The show must go on after devastating playoff loss
It’s back to business for the Los Angeles Rams personnel department. Just one day out from the heart-breaking, season-ending 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, L.A. announced the signing of 13 players to 2025 Reserve/Futures contracts.
When their season has officially ended, NFL teams can begin the process of building out offseason rosters by signing players to Reserve/Futures contracts. These one-year contracts, normally at the league minimum, allow teams and players to secure roster spots for the next season. Generally, the players are of backup grade, hence the reserve part of the designation. The futures part comes about because the signing’s are not counted towards the current season roster, but rather, take effect when the 2025 season officially begins.
The Rams Reserve/Futures signees
Wide receiver – Quintez Cephus, Drake Stoops
A former Round 5 draft pick by the Detroit Lions. Cephus was suspended by the NFL for the 2023 season for betting on football games. In his three seasons on the field, he’s played in 22 games with seven starts, totaling 628 reps. Stoops is a Rams 2024 undrafted free agent and was a practice squad member all season.
Offensive line – AJ Arcuri
The Rams Round 7 pick out of Michigan State in 2022, has played in 10 games overall with one start, 121 offensive snaps and another 41 on special teams.
Cornerback – Shaun Jolly, AJ Green, Cam Lampkin, Charles Woods
Jolly (2022) and Green (2020) were both inked as undrafted free agents by the Cleveland Browns. Jolly was poached by the Rams as a rookie. Over three years in L.A., he’s played in six games, charting 95 reps on special teams. Green has 318 defensive and 477 special teams snaps over 34 games with two starts.
Both Lampkin and Woods were Rams 2024 undrafted signees. Lampkin was active in four games, getting his sparse action on special teams. Woods made L.A.’s opening 53 and was active in 12 games. He had 13 reps on defense and 169 on special teams.
Safety – Tanner Ingle
Yet to post an NFL rep, Ingle was signed by L.A. as a 2023 undrafted free agent out of North Carolina State.
Off ball linebacker – Elias Neal, Tony Fields
Neal was a Rams 2024 undrafted free agent and made the opening 53. After five games, he was waived and signed to the practice squad. Field was originally a 2021 Round 5 pick by Cleveland. He was was waived this past October and signed by L.A. Over four pro seasons, he’s played in 45 games with 10 starts and accumulated 526 snaps on defense and 783 on special teams.
Tony Fields — TBH not seeing a ton. Does his best work chasing playing in space…he can run but not seeing him as more than that. A Will-type backer in a 4-3 defense and LBer in nickel.
Squares up well, I think he’s good tackler pic.twitter.com/VWaiB74ID5
— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) October 29, 2024
Edge – Keir Thomas
Thomas enters his fourth season with the Rams after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Florida State in 2022. The 27 year-old was activated in the final three games of the season, got the starting nod in the finale vs. Seattle and saw action in both playoff games. For his career, he has 13 tackles, three QB knockdowns, and three pressures over 204 defensive snaps. He’s added another 214 reps on special teams.
Defensive tackle – David Olajiga, Jack Heflin
Both are undrafted free agents. Green Bay inked Heflin out of Iowa in 2021 and since, he’s made stops with the New York Giants, Houston Rednecks (XFL), and New Orleans Saints. He has played in six NFL games with 57 snaps. From England, Olajiga is the Rams 2024 participant in NFL International Player Pathway program. He spent the season on the practice squad.
The Rams current roster
According to overthecap.com, L.A., has 42 players under contract for 2025. The announced reserve/futures signings brings the current roster to a pre-draft total of 55 men. The Rams can bring the roster total up to 90 players through OTAs, over the summer, and into training camp.
Quarterback – Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett
Running back – Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Cody Schrader
Wide receiver – Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Jrdan Whittington, Xavier Smith
Offensive line – Kevin Dotson, Jonah Jackson, Rob Havenstein, Steve Avila, Warren McClendon, Beaux Limmer, Justin Dedich, KT Leveston
Tight end – Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen
Special team – Ethan Evans, Alex Ward, Joshua Karty,
Cornerback – Darious Williams, Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick, Emmanuel Forbes, Tre Hodges-Tomlinson, Josh Wallace
Safety – Kamren Curl, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough
Off-ball linebacker – Omar Speights
Edge – Jared Verse, Byron Young, Nick Hampton, Brennan Jackson
Defensive line – Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, Desjuan Johnson, Tyler Davis
Getting up to 90 players
There are plenty of pathways. Trades and free agent signings can officially be announced on March 12. The Rams have handful of their own free agents who could be candidates to be re-upped. Certainly, the restricted and exclusive rights designated players should be looked at. L.A. does have some available cap space, so they could be league-wide free agency players. Trades are a mixed bag, if the Rams decide to jettison players, whether unwanted, unneeded, or disgruntled, the could easily add draft picks instead of retreads.
The draft is from April 24-26. According to overthecap, L.A. has seven picks #26, #90, #100, #125, #191, #196, and #202. While the Rams are not expected to receive compensation from their own free agent losses, they will receive the Round 3 pick as compensation for losing Raheem Morris. And of course, L.A. will likely sign 15-20 undrafted free agents after the fact.
While free agency and the draft should supplement a good core of returnees, should the Rams stock the bottom half of the roster with untested, undrafted players or NFL retreads with game experience?
