6 Rams you may not recognize who you won't forget after preseason Game 1

(1) - Brennan Jackson (#44) - Outside Linebacker

Brennan Jackson is the 'other' rookie outside linebacker chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft, a 6-foot-4 263-pound wrecking ball whose physicality and violence place him as the first player to take note of in this list. Hailing out of Washington State, this former Cougars edge rusher had made it a point to beat some of the best offensive tackles in college while sacking PAC-10 quarterbacks.

He did such a good job that he was selected by the Rams in Round 5 with the 154th overall pick. While that may raise questions over how good he can be in the NFL, the truth is that the outside linebacker position was very deep. OLB Jared Verse, a player chosen by the Rams with the 19th overall pick, was projected to hear his name among the Top-10 selections in the draft. What to look for in Jackson is his ability to set the edge, stuff the run, play adequate coverage, sack the quarterback, and have the look of a player who understands his role.

(2) - Xavier Smith (#19) - Wide Receiver

Some have projected the team's wide receivers as not being especially deep, as still searching for a bona fide third wide receiver. But from my perspective, that's just not true. In fact, of the wide receivers on the team's roster, the roster is already almost certainly to include WRs Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, and rookie Jordan Whittington. Veteran WR Tyler Johnson will likely earn a roster slot as well.

For 5-foot-9 173-pound veteran wide receiver Xavier Smith, that makes desperate times. But don't rule him out just yet.

So far in training camp, Xavier Smith has been consistently appearing as one of the true standouts. And while he is not a typical size for a Rams wide receiver, the team had certainly enjoyed the skillsets of WR Brandin Cooks, Desean Jackson, and to a limited extent, Tutu Atwell. So there is a place in this offense for a swift and somewhat small wide receiver to show up in a big way.

Unfortunately, it may take showing up in a big way to make the roster.