Some creative reasons why the 90-man Rams roster remains unfilled

May 2025 is ending, and yet the Los Angeles Rams seem to be content to allow multiple open slots to remain in their 90-man training camp roster. That's following a similar pattern to the 2024 NFL season. A year ago, the Rams' front office never seemed to cease churning the lower tiers of the roster, continuing to sign players through September.

The strategy may seem unwise, but the Rams have managed to perfect this wait-and-see strategy to reinforce the roster in the most vital areas, while not creating too much competition for quality reps in training camp to limit the exposure of rookies to the techniques and demands of competing in the NFL.

Of course, signing players to the Rams roster might simply be a matter of necessity. After all, some players may be recovering from injury. Some players may be so familiar with training camp that they can rejoin the team later and not miss a beat. Still others may be earning respect by competing in the UFL.

UFL season ends June 14, 2025

The Rams may be eyeing several players who are currently competing in the UFL, and for good reason. Players who are competing in the UFL will face their season ending in June 2025, including teams competing for the UFL championship. So why would they wish to compete in an NFL training camp?

UFL players have several reasons for doing so. For starters, it's a way to gain significant exposure in the NFL. Even if just a temporary stint that ends with teams paring down to a 53-man roster limit, getting footage in preseasojn games can only add value. Secondly, it extends their seasons. Training camp in the NFL is simply an extension of football. So players hop out of the UFL and right into the NFL, seamlessly. Finally, there is always the chance of earning a spot on an NFL roster.

For the Rams, it's an ideal way of bringing in new and passionate football players. It adds to the level of competition. And it gets another player in front of the coaching staff. So, who might the Rams sign after the UFL season shuts down?

(3) - Edge rusher Pita Taumoepenu

A four-year veteran of the NFL, Pita Taumoepenu is leading the UFL in quarterback sacks for the Saint Louis Battlehawks. In eight games, he has 24 tackles and 7.5 quarterback sacks. While he is 31 years old and unlikely to make the team, he has enough intrigue to warrant a first-hand look. And his passion for the game of football is without reproach. He would make training camp even more intriguing.

(2) - Picking up LB Tavante Beckett

Another former NFL veteran, Tavante Beckett, is a tackling machine for the San Antonio Brahmas. In eight games, he has racked up 64 tackles and 1.0 quarterback sacks. A bit undersized at 5-foot-10 and 222 pounds, Beckett fits the new ILB prototype for the Rams in that he is a bit undersized but incredibly productive.

(1) - Reuniting with QB Bryce Perkins

If there is one player who makes undeniable sense to sign with the Rams at the end of the 2025 UFL season, it's former quarterback Bryce Perkins. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 214 pounds, Perkins has that NFL QB profile that allows him to see and throw over defenders' heads. And his familiarity with the Rams offense (he was with the Rams from 2020 through 2022) gives him a huge leg up on the competition. He is particularly vital to the team as he can plug in and offer sound passing and rushing to rookies vying to make the team.

Some unsigned veterans who could join the team later

Of course, the Rams may have reserved some roster slots for players who are rehabbing or needn't endure the rigors of training camp to be prepared for a 2025 NFL season. Such as?

(3) - CB Asante Samuel Jr.

Former Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is a free agent who underwent neck surgery in April 2025 to correct a shoulder injury that plagued him throughout 2024. Samuel hopes to return to football in July 2025. While the Rams had not addressed the cornerback position yet, Samuel could be a solid addition. The Rams roster appears to be deep enough to allow Samuel time to ease back into football. And if he fully recovers, he could be a strong contributor to this secondary.

(2) - QB Carson Wentz

While he was the equivalent of a one-and-done hit wonder with the Los Angeles Rams, Carson Wentz did lead a band of merry men of Rams backups to upset the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season. And no, the 49ers did not sit their starters. The 49ers did not play QB Brock Purdy or RB Christian McCaffrey, but played all other starters. The Rams still won.

Wentz is not going to win a starting job with the Rams. He won't even replace Stetson Bennett as the third-string QB. But he can arrive and give the Rams' young offensive weapons a solid chance of impressing coaches. Is a training camp role beneath Carson Wentz? Not if he wants to get another chance to start for another NFL team.

(1) - DB John Johnson III

The Rams signed veteran safety John Johnson III in July 2024 last season, and there is no reason to expect a different pattern this year. Johnson arrives ready to go, so he needn't get stuck in the weeds of learning coaches and teammates. Johnson competed in just two games, recording eight tackles. But he is a versatile defensive back who is solid in both pass and run defense.

Open roster spots? Perhaps. But I wouldn't read too much into that. The Rams have been increasingly effective at waiting for coaching feedback to make the final signings for a 90-man roster. And this season appears to be more of the same. I would keep the end of the UFL season on the radar, as I suspect the Rams to be interested in at least one player they are familiar with.

As always, thanks for reading.