Projecting LA Rams Depth Chart as 2024 Training Camp gets underway

We all recognize the fact that the LA Rams simply do not start starters in the NFL preseason games, opting to bring them all up to speed through the use of controlled scrimmages. That means that many of the Rams star potential will not be placed onto the football field until the game has meaning. But that also means that the Rams fans will get a sneak preview into the players who will make the roster.

In fact, as preseason progresses, fewer and fewer players will see action in preseason. While that can be counter productive, the theory is that no exposure of starters in preseason limits the risks of injuries and unforeseen mishaps that can derail the Rams debut in 2024 (or any NFL season for that matter). On the other hand, it does give us an opportunity to predict which players will not take the football field in any preseason games this season.

Ultimately, the Rams would love to bench 22 players at a minimum for preseason games, increasing that number to as many as 40 players for Game 3 in the three-game preseason schedule. Will the team be able to do so? Let's pause on detailing how the Rams players and overall roster are progressing, and make some predictions over who may be warming the pine when the 2024 preseason games finally arrive.

Here is our initial depth chart as the 2024 Rams Training Camp gets underway. As new information becomes available, we will modify these projections to reflect the latest news out of camp. Here we go:

Quarterback

Starter: Matthew Stafford

Backup: Week 1-2: Stetson Bennett, Week 3-18: Jimmy Garoppolo

Others in line: Dresser Winn

While there is a bit of a twist to the team's depth chart in the early weeks of the 2024 NFL season, this is arguably one of the deepest and most talented quarterback rooms since Sean McVay became the head coach in 2017. And with the contract controversy settled between the team and veteran QB Matthew Stafford, there are no reasons to see any hiccups in the training camp.

Of course, there are a number of areas of interest in training camp and preseason. While we know that the team prefers to bench key players throughout preseason games, how will the team handle their 2024 preseason games at the quarterback position? Stafford will sit them all out. But will the team risk Stetson Bennett getting injured by playing him, knowing that Jimmy Garoppolo is suspended for the first two weeks of the season? Or will the team bench Bennett, and risk injury to Garoppolo that may not heal in time for Week 3?

I expect the Rams to share the preseason load with Bennett, Garoppolo, and Dresser Winn in preseason. While Garoppolo is the presumed backup, the team will ensure he gets preseason work to carry him through two weeks of suspension. That will ensure that he is ready come Week 3.

Running Back

Starter: Kyren Williams

Backup: Blake Corum

Others in line: Zach Evans, Boston Scott, Ronnie Rivers

While veteran RB Kyren Williams is the feature running back in this offense, I expect that the team will look to get rookie RB Blake Corum involved more of a 1-2 punch out of the backfield than as a more traditional starter/backup scenario. And that is an ideal situation for 2024.

This is the first representation of the running back depth chart. But to be honest, I am instantly dissatisfied with it, and I am already thinking of ways to improve how it is annotated for the next iteration. How many running backs will the team carry on the 53-man roster? In theory, perhaps as many as four. But who is the odd man out? You can push a pin in Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Boston Scott (if only for his special teams contribution)

This is a robustly talented running back room. Perhaps as talented as boasting two 1000+ yard rushers in 2024? It could happen.