Now that the first 53-man roster for the Los Angeles Rams has been determined, we must begin the difficult process of sorting through the statements made, the ones that were not made but ought to have been, and the ones that were said but ought not to have been. The Rams’ most recent 72-hour window before the NFL roster cut deadline seems to be more focused on the newest Rams rumors than roster changes, in contrast to many previous seasons.
Just to put everything in perspective. Over the last two seasons, there has been a significant change in the LA Rams defense. Without All-Pro DT Aaron Donald, this is no longer a club attempting to create a new route. Raheem Morris, the former DC, is no longer with the defense. ILB Ernest Jones, the defensive play-caller, is no longer with this club. The fact that there are a lot of rookies on the squad is an additional consideration on top of everything else. Apart from the large class of 2024 NFL Draft prospects, several went undrafted.
It’s obvious that the club is excited to start a “new look” defense. Because of their openness to change, the team was able to accept 2024 without Aaron Donald and will now start new players in practically every important defensive position.
Was all of that intended to happen? It’s challenging to determine. We do know that none of the significant defense-related adjustments that will take place in 2024 would be feasible without the rookie triumphs of 2023 from Kobie Turner and Byron Young. However, it was their extraordinary achievement that saw them both lead all rookies in 2023 in quarterback sacks—Young had 8.0 and Turner had 9.0 for the campaign.
That production spike propelled the squad into the 2024 NFL Playoffs and helped them stay competitive in 2023. It also drove the team’s winning streak in the second half of the season. With a fresh rookie class that features even more pass rushers, linebackers, run stuffers, and ball-hawking defensive backs, the team is looking for comparable outcomes this season.
There was more at stake when the Los Angeles Rams made the extremely difficult selections about who to maintain on the team roster and who to cut go. You see, the Rams were able to include a lot more players in specialized jobs because they had 90 players on the roster. However, some of the positions held by niche players had to be redistributed to the 53 individuals who were left on the squad as a result of the removal of 37 players. And so, as soon as the team finished with their original group of players, the consolidation process started.
Redistributing duties involves striking a careful balance between giving every player on the squad the most “bang for the buck” and being excessively cautious about not demanding too much of any one player. Should that individual experience a decline in performance due to an injury or any other reason, the club will have to find other players to cover several positions.
Kyren Williams, a third-year veteran running back, just needed to play 12 games in the 2023 NFL season to guarantee that he finished as the league’s third-most skilled rusher. That’s fortunate as well, since the Rams were only able to get 12 games out of him. In actuality, Kyren Williams has suit up for 22 games and started 11 during the course of two seasons, out of a possible 34 games. Given that those were his first two NFL seasons and, supposedly, his healthiest, it is concerning. That was the reason the team decided to choose rookie running back Blake Corum with a Round 3 choice.
But now the teams will have a punt returner in addition to him in the feature role as a running back? Call me doubtful.
I would have supported Williams if he had started each of the team’s 2023 games. However, the squad started the previous season with Cam Akers as their featured running back before switching to Kyren Williams because, well, Akers got into trouble.
Not that Williams shouldn’t return punts; I’m just saying that. But please, first things foremost. See if the player can complete a season without missing at least four games due to injury. The goal in selecting a strong rookie to replace Williams was to make sure he wouldn’t be overburdened with additional responsibilities come postseason play.
The Rams have a tendency to use running backs in a very aggressive manner. With terrible results, the team attempted to convert running back Darrell Henderson Jr. from a change-of-pace back to an every-down back. The group appears to be taking its time picking up those expensive lessons.
With this move, I fear the worst but hope for the best. There are a ton of players on the team that can return punts. Although I believe Kyren Williams to be a unique running back, I don’t think he will be as effective in this new position.
It appears that the Los Angeles Rams are getting ready for life without Ernest Jones IV. Could they contact this team in the AFC West to discuss a trade? Here’s the most recent information about the Rams linebacker in case you missed it:
Therefore, it seems that the Rams are considering offers and would be open to trading Jones for a high enough price. Because of the Rams’ inside linebacker stalemate, Jones might be the odd man out because the team might not want to give him the extension he is requesting. Ernest Jones is a very excellent player who posed a threat to the LA Rams defense, so all things considered, it’s a sad situation.
However, since the NFL is a business in the end, it is not shocking that they are letting go of a player. Here are some updates from the Denver Broncos in the AFC West in case you missed them:
Due to season-ending injuries in 2022 and 2023, veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick has not been on the field since 2021. The organization is attempting to trade him. Despite this, Patrick is a reliable target who has 104 receptions, 1,476 yards, and 11 touchdowns in 2020 and 2021. He also doesn’t drop the ball. At this stage of his career, he’s a nice WR3 option, therefore the Rams should think about making a trade for him.
While some may argue that the Rams do not need more wide receiver assistance, I would contend that Patrick would be the third-best wide receiver option on offense after Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. The Broncos need some help at inside linebacker. The Rams added a lot of skill to their defense this offseason, and I contend that they have more talent there than they do on offense.
