Rams show the door to several fan favorites in latest 53-man roster prediction

The Los Angeles Rams have bolstered their ranks in 2025 more than at any other time in the team's recent history under Head Coach Sean McVay. While many starters on the team are readily identifiable, the quality at the bottom tier of the roster is rather impressive. So much so that as I prepared for the first 53-man Rams roster projection, it seemed as though some cuts were a bit surprising.

Last season, this team decided to carry four running backs and four tight ends, even though the team's distribution of players from those positions did not warrant the added depth. This year, the talent level in those positions has improved significantly, eliminating the need to carry quantity as a substitute for quality.

Of course, things can change and likely will. The Rams' front office has already demonstrated its speed in action by reinforcing the offensive tackle position to compensate for the absence of RT Rob Havenstein due to off-season shoulder surgery and LT Alaric Jackson due to the recurrence of a blood clot condition. And with the uncertainty surrounding two starting offensive tackles following last season's horrendous start to the season, the team will try to avoid a similar sputtering start in 2025.

The need to go deep at the offensive line in 2025 means that the Rams roster will need to trim the fat elsewhere. That is where Rams fans will feel the sting of a deep roster. Even as the optimism and promise of a 90-man training camp roster lead to fans cheering for and lauding many players, the Rams will be tasked with paring down to the 53 best fits for the 2025 NFL season.

That means some fan favorites will not continue on with the team. Who will the Rams show the door to? Let's find out:

Offense (26)

Quarterback (3) - Matthew Stafford | Jimmy Garoppolo | Stetson Bennett

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: Dresser Winn

This one will come as no surprise. QB Dresser Winn signed on as a willing 2025 camp arm to help the team through drills, and to aid in managing the preseason workload that otherwise falls entirely on the shoulders of backup quarterback Stetson Bennett

Wide Receivers (6) - Puka Nacua | Davante Adams | Tutu Atwell | Jordan Whittington | Konata Mumpfield | Xavier Smith

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: Drake Stoops, Mario Williams, Brennan Pressley, Tru Edwards

This depth chart is not as controversial as some positions that we will address soon. The two new additions to the team at the wide receiver position are veteran Davante Adams and rookie Konata Mumpfield. Both will surely make the 2025 Rams roster. While veteran Britain Covey is a wide receiver, he makes the team as a punt and kickoff returner.

The biggest question mark surrounding wide receivers is whether or not veteran WR Xavier Smith and sneak onto the roster. Right now, I think his speed and demonstrated 2024 catch rate give him the inside track. But keep Brennan Jackson on your radar too. There will be fierce competition among wide receivers for a chance to make the team this season.

Running Backs (3) - Kyren Williams | Blake Corum | Jarquez Hunter

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: Cody Schrader, Ronnie Rivers, Jordan Waters

The first position that sheds team favorites is the running back position. I was stupefied at the team's decision to carry four running backs in 2024 when the team never deployed more than one rusher for any given offensive snap. In 2025, the team simply has too much talent in Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Jarquez Hunter. That means that fan favorite Ronnie Rivers will be shown the door.

The Rams will try to sneak both Rivers and Cody Schrader to the practice squad, but I'm not convinced that either will clear waivers. The truth is that many fans insist that this team must draft a running back every year. But adding one more player in the draft inevitably leads to one more running back being cut as the team pivots from preseason to the new regular season.

Tight ends (3) - Tyler Higbee | Colby Parkinson | Terrance Ferguson

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: Davis Allen, Anthony Torres, Mark Redman

While the team has shared the preseason rhetoric that suggests that 12-personnel sub-packages are gaining popularity once more, the team is unlike to carry four tight ends in 2025. The extra tight end on the roster in 2024 was simply insurance to allow veteran TE Tyler Higbee time to heal from a devastating ACL injury suffered in the postseason.

With fewer spots on the roster, the Rams will have to release another fan favorite in veteran TE Davis Allen. Allen is nearly at the same level as Colby Parkinson and is much less expensive. That could make competition in the offseason more fierce than expected.

Offensive Linemen (11/12)- DJ Humphries | Alaric Jackson (IR) | Steve Avila | Justin Dedich | Coleman Shelton | Beaux Limmer | Kevin Dotson | Willie Lampkin | Rob Havenstein| Warren McClendon Jr. | David Quessenberry | KT Leveston

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: Dylan McMahon, AJ Arcuri, Trey Wedig, Wyatt Bowles, Ben Dooley

I expect the team to see a huge spike in the number of offensive linemen initially carried by the team to start the 2025 NFL season, and for good reasons. Starting left tackle Alaric Jackson will almost certainly start the season on IR/NFI. And veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein will need additional backup support despite the fact that his offseason medical procedures performed during the offseason cleaned up his shoulders.

But even with the team carrying 11 offensive linemen (and 12 if you factor in Alaric Jackson on IR), some promising and popular offensive linemen will be released. The Rams will part ways with rookies Wyatt Bowles, Ben Dooley, and veteran OT AJ Arcuri. The team will also reluctantly part ways with talente IOL Dylan McMahon and rookie OT Trey Weddig. I suspect the team will re-sign multiple offensive linemen to the practice squad, if they clear waivers.

Defense (23)

Defensive linemen (6) - Kobie Turner | Poona Ford | Braden Fiske | Ty Hamilton | Desjuan Johnson | Tyler Davis

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: Bill Norton, Da'Jon Terry, Jack Heflin, Larrell Murchison

The Rams defensive line is fairly straight-forward to assess. The team lost veterans Bobby Brown III and Neville Gallimore, and replaced them with veteran Poona Ford and rookie Ty Hamilton. The odd man out is veteran Larrell Murchison, whose 2024 NFL season was spent on IR. As a result, the team had to make do with available defensive linemen, affording young Desjuan Johnson and Tyler Davis the opportunity to gain valuable experience.

Larrell Murchison may surprise some fans, who enjoyed how easily he seemed to rush the quarterback to announce his arrival to Rams fans. But the numbers stack up against him right now, and he will need a strong training camp and preseason to reclaim a significant role on the defense.

Edge Rushers (4) - Byron Young | Jared Verse | Brennan Jackson | Josaiah Stewart

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: Keir Thomas, Nick Hampton, Josh Pearcy, Jamil Muhammad

The Rams were content to feature a tight rotation of OLBs Byron Young, Jared Verse, and Michael Hoecht last season to rush the passer. But with the ascension of OLB Brennan Jackson and the arrival of rookie Josaiah Stewart, the team will be compelled to expand the rotation to four players. Unfortunately, even that will require the team to release fan favorites Keir Thomas and Nick Hampton, as well as rookies Josh Pearcy and Jamil Muhammad.

The quality of the Rams' pass rush is peaking, despite the team no longer boasting the indomitable presence of All-Pro DL Aaron Donald. Both Jared Verse and Byron Young are rising NFL stars and will be pushed hard by their backups. While rookie OLBs Josh Pearcy and Jamil Muhammad still have hope of signing on the practice squad, veterans Keir Thomas and Nick Hampton may lose patience with the Rams and seek opportunities elsewhere.

Inside Linebackers (4) - Nate Landman | Pooh Paul Jr. | Omar Speights | Shaun Dolac

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: Tony Fields II, Elias Neal, Troy Reeder

It almost seems surreal to suggest that the Rams inside linebacker position may be at its strongest since the team started veteran All-Pro ILB Bobby Wagner next to Ernest Jones IV, but the Rams have surprisingly made significant investment into the position. As a result, the team boasts a solid blend of youth and experience, run-stuffer and pass coverage.

The only surprise in this depth chart projection is the expectation that the defense is willing to face the 2025 season without veteran Troy Reeder. While Reeder is not exactly a fan favorite, he has tremendous respect among NFL players and the Rams coaching staff. It's simply a numbers game, and the team would be foolish to risk losing the limitless potential of undrafted rookie ILB Shaun Dolac.

Dolac in, Reeder out.

Cornerbacks (5) - Darious Williams | Ahkello Witherspoon | Emmanuel Forbes | Cobie Durant | Josh Wallace

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: Charles Wood, Cam Lampkin, Shaun Jolly, AJ Green, Derion Kendrick

The Rams' secondary gets a lot of unwarranted criticism from a sputtering start to the 2024 season. But the worst transgressors to bad pass coverage are gone. The Rams have a rather robust group of non-stars, who are collectively a rather talented bunch. Look for Darious Williams to play significantly better this year, as he will not be nursing a hamstring injury. Cobie Durant has improved every season. And in their first Rams training camp, both Ahkello Witherspoon and Emmanuel Forbes are poised for great seasons.

This all means that multiple fan favorites, including Charles Wood, Cam Lampkin, Shaun Jolly, AJ Green, and even Derion Kendrick, will be on the chopping block. Many of these cornerbacks will be offered the opportunity to sign on the practice squad. But some talented players will need patience to get their shot in the Rams' secondary.

Safeties (4) -Quentin Lake | Kam Curl | Kam Kinchens | Jaylen McCollough

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: Tanner Ingle, Malik Dixon-Williams, Nate Valcarcel

While I am not convinced that the team has no plans to bring back veteran safety John Johnson III, the team has four obvious starters: Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens, and Jaylen McCollough. The biggest question is, who gets the start? The team managed to do a workaround in 2024 by giving Lake snaps as a nickel back in the slot, which allowed the team to get ball-hawking safeties Kam Kinchens or Jaylen McCollough on the football field.

There is a remote chance that if Tanner Ingle, Malik Dixon-Williams, or Nate Valcarcel has a great training camp, the team could carry five safeties on the roster. And the same could be said if the Rams agreed to re-sign veteran John Johnson III. Unless the team does that, this appears to be the most logical depth chart at safety for now.

Special Teams (4)

Special Teams (4) - K Joshua Karty | P Ethan Evans | LS Alex Ward | WR/KR/PR Britain Covey

Who doesn't make the 53-man Rams roster: N/A

The Rams' addition of return specialist Britain Covey completes the set for ST Coordinator Chase Blackburn. While competition for the right to return punts and kickoffs will be determined in training camp, nobody who returned punts or kickoffs for the Rams in the past two seasons under Coach Blackburn can hold a candle to Covey.

And that is nothing to take lightly.

Rookie WR Jordan Whittington flashed as a return specialist in 2024. And if the Rams offense is unable to carve out a role in 2025 for rookie RB Jarquez Hunter, the team could try to get him additional touches on special teams.

But if you want to see how impactful a return specialist can be in a football game, just check out this 52-yard punt return that Britain Covey put up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Just imagine what Rams QB Matthew Stafford could do stepping onto the football field after a 52-yard punt return. That would certainly help the offense to put far more points on the scoreboard.

Due to the rising talent level across the Rams roster, the Rams show the door to several fan favorites in this projection for their 53-man roster. It's a sweet-bitter event. While it hurts to part ways with past contributors, it means that someone with even more upside will take their place on the team.

As always, thanks for reading.

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