Cutdown to 53 (projected)

An early stab at the last round of cuts. We may not hear anything from the Rams until after 3 p.m. Friday, according to Les Snead on TV, so the suspense may hang till Saturday.

TE Alex Bayer (PS) - Justice Cunningham over Bayer for his run-blocking.
WR Emory Blake (PS) - Didn't make enough plays that were there for him to make.
G Travis Bond - Way too many pass protection breakdowns.
DE Kourtnei Brown - Too lightweight against the run.
S Christian Bryant (PS) - Late start in camp set him back.
DT Matt Conrath - Missed time with injuries and Rams are just too deep.
CB Avery Cunningham - always low on the depth chart and made dumb special teams mistakes.
WR Austin Franklin (PS) - Not a lost cause if he can get himself coached up.
DT Deontre Harlan (PS) - Flashed quite a bit. Would have made this team easily two years ago.
LB Aaron Hill - Had a couple of flashes but was never high on the depth chart.
T Sean Hooey - time to cut bait. Two years in without enough sign he's developing as a pass protector.
OL Barrett Jones (IR) - Too many roster needs to float a spot for the constantly injured lineman.
WR Austin Pettis - I'm probably wrong and Pettis is probably WR5 till Bailey's suspension ends, but he sure did nothing this summer.
CB Marcus Roberson (PS) - I kept too many DBs, 11, initially. Somebody's got to go. Greg Reid has upside as an emergency returner, though he could go if the Rams keep Pettis. Darren Woodard made some plays.
LB Etienne Sabino - Made a decent argument for himself in Miami.
TE Brad Smelley - fullback with blocking issues = does not compute.
OL Mitchell Van Dyk (PS)- looks overmatched by professional defensive players.
WR Justin Veltung - no impact as a receiver and did little on returns.
OL Brandon Washington (PS) - Really disappointing at tackle tonight after I'd thought he had a better shot at making the squad.
RB Trey Watts (PS) - This one's killing me, because I think Watts has outplayed Tre Mason. Does he do anything on special teams?
LB Lawrence Wilson (PS) - Sleeper to make the roster. Made a lot of nice plays in games and scrimmages.

My likeliest errors will be: going with 3 QBs, going with only 4 WRs, going with 6 LBs, going with 6 corners.

* Late change to put Roberson on the cut list and take off Michael Sam, upon hearing that the Rams and NFL Network are conspiring to have an extra-special announcement about Sam right at the cut deadline tomorrow.


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