As LA Rams sign rookies, training camp heats up at these positions

More competition

Of course, every position on this roster is up for grabs, in a way. But some positional battles will have higher stakes than others. Due to the investment in the offensive line, you can expect this year's starters to be:

• LT - Alaric Jackson
• LG - Jonah Jackson
• C - Steve Avila
• RG - Kevin Dotson
• RT - Rob Havenstein

Of course, depth roles are up for grabs. And even in circumstances, there is always the remote chance that a rookie impresses the coaching staff so well that he earns a starting role. We can call that the 'Puka Nacua effect,' for now.

Injuries may happen. Competition for spots on the team most certainly will happen. So let's turn to the other battles for playing time that will run red hot in training camp.

Tight end

Even as starting TE Tyler Higbee recovers from a devastating injury in 2023, the competition over the vacated starting role is not easily decided. The front office paid free agent TE Colby Parkinson to take over the role, but I would not rule out second-year TE Davis Allen. Parkinson has the size and NFL experience, but Allen has the feistiness to fight on. Add to the fact that Allen caught 10 of 11 passes thrown his way, and a touchdown, and you can see how even in a limited role in 2024 he has already made a case for more playing time.

Kicker

The LA Rams drafted rookie kicker Joshua Karty to be the team's placekicker for the foreseeable future. But don't rule out Tanner Brown as a kicking option just yet. Second seasons for kickers are almost always far better, and Brown is coming back for another go of it. I love Karty, and I do see him as becoming one of the best kickers in the NFL at some future point in time.

If Tanner Brown performs incredibly well, perhaps the Rams can trade him to a kicker-needy team before the season starts?

Running back

You have to respect what the Rams have been doing at the running back position. The season after RB Kyren Williams put up Top-5 NFL rusher numbers, despite missing five of 17 games, the Rams added a power-packed teammate to help him handle the burden of carrying the football this season. Don't sleep on the ability of the coaching staff to toggle between the one-two punch of Williams and Blake Corum.

Factor in a dash of underestimated RB Boston Scott and you could be looking at a runner's room that if all the dominoes fall the right way, could boast two 1000-yard rushers this season. Imagine the nightmares defensive coordinators will have if Rams HC Sean McVay adopts some of the ground-and-pound heritage that made the LA Rams famous in NFL circles years ago.

At a minimum, the Rams will keep defenses guessing in 2024. That will be enough to allow this offense to put plenty of points on the scoreboard.

As always, thanks for reading.