Who Didn’t Make the 2016 Los Angeles Rams Roster And Why

The 2016 Los Angeles Rams have released their 53-man roster. We’ve also got most of the practice squad to boot. Here’s who made the 75-man but didn't make the ultimate cut for Week 1 of the 2016 regular season.

LB Akeem Ayers - Contract Terminated

Chances to make roster from preview: 9/10

Roster projection: On 53-man

Big surprise here, especially considering three rookies (and two UDFA rookies) made the 53-man. The real question now is if the Rams need a three-man LB look (which they don’t often) who would package with Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron.

It won’t be the former 2011 NFL Draft second-round pick for the Tennessee Titans just months after Jeff Fisher stepped down as head coach in Nashville.

S Christian Bryant - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: 8.5/10

Roster projection: On 53-man

I had him as a bubble entry based on special teams work from 2015. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the practice squad and popping up throughout the season to support teams work.
Make no mistake, though. The Rams just don’t value his skills as a defender.

TE Justice Cunningham - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: 1/10

Roster projection: Not on roster

This one was relatively easy to peg. The Rams didn’t draft tight ends in the 2016 NFL Draft because they were comfortable with the position depth chart. Jared Cook was shed. Lance Kendricks is on contract through 2018.

Justice’s time was up.

S Rohan Gaines - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: 4/10

Roster projection: On practice squad

Yeah, I thought Gaines would be a PS addition. Then again, I completely overvalued the position for this year. The Rams kept three true safeties on the 53-man. They didn’t stash any on the practice squad.

Not sure what’s going on at the position, but it’s clear the current admin doesn’t care about it enough to put depth on salary.

WR Austin Hill - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: N/A

Roster projection: Not on roster

Hill was brought in after the Rams drafted a pair of wideouts through the 2016 NFL Draft and after the initial UDFA wave.

This isn’t going to be entertaining on Hard Knocks...

S Jordan Kovacs - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: N/A

Roster projection: Not on roster

Similar to Hill, Kovacs was a late buy.

And if Rohan Gaines didn’t make it...

OL Eric Kush - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: 6/10

Roster projection: Not on roster

This one was somewhat clear. It’s not that Kush isn’t capable of manning a depth slot on the O-line on an NFL roster. It’s that the Rams set their 10-deep O-line a year ago. Kush was brought in as a mid-November injury-timed replacement. That’s a midseason move, not a preseason one.

LB Cameron Lynch - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: 8/10

Roster projection: On 53-man

No position deviated more on the UDFA front from 2015 to 2016 than the linebacking corps. Lynch, having made the 53-man a year ago, seemed like a solid replay for 2016.

His exclusion helped exemplify the turnover in terms of philosophy and personnel.

CB Marcus Roberson - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: 9/10

Roster projection: On 53-man

Roberson wasn’t just “a guy” on the defense. He picked up playing time, legit playing time, at CB.

For him not to make the 53 in a year after the Rams lost Janoris Jenkins to free agency while Troy Hill gets in...the practice squad wasn’t an option. The question is what he was offering beforehand.

DE Ian Seau - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: 3/10

Roster projection: On practice squad

I had him making the PS. He didn’t. Morgan Fox did. That’s a clear 1v1 decision.

DT Cam Thomas - Contract Terminated

Chances to make roster from preview: N/A

Roster projection: On 53-man

Between Thomas and Coples, I clearly put too much stock into the Rams investing into their new FA DL options.

DB Jabriel Washington - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: 3/10

Roster projection: Not on roster

There just wasn’t room.

WR Duke Williams - Waived

Chances to make roster from preview: 5.5/10

Roster projection: On practice squad

No doubt, I thought Duke had room on the 53. But that was based on a couple of factors.

Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas had to make the roster. They did.

Nelson Spruce had to have room, at least on the practice squad if not the active roster. He did.

Everyone else had to make way for Duke. They didn’t.

Paul McRoberts, he of Southeast Missouri State, picked up a practice squad spot. Williams didn’t.

That’s your practice squad soap opera distilled.