanton Practice Squad: Jacob Harris, Brycen Hopkins

The top two tight end spots were defaults since OTAs. Will the Rams carry three or four tight ends? I think that they opt for three, and try to sneak Jacob Harris onto the practice roster. Harris has tremendous upside, but he is catching slightly better than half of the passes thrown his way and has not shown the ability to win contested catches in the end zone just yet. The Rams could part ways with Hopkins, but I believe they retain him on the practice squad just in case as the team opts for three tight ends.

Offensive line

(Team carried 10 in 2020) Active Roster: Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, Rob Havenstein, Joseph Noteboom, Coleman Shelton, AJ Jackson, Tremayne Anchrum Practice squad: Max Pircher (exempt roster spot), Chandler Brewer, Jordan Meredith Waived/Traded: Bobby Evans, Jeremiah Kolone

The offensive line is a bit tricky for two reasons. Much of the value for anyone not starting is the ability to plug and play in various positions. We know that Joseph Noteboom can play left tackle or left guard.  We know that Tremayne Anchrum can play right tackle or right guard. And we know that Coleman Shelton can backup the center position. I’m torn with AJ Jackson/Chandler Brewer and suspect that the team could keep Brewer and push Jackson to the practice squad. I am not even ruling out the LA Rams adding to the ranks by grabbing an offensive lineman off the waiver wire.

Active Roster: 25
Practice Squad: 6 +1 (exempt)
Waived: 4
Injured Reserve: 1