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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Cameron DaSilva

Comparing Rams’ initial 53-man roster to 2023, position by position

Although there’s sure to be plenty of moves before Week 1, the Los Angeles Rams have done the hard part of setting their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season. They cut down from 90 players to only 53 on Tuesday, keeping five undrafted rookies on the roster as of now.

Understandably, the roster looks very different than it did this time last year. There are a lot of new faces, particularly on defense, with another infusion of young talent on the team.

How does this group compare to the initial 2023 team? Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the Rams’ 53-man roster last year and this season.

Quarterback

2023 2024
Matthew Stafford Matthew Stafford
Stetson Bennett Stetson Bennett

The Rams have the same two quarterbacks as they had on last year’s initial 53-man roster, though it’ll change in Week 3 when Jimmy Garoppolo returns from his two-game suspension.

Running back

2023 2024
Cam Akers Kyren Williams
Kyren Williams Blake Corum
Ronnie Rivers Ronnie Rivers
Zach Evans

Williams and Rivers are back after making the team last year, welcoming Corum to the mix as the backup, as well. Evans made the roster last year as a sixth-round rookie but he was cut this time around.

Wide receiver

2023 2024
Cooper Kupp Cooper Kupp
Van Jefferson Puka Nacua
Tutu Atwell Demarcus Robinson
Puka Nacua Tutu Atwell
Ben Skowronek Jordan Whittington
Demarcus Robinson Tyler Johnson

It’s six receivers again for the Rams and the top five could all play meaningful roles. Whittington might even be ahead of Atwell, whose role is very much up in the air, especially with Williams returning punts

Tight end

2023 2024
Tyler Higbee Colby Parkinson
Brycen Hopkins Davis Allen
Hunter Long Hunter Long
Davis Allen

The Rams went light at tight end this season with Tyler Higbee on the PUP list, leaning on Parkinson, Allen and Long.

Offensive line

2023 2024
Alaric Jackson Jonah Jackson
Steve Avila Steve Avila
Coleman Shelton Kevin Dotson
Tremayne Anchrum Jr. Rob Havenstein
Rob Havenstein Joe Noteboom
Warren McClendon Jr. Warren McClendon Jr.
Brian Allen Beaux Limmer
Joe Noteboom Logan Bruss
Kevin Dotson Conor McDermott
Zach Thomas

Alaric Jackson is suspended two games so he’ll be added back to the 53-man roster in Week 3, which will likely cost McDermott his spot on the team. Bruss is a great redemption story after spending last year on the practice squad.

Defensive line

2023 2024
Aaron Donald Kobie Turner
Bobby Brown III Bobby Brown III
Earnest Brown IV Braden Fiske
Kobie Turner Tyler Davis
Jonah Williams Cory Durden
Desjuan Johnson Desjuan Johnson
Larrell Murchison

It’s weird to see Donald’s name absent from the 2024 side but that’s the reality of the situation for the Rams now. Turner, Brown and Fiske are a great starting trio, with Davis, Durden and Johnson providing depth.

Inside linebacker

2023 2024
Ernest Jones Christian Rozeboom
Christian Rozeboom Troy Reeder
Jake Hummel Jacob Hummel
Omar Speights
Elias Neal

The biggest surprise of the 53-man roster came at inside linebacker where the Rams not only traded Ernest Jones, but they kept five guys on the 53-man roster. That’s a huge number for a team that typically only plays one inside linebacker at a time, but it’s a sign of how well Hummel, Speights and Neal played.

Outside linebacker

2023 2024
Michael Hoecht Byron Young
Byron Young Jared Verse
Nick Hampton Michael Hoecht
Zach VanValkenburg Brennan Jackson
Ochaun Mathis Nick Hampton

Young, Hoecht and Hampton are the only returning edge rushers from last year, with Verse and Jackson being the newcomers. Verse elevates this whole group in a big way and could be in for a big rookie year.

Cornerback

2023 2024
Cobie Durant Darious Williams
Ahkello Witherspoon Tre’Davious White
Derion Kendrick Cobie Durant
Tre Tomlinson Josh Wallace
Shaun Jolly Charles Woods

The only returning cornerback from last year is Durant, making this an entirely new group for Chris Shula to work with. Williams and White arrived in free agency, with Wallace and Woods being undrafted rookies.

Safety

2023 2024
Jordan Fuller Kamren Curl
John Johnson III John Johnson III
Russ Yeast Quentin Lake
Quentin Lake Kamren Kinchens
Jason Taylor II Russ Yeast
Jaylen McCollough

The safety room looks very different for the Rams this year, too. Curl is one starter and the other spot will likely be split between Johnson and Kinchens. Lake is a team captain and will be the “star” defender, primarily covering the slot but also being able to play other positions in the secondary. McCollough is another undrafted rookie who made the team.

Special teams

2023 2024
Ethan Evans Joshua Karty
Alex Ward Ethan Evans
Alex Ward

The Rams didn’t have a kicker initially last year until they signed Brett Maher to the practice squad. This year, there’s more stability with Karty as the starting kicker after he was a sixth-round draft pick.

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