Sorting through LA Rams WR options: Reynolds, OBJ, or another FA?

What about those other guys?

The LA Rams don’t chase flash-in-the-pan type of players. If a player is perceived to be of the game-changer quality, the front office typically trades for the player. If the player is a free agent, or available to sign from the practice squad, the Rams are looking for a roster fit, a player with specific data points and trends that indicates a better-than-average chance of success in the LA Rams system.

That can be a bit frustrating for fans whose attention is steered to the latest free agent of the month, particularly when the team exhibits no measurable interest in social media. But fear not, as the Rams have connections to players (Troy Hill and John Johnson III) who have all the information needed to make a decision whether to pursue the guy or not. So what if the decision is -not? Who might the Rams consider adding to a receiver needy roster?

WR Perriman

Free-agent wide receiver Breshad Perriman is a very intriguing player. He has played for the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and finally the New York Jets. He is added because his speed is a blazing  4.19-second 40-yard dash time. He eventually is released because his career completion rate is 49 percent.  Unfortunately, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have re-signed him, albeit to their practice squad.

Not only have the Buccaneers signed Perriman to their practice squad, but they have also signed tight end Darren Fells.

WR T. Jackson

Former LA Rams wide receiver Trishton Jackson was on the team’s 53-man roster in 2020. But thanks to a crowded receiver room, he was waived and opted to sign on to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad for the 2021 NFL season. He was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent receiver from Syracuse University after the 2020 NFL Draft. He beat the odds and made it to the team’s roster where he was redshirted.

While he has yet to appear in an NFL game, he certainly is familiar with the team’s offense and could be a quick understudy to back up one of the team’s starters. Additionally, he could become a viable option to help special teams in either coverage or in the return game.

WR Sills

A new option to consider is wide receiver David Sills V, who is currently signed up on the New York Giants practice squad. He is worth considering, as he is a 6-foot-4 210-pound receiver who was described as possessing good ball skills. He was originally signed by the Buffalo Bills after the 2019 NFL Draft from West Virginia but missed the entire 2020 season due to a fractured foot. Ironically has been compared to Josh Reynolds in his draft profile.

The fact is that he made the Giants roster, but was waived and re-signed to their practice squad for the 2021 NFL season. Just like Reynolds, he runs a 4.57-second 40-yard dash. To date, he has not played in an NFL game. He is intriguing in that the Giants clearly are interested in him to play a role in their offense at some point, but have not committed to doing so just yet. Since he is very similar to the skill set possessed by Josh Reynolds, the Rams could fast-track him to that type of role on this offense.

Are the LA Rams light at wide receiver right now? Yes. But don’t worry. Not only do the Rams have options to sign off other team practice squads, but the team is working to develop some receiver options from their own practice squad as well.