Larrell Murchison has done enough in this organization to matter. That’s what makes his situation so tricky.
The Los Angeles Rams veteran is one of the few holdovers from last season’s 53-man roster who could wind up on the outside looking in for 2026, and the problem isn’t anything he’s done wrong. The defensive line is simply crowded.
Second-year defensive tackle Ty Hamilton appears to have locked up his place after sitting out the second preseason game. Rookie seventh-round pick Tim Keenan III, out of Alabama, brings the kind of upside that gets attention fast, and he already has a defined job as Poona Ford’s backup at nose tackle.
That leaves Murchison fighting for what could be one of the last spots on the unit, and even that isn’t secure. If the Rams choose to keep seven defensive linemen, Aaron Donald’s possible return would put them right at that number. In that scenario, Murchison would still have to hold off the massive Bill Norton for the final opening.
And there’s no guarantee Los Angeles even carries seven defensive linemen in the first place.
The Rams have other areas with more pressing depth questions, including offensive line and cornerback. Cam Lampkin has made a strong push as a ninth defensive back, while the team also appears set to keep five tight ends.
Running back is another difficult call, with Jarquez Hunter still in the mix. With so few spots available, the defensive line could become a numbers game.
Keenan’s arrival - and possibly Donald’s too - may be what pushes Murchison off the roster after he spent 2025 on the active roster. He was on the field Saturday against the Saints alongside Keenan, which at least shows he’s still in the fight.
There’s a solid case for Murchison on performance alone. The former fifth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans has given the Rams useful snaps in each of his last two healthy seasons. In 2023, he played more than 250 defensive snaps and started three games.
After missing 2024 because of an injury, he returned last season and played 170 snaps on defense and special teams across 16 games, finishing with two sacks. He has been with the organization since the Horns claimed him off waivers in 2022.
In a vacuum, it would be surprising to see the Rams move on from a veteran who has contributed. But this roster isn’t being built in a vacuum. The 2026 group looks different from 2025, and the numbers are not lining up cleanly for Murchison.
The offensive line is unsettled. The cornerback room has more top-end talent, but less depth.
Keenan was drafted. Donald may return.
Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske already have dependable backups in Tyler Davis and Hamilton. When the Rams weigh the whole roster, keeping Murchison instead of using that spot elsewhere starts to look like a tough fit.
In Other News...
Aaron Donald's Rams Return Hinges On One Huge Reality
Aaron Donalds possible return to the Rams is turning into more than just a football question. The former defensive tackle has already taken two workouts with the team and is expected to have more before making a decision on coming out of retirement, which has kept the conversation alive around a player whose standard in Los Angeles was set at an elite level for years.
The biggest wrinkle is the business side, where the Rams and Donald are working through how to handle the $30 million owed from his previous contract and whether there is a new financial arrangement that makes sense for both sides. Even with the workouts underway, the larger issue remains whether Donald would be comfortable returning only if he can still play at the kind of high level that defined his career. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Rookie Battle Just Got Tighter Before Final Roster Cuts
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Several rookies have made their case in different ways, whether through recent game contributions or by simply staying on the field as the roster churns around them. Injuries have also shaped the picture, leaving some spots more open than they looked a couple of weeks ago, and the last tune-up should go a long way toward clarifying who is truly in position to make the 53-man roster. [Read more 🡒]
Rams May Make A Tough Call On One Draft Pick Soon
The Rams are getting close to the part of camp where the margin for error gets razor-thin, and that has put seventh-round draft pick Tim Keenan III in an uneasy spot. He came into the offseason as a developmental defensive lineman the team could try to mold over time, but the preseason has not given him much of a boost compared with others fighting for the same roster space.
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 🡒]