With the preseason wrapped up, here’s our latest roster projection for LA

Every team in the NFL will need to trim its roster down to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, giving them just a few days to make some incredibly difficult decisions. The Los Angeles Rams have a particularly deep roster this year, which is why Sean McVay said there are going to be “some really tough decisions” in the coming days.

Fortunately, they’ll be able to sign 16 players to the practice squad, so the roster is really 69 players deep, but that won’t make this process any easier – especially with other teams having the ability to claim guys the Rams release off waivers.

So where do things stand now that the preseason is done? Here’s our latest projection of how the Rams’ initial 53-man roster could look when Los Angeles whittles it down.

Quarterback (3)

  • Matthew Stafford
  • Jimmy Garoppolo
  • Stetson Bennett
  • Cut: Dresser Winn

Bennett didn’t play at all in the preseason finale, a great sign for his chances of making the team. The Rams haven’t confirmed he’s made it yet, but it’s hard to see them cutting the third-year quarterback – especially with all the concerns surrounding Stafford.

Running back (3)

  • Kyren Williams
  • Blake Corum
  • Jarquez Hunter
  • Cut: Cody Schrader, Ronnie Rivers, Jordan Waters

There’s a chance from our last few projections: Schrader gets cut in this prediction and the Rams only keep three running backs. He struggled in the finale and got a lot of playing time, which is an indication that he hadn’t yet secured a roster spot. As much as the Rams want to keep him, they need players at other positions more. Their top three backs are all starting-caliber players.

Wide receiver (6)

  • Puka Nacua
  • Davante Adams
  • Tutu Atwell
  • Jordan Whittington
  • Xavier Smith
  • Konata Mumpfield
  • Cut: Britain Covey, Drake Stoops, Tru Edwards, Brennan Presley

No changes here, especially with Smith and Mumpfield getting the day off on Saturday. None of the six receivers who we have making the team took the field in the finale, while all four that we have Los Angeles cutting did play. This seems like a pretty clear-cut group now after three preseason games.

Tight end (4)

  • Tyler Higbee
  • Terrance Ferguson
  • Colby Parkinson
  • Davis Allen
  • Cut: McCallan Castles, Mark Redman

Allen was the lone question mark at tight end but he didn’t play against the Browns, indicating he’s safe from cuts. There’s not much debate about this group because all four are going to make the 53-man roster and potentially contribute this season.

Offensive line (10)

  • Alaric Jackson
  • Steve Avila
  • Coleman Shelton
  • Kevin Dotson
  • Rob Havenstein
  • Beaux Limmer
  • D.J. Humphries
  • Justin Dedich
  • David Quessenberry
  • Warren McClendon Jr.
  • Cut: KT Leveston, Dylan McMahon, A.J. Arcuri, Wyatt Bowles, Ben Dooley, Trey Wedig, Mike McAllister, John Leglue
  • Injured reserve: Willie Lampkin

We got some clarity on the offensive line Saturday with Limmer, Dedich, Quessenberry and McClendon all sitting out against the Browns. They had played in the first two preseason games but Sean McVay said he feels good about all of them and basically confirmed they’re going to make the team.

We’re predicting Lampkin will be placed on injured reserve, potentially returning at some point this season.

Defensive line (6)

  • Kobie Turner
  • Poona Ford
  • Braden Fiske
  • Tyler Davis
  • Ty Hamilton
  • Larrell Murchison
  • Cut: Desjuan Johnson, Bill Norton, Da’Jon Terry, Decarius Hawthorne, Jack Heflin

Johnson played significant snaps against the Browns and was even lining up at edge rusher, an apparent attempt from the coaching staff to find his best role. Murchison, on the other hand, didn’t play at all despite being healthy. He’s going to secure a roster spot as a backup lineman, along with Davis and Hamilton. Johnson can’t be ruled out as someone who could make the team but it seems unlikely now.

Outside linebacker (4)

  • Jared Verse
  • Byron Young
  • Josaiah Stewart
  • Nick Hampton
  • Cut: Brennan Jackson, Josh Pearcy, Jamil Muhammad
  • Injured reserve: Keir Thomas

We flip-flopped Hampton and Jackson in this projection simply because Jackson played and Hampton didn’t. That’s a clear sign that Hampton is ahead of Jackson on the depth chart as the fourth edge rusher. Jackson isn’t certain to be cut but given his struggles since being a fifth-round pick last year, it’s not looking good for him.

Inside linebacker (5)

  • Nate Landman
  • Omar Speights
  • Troy Reeder
  • Chris Paul Jr.
  • Shaun Dolac
  • Cut: Elias Neal, Tony Fields II

Reeder is perhaps the biggest unknown on the team. He didn’t play at all in the preseason but that doesn’t mean he’s completely safe. The Rams could still choose to cut him, especially with Dolac locking up a roster spot. Paul played a lot on Saturday, deep into the fourth quarter, but that shouldn’t be an indication that the Rams plan to cut him. We’ll go with five inside linebackers in this projection, but it could wind up being four if Reeder gets released.

Cornerback (5)

  • Darious Williams
  • Ahkello Witherspoon
  • Cobie Durant
  • Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
  • Josh Wallace
  • Cut: Charles Woods, Derion Kendrick, Shaun Jolly, Cam Lampkin, A.J. Green

None of these five cornerbacks played against the Browns, meaning they’re all going to be safe and on the 53-man roster. Wallace can play cornerback and safety, making him more of an asset in the secondary. Kendrick is in danger of being cut, unfortunately, a tough blow for him after he missed the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL.

Safety (4)

  • Kamren Curl
  • Quentin Lake
  • Kamren Kinchens
  • Jaylen McCollough
  • Cut: Tanner Ingle, Nate Valcarcel, Malik Dixon-Williams

Ingle made one final push for a roster spot against the Browns and it might be enough for the Rams to keep him, both as a safety and core special teamer. It’ll be close and Los Angeles might choose to go with four inside linebackers and five safeties, but in our projection, Ingle narrowly misses the cut.

Special teams (3)

  • K Joshua Karty
  • P Ethan Evans
  • LS Alex Ward

The Rams haven’t had a single other specialist on the roster all offseason, so this group has been set for a long time.

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