Why Rams acted quickly to ink 13 players to Reserve Future contracts for 2025

(5) - DT Jack Heflin

Former Iowa defensive tackle Jack Heflin was not drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he did sign with the Green Bay Packers after the draft, appearing in six games from 2021 through 2023. He did not appear in any games in 2024, signing with the Rams to the practice squad in early December 2024. He will turn 27 years old before the 2025 season gets underway.

Heflin is a 6-foot-3 304-pound blocker gobbler who has a true passion for the game, a low center of gravity, and solid power and hand-work that could make earn him a rotational role on the defense. He arrived too late to earn playing time on the defense this season, but he has NFL experience and returns for 2025 in hopes for a contributing role.

The team faces the loss of both NT Bobby Brown III and Neville Gallimore at the end of this season to expired contracts. Even if the team entertains thoughts of extending both, Heflin brings competition and relief to the team And the 90-man roster is about giving the team a wide array of players who can earn contributing roles on the team's 53-man roster. Heflin checks those boxes.

(6) - S Tanner Ingle

We are familiar with former NC State safety Tanner Ingle, a young man who signed with the team after the 2023 NFL Draft. He has yet to appear in a regular season game for the team, but his size and skillset continue to offer several options for this versatile defensive back. Standing just 5-foot-8 and tipping the scales at 195 pounds, Ingle is a smallish defensive back who is not quite big enough to fill the role of a hard-hitting safety, but not quite swift and adept enough to serve in elite pass coverage.

So why has the team retained him for two consecutive seasons? He plays well enough in the secondary to offer a solid mix of 'good enough,' if the team is in a pinch.

While not seeing playing time in regular seasons, he has been somewhat impressive in preseason and training camp. The Rams were bursting with safety depth in 2024, which made it difficult for Ingle to earn a larger role. Still, he is coming back in 2025 and knows the defense. He may not earn a larger role next season, but his presence on the team ensures that competition for playing time will remain fierce.