Eveready Bunny? GM Les Snead still signing players to Rams roster

Whether or not you think he is doing a great job at how the front office has been building and rebuilding, the suddenly fragile LA Rams roster each week, you have to admit that LA Rams GM Les Snead has been one of the busiest GMs in the NFL this season. And while we have had to deal with far too many transactions to truly give each Rams free agency signing a true evaluation and deep dive analysis, these Rams have been competitive throughout the majority of the season because the Rams personnel department has done an excellent job in finding and adding viable contributors throughout the season.

Well, if you were looking for a pause in the action, think again. There is no intermission this season. As a result, the Rams have added two more intriguing players to replenish their practice squad roster, and that news was reported on Wednesday, December 14, 2022:

So now all we need to do is take a quick look at each new Practice Squad addition:

Defensive lineman addition

Khalil Davis is a player who was drafted from the deep deep defensive line rookie class from the 2020 NFL Draft, a draft class that is already represented on the LA Rams roster with the awarded waiver claim of DT Larrell Murchison. The Rams also have undrafted DE Jonah Williams and DE/OLB Michael Hoecht from that draft class, which was described at the time as one of the most talented and deepest defensive line rookie classes in a very long time.

The Buccaneers drafted the 6-foot-1 308-pound defensive lineman from the University of Nebraska. He is a stout and sturdy defensive lineman who can play anywhere along the defensive front, but like Greg Gaines, he is likely a nose tackle for the LA Rams’ defensive front.

He has a good burst and can apply solid pressure on a quarterback, despite playing primarily as an interior defensive lineman. He was originally projected as a Round 5 draft selection and his presence, even if only on a Reserve future contract, will be particularly valuable to the team as they pivot to the 2023 NFL season.

Defensive back addition

The addition of Richard LeCounte is an indication that the team is looking to add depth to the secondary in advance of the 2023 NFL season. That is a positive move, as the team is facing expiring contracts for both starting safeties: Nick Scott and Taylor Rapp. If history is any indication, the team is unlikely to re-sign either player. LeCounte has some NFL experience, appearing in 10 games for the Cleveland Browns, and getting one start.

Despite projecting as an undrafted prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns rolled the dice and selected him in the fifth round, with the 169th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.  While he battled for a roster spot over the past two seasons, the Browns released him in late October 2022.

The versatile defensive back has NFL experience at both cornerback and safety positions, which is often a highly desired attribute for modern-day NFL secondaries. He has been described as a defensive back who understands what he sees, has a quick burst to close quickly, and knows where to be to defend passes.

He is not athletic enough to win footraces down the length of the field, which is why he has been played primarily as a safety in the NFL.

In both cases, these additions appear to be aimed at thickening the Rams roster at thin positions, as well as giving the team an extended period of time to look at and audition players in advance of the 2023 NFL season. I like the strategy, and I, for one, love what LA Rams GM Les Snead has done this season.