Projecting LA Rams Depth Chart as 2024 Training Camp gets underway

Receiver

Starters: Puka Nacua, Demarcus Robinson, Cooper Kupp (Slot)

Backups: Tuta Atwell, Jordan Whittington

Others in line: Sam Wiglusz, Drake Stoops, Xavier Smith, J.J. Laap, Tyler Johnson

As optimistic as you may be about the LA Rams receivers in 2024, be prepared to raise expectations. NFL analysts have yet to wrap their minds around the fact that the two most recent receivers to make significant impacts on the NFL All-Time Single Season Receiving Records are both playing for the LA Rams. WR Cooper Kupp's 2021 NFL season fell just shy of the record, calling into question the fact that he sat out in the fourth quarter of two non-competitive games. Then there is the fact that Puka Nacua shattered the All-Time Rookie Receiving Records in 2023.

Kupp is perfectly healthy in 2024. Nacua has spent all offseason working out and becoming a far better prepared receiver for 2024. And veteran QB Matthew Stafford is in mid-season form.

And then there is Demarcus Robinson, arguably the best receiver in 2023, despite arriving so late to the roster. If you put Robinson, Kupp, and Nacua on the football field and get 17 games out of the trio, the sky is the limit for this group. Then layer in the speedy field-stretching antics of veteran Tutu Atwell, and the amazing versatility of rookie WR Jordan Whittington, and this group has plenty of 'oomph' in store for 2024.

The team may not have any spot for rookies to get many reps this season, but don't rule out a diamond in the rough showing up in preseason contests. This is an excellent group, and rivals any receiver room in the NFL this season.

Tight End

Starter: Davis Allen, Colby Parkinson

Backups: Hunter Long

Others in line: Nikola Kalinic, Miller Forristall

Injured: Tyler Higbee (ACL - IR/PUP)

Leave it to the LA Rams to flip the switch of disappointment over the inability of starting TE Tyler Higbee to clear his rehab in time to compete in the team's 2024 Training Camp into a thrilling dead-heat of veteran Davis Allen and free agent Colby Parkinson competing for the right to start in his place. I can honestly say that I have not been this excited over the tight end position since the Rams unleashed Tyler Higbee in December 2019 to put up 522 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Both Allen and Parkinson are already proving to be worthy successors to Higbee, who now has no pressure whatsoever to rush back before he is 100 percent completely healthy. And the news is certainly what Hunter Long wanted to take place, as he is still trying to carve out a niche role as a blocking tight end who can sometimes catch an occasional pass.

But that is going to be tough to do in the face of Allen and Parkinson, who excel at both. While Allen is the more familiar player in this offense, and has such incredibly soft hands that you suspect he is coated with 'Stickem', Parkinson is the taller of the two, has a slight edge as a better blocker, and is undeniably custom-suited for the Red Zone offense.

The Rams truly have two competent and dangerous weapons at tight end this year.