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          NFL Nation

          New faces at Rams training camp, and one that's missing

          Aaron Donald is scheduled to earn $6.9 million this season and the reigning Defensive Player of the Years is none too happy abou it. Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
          • Lindsey Thiry, ESPNJul 25, 2018, 08:00 AM ET
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              Lindsey Thiry is a national NFL reporter for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2018 to cover the Los Angeles Rams after two years of covering them for the Los Angeles Times, and has also covered the Chargers for ESPN. She previously covered the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow her on Twitter/X @LindseyThiry.

          The Los Angeles Rams open training camp on July 26 on the campus of UC Irvine in Irvine, California. Here's a closer look at the Rams' camp:

          Top storyline: Super Bowl or bust. After a surprise turnaround in 2017 that included a playoff appearance for the first time since 2004, the Rams went all-in, bolstering their roster with the acquisitions of All-Pro cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and receiver Brandin Cooks, as well as All-Pro defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh. The time is now -- and the clock is ticking -- for the Rams to make a Super Bowl run with a loaded roster unlikely to stay intact for long, with big pay days awaiting Todd Gurley II and Jared Goff in the near future.

          QB depth chart: From seven winless starts as a rookie to leading the NFL's highest-scoring offense last season, Goff, the top overall pick in 2016, goes into his third season with a newfound sense of ownership of coach Sean McVay's offense after spending a year in the system. Sean Mannion will once again backup Goff in the final season of a four-year deal. Brandon Allen and Luis Perez will compete for the No. 3 spot.

          Bubble watch: Veteran defensive lineman Dominique Easley impressed coaches during training camp last season before tearing his ACL, prompting the Rams to give him another chance and sign him to a one-year deal worth $1.85 million. But there's uncertainty how the former first-round pick will perform coming off a third significant knee injury dating back to college.

          This rookie could start: It's very unlikely that any rookie will crack the starting lineup. The Rams traded their first-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for Cooks. Their first two selections, in the third and fourth round, were offensive linemen Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen who will spend the season learning behind veterans. Linebacker Micah Kiser, a fifth-round pick from Virginia, competed at inside linebacker through the offseason program, but is not expected to win the job.

          Hold out watch: It remains to be seen whether reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald will report to camp. Donald is scheduled to earn $6.9 million in the final season of his rookie contract but is seeking a new deal that could pay him in excess of $20 million per season. He did not attend the offseason program and did not report to minicamp. McVay said he does not expect to see Donald until a resolution is reached.

          Encore: Expectations of a repeat performance for Todd Gurley are high. Last season, Gurley was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year after he rushed for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 64 passes for 788 yards and six touchdowns. The challenge for Gurley, a fourth-year pro, will be greater this season as opponents have had plenty of time to study film and learn how McVay deployed the multi-dimensional back.