The Los Angeles Rams finalized their 53-man roster for the start of the regular season on Saturday, trimming down from 90 players to the league-mandated limit. As always, there were quite a few surprises on the list of players waived by the Rams, primarily coming on the defensive side of the ball.
Two players were draft picks in the last two years, with John Franklin-Myers and Dakota Allen being released by the Rams.
Here are the five biggest surprises among 37 players released by Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday.
DE John Franklin-Myers
The biggest surprise for the Rams was the release of Franklin-Myers, last year’s fourth-round pick. He wasn’t an impactful player as a rookie in 2018, but he did play well in the playoffs and had a strip-sack in the Super Bowl. He was viewed as a raw prospect when he was drafted out of Stephen F. Austin, which makes his release shocking.
Franklin-Myers can play defensive end and outside linebacker, which increased his value to the Rams. However, the team opted to keep Morgan Fox instead, who will back up Michael Brockers.
If Franklin-Myers clears waivers – which is far from guaranteed – he’s a perfect candidate for the practice squad.
ILB Dakota Allen
Allen was a seventh-round pick this year, which makes this move a surprise. He played well in the preseason and was a solid player at Texas Tech, but an arrest in college caused his draft stock to plummet. It wasn’t a good sign that he played every defensive snap in the final preseason game, but given the Rams’ lack of depth at linebacker with Micah Kiser out, Allen was expected to make the team.
He may not clear waivers after showing well in the preseason. He’s a good fit at strongside linebacker in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme, which ups the number of suitors he could have.
RB John Kelly
The Rams went with only three running backs on the 53-man roster: Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson. All three will have a role, but Kelly was someone many people thought would make the team. He has a promising skill set in the backfield, boasting good power for a smaller runner, yet soft hands as a receiver, too.
CB Kevin Peterson
Peterson was a preseason star for the Rams this year, picking off two passes and breaking up three others. He looked like the Rams’ best cornerback in the preseason, but his play wasn’t enough to land him a spot on the 53-man roster. That’s somewhat surprising, especially considering the Rams only kept five cornerbacks.
Peterson is someone Los Angeles will likely try to sneak onto the practice squad, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was claimed by a team off waivers.
WR KhaDarel Hodge
Hodge stood out in the preseason, particularly in the final game. Mike Thomas and JoJo Natson were both locks to make the team, but Hodge was viewed as the next-man up in the Rams’ deep group of receivers. Instead, it was Nsimba Webster who made the team, not Hodge.
Hodge spent time on the practice squad last year and was called up to the regular-season roster. He was active for 14 games and caught two passes for 14 yards. Hodge showed he’s deserving of a spot on an NFL roster this year and last, so the Rams may not be able to put him on the practice squad.
