2016 Los Angeles Rams 53-Man Roster Projection: Training Camp Week 2

I offered my last 53-man projection in mid-July. With training camp in full swing, I’ll be dropping weekly updates every Monday.

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

No change here. Probably no change coming barring something out of left field. The issue here now isn’t who makes the roster but in what order on the depth chart.

Well...except for human Sean Mannion.

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: N/A

I took Tre Mason out of the projection last time, and well, I don’t think recent developments exactly increase his chances. Hell, I’m just happy he’s ok.

That being said, his absence leaves some room at the RB position. I put Brown in last time, but this is what the preseason is for: sorting between he and Aaron Green in terms of form and readiness heading into the season. I’m omitting Magee, but hell, who knows. If he takes off over the next month...

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, Paul McRoberts, Austin Hill, David Richards

Change from last projection: N/A

Best roster battle? We’ve had plenty of strong reports on Williams. And it’s only going to take one performance to potentially shake things up at the back of this group.

Saturday’s preseason opener will give us a great opportunity to sort these guys out.

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

Gonna be really hard to get beyond this trio with other needs on the roster looming much larger...which sucks, because I’m pulling for T-Hem big time.

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

In a storyline that hasn’t gotten much major media traction, the Rams could well return all 10 offensive line members from a year ago...and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.

A big question might be that of Isaiah Battle. The Rams spent a de facto 2016 NFL Draft fifth-round pick on him. If he were actually drafted in this year’s fifth round, wouldn’t we expect him to at least make the roster?

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: N/A

Nothing changing here this time, but I could see this trimming to 8 to open a spot elsewhere knowing you’re not going to get a ton of special teams value here.

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

If WR isn’t the best roster battle, is it LB?

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

Right now, I’m pretty confident in this quintet. Is it going to change over the course of the preseason?

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, Jordan Kovacs

Change from last projection: N/A

The back-end of this could be one of those areas you need to find a way to get an extra roster spot for. Trimming the D-line to eight might open up for a Barron backup with special teams upside.

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

This one’s going to be an all or nothing change. Zuerlein’s a lock to make the roster and will remain so until and unless everything falls apart for him and then he’s a lock to get replaced.

Bubble Watch

Close calls: 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

I kept the same watch as last time but dropped Tre Mason. None of the new signings in TE Jake Stoneburner, S Jordan Kovacs, WR Austin Hill or WR David Richards made it to the bubble...yet.

So overall, no changes to the pre-camp 53-man, but with momentum building behind a couple of names thanks to practices and our first preseason game this weekend, next Monday might require some shuffling.