Which UDFAs have the best shot to make the Rams’ roster?
While the NFL Draft may officially end after the seventh round, the work is not done. Following the draft, teams will typically sign around a dozen or more undrafted free agents and give them a chance to make the roster. Their chances of making the roster may be small compared to the players that were selected with draft capital, but it’s an opportunity nonetheless. Still, not all undrafted free agents are treated the same. The Los Angeles Rams signed 17 undrafted free agents after the draft, but only eight of them received guaranteed money over $10,000.
As Arif Hasan of the Wide Left substack wrote,
“If teams genuinely value that player, they will allow that guaranteed number to increase, signaling the collective valuation of that player’s talent relative to other undrafted free agents…A highly valued undrafted free agent has a pretty good setup after they clear the initial hurdle of making the roster.”
Giving an undrafted free agent guaranteed money doesn’t guarantee them a roster or practice squad spot, but it is a good indicator of how much a team likes a player. For example, last year Josh Wallace was given $20,000 in guarantees while Omar Speights was given $9,000. Both players made the final roster. Meanwhile, Kenny Logan was given just $3,300 and did not. Let’s take a look at this year’s group of undrafted free agent contracts. Contract details were taken from Over The Cap.
- iOL Willie Lampkin – $30k
- LB Shaun Dolac – $25k
- TE Mark Redman – $20k
- OT Trey Wedig – $20k
- S Nate Valcarcel – $15k
- S Malik Dixon-Williams – $10k
- EDGE Josh Pearcy – $10k
- TE Anthony Torres – $10k
- iDL Da’Jon Terry – $8k
- WR Mario Williams – $8k
- RB Jordan Waters – $7k
- iOL Ben Dooley – $6k
- iOL Wyatt Bowls – $6k
- WR Tru Edwards – $5k
- EDGE Jamil Muhammad – $5k
- WR Brennan Presley – $4k
- iDL Bill Norton – $3k
Looking at the guaranteed numbers, it’s very clear that the Rams were very high on Willie Lampkin and Shaun Dolac. It wouldn’t be a surprise if that least one of them made the roster. Mark Redman and Trey Wedig also seem to have been viewed highly.
Combining this with the consensus draft board, Hasan gave Lampkin and Dolac the highest probability of making the roster at 10.1 percent with Wedig behind them at 8.7 percent. Even if those three don’t make the roster, they will likely be favorites to make the practice squad.
While the Rams are deeper at the linebacker position than they have been in the past, Dolac’s path to the 53-man roster will be the most straight forward. If Omar Speights, Chris Paul Jr., and Nate Landman are the locks at linebacker, Dolac will need to just beat out Troy Reeder. Reeder re-signed with the Rams this offseason but was given no guaranteed money.
Lampkin’s path to the 53-man roster is more complicated on the offensive line with nine spots that will be hard to break into. The Rams have Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, and Rob Havenstein as the starting five. Behind them, David Quessenberry, Warren McClendon, Beaux Limmer, and KT Leveston provide depth. Would the Rams keep a 10th offensive lineman? Lampkin seems like he may be a practice squad signing, competing with Justin Dedich and Dylan McMahon.
Players such as Wedig and Redman will be prime candidates for the practice squad as well. The Rams lack tackle and tight end depth. Keeping those players readily available will be a priority.
While making the 53-man roster is never easy for undrafted free agents, players like Shaun Dolac, Willie Lampkin, and Trey Wedig have a clearer path than most, especially given the investment made via guaranteed money. Whether it’s carving out a depth role or landing on the practice squad, these contracts reflect how the Rams view them. Now it’s up to the players to earn their place.