:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49898719/usa-today-8763887.0.jpg)
Malcolm Brown is an interesting case study if you consider his entire career. After being a top recruit to the University of Texas he failed to live up to the hype, causing him to go undrafted last season. The Rams picked him up as an UDFA and was placed on the practice squad after failing to make the final roster.
Brown has the opportunity to make his career look somewhat like an inverted bell curve. Brown was called up to the active roster late last season was able to get a few touches in the season finale against San Francisco. Unlike last season - when he was buried on the depth chart - he will have plenty of opportunities in camp to show what he can do.
Roster Battle
With Trey Watts suspended indefinitely and Isaiah Pead gone, that leaves Todd Gurley and Benny Cunningham as the only RBs with a clear-cut advantage over him. Tre Mason is technically above Brown on the depth chart, but is battling legal issues and had ball security problems last year so his spot could be up for grabs. Another individual to consider here is Chase Reynolds - the Rams do-everything Special Teams All-Star. He's going nowhere in 2016
Assuming the Rams keep 5 RBs on the active roster, that leaves Brown fending off Terrence Magee (roster preview) and Aaron Brown (roster preview) in hopes of landing the final spot.
Expectations
Improvement. He showed enough last season to earn a call-up to the active roster. He will have to continue to show that improvement to solidify his spot on the roster.
Chances of Making Final Roster (5/10)
Brandon had Green at 5/10 and I think it's a toss up between him and Brown for the final roster spot at RB. They play very different styles and the decision could come down to whether the coaching staff wants a twitchy RB to be a playmaker and possible 3rd down option (Green) or a bruising North-South runner for short yardage situations (Brown).