Rams Roster Outlook: Where the Rams are Deep and Not So Deep
By Blaine Grisak of DowntownRams
The Rams enter the 2021 season looking to make a Super Bowl run. Let’s take a look at where the Rams are deep and not so deep on the roster.
While the Los Angeles Rams could still add a veteran here or there to their roster before the start of the season or even another undrafted free agent or two. However, for the most part, the training camp roster is 90-95 percent set in stone.
When it comes to the NFL season and finding success, while talent matters, it’s often teams with a lot of depth that succeed late in the year. Those are the teams that are able to overcome injuries and have players that excel in the small, important roles of a NFL roster.
With that said, here are the positions in which the Rams have depth and maybe don’t have a lot of depth.
Deep – Quarterback
Matthew Stafford has stayed pretty healthy throughout his NFL career. Of course, every player is going to go through their bumps and bruises. However, Stafford has played all 16 games in all but one season since 2011. It’s likely that he plays all 16, or now 17, games this season.
In the case that he does not, the Los Angeles Rams have to feel pretty good about where they are behind Stafford. Last season, John Wolford came in for an injured Jared Goff and clinched a playoff spot against the Arizona Cardinals. Wolford then started the playoff game against the Seahawks a week later.
It’s obvious that Sean McVay has some trust in Wolford. However, it isn’t just behind Stafford in which the Rams are comfortable. Last season, the Rams signed undrafted free agent Bryce Perkins to be the team’s number three. While he spent most of the year on the practice squad, the Rams like his athletic ability and what he brings to the table.
Not So Deep – Tight End and Running Back
I wouldn’t necessarily say that the Rams are thin at either of these positions. It might be fair to say that the team just has a lot of unproven depth at these positions. The Rams lost Gerald Everett at tight end in free agency. Now, behind Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles has an unproven sophomore in Brycen Hopkins, blocking veteran Johnny Mundt, and a project in Jacob Harris.
The Rams are solid at the top at running back with Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson. After losing Malcolm Brown in free agency, they now have unproven guys like Raymond Calais and Xavier Jones behind them. That also doesn’t mention Jacob Funk.
Deep – Wide Receiver
The Los Angeles Rams have typically always been deep at wide receiver under Sean McVay. While the exception might have been last season when they only had a solid three of Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Josh Reynolds, this is a team that is typically four deep at the wide receiver position.
That’s no different this year. The Rams lost Reynolds in free agency, but still have Kupp and Woods. Behind them, Van Jefferson will enter the mix as well as free agent signing DeSean Jackson. That’s already four. However, the Rams also drafted TuTu Atwell with the 57th overall pick and also took Ben Skowronek in the sixth round.
The Rams are arguably five wide receivers deep with the sixth as a developmental prospect. That’s not bad at all.
Not So Deep – Cornerback
After losing Troy Hill in free agency, the Rams are lacking depth at the cornerback position. Jalen Ramsey is a solid number one and Darious Williams proved that he can be a good number two across from him. However, behind them, the Rams are very unproven.
David Long is going into year three and he’s been disappointing when he has played. Then, the final cornerback with some promise is rookie Robert Rochell. If the Rams suffer an injury or two here, it’s not going to be pretty in the secondary.
Deep – Offensive Line
There aren’t many, if any teams in the NFL who you could say are confidently two-deep at every position on the offensive line. Center might be the lone exception for the Rams, but even Brian Allen has starting experience.
From left to right, the Rams have Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Austin Corbett, Bobby Evans, and Rob Havenstein. Behind them, Joe Noteboom played respectable at left tackle and also has starting experience at left guard. As mentioned, Allen was the team’s starting center in 2019. If the Rams needed to, Edwards could play right guard as he did last season with Noteboom sliding in at left guard. Finally, at right tackle, again, Bobby Evans has experience at right tackle, and then with Edwards and Noteboom, you have experience guys inside.
That doesn’t mention players like Tremayne Anchrum Jr. and AJ Jackson who the Rams are high on.
Not So Deep – EDGE
When you have someone like Aaron Donald, generating pressure off of the edge consistently isn’t as much of a need. Donald creates so much for everyone else along the defensive line and on the edge. However, when it comes to the edge rusher position, the Rams don’t have a lot of depth.
This is a team that thankfully re-signed Leonard Floyd. Across from him is where it gets interesting. The Rams lost Samson Ebukam in free agency which won’t hurt a lot. But, across from Floyd, Los Angeles now has Terrell Lewis who has bad knees, and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo who has dealt with injuries himself. The Rams don’t need a lot of pressure on the edge, but they need guys who have the ability. Behind Floyd, there isn’t a lot of consistency.
