All 32 teams have trimmed their rosters down to the maximum 53 players ahead of the regular season. The Los Angeles Rams had quite a few surprise releases, including John Franklin-Myers and Dakota Allen.
Of course, the Rams weren’t the only ones who had some unexpected cuts on Saturday, with several other teams also catching a lot of folks off guard.
With more than 1,100 players waived on Friday and Saturday, there are several quality options available on the waiver wire for the Rams. Not all players are subject to waivers – vested veterans with four years of experience become free agents – but Los Angeles could make a solid addition or two by Sunday.
Here are nine players the Rams should look at on the waiver wire.
OLB Jachai Polite
Arguably the biggest surprise of cutdown day, the Jets unexpectedly moved on from third-round rookie Jachai Polite. He met with the Rams at the combine and said that was his favorite meeting in Indianapolis, so it could be assumed that the discussions went well.
The Rams showed interest in Polite, who had character concerns coming out and was out of shape during the pre-draft process. Still, if the Rams can get their hands on the young pass rusher from Florida, it could prove to be a steal.
OLB Noah Spence
Spence has been on the decline since his rookie year in 2016. That year, he had 5.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, but his performance has regressed ever since. Still, he’s young enough to take a chance on, especially with Wade Phillips running the show on the Rams defense.
Spence struggled in the preseason and didn’t start a single game last season, so there are obviously red flags. However, Spence is a good athlete with the ability to bend the edge. He’s a better fit in a 4-3 scheme, but as a designated pass rusher, he could help the Rams.
G Christian Westerman
Westerman was a somewhat surprising cut by the Bengals because he does have starting experience and is only entering his third season in the NFL. A former fifth-round pick in 2017, Westerman started two games as a rookie and looked good in that very limited action.
He suited up for 14 games last season but only played 96 total snaps. He struggled this preseason and just a few weeks ago, he left the team for personal reasons – and reportedly considered retirement – but returned after five days away.
Westerman would provide good depth for the Rams at guard if they don’t feel confident in Jamil Demby, Bobby Evans and David Edwards.
ILB Malik Jefferson
Jefferson was one of the more surprising cuts on Saturday, considering he was a third-round pick in 2018. There’s a new coaching staff and regime in Cincinnati, but that doesn’t make this move any less shocking. Jefferson is a great athlete who simply struggled with the Bengals up to this point.
He does have issues taking on blocks and shedding them, but with his physical traits, he definitely has the potential to improve. The Rams could use some depth at linebacker with Micah Kiser injured and very little proven talent behind Cory Littleton.
G Joshua Garnett
Garnett is a name a lot of people recognize, considering he was a first-round pick by the 49ers in 2016. However, he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, playing just 22 games (11 starts) in three seasons. He missed the entire 2017 season due to injury and was limited to seven games last year, getting injured immediately after replacing Mike Person at guard.
Despite those injury concerns, Garnett is a talented player. When healthy, he’s a quality backup at worst and potentially a future starter. The Rams need depth on the interior offensive line with so much inexperience on the second unit. Garnett would at least be someone with a past history of starting.
OLB Shane Ray
Here we are again, with the Rams having another opportunity to add Ray. They passed the first time, but if they don’t feel good about their group of pass rushers (unlikely, but possible), Ray might be of interest. He’s done next to nothing lately production-wise and generated very little interest on the free agent market, which says a lot.
But with his connection to Wade Phillips, he might be worth a low-cost flyer in hopes of reviving his career as a situational pass rusher. Just don’t expect to get much of anything from him as a run defender.
DT Willie Henry
Henry has battled injuries throughout his career, dating back to his rookie year in 2016 when he missed the entire season on IR. He was a fourth-round pick that year, though, and has shown flashes of being a breakout star. In 2017, he had 3.5 sacks and six tackles for loss, to go along with 11 quarterback hits in limited playing time across 14 games.
Henry wouldn’t be a starter for the Rams, but he could back up Aaron Donald at 3-technique, potentially replacing Tanzel Smart on the 53-man roster. The biggest concern with Henry is his health and lack of production this preseason.
DE Jonathan Bullard
Bullard has been a bust in the NFL after being a third-round pick in 2016, starting just five games the last three years in Chicago. In 16 games last season, he didn’t record a single sack and only hit the quarterback once. Perhaps he needs a change of scenery to get back on track.
At Florida, he was a fun player to watch. His athleticism popped and he regularly found himself in opponents’ backfields. His skill set simply hasn’t translated to the NFL. Putting him on a team with Wade Phillips and Eric Henderson could be just what he needs to finally find his footing. He’d slide in at defensive end behind Michael Brockers as one of the backups there.
WR Josh Doctson
The Rams have very little need for a receiver, but it’s hard to ignore the talent Doctson possesses. A former first-round pick, Doctson has rare leaping ability and was outstanding in jump-ball situations at TCU. This isn’t to say he’d be the No. 4 receiver ahead of Josh Reynolds, but he could replace Mike Thomas on the 53-man roster.
It’s unlikely the Rams will be awarded a waiver claim on Doctson, who 30 other teams would need to pass on, but submitting a claim on him is at least worth the effort. It’s too soon to give up on him.
