Final roster cuts are less than two weeks away, which means a lot of difficult decisions will be made very soon. The Los Angeles Rams have one of the deepest rosters in the league and a ton of talent at the top of the depth chart, making it difficult for backups to carve out roles.
There may not be a team in the NFL with a better group of wide receivers from top to bottom than the Rams. With three Pro Bowl-caliber starters, a quality No. 4 and a host of role players behind them, the Rams are deep at wide receiver.
With two preseason games remaining, we’re handicapping the competition unfolding on the depth chart. From locks to long shots, here’s how we see the battle right now.
Locks
Brandin Cooks
After a terrific first season with the Rams, Cooks enters 2019 with even greater potential. His chemistry with Jared Goff is only going to grow, which once again makes him a threat to go over 1,000 yards.
Cooper Kupp
There appear to be no ill-effects from his torn ACL at this point in the rehab process. Kupp has looked great in practice and took part in just about every session, which is impressive for a player who suffered such a significant knee injury nine months ago.
Robert Woods
Woods is one of the most underrated receivers in the league. He garnered some respect from his peers this offseason when he was voted the 76th-best player in the NFL, but he still has room to grow. His biggest limitation is playing on a team with two other great receivers.
Josh Reynolds
The only way Reynolds doesn’t make the team is if the Rams trade him. That’s not going to happen, so he’s a lock. He looked like a starting-caliber player while filling in for Kupp last season, showing why the Rams think so highly of him. Reynolds would be a starter on a lot of NFL teams.
Contenders
Mike Thomas
Here’s where things get interesting. Thomas has apparently “separated himself” in the wide receiver competition, according to Sean McVay, but he’s still getting plenty of reps in the preseason. He’s certainly not a roster lock, but of all the contenders, he’s the closest to that status. He just finds ways to stick around and show enough potential to avoid being cut.
KhaDarel Hodge
Hodge was a preseason star last year but has been relatively quiet this preseason. After making three catches for 48 yards against Oakland, he didn’t have a single reception on just one target Saturday versus Dallas. It wasn’t because of a lack of playing time, either. He was out there for 43 snaps, the most of any Rams receiver. His stock is sliding a bit.
JoJo Natson
Natson is a tough player to pin down. He’s slippery with the ball in his hands and has outstanding quickness, but he struggles with ball security – something that reared its ugly head last season. He muffed a punt in the preseason opener, too, which didn’t help his cause. What he does have going for him is a touchdown catch on Saturday against the Cowboys.
Nsimba Webster
Webster would’ve been included in the long shots if not for Natson’s slipping stock and his impressive performance against Dallas. He caught all four of his targets for 38 yards, including a good off-schedule play after a bad snap to Brandon Allen. Webster’s speed and return ability make him an intriguing player for the Rams and he has a legitimate chance to make the final roster as an undrafted free agent.
Long shots
Jalen Greene
Greene is a similar player to Webster, but he doesn’t have the same punt and kick return ability. On Saturday, he did catch four passes for a team-high 43 yards, and he should’ve had an even better night but a pass slipped through his arms on what would’ve been a difficult catch.
Austin Proehl
Proehl’s best chance of making the team comes on special teams as a returner. Unfortunately, he’s had very little room to run in that aspect and his opportunities on offense have been limited. Against the Cowboys, he caught one pass for minus-6 yards on a failed screen. Proehl has a steep uphill climb.
Alex Bachman
Bachman’s chances steepened after McVay announced Tuesday that he’s dealing with an injury in the area of where a hernia would be. That’s bad news for a player who’s already buried on the depth chart. If he gets healthy, he’ll need to stand out in the return game to have any shot of making the team.
Johnathan Lloyd
Lloyd is one of the longest shots on the roster and has a very slim chance of making the team. He doesn’t boast elite athleticism or traits and doesn’t contribute as a return specialist, either. Unless he stands out on special teams or has two huge performances to end the preseason, he’ll be on the outside looking in.
