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All 32 NFL teams reduced their rosters to 53 players on Saturday. The Rams had some pretty difficult roster decisions to make this year. In Year 3 of a complete rebuild - under Les Snead and Jeff Fisher - the Rams continue to stockpile young talent. For the third consecutive year, the Rams will open the season as the youngest team in the NFL.
St, Louis Rams' Current 53-Man Roster And Depth Chart
C Scott Wells Tim Barnes RG Rodger Saffold Davin Joseph LG Greg Robinson Barrett Jones RT Joe Barksdale LT Jake Long Mike Person TE Jared Cook Justice Cunningham Alex Bayer TE Lance Kendricks Cory Harkey WR Tavon Austin WR Brian Quick Austin Pettis WR Kenny Britt Chris Givens RB Benny Cunningham Chase Reynolds Trey Watts RB Zac Stacy Tre Mason QB Shaun Hill Austin Davis PK Greg Zuerlein P John Hekker LS Jake McQuaide DT Kendall Langford Aaron Donald DT Michael Brockers Alex Carrington DE Chris Long Eugene Sims DE Robert Quinn William Hayes Ethan Westbrooks MLB James Laurinaitis OLB Alec Ogletree Daren Bates OLB Jo-Lonn Dunbar Ray Ray Armstrong CB Janoris Jenkins Brandon McGee CB Trumaine Johnson Marcus Roberson CB Lamarcus Joyner E.J. Gaines S Rodney McLeod Maurice Alexander S T.J. McDonald Cody Davis Practice Squad Reserve/Suspended Injured Reserve OT Sean Hooey WR Stedman Bailey TE Mason Brodine OL Brandon Washington RB Isaiah Pead DT Matt Conrath QB Sam Bradford WR Justin Veltung OC Demetrius Rhaney LB Kevin Reddick SS Matt Daniels
Every year - when rosters are reduced to 53 players - Jimmy Kempski [Philly.com] collects and analyses age data for all 32 NFL teams. The accompanying chart presents his findings for the last three years:
The Rams remain the youngest team in the NFL for the following reasons:
- They're committed to building the team through the draft, opting for talented young players over experienced older players.
- Although the Rams signed a pair of older, experienced veterans during the offseason - Davin Joseph (30) and Shaun Hill (34) - they also released/didn't re-sign a number of ageing veterans: Matt Giordano (31), Will Witherspoon (34), Cortland Finnegan (30), Harvey Dahl (33), Chris Williams (29), and Kellen Clemens (31).
- Virtually half of the Rams' current roster is comprised of players with one year (or less) of NFL experience. The Rams' roster consists of only three players who have reached the age of 30: Joseph, Hill, and Scott Wells (33).
- Ten rookies made the Rams' final 53-man roster. Six were 2014 draft selections. The remaining four were UDFA's.
The accompanying chart presents the ten rookies who made the 53-man roster:
Position Player How Acquired OL Greg Robinson 1st Round Draft DT Aaron Donald 1st Round Draft DB Lamarcus Joyner 2nd Round Draft RB Tre Mason 3rd Round Draft S Maurice Alexander 4th Round Draft CB E.J. Gaines 6th Round Draft CB Marcus Roberson UDFA RB Trey Watts UDFA DL Ethan Westbrooks UDFA TE Alex Bayer UDFA
The composition of this years roster once again displays the Rams' commitment to building the team through the draft and UDFA process. It's also a testament to the teams' ability to evaluate - and accumulate - exceptional, young talent.