Final 2017 LA Rams 53-Man Roster, Practice Squad Projection

QB

(2016: 3 kept on initial 53-man roster, 2015: 3, 2014: 2)

2017 Projection: 2
In: Jared Goff, Sean Mannion
Out: Dan Orlovsky

The interesting thing here will come after the 53 is released. There are going to be much more talented QBs on the market than Orlovsky. Would the Rams be interested in grabbing one either for the active roster or for the practice squad to supplement the Goff-Mannion pairing?

RB

(2016: 4, 2015: 5, 2014: 5)

2017 Projection: 4
In: Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, Aaron Green, Justin Davis
Out: Lance Dunbar, De’Mard Llorens, Lenard Tillery

The Dunbar/Davis thing is interesting here. For Dunbar, it’s about IR versus being released outright. I could see either outcome. For Davis, it’s the opportunity to stash him on the practice squad.

The key to remember here is that position size is crucial for keeping slots open elsewhere, either for position depth or special teams contributions.

WR

(2016: 7, 2015: 6, 2014: 5)

2017 Projection: 6

In: Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Tavon Austin, Pharoh Cooper, Josh Reynolds
Out: K.D. Cannon, Paul McRoberts, Shakeir Ryan, Brandon Shippen, Nelson Spruce
Suspended: Mike Thomas

Are we sure Tavon Austin makes this roster? Are we sure we’re sure?

The only money he’s still owed is a $5m hit next year. We’ve floated the idea of him being released next offseason. There’s an argument to be made that the Rams would be better off doing it now and opening a spot for more position depth elsewhere or another special teams contributor.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve still got him making the roster...I’m just saying that for the first time since he was drafted, I’m not 100% on him doing so.

TE/FB

(2016: 4, 2015: 3, 2014: 5)

2017 Projection: 4
In: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Sam Rogers, Cory Harkey
Out: Travis Wilson, Johnny Mundt
IR: Temarrick Hemingway

Two weeks ago, I wouldn’t have had Harkey on this roster, but the Hemingway injury changes the calculus.

OL

(2016: 10, 2015: 10, 2014: 9)

2017 Projection: 9
In: Andrew Whitworth, Rodger Saffold, John Sullivan, Jamon Brown, Rob Havenstein, Andrew Donnal, Cody Wichmann, Darrell Williams, Austin Blythe
Out: Jake Eldrenkamp, Pace Murphy, Parker Collins, Michael Dunn, Alex Kozan

How many offensive linemen do the Rams want on the active roster? I’d point to Week 4 (somewhat randomly) being the first time we see some roster churn here.

Maybe the better question is how many offensive linemen the Rams stash on the PS.

DL

(2016: 8, 2015: 8, 2014: 10)

2017 Projection: 6

In: Michael Brockers, Ethan Westbrooks, Mike Purcell, Tanzel Smart, Tyrunn Walker, Morgan Fox
Out: Louis Trinca-Pasat, Omarius Bryant, Casey Sayles
DNR: Aaron Donald

This group is incredibly hard to nail right now especially in AD’s absence. And given that his holdout crossed a threshold quite a while ago, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he’s not around for Week 1. With the news that Rams VP/COO Kevin Demoff and GM Les Snead traveled to Atlanta this week to talk with Donald’s representation, I think it’s perhaps more likely in fact that Donald’s absent than not.

LB

(2016: 5, 2015: 6, 2014: 5)

2017 Projection: 10
In: Robert Quinn, Connor Barwin, Alec Ogletree, Mark Barron, Matt Longacre, Samson Ebukam, Cassanova McKinzy, Josh Forrest, Bryce Hager, Andy Mulumba
Out: Ejuan Price, Carlos Thompson, Nic Grigsby, Cory Littleton, Kevin Davis, Folarin Orimolade, Davis Tull

Yeah, I dunno. There’s so much youth here that could be attractive as PS candidates. There’s also a ton of special teams snaps coming from this group. So I’ll put Mulumba in as a ST add.

I also wonder if injuries at the position, specifically for Quinn and Barron, are going to impact the decisions in the next 24 hours.

CB

(2016: 5, 2015: 4, 2014: 6)

2017 Projection: 5
In: Trumaine Johnson, Kayvon Webster, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Michael Jordan, Blake Countess
Out: Troy Hill, Dominique Hatfield, Kevin Peterson, Aarion Penton, Carlos Davis, Tyquwan Glass

I’m doing the dumb thing and going with my heart over my head with this group. Not sure how Troy Hill doesn’t make this team given where he’s been on the depth chart this preseason, but hey. The heart wants what the heart wants.

S

(2016: 4, 2015: 5, 2014: 4)

2017 Projection: 4
In: Lamarcus Joyner, Maurice Alexander, John Johnson, Cody Davis
Out: Marqui Christian, Isaiah Johnson

Tough to parse.

ST

(2016: 3, 2015: 3, 2014: 3)

2017 Projection: 3
In: Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide
Out: Travis Coons

Not tough to parse.

Practice Squad

WR Paul McRoberts, WR Nelson Spruce, OL Jake Eldrenkamp, OL Michael Dunn, OL Parker Collins, DL Casey Sayles, LB Ejuan Price, EL Kevin Davis, CB Dominique Hatfield, CB Kevin Peterson

This one’s hard as I think you could make a case that tight end and safety depth are perhaps the two positions needed most on the PS for position contribution versus special teams. That’s perhaps part of the reason why I’m moving on the current options and perhaps hedging toward the Rams signing one of each from the market over the weekend.

Nonetheless, if I’m forced to work with the current Rams, I’m sticking these 10 on the squad. Spruce, Collins and Peterson would be the most expendable to make room elsewhere, but roster flexibility is an art that requires a ton of scouting and relationships to be effective, neither of which fans are armed with.

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What are the close calls? Who do you have making the cut that I don’t? And who do you think the team is deliberating over tonight?

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