It’s not going to be easy for rookies to make the Los Angeles Rams’ 53-man roster this year. They returned many of the same players from last year’s team, while also adding standout defenders such as Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to upgrade the cornerback group.
As a result, the Rams kept their draft class small, only selecting five players in total. They did sign 18 undrafted rookies but they’ll face an uphill climb this summer, too, especially after seeing the minimal guaranteed money they got.
Spotrac released contract details for the Rams’ undrafted rookies and only five of them got a signing bonus. Combined, their 18 undrafted free agents received only $77,500 guaranteed at signing, the least of any team in the NFL this year. The next-closest team is the Steelers at $80,000 in guarantees, and they only signed eight undrafted rookies.
Every other team paid out at least $125,000 in guarantees to their undrafted rookies. The Chiefs led the NFL with $3.1 million in guaranteed money paid out to undrafted free agents, having signed 22 players after the 2026 draft. The Chargers’ $244,000 in signing bonuses led the NFL in that department. The Rams’ $77,500 in signing bonuses was the sixth-lowest.
What does this mean? That the Rams aren’t committing strongly to any undrafted rookies. Syracuse tight end Dan Villari leads the Rams’ undrafted rookies with a $45,000 signing bonus, so he accounts for more than half of their team total. But as a tight end in a deep position group, he’s still unlikely to make the team.
The Rams have gotten some big contributions from undrafted free agents in the past, including Jaylen McCollough, Xavier Smith, Omar Speights and Justin Dedich, but it could be tough for anyone to make this year’s roster as an undrafted rookie.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams gave less guaranteed money to UDFAs than any NFL team
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
