For the most part, the Los Angeles Rams know what their initial 53-man roster is going to look like come Sunday night. They've probably known the majority of the players they're going to keep for weeks.
Given the talent from top to bottom, it's going to be a really challenging roster to make – especially for younger, unproven players. Even all of their rookie draft picks aren't completely safe from being cut.
With the preseason now finished and final cuts mere days away, we're looking at which players are virtually guaranteed to make the team. Sean McVay and the coaching staff make it easier to discern locks from bubble players based on who plays (and how much) in the preseason, but playing time isn't always a perfect reflection of a player's
standing on the roster.
Here are 47 players who are viewed as locks to make the team, as well as four other near-locks and one player who could be an injured reserve candidate.
Quarterbacks
- Matthew Stafford
- Stetson Bennett
- Ty Simpson
Sean McVay already said the Rams will keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, so Bennett is now considered a lock. Stafford and Simpson were obviously locks all along. McVay just hasn't decided who will be the No. 2 quarterback.
Running backs
- Kyren Williams
- Blake Corum
- Ronnie Rivers
Rivers sat out the entire preseason and received a strong endorsement from McVay recently for the trust he's earned from the coaching staff. He's going to be on the 53-man roster as the Rams' third running back, especially with Jarquez Hunter now out of the picture.
Wide receivers
- Puka Nacua
- Davante Adams
- Jordan Whittington
- Konata Mumpfield
- Tutu Atwell
The top four receivers all sat out the preseason, ensuring that Whittington and Mumpfield will both be factors behind Nacua and Adams. CJ Daniels played well in the preseason and as a sixth-round rookie, he's likely to make the team – but not guaranteed to. Xavier Smith is even more likely to be on the 53-man roster, but after Tutu Atwell's return, that may not be so certain anymore – even after sitting out the last two games.
The Rams' trade for Atwell is throwing this group for a loop.
Tight ends
- Colby Parkinson
- Tyler Higbee
- Terrance Ferguson
- Davis Allen
- Max Klare
No surprises here. These have been the Rams' top five safeties all offseason and they should play major roles on offense throughout the year.
Offensive linemen
- LT Alaric Jackson
- LG Steve Avila
- C Coleman Shelton
- RG Kevin Dotson
- RT Warren McClendon Jr.
- OT David Quessenberry
- G/C Justin Dedich
- OL Beaux Limmer
One player is notably missing from this list: Keagen Trost. He's undoubtedly going to be on the team this season, but if he doesn't recover from his current hamstring injury in time for Week 1, he could be a candidate for IR.
We can assume Limmer will make it, but with how much he played in the first two preseason games, there could be a tiny bit of doubt. He did sit out the finale, though, which is a positive sign. And the Rams could use O-line depth.
Defensive linemen
- DT Kobie Turner
- NT Poona Ford
- DL Tyler Davis
- DE Braden Fiske
Despite Tim Keenan III being a seventh-round rookie, he's not certain to make the 53-man roster. He didn't flash in the preseason and seventh-round rookies get cut by teams all the time. Ty Hamilton is also close to making the team but he's not yet a lock, either.
Outside linebackers
- Myles Garrett
- Byron Young
- Josaiah Stewart
- Desjuan Johnson
Johnson is the next man up behind the starters and is essentially a lock to make the initial roster as the fourth edge rusher, performing well all summer in practice and the preseason. The Rams held him out of the last two games entirely. The other three listed above are all going to play major roles on defense.
Wesley Bailey only played a few snaps against the Chargers so he's got a good chance of making the team, too.
Inside linebackers
- Nate Landman
- Omar Speights
- Shaun Dolac
- Grant Stuard
These four players are probably going to be the only four inside linebackers to make the initial 53-man roster. None of them have played in the preseason and while Landman and Speights will be starters on defense, Dolac and Stuard will be major special teams players.
Cornerbacks
- Trent McDuffie
- Jaylen Watson
- Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
- Josh Wallace
Wallace sat out the entire preseason, which is a great sign for the versatile defensive back. He can play safety or the slot, just as Quentin Lake can. McDuffie and Watson will be the starters, with Forbes operating as the primary backup on the outside.
Safeties
- Quentin Lake
- Kam Curl
- Kamren Kinchens
- Jaylen McCollough
There's a host of young safeties who could sneak onto the 53-man roster, including Nick Andersen, Tanner Ingle and Alex Cook, but as of now, only these four players are certain to make the team. And it's a real strength of the roster, but in terms of depth and talent.
Special teams
- K Harrison Mevis
- P Ethan Evans
- LS Joe Cardona
Does this group really need an explanation? They've been the core special teamer all year.
Near-locks
- WR Xavier Smith
- WR CJ Daniels
- DL Ty Hamilton
- OLB Wesley Bailey
Smith should make the team after sitting out the last two preseason games, but will Atwell's arrival change anything for him? Daniels is also likely to secure a roster spot as a sixth-round rookie, but again, Atwell could take the spot of another receiver.
Hamilton must have impressed the coaching staff because he sat out the last two preseason games, making him a near certainty to make the team.
Is it a stretch to call Bailey a near-lock? Maybe. But he only played two snaps against the Chargers, which indicates the Rams didn't want to risk an injury to him.
IR candidate
- OL Keagen Trost
McVay said he's hopeful Trost will be back from injury by Week 1, but in the event that he isn't healthy for the start of the season, the Rams could consider an IR stint to open up a roster spot for someone else. But if Trost is good to go, he'll certainly be on the team.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 47 players who are locks to make the Rams' 53-man roster
