Projecting Rams’ depth chart after first half of training camp

The Los Angeles Rams haven’t yet released an unofficial depth chart, though it’s possible they will before their first preseason game next week. Until then, we can only project how the depth chart looks, from the starters to reserve players.

With one half of training camp in the books, here’s how we see the depth chart on offense and defense, going position by position and predicting where everyone stands so far.

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(*) = rookie

Quarterback

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Quarterback	Matthew Stafford	Stetson Bennett*	Brett Rypien	Dresser Winn*

No real surprises here. Bennett looks like he’s the frontrunner to back up Stafford this season, though he and Rypien are still splitting snaps in practice. Eventually, I think Bennett will pull even further ahead, potentially resulting in the Rams cutting Rypien before the season begins.

Running back

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Running back	Cam Akers	Kyren Williams	Zach Evans*	Ronnie Rivers/Royce Freeman

With only five running backs on the roster, the Rams don’t have a ton of depth at the position. They quickly filled Sony Michel’s spot by signing Freeman, but he may not even make the 53-man roster. The Rams are likely to keep at least four, though, so it could come down to Rivers vs. Freeman.

Wide receiver

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Wide receiver	Cooper Kupp	Tutu Atwell	Tyler Johnson	Braxton Burmeister*
Wide receiver	Van Jefferson	Ben Skowronek	Austin Trammell	Tyler Hudson*
Wide receiver	Demarcus Robinson	Puka Nacua*	Lance McCutcheon	Xavier Smith*

The wide receiver position is wide open behind Kupp and Jefferson. Based on reports out of camp, Robinson has been the most impressive of the bunch, but Atwell is also turning some heads with his improvements this summer.

Skowronek missed a little bit of time with a back injury and though Nacua has shined, he’s still just a fifth-round rookie. It’s a toss-up between Robinson, Atwell, Skowronek and Nacua right now.

Tight end

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Tight end	Tyler Higbee	Brycen Hopkins	Hunter Long	Davis Allen*/Christian Sims*/Nikola Kalinic

Long and Allen are both injured, so it’s anyone’s guess where they stand on the depth chart. Higbee and Hopkins have both played well in training camp, which is encouraging for the Rams, but they need to sort out who their third and fourth tight ends will be at some point.

Offensive tackle

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Left tackle	Joe Noteboom/Alaric Jackson	A.J. Arcuri
Right tackle	Rob Havenstein	Warren McClendon Jr.*	Logan Bruss

Noteboom and Jackson are still dueling for the starting left tackle spot and there doesn’t seem to be any clear leader so far. Arcuri and McClendon could each be the swing tackle, depending on how they play in the preseason and the rest of camp.

Bruss is a wild card at right tackle because he’s gotten reps with the second-team there, so he’s not exclusively playing guard for the Rams.

Guard/center

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Left guard	Steve Avila*	Grant Miller*
Center	Brian Allen/Coleman Shelton	Sean Maginn*	Mike McAllister*
Right guard	Tremayne Anchrum Jr.	Logan Bruss	Zach Thomas

Allen and Shelton are battling for the starting center job just as Noteboom and Jackson are at left tackle. We don’t yet know who the leader is, but that’ll have to become clearer as the summer progresses.

Avila and Anchrum Jr. are projected to be the starting guards right now, though that could change if Bruss, Noteboom or Shelton stands out on the right side.

Defensive line

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Defensive tackle	Aaron Donald	Kobie Turner*	Larrell Murchison	Desjuan Johnson*
Nose tackle	Bobby Brown III	Taron Vincent
Defensive end	Marquise Copeland	Jonah Williams	Earnest Brown IV	T.J. Carter

The defensive line is anchored by Donald, but the Rams have yet to determine who the other two starters will be. Brown has the build to play nose tackle but he still has to prove he’s deserving of the starting job in the middle.

Williams appears to be having a good camp so far, which will assure him a spot on the roster.

Inside linebacker

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Inside linebacker	Ernest Jones	Jake Hummel	Jaiden Woodbey*	Ryan Smenda Jr.*
Inside linebacker	Christian Rozeboom	Kelechi Anyalebechi*	DeAndre Square*

It’s possible the Rams will only keep three linebackers this season, which would be Jones, Rozeboom and Hummel. None of the four undrafted rookies has made a strong statement thus far, but the preseason will be incredibly important for all of them.

Outside linebacker

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Outside linebacker	Michael Hoecht	Daniel Hardy	Nick Hampton*	Zach VanValkenburg
Outside linebacker	Byron Young*	Keir Thomas	Ochaun Mathis*

Young has been getting first-team reps opposite Hoecht, according to those in attendance at training camp, which is hardly surprising. Mathis will need to rebound quickly from his knee injury if he’s going to make the team as a sixth-round rookie.

Cornerback

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Cornerback	Ahkello Witherspoon	Robert Rochell	Tyon Davis*	Cameron McCutcheon*
Cornerback	Derion Kendrick	Timarcus Davis*	Jordan Jones*	Vincent Gray
Nickel	Cobie Durant	Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson*	Shaun Jolly

Witherspoon and Kendrick are the favorites to start on the outside, with Durant manning the slot. Davis was spotted getting first-team reps on defense, which is both surprising and great to see because the Rams need some depth at cornerback behind the projected starters.

Safety

	Starter	Backup	Third-string	Reserve
Safety	Jordan Fuller	Tanner Ingle*	Rashad Torrence II*	Richard LeCounte III
Safety	Russ Yeast/Quentin Lake	Jason Taylor II*	Quindell Johnson*

Yeast and Lake are probably going to be co-starters next to Fuller, getting a lot of playing time in nickel and dime packages. The Rams like to use three-safety sets, which sets up perfectly with Fuller, Yeast and Lake all playing well in camp this summer. Ingle has been the most impressive backup and could be earning himself a roster spot.