2016 LA Rams 53-Man Roster Projection: Training Camp Week 5

Time for this week’s 53-man roster projection. Here was last week’s for reference.

And since this is cut week, a special shout out to those of you who are 100% sure who will be on the roster and have somehow gained infallible clairvoyance. Please hit up my DMs with the Super Bowl champion and final score at the end of the season. I could use a nice parlay in Vegas given how you clearly know the future.

QB

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

2016 projection: 3

In: Jared Goff, Case Keenum, Sean Mannion

Out: Dylan Thompson

Change from last projection: N/A

Well, we know Thompson is officially out of the running. I’m still keeping him on here as an out versus a cut since the team hasn’t officially released the cut list. The real question is if Mannion will be a surprise cut come Saturday’s deadline for the 53-man.

RB

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

2016 projection: 4

In: Todd Gurley, Benny Cunningham, Chase Reynolds, Malcolm Brown

Out: Aaron Green, Tre Mason, Terrence Magee

Change from last projection: N/A

I’m sticking with the same quartet I’ve had going for a while. Green’s the legit bubble candidate.

WR

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

2016 projection: 6

In: Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, Bradley Marquez, Pharoh Cooper, Brian Quick, Nelson Spruce

Out: Mike Thomas, Duke Williams, Marquez North, Paul McRoberts, Austin Hill, David Richards

Change from last projection: Spruce in, Thomas out

It looks like there’s a very good chance that all three of the Rams’ 2016 NFL Draft sixth-round picks don’t make the 53-man. I’m flipping Spruce for Thomas at this point moreso because Thomas has yet to prove he deserves inclusion over Spruce.

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, Jake Stoneburner

Change from last projection: N/A

Nothing moving the needle for me here.

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, Eric Kush, David Arkin, Brian Folkerts, Pace Murphy, Jordan Swindle

Change from last projection: N/A

Running with the same 10 as 2015. OT Isaiah Battle got all of seven snaps on Saturday. Is he ever going to factor?

DL

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

2016 projection: 10

In: Michael Brockers, Aaron Donald, William Hayes, Robert Quinn, Eugene Sims, Ethan Westbrooks, Quinton Coples, Dominique Easley, Cam Thomas, Matt Longacre

Out: Ian Seau, Morgan Fox, Louis Trinca-Pasat, Zach Colvin

Change from last projection: N/A

This one’s tough to predict at the back. Where will the coaching staff ultimately set this threshold with so much limited special teams contributions coming from this unit?

LB

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

2016 projection: 4

In: Alec Ogletree, Akeem Ayers, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch

Out: Josh Forrest, Brandon Chubb, Darreon Herring, Cory Littleton, Nic Grigsby

Change from last projection: Grigsby out

Yeah, just so hard to get a feel for this unit. Throw in Barron’s position, and I’m not sure the Rams need to go beyond a foursome here.

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, Michael Jordan, Jabriel Washington

Change from last projection: N/A

The back of this groups is all on special teams...and your guess is as good as mine.

S

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

2016 projection: 5

In: T.J. McDonald, Mark Barron, Maurice Alexander, Cody Davis, Christian Bryant

Out: Jordan Lomax, Rohan Gaines, Jordan Kovacs, Michael Caputo

Change from last projection: Bryant in

I slipped Bryant back in for special teams coverage with Grigsby coming off of the LB list.

Put it like this. If there was one open spot for special teams among all the people I have outside of the cuts and you add Bryant to that pool, who’s atop the special teams depth chart from that group? Hard for me to grab someone ahead of Bryant without being able to see the Rams’ private special teams practices to this point.

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

Yeah, still no. Perhaps forever no.

Bubble Watch

Close calls: RB Aaron Green, WR Mike Thomas, WR Duke Williams, TE Temarrick Hemingway, OT Isaiah Battle, OL Eric Kush, DE Ian Seau, LB Josh Forrest, LB Nic Grigsby, LB Brandon Chubbs, S Jordan Lomax, S Rohan Gaines

The real interesting track for me in the 75-man round of cuts is if any of these guys get pulled. I’m guessing one or two might. Otherwise, this is a group demanding some tough decisions this weekend with the practice squad slots wide open...