Turf Show Times
Building a full NFL roster from Rams teams over the past 25 years
With the NFL heading into the 2025 season, there are many that will be looking at the last 25 years of the NFL as a whole and celebrate the great teams over that time period. A couple of weeks ago, ESPN published a 53-man NFL “All Quarter Century Team” and Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski did an all-Philadelphia Eagles version. That got me wondering what a Rams version would look like.
Note: the players will be judged by their level of play specifically with the Rams beginning in the year 2000. In other words, while Von Miller is a first-ballot Hall of Fame player, he won’t make the team. Similarly, Robert Woods’ NFL career wasn’t great, but he had moments of stardom in Los Angeles.
A case could probably be made for Marc Bulger. He played eight seasons for the Rams, surpassing 22,000 passing yards and 120 touchdowns. Bulger leads the Rams in passing yards and touchdowns since 2000. Still, Matthew Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl win in 2021. Warner didn’t have the longevity, but he did have an MVP season in 2001. Jared Goff has two Pro Bowl appearances like Bulger, but has the playoff run in 2018 and overall team success that gets him over the edge.
This trio are very clearly the three best running backs for the Rams during this period. Both Faulk and Gurley have Offensive Player of the Year awards while Jackson surpassed 10,000 yards. Jackson also became the team’s all-time leading rusher during this era. The Rams have some of the best running backs in NFL history and to get these three all within a 25 year period underscores that.
Torry Holt leads Rams receivers with 817 receptions and 11,800 yards during this period. From 2000-2005, he set a league record with six consecutive seasons with 1,300 yards. Cooper Kupp may only have two 1,000 yard seasons, but he won the triple crown in 2021. That season will go down as one of the best of all-time for a wide receiver. Woods and Nacua round out the group. It may seem crazy to have Tavon Austin in here, but we need someone who can return punts. Austin led the Rams with 1,300 punt return yards and three punt return touchdowns.
For as great as the Rams have been on the defensive line, wide receiver, and running back, the opposite can be said about tight end. Tyler Higbee is a lock, but after that, it’s hard to choose. Gerald Everett may not have signed a second contract, but will always have his game-winning touchdown catch against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. A...
