Training camp is a pivotal point of the offseason for every NFL team. Teams truly begin ramping up for the season and it's at this point you really begin to see players separate and prove themselves worthy of a larger role in the season ahead. Most of the depth chart for the Los Angeles Rams is pretty set, but some spots are left wide open to fight over throughout camp.
Here are my ten players on the Rams' roster who have to earn their spot in camp and aren't guaranteed to stick on the roster come the final 53-man roster cuts.
1. Tutu Atwell
I spoke about this last week, but Atwell shouldn't be a lock at all for the final roster. He had a leap in production in 2023, caused mainly by being on the field when Cooper Kupp was hurt. When Kupp returned, Atwell was replaced by Demarcus Robinson and averaged just 13 snaps a game over the last five weeks of the season (outside of the backup-led Week 18 game). Atwell's speed stands out versus the rest of the wide receiver room, but his lack of blocking and inability to play special teams lowers his value. With Jordan Whittington standing out and players like Tyler Johnson, Drake Stoops, and Sam Wiglusz vying for a spot, their ability to contribute in multiple phases of the game could give them the edge over Atwell.
2. Logan Bruss
A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Bruss seemed like a lock to play at right guard as a rookie before a season-ending injury. The Rams (foolishly) tried to move him back to tackle, despite him not being an NFL tackle, and Bruss spent 2023 on the practice squad. Now with the Rams adding to their offensive line in the draft with Beaux Limmer and KT Leveston, both of whom can play guard, and Warren McClendon seemingly holding the edge for the backup right tackle spot, Bruss went from third-round pick to relative afterthought. He might spend yet another year on the practice squad, but the Rams should see if there is any trade interest first.
3. Russ Yeast
After the Rams signed John Johnson III, Yeast's future with the team feels uncertain. Only three safeties on the Rams have posted over 100 snaps over the last two seasons, and it feels like the Rams have their three in Johnson, Kinchens, and free-agent signee Kamren Curl. With reports that the team was trying to find spots for Yeast by trying him out at STAR, my doubts only grow. With 2023 seventh-round pick Jason Taylor II carving out a role on special teams last year, Yeast could find himself on the outside looking in.
4. Derion Kendrick
Kendrick has been benched multiple times in his career, and the Rams added Tre'Davious White and Darious Williams in the offseason. With Cobie Durant looking for a rebound 2024 season as the team's CB3 and the Rams already trying to find a different position for Kendrick, I'm not optimistic about his chances to make the final 53, barring an injury.
5. Zach Evans
The staff didn't trust Evans to do much of anything last year, even when Kyren Williams got hurt. After the Rams added Blake Corum and Boston Scott to the room, there's not a lot of hope that Evans deserves a spot in the room-especially with Ronnie Rivers being held in such high regard by the staff.
6. Larell Murchison
How the Rams handle the defensive line depth is worth monitoring, but Murchison hasn't been enough of a standout to feel like he has a spot. He's not produced much outside of the Rams' 2022 Christmas blowout of the Denver Broncos, and with the Rams adding both Braden Fiske and Tyler Davis in the draft, Murchison's spot is far from assured.
7. Ochaun Mathis
The Rams' pass rush room is suddenly stacked after adding Jared Verse and Brennan Jackson to this room. If the Rams still opt to keep five OLBs, Mathis will have to earn a spot, but his age and capital might put him behind Nick Hampton for that fifth spot.
8. Hunter Long
Acquired as part of the Jalen Ramsey trade, Hunter Long has done little to earn a spot on the roster since. With the Rams adding Colby Parkinson and their belief in second-year player Davis Allen, Long is seemingly the TE4. It helps that Tyler Higbee might open the season on the PUP list, making him the TE3, but it's a shaky position with plenty of young UDFAs looking to earn their spot over him.
9. A.J. Arcuri
Arcuri was selected with the second-to-last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, so it might not be fair to include him here, but he has a tough road ahead to make the roster. Alaric Jackson has the starting left tackle role held down and Joe Noteboom's contract will keep him as the primary LT backup. With Warren McClendon having the edge for the primary backup right tackle spot, Arcuri is already the fifth offensive tackle on the depth chart, depending on how the Rams feel about the aforementioned Logan Bruss.
10. UDFA pass rushers
I'm lumping Keir Thomas and Zach VanValkenburg together here for this final spot. Both played roughly 100 snaps down the stretch of 2023, but much like Mathis, there's no room for either of them on the Rams' depth chart. Both seem likely to be stashed on the practice squad.
