The early buzz around Rams rookie wideout CJ Daniels is starting to feel a lot less like camp chatter and a lot more like something real.
A sixth-round pick, Daniels has been one of the standouts in the first week of Los Angeles’ training camp. He came in with some intrigue, but not many expected him to make noise this fast.
Instead, he’s been stacking strong day after strong day, and he’s done it while building a clear connection with quarterback Stetson Bennett. When the Rams put on pads for the first time on Friday, that momentum kept rolling.
“He showed a little more versatility by lining up on the outside for more snaps, including the one where he ran an intermediate route and settled in for a chunk play on a throw from Simpson,” wrote The Athletic’s Nate Atkins.
That kind of usage matters for a Rams receiver room still sorting out its depth behind the top options. Jordan Whittington appears to have the edge for the WR3 job based on experience, but this doesn’t look like a clean, locked-in pecking order.
With Los Angeles leaning more into 13 personnel and heavier formations, the third receiver may not be on the field as often as in past seasons anyway. That makes the battle feel more like a WR3a/WR3b setup, with the Rams looking for a complementary piece next to Whittington.
Daniels has a real case because his skill set fills a different need. Whittington has done much of his damage in the short and intermediate areas from the slot, while Daniels brings a bigger frame and the kind of physicality that can help him hold up on the outside. He can line up in multiple spots, but unlike Xavier Smith and Konata Mumpfield, he has the size to fight through contact against defensive backs and contribute as a blocker in the run game.
Smith and Mumpfield entered camp as early names to watch because of their experience, but both come with limitations. Smith is mostly a vertical threat, winning on go routes and the occasional corner route off that same vertical setup. Mumpfield, meanwhile, is a smooth route-runner, but his lighter frame showed up at the catch point; he won just 1 of his 7 contested-catch opportunities.
That doesn’t mean Daniels has the job in hand. It does mean he’s in the mix in a meaningful way, and possibly in a better way than the others.
There’s even some uncertainty about Smith making the roster at all. The Rams may keep five wide receivers instead of six because they have to carry five tight ends, and Smith’s special teams value could take a hit if Kyren Williams wins the punt return job.
That opens the door for Smith to become a surprise cut, which would only improve Daniels’ odds of landing a spot behind Whittington.
Los Angeles usually brings rookies along gradually, and Daniels could still follow that path even if he keeps flashing. His playing time might not spike until the second half of the season. But McVay has also shown that rookies can get on the field early if they prove they’re ready.
For now, Daniels has done exactly what a rookie is supposed to do in camp: show up, make plays, and force the coaches to pay attention. Week 1 is still far away, but if he keeps this up for another month, the Rams may not have much choice but to keep him involved.
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