Most impressive undrafted rookies so far in Rams preseason

With a team effort, and a preseason win, the LA Rams have a euphoric mood this week. Or. . .

Do they?

You see, this is competition. Perhaps the purest form of the stuff that a young NFL player will face throughout his NFL career. You see, this is when rookies, and young veterans must prove their worth to their teammates, coaches, and to the NFL at large. In a meritocracy, the young players are not given respect, trust, or playing time. They must earn the right to play.

For 10 LA Rams drafted rookies, that means an easier task than for their fellow undrafted rookies. Because the team has already invested something of value into acquiring those players, they have the benefit of second-chances, patience, and a much longer runway to build up speed and prove to be NFL worthy.

But for undrafted college free-agent players signed after the 2024 NFL Draft, there is no such investment. The team has given 16 young rookies an opportunity to make this team, or not. But that future rests almost entirely on them. And so, this is a crucial moment.

One preseason game down and just two more to go. Even as you read this, roster spots are being pencilled in, and players who may show up in a huge way in Game 3 may not even have a chance to make the team due to no more open slots. And yet, competing is their only way of banging open the door, even when it may be closing on them.

Even as roster spots may be evaporating, don't despair. The LA Rams will have 16 spots on their practice squad that will bring back those players who were oh-so-close to earning the right to make this team in 2024, but who need more coaching, time, or simply a better field of players at the same position to compete against next season.

This is simply the first preseason game

McVay mentions outstanding performers

After the game, the Rams post-game press conference featured both Head Coach Sean McVay and quarterback Stetson Bennett. While the segment with Stetson Bennett was exclusively about the struggles that the young returning quarterback faced in his first football game in a year, Coach McVay was able to field more general questions about the performance of his team and specific players.

Whether buoyed by the come-from-behind victory, or simply the unshakable resolve of his team, McCay was jovial, happy, and quite complimentary of multiple young players for their efforts in this first preseason game. Some rookies were drafted while others were not. But Coach McVay was quite generous in his praise..

While you may have read about some to the top drafted rookies in that first game, here are five undrafted rookies who put up very impressive performances:

(5) - DE Anthony Goodlow

Despite playing just 23 defensive snaps, undrafted rookie defensive end Anthony Goodlow absolutely made his presence felt in his first preseason game for the Rams. By the end of the contest, he had recorded two tackles, one quarterback sack, and one quarterback hit. That may be impressive on its own merits, but it especially impressive when you realize that he played in less than a third of the team's defensive snaps.

Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 284 pounds, this former Oklahoma State defensive end is getting a taste of NFL action, and loving every minute of it so far. What cannot be overlooked is the fact that in a year in which this defense is seeking more quarterback pressure, Goodlow has already proven capable of sacking opposing quarterbacks.

The Rams are eager to restock the defensive line with energetic passionate players, and Anthony Goodlow certainly passes the sniff test. Will he make the 53-man roster? Perhaps. I certainly hope so. He has the feel of a solid performer already.

(4) - WR Sam Wiglusz

Undrafted rookie wide receiver Sam Wiglusz played 38 offensive snaps, was targeted eight times, and caught three passes. While that may not seem like great numbers, the 6-foot-0 187-pound wide receiver was taking a pounding after catching the football. On one play, he was struck on the back of his head by a Dallas Cowboys defensive back while already going to the ground in the arms of his original tackler.

That penalty added 15 yards onto the end of the reception.

Not every undrafted rookie on the Rams roster can expect veteran WR Xavier Smith at catching every pass thrown in his direction. Instead, Sam Wiglusz made the catches that he had to make to help determine the outcome of this game. As more and more NFL fans gravitate to the thrill of becoming Fantasy Football GMs, the contribution of a player like Sam Wiglusz is easily overlooked. He only caught three passes and did not score a touchdown.

But he did make clutch plays. And those key moments helped to set the team up to score the game winning touchdown as time ran out. He may not make the 53-man roster, but I hope the team brings him back for the practice squad. He is not intimidated.

(3) - ILB Elias Neal

There are many Rams fans who have simply seen enough from the team's bevy of familliar veteran inside linebackers to know that they have plateaued long ago. So it comes as no surprise that fans are cheering for two undrafted rookie inside linebackers to somehow earn a roster spot against formidable odds. And 6-foot-0 227-pound rookie inside linebacker Elias Neal out of Marshall gave fans to hope for a changing of the guard.

Despite getting just 32 defensive snaps, this young thumper was very productive, recording five tackles and making three of those tackles himself with no help.

Neal is one of those small school prospects who has proven to have all of the right traits, but in a less competitive collegiate track. As such, his biggest challenge now is to prove that he can perform and execute on a bigger NFL stage. He certainly did so in his first preseason game. Is there more of that on the way? We can all hope so.

(2) - DB Jaylen McCollough

The LA Rams certainly wanted to ensure that they were able to sign former Tennessee defensive back Jaylen McCollough to a contract, They spiced up his compensation with a $15,000 signing bonus and inked him to a three-year deal. After seeing how well this 6-foot-0 202-pound rookie safety played in his first preseason game, it was obvious why the team was eager to add him to the roster.

He competed in 44 defensive snaps, and made five solo tackles in the game. While he did allow all three passes to his receiver to find their mark, he played very sticky coverage, and almost immediately brought down his receiver. But perhaps most impressively, he very much looked the part of a defensive back who was comfortable in the secondary, and knew where the play was going and where he needed to be. He was impressive enough to be mentioned by HC Sean McVay multiple times.

(1) - ILB Omar Speights

Former LSU inside linebacker Omar Speights played just 40 defensive snaps, but he had the type of game where you could not help but notice him. He seemed to be involved in almost every big defensive play, and that may be true. In the game recap box score, Omar Speights was credited with four tackles and one tackle for a loss.

Even better, Pro Football Focus noticed his unsung heroics, and graded him as the second-best Rams performer in the first preseason game:

For now, Speights is playing as well as possible. The team did not play starting ILB Ernest Jones IV, Christian Rozeboom, or Troy Reeder, which suggests that they have already secured their roster spots. But I loved what I saw from Speights. Unlike Reeder, he always seemed to be in an optimal position to make the play. And unlike Rozeboom, he seemed to have a confident and physical presence that held an aura of some of the Rams' best linebackers in the history of all-time. He may be playing against the house this season, but he is a fiery competitor. Somehow, the Rams always seem to find a way to give those types of players opportunities.

Thanks for reading.