Rams Roster: Fast 40+ Rams roster roundup: K Tanner Brown (#35)

Even as the LA Rams roster is swimming with young talented football players, the task of simply introducing each player to Rams fans is a daunting one. So why do it? For each Rams fan 'aficianado,' who scoffs at an article about a new rookie addition to the roster, there is a family member, friend, or simply an interested fan who is actively curious about that player. This is for them, a chance to commemorate a young man's lifelong dream of competing for a roster spot in the NFL.

Their accomplishment, whether by draft or free agent signing after the draft, is worth a moment of my time, and perhaps yours, to learn a little bit about them. No, not every player on the Rams roster will play in the 2023 NFL season. But that decision comes later. Now, each rookie has arrived to a new everything: City, NFL team, coaching staff, and teammates. Competition is going to be very tough.

The truth of the matter is that the LA Rams have an open competition for the job of their 2023 starting kicker, and Oklahoma State kicker Tanner Brown is one of two rookies who are up for the job. So what should you need to know about this young man?

A quick summary

As is the case with many collegiate kickers, Oklahoma State kicker Tanner Brown is experienced at kicking field goals, punting, and kicking off. He is competing with teammate kicker Christopher Dunn for the starting job for the LA Rams.

What I don't like about this signing

While it really won't factor into how well he plays in the NFL, Tanner Brown is a pretty small guy. He is listed as 6-foot-0 and 180 pounds on the LA Rams official website. For comparison purposes, WR Tutu Atwell is listed as 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds. The Rams seemed to focus on accuracy in both rookie prospects, with the expectation that legs would grow more powerful as the kicker matured. I'm not convinced that is always the case.

What I like about this signing

Tanner Brown is a very accurate kicker, connecting on better than 95 percent of his field goal attempts for Oklahoma State in 2022. His longest field goal made is a 52-yarder against TCU, a distance that he will likely be asked to repeat for the LA Rams. Because the NFL rules have changed, and any fair catch made within the 25-yard line by the receiving team will be spotted at the 25-yard line, the Rams do not have to get a guy with a cannon for a leg right out of the gate. Brown has less kickoff experience than Dunn, so the new rule helps to level the playing field.

What I love about this signing

In this video (below) touting the Top 5 kickers in the 2023 NFL Draft, Tanner Brown comes in as the fourth best rookie kicker. That's kind of a big deal, considering that the Rams signed him after the draft.

But there is more to love about this young man. He was a placekicker for Oklahoma State, and never missed a single point after attempt in two years. That means that he scored on 78 of 78 attempts, truly Mr. Automatic. But there is even more to love.

Brown was a punter for UNLV in 2020, but he wanted to be a kicker. So he contacted anyone and everyone he knew, resulting in a single reply from Oklahoma State special teams analyst M.K. Taylor, who sent his phone number and sparked a dialogue that eventually resulted in his becoming the kicker for Oklahoma State.

He is a California native, born on December 28, 1999, in Saugus, California. What he brings to the role is a ice in his veins, a genetic trait that is common in kickers who ultimately succeed in the NFL.

What are his chances of making the roster?

The numeric odds are 50/50. But he will need to show up and show off big to win the job from Dunn. And no, there will be no practice squad spot for the loser of this competition.