The Los Angeles Rams must trim their roster down to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday and given the depth of this team, there are going to be some really challenging decisions. It appears one of those has already been made by the coaches and front office, moving on from one of their 2025 draft picks.
Draft Diamonds on X/Twitter posted that he’s hearing the Rams are cutting rookie linebacker Chris “Pooh” Paul Jr., a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft. Los Angeles selected Paul with the 172nd overall pick in April, adding the talented Ole Miss product to its linebacker corps.
While it’s not a tweet with overwhelming conviction, there are indications that this report is accurate.
In addition to that post, Paul’s father, Christopher Paul Sr., seemingly confirmed the Rams are cutting the rookie linebacker with this response to one fan’s post on X.
Paul also posted this on his Instagram account Monday with the message, “It’s Already Written.”
Again, not confirmation of him being waived, but it’s a strong indicator that his time in Los Angeles might be done – unless he’s signed back to the practice squad after clearing waivers.
As shocking as this decision is, there may have been a clue during Saturday’s preseason game that Paul was in danger of being cut. Not only was he a backup in the finale against the Cleveland Browns, but he played most of the game.
Paul was on the field for 75% of the snaps, playing all the way to the end of the fourth quarter. Players who have secured a roster spot for the Rams typically either sit out the final preseason game (or all three games entirely) or start the finale and play limited snaps, just as Jarquez Hunter and Terrance Ferguson did.
If Paul is waived, the Rams will likely try to bring him back on the practice squad to extend his time in Los Angeles and allow him to develop throughout the season. But 31 other teams will have a chance to claim the rookie linebacker. If there was a team that wanted to draft him on Day 3, they could very well take a shot on him now.
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This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Are the Rams really cutting rookie LB Chris Paul Jr.?
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
