Special teams played a big role in the decision
There’s no question about which move by the Los Angeles Rams was the most surprising on cutdown day. They shockingly waived rookie linebacker Chris Paul Jr., who they just drafted in the fifth round this year.
It was an unexpected decision, even after Paul was playing late in the fourth quarter of the final preseason game. The Rams moved up to draft him, packaging two sixth-round picks in order to move up 29 spots into the fifth round.
Fans are understandably puzzled and angry about the decision, raising questions as to why it was made. Sean McVay said it wasn’t an easy decision to waive Paul, suggesting that it came down to special teams, where Shaun Dolac and Troy Reeder provide more value.
“What we are tasked to do is be able to evaluate what we think, when we went with four inside linebackers, what do we think are the four best inside linebackers?” McVay said, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com. “And that’s not exclusive to playing inside linebacker. Part of that is playing special teams. And Shaun Dolac’s a guy that’s going to be able to play on all four phases, Troy Reeder is gonna play on all four phases. And so when you look at Landman and Omar Speights as your starting inside linebackers when you’re in your two-backer defenses, those third and four spots are heavily dictated and determined by where do you create value? Not exclusive to the inside linebacker position. And it’s not anything to take away from Pooh, because I got respect, love (for him) and wish him nothing but the best, but those two guys made themselves really important, and that’s why they’ll have a jersey on game day.”
Even if it did come down to special teams value, cutting Paul is a surprise. The Rams essentially used two picks on him this year after trading up and now he’s at risk of being claimed by another team off waivers.
Paul’s calf injury to open camp likely didn’t help his cause but he had time to make up for it, playing in all three preseason games. It just appears he didn’t impress his coaches enough to warrant a roster spot, unfortunately.