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Exhibition football is almost over. One more game. And while it may be one big giant bore for fans, it's an important one for coaches who have to figure out which 22 players will get their walking papers ahead of Saturday's deadline.
And what will the St. Louis Rams' final 53-man roster look like, or at least the first iteration of it come Saturday? Let's make some educated guesses! For reference, here's the final roster from last year's cut down date.
Something to remember, with Pead and Dunbar suspended to start the season, the Rams have some temporary flexibility as neither one counts against the roster while on their mandated breaks.
Quarterback (3)
Sam Bradford*
Austin Davis
Kellen Clemens
Fisher will probably keep three QBs. My question is whether or not the actual backup is still on another team's roster.
Wide Receiver (6)
Chris Givens*
Austin Pettis*
Tavon Austin*
Brian Quick
Stedman Bailey
Nick Johnson Emory Blake
Justin Veltung
Five or six receivers? If they do, I still think it's Johnson, a known commodity that gets it.
Halfback (4)
Daryl Richardson*
Isaiah Pead
Zac Stacy
Ben Cunningham Chase Reynolds
Last year the Rams kept four running backs, and they just might do it again this year because of the lack of experience. Cunningham's case, for me, is just too hard to ignore. With Pead not counting against the Week 1 roster, that could give both Cunningham and Reynolds an extra week to stick around.
Fullback
Eric Stevens
Tight End (4)
Jared Cook*
Lance Kendricks*
Mike McNeilZach Potter
Phillip Lutzenkirchen
Corey Harkey
Fisher hinted at good news for Harkey, so he might be back sooner than anticipated, which was after Week 3. That gives them the flexibility of not having to carry five tight ends. However, with no fullback, they need a hybrid blocker to replace Harkey for however long he is out. This is a tough call.
Offensive line (8)
Jake Long*
Joe BarksdaleD.J. Young
Shelley Smith
Chris Williams*
Scott Wells*Tim Barnes
Barrett Jones
Harvey Dahl*Brandon Washington
Rodger Saffold*Ty NsekheSean Hooey
That's only eight offensive linemen, which is what the Rams started with last year. Versatility is the rule for the guys who aren't starting.
Defensive linemen (9)
Chris Long*
William Hayes
Mason BrodineGerald Rivers
Kendall Langford*
Matt ConrathGarrett Goebel
RJ Washington
Michael Brockers*
Jermelle Cudjo
Robert Quinn*
Eugene SimsSammy Brown
Eight of these spots are claimed, which leaves room for one more going by last year's decision to keep nine defensive linemen.
Left Linebacker (6*)
Alec Ogletree*
James Laurinaitis*
Josh Hull
Darren Bates
Jo-Lonn Dunbar**
Will WitherspoonJonathan Stewart
Ray-Ray Armstrong
Dunbar doesn't count against the roster for the first four games of the season thanks to some *ahem* poorly labeled supplements, which is why you've got seven guys here. I like what I've seen from Bates a little more than Stewart, but this will come down to special teams and whatever notes the coaches have on these two. Wti
Cornerback (5)
Cortland Finnegan*
Brandon McGee
Trumaine JohnsonDrew ThomasJanoris Jenkins*
Andre Martin
Quinton Pointer
Darren Woodard
Safety (6)
Darian Stewart*
Rodney McLeod
Cody Davis
Rashard Hall
T.J. McDonald*Matt Giodano
Matt Daniels
I've got Stewart listed as the starter, because that hasn't technically changed. I think that McLeod will edge him out for the second safety spot. The PD raises the question of whether or not Stewart's injuries will force him off the roster. It seems like a longshot, but this is a recurring problem. Giordano has missed almost all of camp and the preseason. This is one of those areas where I'd be watching closely for the team to add another veteran.
Kicker
Greg Zuerlein
Punter
Johnny Hekker
Long Snapper
Jake McQuaide
Well, there's no guessing to be done for the special teams guys at least.