This Rams under-the-radar rookie deserves a roster spot he won’t get

The Los Angeles Rams roster is proving to be a very constraining factor in 2025. While it's known that the team will be limited to a 53-man ceiling at the start of the 2025 NFL season, the effort to improve the depth and overall talent level of the team seems to have been too successful. There are too many guys worthy of the available roster spots.

While that may seem like a great problem to have, it does become so very difficult to distinguish the best of the group. And that increases the likelihood that a future NFL starter could slip away undetected simply because the team did not have enough open roster spots to keep everyone with the team.

One such player who has shown up and competed far beyond his expectations is interior offensive lineman Wyatt Bowles. He never heard his name called out in an NFL draft, but he has been outperforming many who did. He's earned a roster spot, but there might not be any open spots remaining for him to claim.

Wyatt Bowles might not even make it to the Rams practice squad

Bowles is a 6-foot-5, 300-pound rookie from Utah State who signed with the team after the draft. He was just one of 17 undrafted free agent signings by the team. He has outperformed many who suited up and competed for the team in the preseason so far. And that comes as much less of a surprise had you followed his college career.

Bowles is a passionate football player, a poster child of bully-ball, the type of offensive lineman who loves to pancake defenders, plow the way on run blocking, but form an impenetrable barrier in pass blocking. And hailing from Utah State certainly adds to his allure as a future NFL starting offensive lineman.

Bowles may have had a shot at making the roster in any other season. But the offseason medical condition that afflicts LT Alaric Jackson, coupled with the offseason medical work performed on RT Rob Havenstein, forces the team to emphasize offensive tackles this season.

Knowing the fact that roster slots are quite limited for any interior linemen, the team has been using the preseason to test the versatility of players across all three positions. That is why Rams fans witnessed Willie Lampkin at the center position before a knee injury forced him to sit out the remainder of preseason Game 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The latest projected Rams depth chart carries as many as 10 offensive linemen, and still doesn't have enough roster slots to go around. The Rams have a history of choosing experience over upside potential. That leaves a practice squad role for Bowles this season. Of course, he may be claimed by another NFL team and never make it there. As always, thanks for reading.

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