Rams ready to open camp: Looking back at the 2024 rookies

Los Angeles Rams v Detroit Lions — Jared Verse NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year | Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

In two days, the Los Angeles Rams will welcome a full, 90 man roster into the confines of Loyola-Marymount University for the start of 2025 training camp, with All players are signed

and accounted for. 23 rookies, six drafted and 17 undrafted free agents, will join the veterans looking for a coveted position on the opening roster.

Last year, 13 rookies were on the billet to start the season. There’s an old NFL adage that the biggest improvement a pro makes is between Year 1 and 2. Holding that thought,

what should fans make of the performance of last year’s rookie class? What’s their outlook for 2025?

Each players draft status in bold and parentheses.

Pencil them into the lineup

Edge Jared Verse (#19)

How high is his ceiling? He’s just growing into his traits. With the upgrades to the Rams interior line, which should give him innumerable 1on1 situations, there’s a case to make for tripling his sack totals getting close to 100 tackles. That’s the thing with Verse, aside from his ability to create quarterback pressure, he’s a tackle machine as well. Hell, if he cleans half of his 17 misses, he’s almost there.

Defensive tackle Braden Fiske (#39)

The Rams gave up a lot to acquire him and there’s plenty of room for improvement, but Fiske gave every indication of bringing a stellar return on investment. He led the team in sacks (8.5) and added 10 tackles for loss in only 661 snaps. Reports are that he’s put on eight lb. and lowered his body fat for 2025.

Braden Fiske as a 3-tech does not let RT down block him
1. gets head in front of RT, good head butt
2. gets left hand inside RT's arm - uses long arm stab
3. then gets wring hand on the RT's left wrist and throws it
4. makes the tackle, all while keeping good base/moving feet pic.twitter.com/93okz0qbR1
— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) November 14, 2024

Kicker Josh Karty (#209)

All Karty has to do is match his rookie season and it’s an unqualified success. 85.3% of field goals made is sterling. With the Rams offense, consistency needs to be the name of the game on field goals and extra points.

High expectations

Safety Kamren Kinchens (#99)

Played very close to his draft projection. Struggled at times with his pursuit angles, but showed a great sense for ball hawking and gave glimpses of being a physical enforcer. He chalked up tackles 57 tackles, only marked down with six misses, all in just under 50% of defensive reps. He still likely to start the season as S#3, but his and McCollough’s play bode well for the Rams to employ a lot of dime packages.

Wide receiver Jordan Whittington (#213)

It’s hard to gauge the ceiling on a player like Whittington because I think what he is what he is, a football player. He’s the same player he was at Texas, not a mercurial playmaker, but rather a versatile piece that can be productive in many facets of the game. He appears to be comfortable being a second or third option, but then shine targeted when the chips are down. Although he only caught 22 passes, 14 went for first downs and he only ran the ball twice, both for first downs.

Center/guard Beaux Limmer (#217)

As a Round 6 rookie and forced into the starting lineup by injury, Limmer was baptized by fire. There was plenty to like about his performance, the kid can block and was willing to mix it up, but it appears (rightfully so) the Rams want more experience in making the blocking calls. Opposing defenses found too much success with stunts, twists, loops and delayed blitzes. Limmer shouldn’t be slept on though, his play as a rookie sets him up well for center/guard work if injury strikes a starter.

Off-ball linebacker Omar Speights (UDFA)

It took awhile to work his way into the lineup, but Speights was a pleasant surprise. Although he faced a steep learning curve and his play could be uneven, fans loved his aggressive style, thumping style, and ability to tackle what he struck. He ended up getting 12 starts, including the two playoff games and 504 defensive snaps, logging 67 tackles with only three misses.

Ready to step up into a bigger role

Safety Jaylen McCollough (UDFA)

Hard-nosed player nicknamed “Tank”. Played in all 19 games and showed position versatility, from single high to in the box as a linebacker hybrid. Tied for the team lead with four interceptions and extrapolating 43 tackles with only one miss in 335 defensive snaps over a “full” season creates a monster year. He added another 257 reps on special teams.

Rams HC Sean McVay on S Jaylen McCollough: "He plays with a physical toughness. He's got a mental toughness. You feel him and he's continued to show up."

Does a nice job on 3rd down to punch the ball out for an incompletion. pic.twitter.com/7EeJGX8MZj
— Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakTST) August 20, 2024

Running back Blake Corum (#83)

While many are ready to write off Corum after posting modest rookie numbers, I’m not. As unimpressive as they were, of all eight running backs the Rams have drafted since 2017, his rookie carries, yards and offensive snaps are second only to those of Cam Akers. His total snaps, both offense and special teams, gave him the highest workload.

Edge Brennan Jackson (#154)

Struggled with a nagging, soft tissue injury which cost him a serious amount of practice and development time. Inactive 10 times and of the other seven, saw real action in Week 18. Getting the start and 27 defensive reps. Jackson has potential, but with L.A. drafting another edge with a similar hard-working style, another injury-filled camp and early season, could push Jackson down the depth chart instead of making progress.

Defensive tackle Tyler Davis (#196)

Although Davis had a semi-regular role in the rotation (299 snaps) and logged some good tackle production, he was inconsistent. At times he showed off his quick first step, natural low leverage and strength, but often he appeared a bit tentative and could not hold ground. Just by attrition, he jumps two guys on the depth chart, now he must show he has a grasp of the role, be more comfortable, and get off the ball.

Cornerback Josh Wallace (UDFA)

In a real battle for CB#5, I like Wallace’s game as a zone defensive back and special teamer. Good football IQ and read/react skills. His long speed is lacking to play a lot of man to man, but his football IQ, read/react skills, agility, and change of direction make him play faster. He had worked his way up into the rotation until a hip injury on special teams slowed his roll.

On the bubble

Guard/tackle KT Leveston (#254)

Spent his rookie season on the Injured Reserve List. While the Rams appear to have a logjam on the interior, he has the size/strength the Rams have been trending towards at guard and has some tackle experience in his background.

Kansas St OL KT Leveston #BuildingTheBoard

Leveston always jumped off the screen while watching his teammate Cooper Beebe. He played LT in college but he doesn't have the foot speed to handle speed rushers in the NFL. But he could be a really good guard. Great power,… pic.twitter.com/aOtIJGXQR6
— Steve Letizia (Formerly CFCBears) (@CFCBears) February 26, 2024

Guard Justin Dedich (UDFA)

Started the season on the practice squad, but injuries to the unit thrust him into starting lineup for a three-game, mid-season stretch. After that run, he didn’t get another offensive snap. He’s a bit under-sized for guard and in competition with seven others for one of the last spots on the roster.

Center Dylan McMahon (#190 from the Eagles)

Poached from the Philadelphia Eagles and as such, L.A. had to install him on their roster. They kept him there as an inactive until Week 18, where he started the last game versus the Seattle Seahawks. Again the Rams have a lot of interior candidates, and he may be limited to work at center because of his relatively smaller size.

Off-ball linebacker Elias Neal (UDFA)

Made the opening 53 last year, but only saw action in six games. Didn’t record a snap on defense and had 77 on special teams. With the Rams bringing three newcomers to the unit, a chance for a second year on the roster is fleeting.

Running back Cody Schrader (UDFA from the 49ers)

Another poachee (from the San Francisco 49ers) the Rams kept on the roster all season. He was a weekly inactive until the season finale. L.A. appears to have three solid backs ahead of him and a fourth that is a career special teams participant.

Cornerback Charles Woods (UDFA)

Second of three UDFA corners to make the 2024 roster, he saw action in 12 games, almost all on special teams. The addition of Emmanuel Forbes and return of Derion Kendrick really cut into his chances of a roster spot and the practice squad is a likely landing place.

Cornerback Cam Lampkin (UDFA)

Although Lampkin didn’t make the opening roster, he was activated for the second game. He bounced between the roster and practice squad. He played in four games and had 31 special teams reps.

Tough sledding for roster battles in 2025

Since all the 2024 rookies, except for KT Leveston on the IR, and five UDFAs made the opening 53, some attrition from this group should expected. The overall roster is deeper and history tells us the Rams like to roster their draftees. Since this year’s draft is smaller in number and appears to be specifically targeted, there’s good reason to expect the full slate to make it.

Who’s on the bubble? Back in June, I offered up a way too early roster projection.

Cody Schrader faces a deep running back room. L.A. is bringing 17 offensive linemen into camp, most are natural interior players putting Justin Dedich and KT Leveston in competition with a big group. The Rams usually roster 10-11 defensive backs, both corners and safeties, depending on how it all shakes out. Hard to see all three last years UDFA corners, Josh Wallace, Charles Woods, and Cam Lampkin making it. Likely only one. The linebacker room looks ready for a total revamp and Elias Neal will be left out.

Which of the 2024 rookies do you like? Who will make the biggest progress in 2025?

Rams ready to open camp: Looking back at the 2024 rookies

WHAT'S THE STORY?