Wesley Bailey has done just about everything a rookie edge rusher can do to force a team’s hand this summer.
He backed up a strong training camp with a standout preseason showing against the Saints, and the case for him is pretty simple: he looks like he belongs. The problem for the Rams is less about Bailey’s play and more about the numbers game that comes with building a 53-man roster.
Right now, Bailey sits fifth on the edge-rusher depth chart, behind Myles Garrett, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart, and Desjuan Johnson. The Rams usually keep four at that spot, and Johnson’s status looks especially secure after he played in the preseason opener and then sat against New Orleans. That kind of usage points to a player who has almost certainly already locked down a job.
Bailey, meanwhile, is still the undrafted rookie trying to squeeze through the cracks.
There are ways the Rams could create room for him, but none of them are easy. They could go against their usual approach and carry five edge rushers, but that would require trimming somewhere else.
Tight end is one possible area, since LA has five players seemingly set to make the 53-man roster there, including Davis Allen, who missed part of camp with a quad injury. Even so, Sean McVay is still high on Allen, and it doesn’t sound like he’s going anywhere.
The offensive line is another possible path. The Rams could probably get by with eight or nine linemen to start the season, though the depth there is still a concern even with Justin Dedich back from injury.
And in this 53-man projection, anything fewer than 10 at that position could open a door for Bailey. The question is whether that opening would actually go to him.
He’d be competing with Jarquez Hunter, a 2025 fourth-round pick who looks like a shaky bet to stick. He’d also be fighting veteran Larrell Murchison for a spot on the defensive line. If Aaron Donald returns, that possibility disappears anyway.
There’s also Cam Lampkin, a cornerback who has put together a strong camp and preseason of his own. The Rams could decide he deserves the fifth cornerback job, even if Bailey has been just as impressive. That would be another tough break for the rookie, especially with playing time off the edge already looking limited because Stewart is in line for more reps.
Bailey’s biggest challenge may simply be that he has less NFL experience than the players he’s battling and many of the other names in the mix. In a year where the Rams appear to be pushing all in, that kind of edge could matter even more.
So yes, Bailey has made a real case. He’s just fighting uphill against roster math, experience, and the Rams’ own habits. Fans probably wouldn’t complain if the team found a way to keep him, but the odds still look stacked against him.
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Rams May Make A Tough Call On One Draft Pick Soon
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With final cutdowns approaching, Keenan is one of the names to watch because the Rams could decide his best path is off the 53-man roster and back on the practice squad if he gets through waivers. For a late-round pick, that kind of move is never ideal, but it is also part of the business when a team has to balance long-term upside against immediate depth. [Read more 🡒]