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Last Man Picked Syndrome is real.
We've all lived through the anxiety, some actually facing the fear of being the last guy taken in a pickup basketball game or two-hand touch. Most reality shows play up the drama because it's real. The last person picked on a MasterChef team challenge has one foot out the door.
For the St. Louis Rams, the last person picked for the 53-man roster among the cornerbacks for the last two seasons has been Brandon McGee. To help him deal with his LMPS affliction, the Rams put him on a four-year $2.35m deal. That there's some good support.
Roster Battle
The corner position's a tough one to decipher early on. A year ago, McGee was your starting nickel corner and E.J. Gaines was just trying to stave off being pushed out of the building. So bear in mind that when we look at the secondary, training camp and the preseason are going to be crucial to identify who fits into what slots.
At the top, you've got Janoris Jenkins, Gaines and Trumaine Johnson. Lamarcus Joyner missed some crucial time in his rookie season last year, but he'll be in the mix. I'm not certain of anything beyond those four, including the back end pairing of McGee and Marcus Roberson, a 2014 UDFA who leapfrogged McGee into the fifth cornerback spot and featured more often on special teams than McGee as well.
Those six made up the cornerback unit on the 2014 53-man roster. The only additional bodies the Rams brought in at CB this offseason were UDFAs Montell Garner (roster preview) and Imoan Claiborne (roster preview)
Expectations
McGee might have a battle on his hands if Garner or Claiborne surprise as Roberson did a year ago. You've also got some possibility of cleaving off a cornerback on the 53-man to make room elsewhere. Never forget cleavage.
Chances of Making Roster (7.5/10)
Better than 50/50, but there's significant reason to think McGee's not on board in 2015. I had him as a lock going into 2014, but the Roberson capriole over McGee, to say nothing of Gaines' ascent, puts him squarely at the back of the unit. He's definitely someone who will need to take advantage of the next month to extend his future with the Rams beyond this season, if at all.