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

Position-by-position comparison of Rams’ initial 53-man roster in 2022 vs. 2023

With the season opener just over a week away, the Los Angeles Rams set their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday. It’s bound to change before Week 1 against the Seahawks, but we have a good sense of what the team will look like this season.

When comparing last year’s initial 53-man roster to this year’s, there are a lot of changes. Only 25 players from last year’s roster made the team again this season, meaning there are 28 new faces – more than half the roster.

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There are also 15 total rookies on the 2023 roster, 14 of whom were drafted by the Rams in April.

Here’s a position-by-position comparison of the 2022 and 2023 rosters set by the Rams after final cuts.

Quarterback

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
2022 2023
Matthew Stafford Matthew Stafford
John Wolford Stetson Bennett
Bryce Perkins

Returning: Matthew Stafford

Newcomer: Stetson Bennett

Stafford is back as the starter but the rest of the quarterback group has changed. Not only did the Rams move on from Wolford and Perkins, but they only kept two quarterbacks on the roster this year.

Running back

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
2022 2023
Cam Akers Cam Akers
Darrell Henderson Jr. Kyren Williams
Kyren Williams Ronnie Rivers
Jake Funk Zach Evans

Returning: Cam Akers, Kyren Williams

Newcomer: Zach Evans, Ronnie Rivers

Evans and Rivers will back up Akers and Williams, who are both expected to be big parts of the Rams offense. It’s not the most proven group on the team, but Akers and Williams make for a good one-two punch.

Wide receiver

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
2022 2023
Cooper Kupp Cooper Kupp
Allen Robinson Van Jefferson
Van Jefferson Tutu Atwell
Ben Skowronek Puka Nacua
Tutu Atwell Ben Skowronek
Brandon Powell Demarcus Robinson
Lance McCutcheon

Returning: Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell

Newcomer: Puka Nacua, Demarcus Robinson

There’s a good amount of turnover in this group. Robinson, Powell and McCutcheon are all gone, while Nacua and Robinson round out the wide receivers alongside the four returning veterans.

Tight end

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
2022 2023
Tyler Higbee Tyler Higbee
Brycen Hopkins Brycen Hopkins
Hunter Long
Davis Allen

Returning: Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins

Newcomer: Davis Allen, Hunter Long

It’s easy to forget the Rams only kept two tight ends last year. They’ll carry four into this season after drafting Allen and acquiring Long in a trade, but things could change if an injury occurs or the backups struggle

Offensive line

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
2022 2023
Joe Noteboom Alaric Jackson
David Edwards Steve Avila
Brian Allen Coleman Shelton
Coleman Shelton Tremayne Anchrum Jr.
Rob Havenstein Rob Havenstein
Tremayne Anchrum Jr. Warren McClendon Jr.
A.J. Jackson Brian Allen
Bobby Evans Joe Noteboom
Kevin Dotson
Zach Thomas

Returning: Rob Havenstein, Joe Noteboom, Brian Allen, Coleman Shelton, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., Alaric Jackson

Newcomer: Warren McClendon Jr., Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson, Zach Thomas

While there are six players who are returning from last year, there are also four new faces, including two rookies. The starting lineup is going to look very different than last year, too. Only Shelton and Havenstein will be back as Week 1 starters, alongside Avila, Jackson and Anchrum.

Defensive line

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
2022 2023
Aaron Donald Aaron Donald
Greg Gaines Bobby Brown III
A’Shawn Robinson Earnest Brown IV
Marquise Copeland Kobie Turner
Michael Hoecht Jonah Williams
Jonah Williams Desjuan Johnson
Larrell Murchison

Returning: Aaron Donald, Jonah Williams

Newcomer: Bobby Brown III (suspended in 2022), Earnest Brown IV, Kobie Turner, Desjuan Johnson, Larrell Murchison

Bobby Brown was on the 53-man roster eventually last year but only after serving his suspension, so he wasn’t on it initially. That leaves Donald and Williams as the only returning players on the defensive line. This starting lineup is going to look very different than last year, too.

Inside linebacker

(AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
2022 2023
Bobby Wagner Ernest Jones
Ernest Jones Christian Rozeboom
Christian Rozeboom Jake Hummel
Jake Hummel

Returning: Ernest Jones, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel

Newcomer: None

No new additions were made at inside linebacker and Wagner is now gone, which means the three returning players all move up one spot on the depth chart. Jones will be the primary starter, with Rozeboom mixing in as a backup and No. 2 linebacker in base packages.

Outside linebacker

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
2022 2023
Leonard Floyd Michael Hoecht
Justin Hollins Byron Young
Terrell Lewis Nick Hampton
Keir Thomas Zach VanValkenburg
Daniel Hardy Ochaun Mathis

Returning: Michael Hoecht

Newcomer: Byron Young, Nick Hampton, Zach VanValkenburg, Ochaun Mathis

Hoecht wasn’t on the outside linebacker depth chart early last year because he only moved there late in the season. But if you don’t include him, the Rams don’t have a single edge rusher from the start of last year who is still with the team.

Cornerback

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
2022 2023
Jalen Ramsey Cobie Durant
Troy Hill Ahkello Witherspoon
David Long Jr. Derion Kendrick
Robert Rochell Tre Tomlinson
Decobie Durant Shaun Jolly
Derion Kendrick

Returning: Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick

Newcomer: Ahkello Witherspoon, Tre Tomlinson, Shaun Jolly

The fact that Durant and Kendrick are the only returning cornerbacks from last year, which goes to show how much turnover there’s been at this position. Durant, Witherspoon and Kendrick figure to be the three starters, with Tomlinson potentially mixing in as a sub-package player.

Safety

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
2022 2023
Jordan Fuller Jordan Fuller
Nick Scott John Johnson III
Taylor Rapp Russ Yeast
Terrell Burgess Quentin Lake
Russ Yeast Jason Taylor II

Returning: Jordan Fuller, Russ Yeast

Newcomer: Quentin Lake (injured in 2022), John Johnson III, Jason Taylor II

While Fuller and Yeast are returning, neither of them played very much last season. So essentially, this position group will have all new starters and backups because of injuries and a lack of playing time in 2022.

Special teams

(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
2021 2022
Matt Gay Ethan Evans
Johnny Hekker Alex Ward
Matthew Orzech

Returning: None

Newcomer: Ethan Evans, Alex Ward

The Rams don’t have a kicker and their punter and long snapper are both rookies, so there isn’t a single similarity between last year and this season. Los Angeles will need to add a kicker soon before Week 1 approaches.

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