2015 St. Louis Rams Roster: Early 53-Man Roster, Depth Chart Projections

Let's take a look at what we're dealing with roster-wise as we head toward OTAs in June (alphabetical order):

QB (4): Austin Davis, Nick Foles, Case Keenum, Sean Mannion

That's a solid group, considering Austin Davis was your starting QB for half of a season last year and may end up being your fourth QB in three months time. Still, the turnover from the Sam Bradford era was always going to be high. Now you're dealing with a question of chemistry between Foles and his new teammates and the same question combined with a complete lack of NFL experience for Mannion.

RB (7): Malcolm Brown, Benny Cunningham, Terrence Franks, Todd Gurley, Tre Mason, Isaiah Pead, Chase Reynolds, Trey Watts

That is many backs of running.

Sure, the assumption of a Gurley-Mason pairing at the top is probably a fair one. Beyond that, it's training camp gumbo, no? I'm just hoping Isaiah Pead remains involved.

TE/FB (8): Alex Bayer, Mason Brodine, Jared Cook, Justice Cunningham, Cory Harkey, Lance Kendricks, Zach Laskey, Brad Smelley

Getting Kendricks back on a four-year deal seals up the key backup depth slot. I'm not sure we're going to get more out of Cook than we've gotten the last two years. That might leave opportunities for depth to step up like Harkey has the last two seasons.

WR (11): Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Emory Blake, Kenny Britt, Chris Givens, Bradley Marquez, Brian Quick, Bud Sasser, Tyler Slavin, Damian Williams, Devon Wylie

.................................................................AFROS need to get some #squadgoals in their lives.

OL (11): Tim Barnes, Travis Bond, Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal, Rob Havenstein, Barrett Jones, Demetrius Rhaney, Greg Robinson, Rodger Saffold, Brandon Washington, Cody Wichmann, Darrell Williams

It's a new group, that's for sure. That's five new names along the line depth for 2015. This is a preseason sort.

DL (12): Michael Brockers, Aaron Donald, Nick Fairley, William Hayes, Martin Ifedi, Chris Long, Matt Longacre, Robert Quinn, Eugene Sims, Louis Trinca-Pasat, Ethan Westbrooks, Doug Worthington

I mean, that just ain't right.

LB (8): Akeem Ayers, Daren Bates, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Bryce Hager, James Laurinaitis, Marshall McFadden, Alec Ogltree, Korey Toomer

Between JL55 & Jo-Lonn, this could be the oldest group on the roster when we get to week 1.

DB (15): Maurice Alexander, Mark Barron, Christian Bryant, Imoan Claiborne, Cody Davis, E.J. Gaines, Jacob Hagen, Jay Hughes, Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, Lamarcus Joyner, T.J. McDonald, Brandon McGee, Rodney McLeod, Marcus Roberson

Largest of any group, the defensive backs have a lot to prove in 2015 with no excuses. Rotation is going to be the key between the cornerback and safety position.

ST (4): Johnny Hekker, Michael Palardy, Jake McQuaide, Greg Zuerlein

Rams still set at special teams. Zuerlein's going into his contract year, so another "no excuses" candidate here in Greg the Leg.

For reference, here was the official 53-man roster at the end of August 2014 at first cut:

Here's my early projection for what we'll get just under four months from now:

The biggest change is keeping three QBs and dropping a cornerback, in this case Brandon McGee. And yes, that's Isaiah Pead in the RB depth. Another thought I keep having is whether or not Gurley starts the season on the physically unable to perform list. That would keep him out of the first six games, but with his injury rehab and Fisher's pure, unadultered hate for playing rookies out of the gate, I wonder if he'd do the same for his first-round runninnope still can't type it. A quick Twitter poll suggests Rams fans are..well, divided. I do think we could be in for a surprise at OL who could beat out Donnal, Bond or Wichmann.

Defensively, I've got Trinca-Pasat and Ifedi edging out Westbrooks for the late depth, but that could spot could go to a couple different candidates. The secondary's going to be a unit to watch in camp and through the preseason as well. I mentioned I clipped the total depth by one spot on the roster, but would it even be McGee?

Of course all of this ignores any further free agent action, so there are wrinkles to come.