These 7 Rams players are ready to shake up the depth chart at OTAs

Josaiah Stewart, Rams rookie edge rusher - #41

As soon as the Rams lost veteran DT/OLB Michael Hoecht, the team knew that it had to find a special player to fill his void. The front office found it virtually impossible to target a defensive tackle with a running back background who could cross-train into a workaholic edge rusher. So the team did the next best thing possible. The Rams targeted a violent, passionate, and chaotic edge rusher who could instantly blend with the standard set by the pass rush in 2024.

Michigan edge rusher Josaiah Stewart is a genetic match for the Rams' edge rushing role, and can instantly plug in and contribute as a rookie.

Before we take flight, I'm keeping one foot on the ground here. The Rams' pass rush needed time to gel last season, and it will have to reboot to get back into synch this season. The Rams opened rather harmlessly in 2024. But by the time the NFL Playoffs arrived, the team's pass rush was a category-5 on the hurricane scale of natural disasters.

Stewart has plenty of time to learn how to generate quarterback pressure in the NFL. And look to new Defensive Pass Rush Coordinator Drew Wilkens to get him up to speed quickly. Viewed as a Round 3 projection, Stewart was lauded for his aggression, energy, and speed-to-power ratio. But as impressive as his draft profile reads, he must still earn his roster spot and playing time.

And he's ready to do just that.

Konata Mumpfield, Rams wide receiver - #15

The Rams' wide receiver room has built elite players from the discounted ranks of players bursting with passion but limited by some lackluster straight-line speed or collegiate production. From the too-slow-to-count draft profile of Cooper Kupp, to the too-llttle-to-hold-up draft profile of Tutu Atwell, to the cannot-create-separation draft profile of Puka Nacua, to the too-little-production-to-matter draft profile of Jordan Whittington, this team has continued to assemble a formidable wide receiver room from underestimated rookie prospects.

So, why should the draft profile of Pittsburgh Panthers rookie wide receiver prospect Konata Mumpfield be any different? Mumpfield's draft profile hits all the typical Rams receiver cliches, including:

• Routes lack focus.
• Average separation burst out of breaks underneath.
• Freestyling can throw off the timing of the route.
• Drops typically come when working into the middle of the field. 
• Needs better awareness for anticipatory throws as a pro.

And yet, those alarms seem to be misplaced as the player works with the Rams coaching staff. It's the job of the coaches to coach up raw rookies, and Rams WR Coach Eric Yarber is outstanding. Just consider his ability to coach up so many Rams receivers into high-powered contributors.

Konata Mumpfield is not a typical Rams receiver. Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 186 pounds, Mumpfield has a sneaky, swift speed, clocking his 40-yard dash in 4.59 seconds. While not Tutu Atwell fast, he is a bit quicker than other receivers on the roster.

The most intriguing factor about Mumpfield is his natural ability to vary his tempo. He can jog into his route, but instantly kick in the afterburners, which leaves defensive backs in his dust. The Rams have not had that type of elusiveness in the receiver room before.

This team has a poor track record of giving rookie receivers much work. But Konata Mumpfield is a uniquely talented receiver who may change that pattern.