Turf Show Times
Two-thirds of the way through the preseason, we’ve learned much about the depth of this year’s Los Angeles Rams roster. Sean McVay often punts on the third exhibition game and there’s a chance Stetson Bennett and key reserve players only participate in the first half if at all. We could see a lot of Dresser Winn and those who are auditioning for other teams on Saturday afternoon against the Cleveland Browns.
In short, the meaningful part of the preseason is mostly in the rearview mirror. With that in mind, there are a couple Rams rookies that seemingly have not done enough to make this year’s 53-man initial roster and are in danger of being cut around this time next week.
It’s also worth noting that the 2025 draft class is only six players deep for 2025. The Rams packaged draft picks (including future selections) to move up for the players they wanted. In recent years their draft classes have been in the double digits.
If both of these players are indeed cut, the Rams will lose a third of their 2025 draft selections—a stark departure from their success in 2023 and 2024.
Necessary context: How many players at each position have Rams kept under Sean McVay?
Les Snead sent away a 2025 sixth-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick in order to move up and select Hamilton in the fifth round.
The early returns on this selection have been far from stellar. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF)—when accumulating grades from both preseason games so far—Hamilton is the third-worst player on the defense overall with a 44.2 defensive grade behind Shaun Jolly (43.5) and Darcarius Hawthorne (30.1; 14 snaps only).
Where has Hamilton struggled?
It’s mostly been in run defense, which is concerning considering that this was one of his most appealing traits through the pre-draft process. Through two games, Hamilton has a PFF run defense grade of 40.5. He’s been mildly successful as a pass rusher with a 59.4 grade and two pressures on 28 rushes.
Also concerning is the fact he’s missed a tackle on only four total attempts, earning him a mark of 30.0 in this department.
With Blaine Grisak’s breakdown of how many players usually make the 53-man roster at each position in mind, the Rams are likely to keep six to seven interior defensive linemen. The EDGE position is deeper than it has been in recent years, so there’s a chance the Rams run thinner along the interior to keep their options open behind Jared Verse and Byron Young.
Here’s how I see the pecking order currently:
Seventh-round picks are not locks to make rosters, generally speaking. The Rams have a crowded room at receiver, and while Mumpfield has reportedly...
