Tough decisions in LA.
The NFL deadline for the 32 teams to trim their active roster to 53 players has passed. Each team had until 4pm E.T. on 26 August.
With that, the Rams announced their 53-man roster on Tuesday. It was met with much dismay and frustration from the fan base on social media.
There were a few surprise exclusions for the Rams, but there was one in particular that has got people talking.
The Rams waive 2025 draft pick
The Rams waived their 2025 fifth-round draft pick, inside linebacker Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul Jr.
The linebacker was drafted 172nd overall by the Rams, who traded away their 201st and 202nd draft picks to land Paul in the fifth round.
And now, just four months later, the Rams are moving on from the former Ole Miss defender, who was considered a steal in the draft.
Paul dealt with a calf injury at the beginning of training camp, which took longer to heal than hoped. However, he recovered to play all three preseason games for LA.
The inside linebacker had 12 total tackles in his three games for the Rams.
The Rams may have hoped that Paul would clear waivers and return to the practice squad, but that would have been a risky move given Paul’s ability.
It is also one that may backfire, now that the Seattle Seahawks picked up ‘Pooh’ on waivers.
Who have the Rams kept at ILB?
The Rams’ quartet of inside linebackers for 2025 will consist of four undrafted free agents. Omar Speights, Shaun Dolac, Troy Reeder and Nate Landman made the 53-man roster.
Dolac was a 2025 undrafted acquisition for the Rams. He played in all three preseason games and registered 12 total tackles.
Speights went undrafted in 2024 and played all 17 of the Rams’ games last season. He racked up 67 total tackles and added a further 11 in the postseason. He also registered a sack and a forced fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Landman signed a one-year deal with the Rams this offseason after three years with the Atlanta Falcons.
During his time in Atlanta, he notched 192 total tackles, two sacks, six forced fumbles and an interception.
Reeder has spent all six years of his NFL career in LA, with one year on the Chargers.
In 89 career games, Reeder has registered 310 total tackles. His five sacks and three forced fumbles came in the first four years of his career.
