Don’t be surprised if all 10 Rams rookies make he opening roster

Since 2017, 87% of draftees begin on the initial 53.

If the Los Angeles Rams OTAs and training camp run true to form, most, if not all the 2024 rookies are a good bet to make the opening roster. Since the 2017 union of General Manager Les Snead and Head Coach Sean McVay, L.A. has kept 87 percent of drafted rookies on the initial 53. There were five others who began their careers on the Injured Reserve List (IR) and would go on to a spot on the roster when healed.

That’s the good news, but while the Rams certainly put in the time to develop their rookies, only a relative very few have been given less than three years, L.A. does not hesitate to cut bait after that period and move on to the next wave of recruits. Whether it be through injury settlements, trades, outright cuts, and/or not offering second contracts, Snead and McVay have only 26 of their total 67 draft picks (39%) currently on the roll. 21 of those are from the 2022 and 2023 drafts.

Here’s a review of the Rams 67 picks since 2017 providing a list of possible replacements. Will L.A. again find room on the opening roster for this year’s 10 selection?

Asterisk denotes Rams rookies making that year’s opening 53.

2023

2, #36) G/C Steve Avila *

Started all 18 games without missing a snap (1206).

3, #77) E Byron Young *

Started 17 games with 1023 1023 snaps.

3, #89) DT Kobie Turner *

Started four games, playing 731 defensive snaps and another 92 on special teams

4, #128) QB Stetson Bennett *

He made the initial roster, but was added and spent the year on the Non-Football Injury list

5, #161) E Nick Hampton *

Active in 11 games with 69 reps on defense and 92 on special teams

5, #174 T/G Warren McClendon *

Active in eight games and played in six. 32 reps on offense and 21 on ST

5, #175) TE Davis Allen *

Saw action in 16 games, charting 192 offensive and 104 ST plays

5, #177) WR Puka Nacua *

Breakout star, played in all 18 games with 1049 snaps.

6, #182) CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson *

Played primarily ST (333 reps) and added 45 on defense.

6, #189) Ochaun Mathis *

Active for 12 games, action in six. 74 plays on defense and 19 on ST.

6, #215) RB Zach Evans *

16 snaps on offense, another 51 on ST in 10 active games.

7, #223) P Ethan Evans *

Starting punter in all 18 contests.

7, #234) S Jason Taylor II *

Injured early and missed nine weeks, totaled 42 defensive and 121 ST reps.

7, #259) DT Desjuan Johnson *

Mr. Irrelevant logged 12 games and 105 plays on defense.

2022

3, #105) G/T Logan Bruss

Tore up his knee in 2nd preseason game, now in Year 3, has yet to play a regular game snap.

4, #142) CB Decobie Durant *

Played in 30 games with 10 starts. 965 reps on defense and 153 on ST

5, #164) RB Kyren Williams *

RB#1 has had nagging injuries, but still has 857 snaps over 23 games and 12 starts

6, #211) S Quentin Lake

23 games and four starts. Steady ST snap (289), but extended play on defense (508/53)

6, #212) CB Derion Kendrick *

Given/earned plenty of chances. 32 games, 18 starts, 1355 reps on defense and 110 on ST

7, #235) E Daniel Hardy *

Had six games with 42 defensive and 128 ST plays, cut after ‘23 camp. Now with Chicago Bears.

7, #253) S Russ Yeast *

In two years, has logged 33 games with 10 starts, 951 snaps, and another 285 on ST.

7, #261) T AJ Arcuri

Primarily a PS player, but in 2022, did get 70 offensive and 33 ST reps.

2021

2, #57) WR Tutu Atwell *

Bitten by injuries to start, now has 38 games, 19 starts, and 1013 snaps under his belt

3, #103) ILB Ernest Jones *

Starter in 34 of 48 games with 2153 defensive and 290 ST reps.

4, #117) DT Bobby Brown *

Had 14 starts in ‘23. In three years, he has 15 starts in 33 games and 521 defensive snaps

4, #130) CB Robert Rochell *

Cut after two seasons. Hopped from Seattle Seahawks to Carolina Panthers and to his current team, the Green Bay Packers.

4, #151) TE Jacob Harris *

Let go after two injury-filled years. Spent a PS year with Carolina, now trying with the Philadelphia Eagles.

5, #174) DE Earnest Brown IV

Primarily a three-year PS player. Now a free agent, Signed and cut by San Francisco 49ers early in ’24.

7, #233) RB Jake Funk *

Cut after 1 ¹⁄₂ seasons. Now with Detroit Lions, bounced through New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens.

7, #249) WR Ben Skowronek *

Do-it-all player. Recently traded to Green Bay.

7, #252) E Chris Garrett *

Waived after rookie year. Now a free agent after looks by the Minnesota Vikings and Seahawks.

2020

2, #52) RB Cam Akers *

Shipped to Vikings after Week 2 in 2023. Injuries/squabbles marked his three Rams seasons.

2, #57 WR Van Jefferson *

Traded to Atlanta Falcons after Week 5 in 2023. Injuries and inconsistent play led him out of town.

3, #84) E Terrell Lewis *

Played three seasons, cut late in 2022. Now in Philly after stops with Chicago and New Orleans

3, #104) S Terrell Burgess *

Broke his leg as a rookie, cut in 2022, spent a year with New York Giants and now with Washington Commanders.

4, #136) TE Brycen Hopkins *

Flashed in Rams Super Bowl win, but didn’t get much run in four seasons. Currently a UFA.

6, #199) S Jordan Fuller *

Adequate player for four years, but wasn’t offered a second contract. Now in Carolina.

7, #234) ILB Clay Johnston

Cut after rookie camp and picked up by Carolina. Currently with Cincinnati Bengals.

7, #248) K Sam Sloman *

Cut seven games into his rookie season, finished it with Tennessee Titans. No action since.

7, #250) T/G Tremayne Anchrum *

Played four years in L.A. and not offered a second contract. Signed with Seattle for 2024.

2019

2, #61) S Taylor Rapp *

Not offered a 2nd contract after four years. Signed a three-year extension with Buffalo Bills.

3, #70) RB Darrell Henderson *

Two tours in L.A., waived late in ’22 and brought back in mid ’23. Currently a free agent.

3, #79) CB David Long *

Not offered a 2nd contract. Signed with Giants for 2024.

3, #97) T/G Bobby Evans *

Not offered a 2nd contract. Failed tryout’s with Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars, now a free agent.

4, #134) DT Greg Gaines *

Not offered a 2nd contract. Inked a one-year deal with Tampa Bay Buccaneers and recently extended.

5, #169) G David Edwards *

Not offered a 2nd contract. Signed with Buffalo for 2023 and received a two-year extension.

7, #243) S Nick Scott *

Not offered a 2nd contract. Signed for three-years with Bengals, cut in ‘24, now in Carolina.

7, #251) ILB Dakota Allen

Cut after rookie camp. Now a free agent after stops with Las Vegas Raiders, Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, and Denver Broncos.

2018

3, #89) T Joseph Noteboom *

Entering his 7th year in L.A., has been both starter and backup

4, #111) C Brian Allen *

Five years as a Ram. Recently signed with Browns for 2024

4, #135) DE John Franklin-Myers *

Had 301 snaps as rookie, but waived in 2019. Signed by and still playing with New York Jets.

5, #147) ILB Micah Kiser *

Injuries marked his years in L.A., had stops with Broncos and Raiders. Not in NFL since 2021.

5, #160) E Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

Battled injuries in three Rams seasons. Signed a one-year UFA Houston Texans deal for 2022 and parlayed that into a three-year UFA deal with Cleveland in 2023.

6, #176) RB John Kelly *

Bounced between the Rams PS and roster. Done the same at his current roost in Cleveland.

6, #192) T Jamil Demby *

Spent most of his three years on PS and IR. Not in NFL since 2021.

6, #195) DT Sebastian Joseph-Day *

Earned 38 starts, but not offered a second contract. Signed a three-year UFA deal with L.A. Chargers. Cut mid-season 2023, finished up with 49ers. Now with the Tennessee.

6, #205) E Trevon Young *

12 NFL snaps back in 2018, none since after short stops with the Rams and Cleveland.

7, #231) ILB Travin Howard

Bouncing between the roster, IR. and PS defined his seasons in L.A. Signed, but cut by Buffalo in 2023. Currently a street free agent

7, #244) DE Justin Lawler *

Primarily a three-year practice squad player. Tennessee was his last stop in 2022.

2017

2, #44) TE Gerald Everett *

Spent four years in L.A., one with Seattle, and now enters his third year with the Chargers.

3, #69) WR Cooper Kupp *

Entering his 8th season and steadily moving up the Rams all-time receiving charts

3, #91) S John Johnson *

Two tours in L.A., 2017 through 2020 and again in 2023, Currently free agent.

4, #117) WR Josh Reynolds *

Four years as Rams WR#4. Stopped in Tennessee before landing in Detroit for 2 ¹⁄₂ seasons. Recently signed a two-year UFA deal with Broncos.

4, #125) E Samson Ebukam *

Four seasons in L.A. and got a two-year UFA contract with the 49ers. He parlayed that into three-year deal with Indianapolis, his current home.

6, #189) DT Tanzel Smart *

Three years with the Rams, he now enters his 4th season with the Jets.

6, #206) FB Sam Rogers

Didn’t make it through his rookie camp. Tried the Bills in 2018 with the same result.

7, #234) E Ejuan Price *

One year in L.A. Joined Baltimore for ’19 OTAs, was cut and now gone from NFL.

Who will be the odd man out in 2024?

While each season brings in a completely different class composition, whether it be in size, position and/or skillset, the Rams braintrust puts their money where their mouth is. Rookies in L.A. are given time to develop.

And it’s not just limited to early round draftees, of 23 Round 6 and 7 players from 2017 through 2022, three were cut after their rookie camp and four more after their rookie year. The remaining 16 were/are given an average of three years to develop.

I really like this draft class as a “roster stocker”, adding and/or supplementing depth. I’ll venture the Rams follow suit from last year, finding room for the whole group on the opening 53. Do you envision a rookie odd man out?