Which Rams players will you be watching closely during Rams training camp?
The Los Angeles Rams officially reported to training camp on Tuesday, but hit the field for the first time Wednesday. Over the next three weeks, the Rams will be full speed ahead when it comes to preparing for the 2025 season. It’s these next three weeks in which players will be able to earn trust with the coaching staff that pays off once the games start. Here are the seven players that I’m most excited to follow during Rams training camp.
1. TE Terrance Ferguson
Ferguson is likely on this type of list for many fans and media during Rams training camp. Over the past few seasons, it has been clear that Sean McVay has been wanting a tight end. This was a team that made efforts to try and trade for Brock Bowers and Dalton Kincaid. McVay finally has his tight end and it will be interesting to see how he gets worked into the offense.
With that said, the big key here is how quickly Ferguson catches on in the offense. If a rookie is going to see time in the offense, training camp is when that trust starts to get built. It’s when players like Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp made first impressions before their stellar rookie seasons. The tight end position is one that can take some time to develop. Given how much the Rams seemed to want Ferguson during the draft, he’s someone to follow closely.
2. EDGE Josaiah Stewart
If there is one rookie that may be flying under the radar, but could have an immediate impact, it’s Josaiah Stewart. The edge defender rotation is something that I’ll be watching in closely, but Stewart in particular could make some noise in training camp. After opting not to bring back Michael Hoecht, the Rams will be searching for a third player in the rotation behind Byron Young and Jared Verse. Nick Hampton may be the favorite, but Stewart could certainly surpass him on the depth chart.
A lot of attention is on the offensive rookies such as Ferguson and Jarquez Hunter. However, Stewart may be the rookie that makes the biggest impact immediately. He has the athleticism to drop into coverage, which is something that the Rams did frequently with Hoecht. It’s very possible that Stewart works himself into the rotation.
3. CB Emmanuel Forbes
The Rams will very likely go into the season with the starting cornerback pairing of Ahkello Witherspoon and Darious Williams. Still, Forbes was a player that impressed during OTAs and seems to be someone that the coaching staff likes as a former first round pick.
Williams is entering his age 32 season which is older for a cornerback and had some struggles in 2024. If Williams is slow to start the season, it’s possible that the Rams could turn to Forbes at some point and pair him with Witherspoon. While that is all speculation, the most important thing is for Forbes to continue what he started in OTAs and build confidence.
4. WR Davante Adams
It may be difficult to get a full idea of Adams’ impact during the first week of training camp as Matthew Stafford does work on the side. However, how can anyone not be excited to follow the biggest addition that the Rams made this offseason? Adams may not be the same All-Pro player that he was two or three years ago, but the Rams will try to get one more elite year from the future Hall of Fame wide receiver. Even if they only get 80 percent of what Adams once was, that would still be productive.
The overall impact of Adams will likely be seen from more than just a production standpoint. Adams is going to be able to mentor Puka Nacua and give him tips on his release as well as route-running. As an older player, he should also be able to connect with Stafford and be a threat in the red zone. The Rams haven’t had this type of wide receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in the back half of 2021. Beckham became a featured part of the offense and the same could happen for Adams.
5. LB Nate Landman
A more under the radar free agent signing was linebacker Nate Landman from the Atlanta Falcons. Landman wasn’t the most exciting addition and then the Rams added a potential draft steal in Chris Paul Jr. in the fifth round. Following the addition of Paul and Shaun Dolac, Landman has become an afterthought.
It’s possible that Landman becomes the Troy Reeder of the defense in the sense that he’s a veteran player that the coaching staff trusts. That’s not to say Landman will perform like Reeder, but he’s the veteran presence that the linebacker room desperately needed. Landman may not be a special player, but as someone who’s experienced in the defense, he will likely be someone that the coaching staff leans on.
6. RB Jarquez Hunter
The running back position as a whole is going to be one to watch this offseason, but Hunter brings an element that both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum lack. There’s no doubt that the Rams running game needed to add some explosiveness this offseason. That’s exactly what Hunter adds to the offense.
At the same time, McVay typically hasn’t utilized rookie running backs. Unless Hunter can be trusted in the passing game and in pass protection, he won’t see the field. It’s going to be important during training camp for Hunter to earn that type of trust in the offense and take notice if he gets first team reps. Hunter may be what the Rams need in the run game, but he still needs to prove himself to the coaching staff.
7. S Kam Kinchens
After Kinchens was selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, there was a lot of excitement surrounding him. Kinchens was a playmaker on the Miami defense in college, possessing elite level ball skills. With that said, his rookie season was very up and down. Early in the season, Kinchens had a tendency to take bad angles against the run, leading to explosive plays. That led to the rookie getting less playing time for a stretch.
When Kinchens returned to action, things started to click. From Weeks 13-18, Kinchens was the sixth-rated safety overall by PFF which included a grade of 80.3 against the run. His missed tackle rate was also nearly cut in half. Heading into year two, the expectation should be for Kinchens to build on that. Given how much defensive coordinator Chris Shula likes to utilize safeties, Kinchens taking that next step could help the Rams defense hit their potential.