Eagles Crushed Rams’ Dreams of Keeping Undrafted Standout
The Los Angeles Rams’ hopes of stashing undrafted rookie Willie Lampkin on their practice squad came to a sudden end, as the Philadelphia Eagles swooped in and claimed the promising offensive lineman off waivers.
It’s a frustrating outcome for the Rams, who had invested valuable time and energy into developing Lampkin over the offseason, only to watch him get plucked away before he could return from injury. For Los Angeles, this wasn’t just about losing a player; it was about losing one of the most inspiring preseason stories on their roster.
Eagles Crush Rams’ Hopes of Keeping Willie Lampkin
Lampkin had been generating buzz throughout camp and the preseason before injuries derailed his momentum. In fact, Pro Football Focus had Lampkin as their highest graded rookie OL during the preseason.
A knee injury and ankle sprain suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers seemed to make his roster path even steeper, but the Rams still envisioned a future for him, at least, with hopes to stash him on the practice squad while he recovers from injury. That vision is now gone, with Philadelphia benefiting from the Rams’ misfortune.
The frustration stems from how quickly Lampkin endeared himself to the coaching staff and fanbase. Despite being undersized at 5’11” and 290 pounds, his play on the field told a different story. Lampkin’s low center of gravity, relentless energy, and ability to gain leverage against much bigger defenders immediately stood out.
His preseason debut against the Dallas Cowboys turned heads across the league when he racked up four pancake blocks in a single game. Even Sean McVay couldn’t hide his excitement, calling Lampkin “a competitor” who “understands how to play to his strengths.”
The Eagles Strike Again
If there’s one franchise that seems to make a living off raiding the rest of the league’s talent, it’s the Eagles. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has earned a reputation for being opportunistic, constantly monitoring other teams’ roster cuts, practice squad signings, and waiver wires for hidden gems. Lampkin is just the latest example of the Eagles swooping in to claim a player who has untapped potential.
With Lampkin’s versatility to play both center and guard, it was going to be hard for him to pass waivers and sign on the practice squad.
That’s just the unfortunate reality.
If Lampkin had never been injured, maybe he would have had a chance to make the Rams’ 53-man roster, but maybe the team was a little too opportunistic, thinking no other team in the NFL would want Lampkin, especially the Eagles.
The Rams will move forward, but losing Lampkin before fully seeing what he could become leaves a bitter taste. Undrafted rookies are long shots by nature, yet Lampkin had proven he wasn’t just another camp body. He is a legitimate prospect with grit, versatility, and the kind of drive that resonates in locker rooms, even if he is undersized. Now, Lampkin heads to Philadelphia to learn under arguably the top offensive line coach in Jeff Stoutland.
