5 Rams Who Will Be on the Roster Bubble in 2015

Training camp competition always brings out the best in players. The St. Louis Rams, like every team, will have several players on the bubble this summer fighting to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. 

Competition can be unpredictable. For example, Rams undrafted rookie Ethan Westbrooks managed to make the 53-man roster as a defensive lineman. Given the stout competition on the line, few if any would have predicted Westbrooks' breakout during the first week of camp, but he surprised us all. 

So, it's not fair to definitively state which players will or won't make the final roster, but we can still look at players who are on the bubble and remind ourselves where they stand and what they'll be up against. 

This article will look at several players who have an uphill battle this summer. All five players have a shot at making the roster, but it's going to be a dogfight. 

QB Austin Davis

Matt York/Associated Press

If the Rams retain restricted free agent Austin Davis, he'll likely serve as an extra camp arm and will have a tough time making the final roster. 

The Rams will bring in at least two more quarterbacks this offseason to combine with Sam Bradford. That's bad news for Davis unless, of course, he can outplay one of the new quarterbacks or be the beneficiary of an injury at the position (which, without pointing fingers, is obviously a real possibility). 

St. Louis will probably bring in one relatively high-end option at quarterback to compete with Bradford (trade for a starter or use a high draft pick) and combine that with a lesser option (a mid-level free agent or mid-round draft pick). Davis' only hope is to outplay that lesser option. 

It's not impossible that Davis will show significant improvement in camp and turn some heads, but don't count on it. He got his chance in 2014. The Rams know what he's capable of on the field, and they're likely ready to move on. 

CB Brandon McGee

Scott Kane/Associated Press

After a disappointing rookie campaign in 2013, Brandon McGee desperately needed to take a giant step forward this past season. Instead, he spent most of 2014 on injured reserve with a foot injury, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, and the other young cornerbacks on the roster stole the spotlight. 

McGee, a fifth-round pick out of Miami, spent most of his rookie year on special teams. Injuries forced him into the spotlight against the Chicago Bears, but he struggled with penalties and poor coverage. The Rams were hoping he'd take a step forward in 2014, but he was outplayed by his competition and barely saw the field. 

The Rams drafted E.J. Gaines (sixth round) and Lamarcus Joyner (second round) in 2014, and both players excelled as rookies—particularly Gaines—and appear to be capable backups behind Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson. 

With the depth chart's top four cornerback spots locked up, McGee's only hope is special teams. When training camp kicks off, that has to be his primary focus. 

No one is expecting him to challenge the starters for a job, but if he can excel in kickoff and punt coverage, he'll have a place on this team in 2015. 

C Demetrius Rhaney

Uncredited/Associated Press

Without a doubt, the Rams will find a high-caliber center this offseason to replace Scott Wells. Backups Tim Barnes and Barrett Jones will be fighting for the No. 2 job, and that leaves second-year pro and former seventh-round draft pick Demetrius Rhaney in a desperate position. 

Don't rule out Rhaney completely. Both Barnes and Jones were incapable of earning playing time in 2014 despite the struggles on the interior line, so it's hard to have confidence in either player. Rhaney is just as likely to earn that No. 2 job as anyone—he just lacks experience. 

Rhaney, who spent the season on St. Louis' injured reserve list, will still be eligible for the practice squad in 2015, so it's not the end of the line for him if he fails to win a roster spot. If he falls short, the Rams can stash him away and try to develop him for 2016. 

DT Matt Conrath

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Since this is the Rams, you know the team's going to bring in some new defensive linemen this offseason. It might not be with a high draft pick, but St. Louis will find a mid- to late-round prospect or a low-end free agent who it'll be incapable of passing up. 

For a guy like Matt Conrath, who sat on the practice squad all year in favor of undrafted rookie Westbrooks, that's not a good thing. 

The Rams will keep eight defensive linemen on the roster, maybe nine if they're feeling generous (as they did in 2014). Considering Conrath was unable to crack the top nine this year, it'll be even more difficult if the team decides to add two more names to the mix. 

One thing working in Conrath's favor is Kendall Langford's contract. The Rams can save $6 million by cutting Langford, and that scenario would leave the Rams with only two defensive tackles other than Conrath. 

The Rams are comfortable using defensive ends on the inside, so Conrath won't be handed the No. 3 tackle job for nothing. But the lack of tackles on the roster can still improve his odds. Surely, the Rams will want at least three true defensive tackles on the roster. 

However, if one of the new faces in 2015 happens to be a legitimate tackle, that'll significantly reduce Conrath's odds. 

WR Chris Givens

Reed Hoffmann/Associated Press

At any point in the first three rounds of the draft, if the man at the podium announces a wide receiver for St. Louis' pick, that will practically be the eulogy for Chris Givens' career with the Rams. 

That's not a guarantee. The Rams could always decide to keep six receivers on their roster like a normal football team, but that's unlikely since they have so many pass-catching tight ends to compensate. 

As an overlooked fourth-round draft pick in 2012, Givens immediately made an impact during his rookie year. He had 42 catches for a team-high 698 yards, and he had a catch of 50 or more yards in five consecutive games (a feat not even Odell Beckham Jr. was able to match). 

Givens' play took a slight decline in 2013. He saw a decrease in catches (34) and yards (569), and he didn't seem to continue his role as a fear-inducing deep-ball threat. 

In 2014, he was completely marginalized on offense and finished with just 11 receptions all year. 

Part of Givens' issue has been the injuries to Sam Bradford. For the last two seasons, he's been dealing with weak-armed backups such as Kellen Clemens, Shaun Hill and Austin Davis. The deep ball has been removed from the offense, and that's where Givens truly shines. 

Having said that, he should be more diverse at this point in his career. It's understandable that he didn't master short and intermediate routes as a rookie, but he should be contributing in those areas by now. The lack of a quarterback is not a good enough excuse for him totally disappearing. 

Unless Kenny Britt walks in free agency or the Rams fail to bring in a new receiver this offseason, it's hard to see Givens back with the Rams in 2015.