post-draft depth chart (starting 5/1)

Rams depth chart post-draft: Steve Avila immediately starts, questions in secondary

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/4474368/2023/05/01/rams-depth-chart-post-draft/?source=emp_shared_article

After 14 picks, the Rams’ roster … still is missing a lot of players. But, hey, things are a lot clearer in some spots after the NFL Draft, including along their offensive line and at backup quarterback. What about the rest of their depth chart?

As of the time of publication, they are also finalizing their undrafted free-agent class. They’ll bring in a few kickers and focus on safeties, inside linebackers and cornerbacks, and they almost always add at receiver and reserve offensive lineman. Where current gaps are most likely to be filled by a UDFA, I will note it on the depth chart.

Quarterback

Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett

The Rams will need to add one or two arms for spring and summer workouts and the preseason. Even though he’s healthy, Stafford’s throw counts will likely be monitored as the Rams try to preserve his season longevity, and he won’t play in the preseason. But when the season begins, the Rams should feel comfortable using only two roster spots for quarterbacks.

Receiver

Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell, Lance McCutcheon, Puka Nacua, Austin Trammell

Kupp is expected to be at 100 percent for spring and summer workouts after ankle surgery last season. Jefferson will enter this year healthy as well after missing time through September with knee issues. Skowronek showed exciting potential last season. Atwell proved he can get behind defenses, but the plan for him to more naturally fit within the offense is still in question. The Rams don’t have a ton of true length in this group, so I am interested to see how Nacua and McCutcheon factor into some of those concepts and in the red zone.

Running back

Cam Akers, Zach Evans, Kyren Williams, Ronnie Rivers

I have Evans leapfrogging Williams because Williams seemed to be in the Rams’ 2022 plan mostly as a third-down back, where Evans projects into a No. 2 in a committee if that’s how they decide to operate. Akers should be the lead here, and the job is his to lose.

Tight end

Tyler Higbee, Hunter Long, Brycen Hopkins, Davis Allen

The Rams had a third-round grade on their board on Long in the 2021 draft. Allen, one of their fifth-round picks this year, is intriguing as a developing pass catcher and blocker.

Offensive line

Left to right: Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Logan Bruss, Rob Havenstein

Reserves: Brian Allen (C), Warren McClendon (OT, flex), Tremayne Anchrum Jr. (OG, flex), AJ Arcuri (OT). Injured: Joe Noteboom (T/OG)

There are more reserves to list, and Noteboom’s recovery from an Achilles injury is something to keep an eye on, but if the Rams had to play a game tomorrow, this is a group I would feel comfortable with. Eventually, Avila will probably take over at center and Noteboom will move to guard. And Shelton could move to right guard, depending on how Bruss hits his learning curve after missing his entire rookie season to injury.

Defensive line

Aaron Donald, Kobie Turner, Bobby Brown III/added veteran

Reserves: Marquise Copeland, Jonah Williams, Earnest Brown IV, Desjuan Johnson, Larrell Murchison

The only reason I have Copeland, who has turned into a solid player, as a “reserve” is because the Rams have a “Greg Gaines” role filled with Turner but now need a bigger anchor player inside with Donald to help eat up space and against the run. This is a prove-it development year for Brown.

Outside linebacker

Michael Hoecht, Byron Young, Daniel Hardy, Nick Hampton, Keir Thomas, Ochaun Mathis

Whew, man, this is a young group. The Rams could still add a cheap veteran in free agency, and when they feel their team build is in the right place to add an elite player, this probably will be the position. I liked what I saw from Hoecht, a former defensive tackle, off the edge last year. Most of the other players will have to be in a rotation, because while they have some freaky tools and traits, they’re missing others. Young, for example, is going to be an immediate speed threat and should compete for a starting role. But he needs to develop against the run, so in the short term he’d have to be a passing-downs player if he can’t get better there quickly. The Rams’ goals should be to establish one every-down edge player who can at least be consistent and to get their speed/power rotation working on the other side.

Inside linebacker

Ernest Jones, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel

The Rams are fired up about Jones entering his third season and believe Rozeboom and Hummel complement him well. They’ll also have undrafted free agents competing for a No. 4 spot, especially with needs on special teams.

Safety

Jordan Fuller, Quentin Lake, Russ Yeast, Jason Taylor II, Richard LeCounte III

The chatter I heard at the draft house was really high on Fuller, who is healthy entering his contract year and previously started for the Rams before a nasty ankle injury set him back. Taylor might surprise people and get into the rotation.

Cornerback

Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick, Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Robert Rochell, Shaun Jolly

Rochell is the only cornerback on the Rams’ current roster who is over 6 feet tall. For that reason and more, he has to take a step forward in his development this year. Neither Rochell nor Kendrick plays on the inside, and Durant and Hodges-Tomlinson have position flexibility.

Specialists

Punter Ethan Evans, UDFA kicker, long snapper Alex Ward

Ward’s contract with the Rams was announced Saturday night by his alma mater (UCF). He was one of their top targets, and if they didn’t get a good sense on getting a punter they liked or good intel about the strength of the undrafted class of kickers, they might have drafted him. The long snapper makes the whole operation go.