The Los Angeles Rams wrapped up OTAs last week and won’t be reporting for training camp until July 23. Despite training camp being so far away, the rookie class stole the show during OTAs with players like Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, and Blake Corum standing out. Here’s where every rookie stands heading into training camp.
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EDGE Jared Verse
It’s hard to make your presence felt at a physical position like edge rusher without pads, but that’s exactly what the Rams’ first-round pick has done. As described by TheRams.com’s Stu Jackson,
“Ask anyone who has attended, or participated, in one of Los Angeles’ OTA practices this spring, and they’ll confirm first-round pick and outside linebacker Jared Verse makes his voice heard.”
Sean McVay has voiced that he’s been impressed with Verse and fellow edge rush Byron Young said, “He’s just a guy that wants to learn every day that I talk to him. That’s what I love about him.” We’ll likely start to hear more about Verse in training camp, especially in the joint practice sessions when teams are able to go head-to-head against each other. So far, it’s been positive for Verse as he transitions to the NFL.
DL Braden Fiske
Much like Verse, Fiske has made the most of his opportunities without pads throughout OTAs and remained active in practices. Sean McVay seemed especially impressed with the rookie defensive lineman saying,
“I think Braden Fiske has really just started to step up. You start to feel him in these practices. He’s getting comfortable with what we’re asking…once we get into these padded settings is when we’ll start to get a better evaluation in addition to the preseason games.”
Fiske is a player that has consistently been talked about throughout the spring and early summer. As the Rams are able to put pads on and get more physical, that should only continue. We’ll have to see how the Rams choose to rotate their defensive linemen and what that looks like, but Fiske could have an early role.
RB Blake Corum
Arguably no rookie has been spoken about more this offseason so far than Blake Corum. In fact, it’s been hard not to listen to how McVay talks about Corum and have flashbacks to Puka Nacua last summer.
“I’ve seen a very mature rookie. I’ve seen a guy that’s really conscientious...Great instincts as a runner, good feel in the pass game, great toughness...He has definitely been as advertised through what we can evaluate up to this point. I love his mental makeup, love the way he handles himself as a person and how locked in and focused he is. And he enjoys competing and I think that’s a consistent theme with a lot of these players on this team.”
Corum has continued to pick up the offense which is a good thing for the young running back. For Corum to be trusted in September and October, he needs to be able to earn that trust now. That includes being active in pass protection and showing that he has a grasp on the offense. Without Kyren Williams in OTAs, Corum has made the most of his opportunities. That will somewhat change as Williams returns in training camp, but Corum has shown that he deserves a spot in the rotation.
S Kamren Kinchens
There has not been any talk when it comes to Kam Kinchens in OTAs. That will likely change in training camp. However, it’s important to remember that this was a rookie drafted in the third round and he may not start right away.
At this point in time, Kinchens seems like the fourth guy in the safety rotation. Quentin Lake and Kam Curl look to be the starters with Russ Yeast in the star. Kinchnes may find a rotational role or spot on special teams, but it’s been quiet thus far for a player that many saw as a steal.
EDGE Brennan Jackson
Verse and Fiske have certainly been two of the stars on the defensive side of the ball when it comes to the rookie class and therefore the most talked about. However, when discussing Verse and how well he’s continued to learn throughout OTAs, McVay added Jackson in that conversation as well. “Brennan’s done a lot of the same things,” said McVay. “Those guys on the outside have really done a nice job to be able to provide us with some depth.”
It will be interesting to see how large of a role Jackson has as a rookie. With players like Nick Hampton and Ochaun Mathis having a year in the system, can Jackson work his way into the rotation? At the very least, he provides good depth at a position where the Rams didn’t have any last year.
DL Tyler Davis
Davis will likely be a depth piece as a rookie given the players ahead of him and that he was a sixth-round pick. Said McVay, “Tyler Davis has done a lot of good stuff…I’ve been really impressed with the group as a whole.” For the most part, things have been quiet surrounding Davis, but that could change as the pads go on and Davis gets a lot of work in the preseason.
K Joshua Karty
The Rams and Joshua Karty will be glad to be getting out of the wind at Cal Lutheran and moving to Loyola Marymount for training camp. There has not been much said about Karty at this point in the offseason which much of the special teams discussion surrounding the new kickoff rules.
WR Jordan Whittington
For being a late-round draft pick, there has actually been a lot of talk surrounding Jordan Whittington throughout OTAs. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue has mentioned Whittington as a player that she is watching. Rodrigue noted Whittington’s play energy away from the ball and Stu Jackson of the TheRams.com mentioned the receiver making an impressive catch on a pass from Jimmy Garoppolo. Whittington has talked about some of the similarities between the offense at Texas and how that has helped him in his transition to the NFL,
“One thing that I can say I took from Texas, we learned concept-based, and I think that directly translates to this offense. So just learning it as a concept, the words change, but most of the concepts are somewhat similar.”
It’s hard to see Whittington breaking through like Nacua did a year ago. With TuTu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson ahead of him on the depth chart, Whittington will likely be a special teams player and rotational receiver. With that said, for a sixth-round pick to be getting talked about as much as he is, that’s a good thing.
iOL Beaux Limmer
Nothing has really been said about Limmer at this point. Much like Ty Davis, we’ll see a lot of Limmer in the preseason as he is the team’s backup center behind Steve Avila. It’s very possible we see Limmer get a run at a few interior positions as the Rams rotate their offensive line in preseason games.
iOL KT Leveston
Similar to Limmer, there has also not been anything reported or discussed when it comes to Leveston. We likely won’t see or hear a lot of Leveston until the preseason where he may get runs at both guard and tackle.
