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.

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.

Offensive Tackle

Starters: Alaric Jackson, Rob Havenstein

Backups: Joe Noteboom, Warren McClendon

Next in line: Zach Thomas, K.T. Leveston, Blake Larson, A.J. Acuri

While there is much ado about the Rams reinforcing the interior offensive line, there has been far too little spoken about the job that their offensive tackles did in 2023. Not only did Alaric Jackson And Rob Havenstein have sensational season, but swing tackle Joe Noteboom proved once again to be ideally suited for those spot starts for the team whenever a starter falls to injury.

And just for the record, 2023 was the first season in which Alaric Jackson earned the starting role as the team's left tackle. He only allowed one sack the entire season, including postseason play.

The Rams are in good shape at offensive tackle this season. Not only does the team return knowing who will be the starters, but this team has a strong set of players vying for roles and roster spots to ensure that competition throughout training camp remains intense. If the offensive line starts to suffer injuries, however, there are questions over how young players on the depth chart would respond to seeing action this season.

Interior Offensive Line

Starters: Jonah Jackson, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson

Backups: Mike McCalister, Beaux Limmer, Grant Miller

Next in line: Logan Bruss, Justin Dedich, Mike McAlister

How long has it been since Rams fans have had this much excitement over their interior offensive linemen? Well, the wait is over, because the new configuration of LG Jonah Jackson, C Steve Avila, and RG Kevin Dotson really has started fans buzzing to reach levels that are unheard of. So why so much chatter? The Rams found a true star offensive linemen on the depth charts of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023 in the form of Kevin Dotson. After one season of proving his worth, the team re-signed him to a new three-year contract.

Buoyed by the better-than-expected results from Dotson, the team doubled down by signing former Detroit Lions left guard Jonah Jackson, a surprise free agent who many expected the Lions to extend. Now armed with a new left guard, the Rams quietly moved rookie left guard Steve Avila to start at center.

This new interior offensive line is not only bigger, but this group is outstanding at run blocking, pass blocking, clearing running lanes, and protecting quarterbacks. But that is not where this story ends. The depth of the Rams interior offensive line is so good that I believe several players named as backups on the above list could earn starting roles on other NFL teams. One player who I am particularly impressed with is former Arkansas rookie IOL Beaux Limmer, who is as strong as the Hulk and can play any of three interior line positions. This is a solid group.

Defensive Line:

Starters: Kobie Turner, Bobby Brown III, Braden Fiske

Backups: Cory Durden, Tyler Davis, Desjuan Johnson, Anthony Goodlaw

Next in line: Tuli Letuligasenoa, David Olajiga, Larrell Murchison

There is a lot of pressure on the Rams defensive line to somehow blaze a trail in 2024 without DT Aaron Donald. But 31 other NFL teams have been doing that all along, and some have put up some pretty incredible defenses. What this team may no longer possess in terms of raw power and athleticism, the defense can compensate with agility, speed, presence of mind, and leaning heavily into strong chemistry, communication, and cooperation.

It's tough to imagine what this defense will do, or even can do, without Aaron Donald attracting the attention of offensive coordinators, offensive linemen, or opposing quarterbacks. But the defense could turn that difference into an advantage. No offensive coordinator can know where the pressure is coming from in this defense. And it's up to DC Chris Shula to keep them guessing.

There is a lot of camaraderie and esprit de corps among the defensive linemen, and that gives the group an underestimated advantage. This is a 'nothing to lose,' group of passionate and prideful players. Watch out NFL, because they truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Edge Rushers

Starters: Jared Verse, Byron Young

Backups: Michael Hoecht, Brennan Jackson

Next in line: Nick Hampton, Zach VanValkenburg, Ochaun Mathis, Keir Thomas

There is a lot of pressure on the team's young edge rushers, but I see signs that even gracious and astute NFL analysts notoriously underestimate this group. The team waited eight years for a Round 1 draft pick. Ultimately, the team opted to land Florida State Seminoles outside linebacker Jared Verse. I had Verse projected to be named among the Top 10 selections in the 2024 NFL Draft, so I never dared to mock him to the Rams.

Advantage Rams.

If OLB Byron Young, who was selected with the 77th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, can put up 8.0 quarterback sacks in his rookie season, then OLB Jared Verse, who was selected with the 19th overall pick in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft, should be able to put up 10.0+ quarterback sacks in his rookie season.

Better still, the team has upgraded the pass rush over 2024 simply due to the fact that former starting OLB Michael Hoecht returns this year as a backup. He is joined by a rookie I am awfully high on, OLB Brennan Jackson out of Washington State. Jackson is a Furian, an aggressive Mad Maxx off the edge who loves to make tackles, sack quarterbacks, and break up pass plays.

The Rams have a lot of depth at outside linebacker. But it will be tough to crack the roster at the position this year.

Off-Ball Linebackers

Starters: Ernest Jones IV, Christian Rozeboom

Backups: Troy Reeder, Omar Speights

Next in line: Jacob Hummel, Elias Neal, Olakunle Fatukasi

The star this season on defense is ILB Ernest Jones IV. Not only does he boast some of the most experience in this defense, but he is hands down the most productive tackler on the defensive side of the football. Entering his fourth season, I expect that he will continue to show progress and improvement, and will likely put up career-high numbers.

Unfortunately, the team has yet to pair him up with the ideal partner. ILB Christian Rozeboom returns, and will almost certainly get the start over other players, at least to start off the season. For the life of me, I am clearly disconnected from what the Rams see in oft-out of position ILB Troy Reeder. I have hoped that Reeder would someday 'get it,' in terms of knowing where to be to make the play, but am still disappointed.

Of course, there are intriguing players in the mix this season in rookies Omar Speights, Elias Neal, as well as the return of unheralded Olakunle Fatukasi. If the other starting spot alongside Jones is up for grabs, my hope is that one of these three wins the job outright.

Cornerback

Starters: Tre'Davious White, Cobie Durant

Backups: Jerry Jacobs, Tre Tomlinson

Next in line: Charles Woods, Cameron McCutcheon, Josh Wallace, Cam Lampkin

Injured: Derion Kendrick (ACL), Darious Williams (Hamstring)

As it stands right now, the Rams have lost rotational cornerback Derion Kendrick for the season, and are working with Darious Williams to heal a hamstring injury. That has made many Rams fans nervous, and rightfully so. The pace of injuries to cornerbacks was alarming. But perhaps it's a healthy type of alarm.

Two actions can be attributed as a direct result of injuries to cornerbacks. The first action is the fact that it triggered the front office to sign a new free-agent cornerback to compete for a roster spot. The second action intensified the competition in training camp to vie for a significant role among all cornerbacks on the roster. Injuries, while unfortunate, are as incentivizing to players trying to make the team as candy motivates young children to scramble to collect as much as possible.

And yet, Darious Willaims will heal up and return. In the meantime, a lot of players will get more reps than expected, and closer looks from the coaching staff, than they would have gotten.

Someone on the Rams roster will seize this opportunity and skyrocket up the depth chart. While I currently have Tre Tomlinson and newly signed Jerry Jacobs as the backups, look for that to change in the weeks ahead.

Safety

Starters: Kamren Curl, Quentin Lake

Backups: John Johnson III, Kamren Kinchens, Russ Yeast

Next in line: Jason Taylor II, Kenny Logan Jr., Jaylen McCullough, Tanner Ingle

There is no shortage of praise coming out of the Rams Training Camp about free agent safety Kamren Curl. While added to ensure that the Rams have a hard-hitting safety, Curl is truly the top story of pleasant surprises in training camp so far. He is sideline to sideline in coverage, and can stuff the run in the box while also playing centerfield to break up a deep pass.

Meanwhile, he is paring up with Quentin Lake, a phenomenal pass coverage defensive back who earned a solid reputation as a slot corner in 2023. Now he is back in his natural position. But will he stay at the safety position with the team boasting such depth at safety but already feeling a bit thin at cornerback? That is a question to be answered another day.

What we do know is that the team is thrilled from what they see in Kamren Curl. But what of other players?

Both John Johnson III and Russ Yeast are returning veterans with starting experience in the secondary, and are almost certain to make the roster from that alone. But rookie Kamren Kinchens has gotten some positive comments from coaches already, and I believe that he will truly distinguish himself as a front-runner at the safety position after the pads go on. He is the best ball-hawking safety on the team, and as he puts that on display, the coaches will definitely take notice.

Specialists

Kicker: Joshua Karty, Tanner Brown

Punter: Ethan Evans

Long Snapper: Alex Ward

Special Teams Coordinator Chase Blackburn did not have a warm reception in 2023. Not only did he take over for the Rams special teams guru, but he did so as the team was saying farewell to every special team specialist from the previous season. While even that was not a shocking development, he was further handicapped by the team using just one draft pick to restock the roster, drafting WIngate's punter Ethan Evans. For other special team specialists, the team signed rookie kickers Christopher Dunn and Tanner Brown, and long snapper Alex Ward, after the 2023 NFL Draft.

To fill the return specialist role, the team repurposed WR Austin Trammell to return both kickoffs and punts.

But this is a brand new ballgame, Rams fans. And to showcase what we mean, I need to point no further than the fact that the team drafted former Stanford kicker Joshua Karty. To some draft analysts, Karty is an epic kicking talent, the likes of which only appears to the NFL once every five or ten years. And to be honest, Karty was my top ranked kicker

But he will need to fend off the competition of returning kicker Tanner Brown. That won't happen too quickly this season, as the Rams released kicker Christopher Dunn too quickly in 2023.

With new kickoff rules, the team has many options for a return specialist. While RB Boston Scott has the inside track, WR Tutu Atwell hinted that he will have reps as a kicker returner this year. There may be other players try their hand at returning kickoffs and punts this year as well.

One week of training camp is on the books. But there is a lot of camp left. We expect to update this depth chart regularly throughout training camp. And with so much heated competition in store, some changes may surprise you.

Thanks for reading.