Rams may have tipped their hand with sneaky last-second roster move

The Los Angeles Rams have done it again. As the preseason winds down to a close, the front office is tasked once more with the annual exercise of shaving a 90-player roster down to 53. To do that, there are undoubtedly a myriad of meetings, data sheets, recommendations, and buy-ins happening or soon-to-be happening.

The team tipped its hand once already when the front office signed a familiar veteran interior offensive lineman, Mike McAlister, to join the team just before the final preseason game. Now general manager Les Snead has doubled down on that familiar tactic, adding NFL veteran IOL John Leglue one day later. The move may be confusing, but it's a familiar strategy Rams House has witnessed before.

Legule’s signing caps off a mini-flurry of activity that saw the team waive rookie WR Mario Williams, place veteran OLB Keir Thomas on IR, and add McAlister. While some fans might try to sensationalize his addition, it’s a tough sell if the goal is to project him beyond the inevitable roster cuts set to begin in less than a week.

John Leglue signing is a telltale clue of Rams' roster decisions

Leglue is no stranger to the NFL, having competed for playing time on his seventh roster. He began his pursuit of a pro career as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2019. Since then, he has spent time with six different teams, appearing in six games at left guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021 and making one appearance for the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.

He certainly looks the part of an NFL offensive lineman. At 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, he brings both size and strength to his blocking. While he’s lined up at multiple positions across the offensive line, at least one report has listed John Leglue as an offensive tackle. Meanwhile, the team’s official website categorizes Mike McAlister as a center.

The takeaways from this signing are less about the player himself and more about what it means for the team’s decisions heading into preseason Game 3. The Rams rarely play projected starters in the preseason and are often hesitant to even use players who have already secured a spot on the 53-man roster.

Those decisions force the front office to reset the roster to ensure enough depth among the 37 or so players who didn’t make the team, covering all positions for the final preseason game. In this case, the Rams were uneasy about their offensive line depth and took proactive steps to bolster that unit for the finale.

The first unofficial Rams depth chart lists 17 offensive linemen. With LT Alaric Jackson and UDFA rookie Willie Lampkin sidelined by injuries, that leaves 15 healthy players. Assuming eight are locks for the roster, the math suggests just seven will be available to fill five spots in Game 3.

The addition of two more offensive linemen brings the group to nine players available for the final preseason game. That feels like the right number for depth. As always, thanks for reading.

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