2016 Los Angeles Rams 53-Man Roster Projection: Mid-July Edition

It’s been two-and-a-half months since my last projection, so let’s re-visit this as we’re less than two weeks away from training camp with the major roster-specific storylines at each position.

QB

(2015: 3 kept on initial 53-man roster, 2014: 2, 2013: 2)

2016 projection: 3

In: Jared Goff, Case Keenum, Sean Mannion
Out: Nick Foles, Dylan Thompson
Change from last projection: N/A

Storyline 1a: When will Jared Goff become the official starting QB of the 2016 Los Angeles Rams?

Storyline 1b: Anybody want Nick Foles? The Rams don’t.

Storyline ?: Sean Mannion is a human, exists on Earth.

RB

(2015: 5, 2014: 5, 2013: 4)

2016 projection: 4

In: Todd Gurley, Benny Cunningham, Chase Reynolds, Malcolm Brown
Out: Tre Mason, Aaron Green, Terrence Magee
Change from last projection: Brown in, Mason out

Storyline 1a: Has Tre Mason played his last snap for the Rams?

Storyline 1b: If he has, who, between Brown, Green and Magee, is in line for his roster spot?

Storyline ?: Chase Reynolds is back on a one-year deal. How long can he stick around as a special teams contributor only?

WR

(2015: 6, 2014: 5, 2013: 5)

2016 projection: 6

In: Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Bradley Marquez, Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas, Brian Quick
Out: Duke Williams, Nelson Spruce, Marquez North, Deon Long, Paul McRoberts
Change from last projection: N/A

Storyline 1a: ROSTER BATTLE ROYALE

Storyline 1b: Whither Brian Quick?

Storyline ?: What are the Rams going to get out of Tavon Austin in 2016?

TE/FB

(2015: 3, 2014: 5, 2013: 4)

2016 projection: 3

In: Lance Kendricks, Cory Harkey, Tyler Higbee
Out: Temarrick Hemingway, Zach Laskey, Justice Cunningham, Benson Browne
Change from last projection: N/A

Storyline 1a: Who is the TE1 for Week 1 — Kendricks or Higbee?

Storyline 1b: Does Hemingway have a real shot at the 53-man?

Storyline ?: Corey Harkey re-signs on three-year deal. Is he credibly part of this offense for the next years?

OL

(2015: 10, 2014: 9, 2013: 10)

2016 projection: 10

In: Tim Barnes, Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal, Rob Havenstein, Garrett Reynolds, Demetrius Rhaney, Greg Robinson, Rodger Saffold, Cody Wichmann, Darrell Williams
Out: Isaiah Battle, David Arkin, Eric Kush, Brian Folkerts, Pace Murphy, Jordan Swindle
Change from last projection: N/A

Storyline 1a: The entire 2015 line could come back unchanged. Is that a good thing?

Storyline 1b: What were/are/will the Rams doing with Isaiah Battle?

Storyline ?: Are Tim Barnes and Demetrius Rhaney on the 2017 Rams’ roster? Does the answer to that depend on their 2016 seasons, or has it already been decided?

DL

(2015: 8, 2014: 10, 2013: 9)

2016 projection: 9

In: Michael Brockers, Aaron Donald, William Hayes, Robert Quinn, Eugene Sims, Ethan Westbrooks, Quinton Coples, Dominique Easley, Cam Thomas
Out: Matt Longacre, Morgan Fox, Louis Trinca-Pasat, Ian Seau
Change from last projection: Easley in, Thomas in, Trinca-Pasat out (due to injury)

Storyline 1a: The D-line remains the strength of the roster. Will it be enough in 2016?

Storyline 1b: The Rams signed Easley and signed Thomas after my last projection. Are they and newly-signed Coples all going to make the roster as veteran depth?

Storyline ?: How good is Aaron Donald going to be?

LB

(2015: 6, 2014: 5, 2013: 6)

2016 projection: 5

In: Alec Ogletree, Akeem Ayers, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch, Nicholas Grigsby
Out: Josh Forrest, Brandon Chubb, Kache Palacio, Zack Hodges, Matthew Wells, Darreon Herring, Cory Littleton
Change from last projection: N/A

Storyline 1a: ROSTER BATTLE ROYALE PT. II

Storyline 1b: Special teams impact on the back of the roster! Get excited!

Storyline ?: How will Alec Ogletree perform (a) coming back off of season-ending injury in 2015 and (b) taking on a position switch to shift inside?

CB

(2015: 4, 2014: 6, 2013: 5)

2016 projection: 5

In: Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner, Marcus Roberson, Coty Sensabaugh
Out: Troy Hill, Melvin White, Michael Jordan, Jabriel Washington
Change from last projection: N/A

Storyline 1a: The Rams will be without CB1 Janoris Jenkins for the first time since 2011. Will Tru make the jump to the top CB spot without issue and can E.J. Gaines return to form after missing last season with a Lisfranc injury?

Storyline 1b: How important will Lamarcus Joyner be to this secondary in 2016?

Storyline ?: The Rams made huge investments in their secondary since Jeff Fisher and Les Snead took over. Has it paid off?

S

(2015: 5, 2014: 4, 2013: 5)

2016 projection: 5

In: T.J. McDonald, Mark Barron, Maurice Alexander, Cody Davis, Christian Bryant
Out: Brian Randolph, Jordan Lomax, Rohan Gaines
Change from last projection: Randolph out

I slimmed down from six to five to make room on the defensive line since that’s much more Fisherball.

Storyline 1a: Who steps up to fill the hole left by Rodney McLeod?

Storyline 1b: Cody Davis is in the Chase Reynolds boat as contributing in ST in a meaningful way but nothing more. How much longer can he stick it out?

Storyline ?: Is Maurice Alexander poised to make a big leap in 2016? If not, how much of a need is the second safety slot in six months?

ST

(2015: 3, 2014: 3, 2013: 3)

2016 projection: 3

In: Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide
Out: Taylor Bertolet, Jeff Overbaugh
Change from last projection: N/A

Storyline 1a: Greg Zuerlein. That is all.

Storyline 1b: How good is Johnny Hekker?

Storyline ?: Let’s have a long, healthy discussion in a well-lit room about long snapping.

Bubble Watch

Close calls: RB Tre Mason, RB Aaron Green, WR Duke Williams, WR Nelson Spruce, WR Marquez North, TE Temarrick Hemingway, OT Isaiah Battle, OL David Arkin, OL Eric Kush, OL Brian Folkerts, DE Matt Longacre, LB Josh Forrest, LB Brandon Chubb, S Brian Randolph, S Jordan Lomax, S Rohan Gaines

Tough to get a sense of the bubble at WR, LB, CB and S right now. Not only that in general, but it’s certainly hard to parse those positions for special teams contribution levels since that’s obviously what will make or break the candidacies for many of those younger players.

And I’ve got Tre Mason on the outs, but he could certainly factor back in come camp & preseason time. It’s just one of those calls I’m making today.

We’ll do roster projection updates throughout training camp and the preseason as we near the roster cuts in the run up to the 2016 season.