Rams roster ideas/issues/guesses … post-draft

Nate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Time for a fresh Rams depth chart after the draft.

How five new rookies fit into the 53-ma roster projection — and what could come to answer remaining questions

Related tweet:

SleeperNFL@SleeperNFL
The Rams reportedly considered WR Makai Lemon and TE Kenyon Sadiq at No. 13, but found it “difficult to see either rookie providing an immediate impact” given their current depth.

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Rams post-NFL Draft roster analysis: How the rookies fill out the depth chart

Nate Atkins

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7241172/2026/05/01/rams-depth-chart-nfl-draft-ty-simpson/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.fFA.To6L.ZyHwFtnsf5fF

The Los Angeles Rams didn’t take the approach to this year’s NFL Draft that many were expecting. After a narrow loss in the NFC Championship Game, a joyous return for an 18th NFL season for Matthew Stafford and an all-in push in free agency, they went to the draft to fill out their depth and plan for the future.

That started with the selection of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 and continued with a class of just five players, the smallest general manager Les Snead has ever had. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t fill some important spots, as the Rams needed to add depth and lock in some cost-controlled deals while balancing re-signing a handful of key players entering contract years.

With offseason practices starting soon, this is a good time to take an updated look at the depth chart.

Quarterback

Starter: Matthew Stafford
Top backup: Ty Simpson
Depth: Stetson Bennett

Simpson was the Rams’ big splash in this draft, but he will arrive to a competition with Bennett to replace Jimmy Garoppolo as Stafford’s backup. The Rams were prepared to take Simpson even if Garoppolo returned, a team source told The Athletic, so this will be an opportunity to let him compete and earn something early; the starting role is blocked until Stafford retires. It doesn’t completely shut the door on a Garoppolo return, but that’s considered unlikely at this point.

The time on the bench could be beneficial to Simpson, who started just 15 games at Alabama. He stood out to the Rams, particularly in their secret pre-draft meetings, as someone as excited to learn as he is to play after becoming the rare college quarterback to sit before his chance to start one season at Alabama.

He’ll enter a lab of learning behind Stafford and from coach Sean McVay, offensive coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone and assistant head coach Kliff Kingsbury, a former NFL quarterback who helped develop Kyler Murray and Jayden Daniels as rookies. The giant question of when Simpson will see the field remains a mystery, but the Rams are confident that the longer he sits, the better he will be when that chance arrives.

Running back

Starter: Kyren Williams
Top backup: Blake Corum
Depth: Ronnie Rivers, Jarquez Hunter

The Rams left their running back room untouched this offseason, and for good reason. Williams had 1,252 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns last season for his third straight 1,100-yard campaign. Corum added 746 yards and six scores in a breakout Year 2.

Expect this to be more of a 50-50 split this season, with Williams as a primary third-down back and between-the-tackles runner and Corum more of a change-of-pace option with explosive capabilities. Hunter will have to wait his turn again, but last year’s fourth-round pick could be valuable if either Williams or Corum has to miss time, which neither did last season.

Wide receiver

Starters: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams
Top backup: CJ Daniels
Depth: Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith

Many expected the Rams to prioritize wide receiver in the draft as they were lacking depth behind Nacua and Adams, each of whom missed three games last season. Instead, they waited until the sixth round to take Daniels out of Miami.

Daniels is a strong fit for a third receiver role after blocking in one of college football’s most physical offenses. Time will tell if he can be that injury replacement for a top option, as he caught just 50 passes for 557 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games last season, though he did play six college seasons.

Mumpfield, Whittington and Smith will all compete with Daniels for the third spot and should have their moments to showcase different skill sets. If a reliable third option doesn’t emerge early in the season, this could be a spot the Rams trade for in October now that their 2027 draft picks are back open for business with Simpson filling the need for a future quarterback.

Daniels, whom the Rams selected in the sixth round, could find himself competing for the team’s No. 3 receiver role.

Tight end

Starter: Terrance Ferguson
Top backup: Colby Parkinson
Depth: Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, Max Klare

The 13-personnel revolution is here to stay. Los Angeles rolled back a four-man tight end room that had every member score at least three times last season, and yet it still added another option in Klare in the second round out of Ohio State. That’s what happens when a team leads the league in two- and three-tight end sets and finishes No. 1 in scoring offense.

Klare has run-after-the-catch ability and could see some designs, but the hope is that this is a room Ferguson takes the lead in after redshirting much of last season. Klare is more of a future piece at a developmental position and could prove valuable in a year when Parkinson and Allen hit free agency and Higbee turns 34.

Offensive tackle

Starters: Alaric Jackson, Warren McClendon Jr.
Top backup: Keagan Trost
Depth: David Quessenberry

Even with the retirement of Rob Havenstein, the Rams were able to return five starters on their offensive line. Trost arrives in the third round out of Missouri as a strong run blocker in wide-zone concepts who can bump out to either tackle spot if needed. The Rams also like Quessenberry’s experience at both tackle spots. This will be a big season for McClendon, who could build off last year’s breakout to earn a hefty payday in free agency.

Guard

Starters: Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson
Top backup: Justin Dedich
Depth: Keagan Trost, Beaux Limmer

Los Angeles had a solid depth piece on the interior in Dedich, and will now add Trost to the mix. If Trost gets an opportunity to play, he could earn a chance to replace either Avila or Dotson if one leaves in free agency next year. The guards are the engines for this team in the run game, and they’re also critical to keeping the pocket secure for a 38-year-old quarterback in Stafford.

Center

Starter: Coleman Shelton
Top backup: Steve Avila
Depth: Dylan McMahon

The Rams liked their setup for center entering the draft, with Shelton running the show and Avila having the ability to bump inside if needed. The arrival of Trost makes that more of a possibility now, as he can fill in at left guard when necessary.

Interior defensive line

Starters: Poona Ford, Kobie Turner
Top backup: Braden Fiske
Depth: Tim Keenan III, Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton

The Rams like the mix they have here of a run stopper in Ford and pass rushers in Turner and Fiske, who can also bump outside. Their run defense fell off too much last season when Ford had to leave the field, so now Keenan arrives at 6-foot-1, 327 pounds to help out. That depth could be important as Ford turns 31 in November and needs a reasonable snap count to remain fresh and handle all the double-teams that come his way.

Outside linebacker

Starters: Jared Verse, Byron Young
Top backup: Josaiah Stewart
Depth: Keir Thomas II

The Rams chose not to take an edge rusher this year despite Turner, who plays some on the edge, and Young both entering contract years. That is, in part, due to the impressive play in a small sample last season by Stewart, a 2025 third-rounder. With Turner and Fiske able to play outside, the rotation should remain steady around Verse, who the Rams hope can take a surge from Pro Bowler to more of a closer for the defense in his third season.

Inside linebacker

Starters: Nate Landman, Omar Speights
Top backup: Grant Stuard
Depth: Shaun Dolac

The Rams found a diamond in the rough last year in Landman, which worked out quickly enough to ink him to a three-year extension. That let them continue a trend of not valuing this spot in the draft. They did sign Stuard to round out the depth, though his biggest contributions should come on special teams. The same is true for Dolac, who is recovering from a PCL injury. Speights will start at the other linebacker spot in a more limited role with the high rate of dime personnel the Rams use, which should only increase with Trent McDuffie’s arrival in the secondary.

Cornerback

Starters: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson
Top backup: Emmanuel Forbes Jr.*
Depth: Josh Wallace

Los Angeles made this position its sole focus in free agency, signing big deals for McDuffie and Watson, who will man the outside spots with physicality and championship pedigree. It moves Forbes into a third cornerback spot, where his athleticism and playmaking can still have a role but where he’ll be counted on less to hold up physically.
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McDuffie is a bit of a chess piece, as he’ll play primarily at outside cornerback but can slide inside to nickel, where he was a first-team All-Pro, to allow Quentin Lake to evolve his “star” role a little more. The Rams do have room for another cornerback to emerge if an undrafted free agent can rise to the occasion.

* Note by me: Atkins probably wrote this before the Rams did not take the 5th year option with Forbes, making him a free agent. That doesn’t mean he won’t be a Ram, but it does make the situation a bit less cut and dried.

Safety

Starters: Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens
Top backup: Jaylen McCollough
Depth: Tanner Ingle

The return of Curl on a three-year deal and an extension for Lake keep the Rams’ safety room among the deepest and most versatile in the league. The hope is that with trustworthy outside cornerbacks, Lake and Curl will be able to move around more and see more pass attempts their way. Kinchens is a player the Rams are hoping can take a leap in his third season, and he should see a boost as the deep safety with McDuffie organizing a better plan on the perimeter.

Specialists

Starters: Harrison Mevis (kicker), Ethan Evans (punter), Joe Cardona (long snapper), Xavier Smith (punt returner), Jordan Whittington (kick returner)

For all the special teams woes this team faced last season, it wound up feeling pretty good entering the draft after the late-season emergence of Mevis and the signings of Cardona and Stuard, who is a core special-teamer, as well as new coaches in coordinator Bubba Ventrone and assistant Kyle Hoke. One area they did not address was punt returner, which helped cost them the NFC Championship Game. That’s a spot where the right undrafted free agent could come in and have a shot to make the roster.