2026 Los Angeles Rams

[jacque]

Last year when I did the write up for the rams, I said quote “No more skill position players. Rams formerly stacked their PS and bottom of the roster with white WR like Ben Skowronek, JJ Koski, Austin Tramell, etc, but not anymore. Not even an PS/backup DB like Jake Gervase annymore” and unfortunately, this year is no different. What happened McVay? At least the practice squad looks nice, including pre season hero Dean Connors who was getting our hopes up that he may make the active roster, and safety Nick Anderson who did the same. Connors is possibly the most intriguing practice squad player in the league. Standout pre season player, thin RB depth chart, one injury and I think he’s on the active roster. He provides a useful 3rd down back skillset, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was going to make the active roster if they didn’t sign the ancient Aaron Donald off the couch for a PR stunt.

Regardless, the rams are a solid team to watch, but still quite a fall from grace. Reigning MVP Matt Stafford will lead the way with an elite rotation of white tight ends. Alabama QB Ty Simpson was selected in the first round hopefully to replace the aging Stafford. DWFs seethed over this selection, but he looked awesome in the pre season and the narrative is changing.

I don’t even know what to make of the TE situation, but it’s awesome. Parkinson and Ferguson are listed as co starters, they rotate all their guys, and frequently run 2 and even 3 TE sets.

OL situation however, NOT GOOD. One white starter, center Coleman Shelton. Good luck with revolving door sumos McVay. We’ll see if the situation improves as the season goes on, because I wouldn’t call all of the starting sumos permanent set in stone starters.

The defense is not looking great, with Aaron Donald returning, Braden Fiske is listed as a co starter at DE with him. Does that technically put the rams to 0-1 starting defenders? Will Nate Landman actually be the true starter at LB? Regardless we will see him taking legitimate snaps, and hopefully Dolac sneaks his way onto the field beyond special teams.

The rams will start the year with 6 starts if you count two tight ends being co starters. 19 total including special teams, which makes them a decent roster. This is about the same as last year.

QB: Matt Stafford*
Ty Simpson
Stetson Bennett

TE: Tyler Higbee
Davis Allen
Colby Parkinson*
Max Klare
Terrence Ferguson*

OL: Coleman Shelton*
Beaux Limmer
David Quessenberry
Dylan McMahon
Bill Murray

DE: Braden Fiske*

LB: Nate Landman*
Shaun Dolac

Special teams: Punter Ethan Evans, Kicker Harrison Mevis, and long snapper Joe Cardona.

IR: QB Matthew Caldwell
OL Justin Dedich

Practice squad: WR Alex Bachman
S Nick Anderson (keep an eye on him)
OL Austin Blaske
P Jack Bouwmeester
RB: Dean Connors (REALLY keep an eye on him)
OL Blake Hance
DL Bill Norton
TE Dan Villari

 

[Truthteller]

Nice write up, jacque

Why in the world would any team need to keep 5 Tight Ends?

Last season Aunt Crissy (Sunday Night Football), noticing more and more NFL teams were placing 3 tight ends on the field at the same time, said something like this (not exact words) : When your options at wide receiver are very limited due to a lack of talent, you have no choice but to go three tight end's. And more and more teams have to do that these days.

Chrissy did not say 2 tight end sets; Crissy said 3 tight end's on the field the same time!

Players like Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren, Brock Bowers, Travis Kelce, Terrance Ferguson and quite a few others are not really "tight end's", in the classic sense. In reality, they are taller wide outs, in the same way black retro stars like Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Dwayne Bowe, Marques Colston and Julio Jones were. Only difference, is Whites have been forced to bulk up considerably, so they can be "shoehorned" into their racially appropriate role of "tight end"

First time I noticed Terrance Ferguson was 2024. He easily beat his defender and caught a deep TD at the edge of the end zone. He was tall, fairly slender and wearing #3, so I figured I'd go online to Oregon's website and check out the bio of this "very rare" Ducks wide receiver. But, to my surprise, he was "listed"...no, I mean "stacked" at tight end!

Sean McVay actually let it be known in the off-season, that Ferguson would frequently be utilized at wide receiver. There you go, that's why teams carry 4 or 5 tight ends. To make up for the lack production and receiving skills from the "real wide receivers".

NFC Notes: Terrance Ferguson, Aden Durde, Les Snead, Rams, Seahawks

Rams Rams GM Les Snead understands that multiple players on the roster are eligible for contract extensions, but said they would prioritize expiring contracts with players first. “Naturally, we’ll tackle players whose contracts are expiring

nfltraderumors.co

 

[Freethinker]

Good insight fellas!