5 mesmerizing red-hot position battles for the Rams in 2024

V: Wide Receiver depth

While I would have listed the Rams wide receiver room as one of the team's strengths heading into the offseason, some view the sparkly rookies who may have heard their names called by the Rams in the 2024 NFL Draft and believe that, in retrospect, this team may not have done enough to revamp and refresh the talent level not the competitiveness needed for this team to prepare for 2024.

I respectfully and whole-heartedly disagree.

The LA Rams receivers are not just a product of raw talent. They are the culmination of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford's ability to pass the football, the offensive line's ability to protect Stafford in the process of throwing forward passes, the talent level of receivers to create separation, catch the ball cleanly, and advance the football after it is caught, and finally, the route options and schemes conceived in the mind of pass-savant HC Sean McVay.

This Rams roster had plenty of premier NFL talent before the start of the 2024 NFL Draft. Now, this team has even more talent. Who are the new guys? Let's list them out for you:

• Sam Wiglusz | 6-foot-0 | 183 pounds | Ohio University | UDFA
• Jordan Whittington | 6-foot-1 | 204 pounds | Texas University | Round 6 213th overall
• Drake Stoops | 5-foot-10 | 189 pounds | Oklahoma University | UDFA
• JJ Laap | 6-foot-1 | 190 pounds | Courtland State of New York | UDFA

Of course, the buzz so far has been about Jordan Whittington, and that is a good thing. Whittington is by no means a diva or elite receiver, and he is a get-gritty specialist. One of the biggest challenges for many collegiate receivers is the transition from specializing at catching passes to being tasked with running with the football, blocking for teammates, creating separation, and advancing with the football.

But Whittington is not the only new face on this roster. And the truth of the matter is that of the team's 10 wide receivers, only four are locks to be on the 53-man roster right now. They are Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Demarcus Robinson, and Tutu Atwell. Even veterans Tyler Johnson and or Xavier Smith may need to fend off the surge of rookies competing for playing time on this team.

The competition won't be decided today. But it will be immensely entertaining to see it develop throughout training camp.