Rams cornerbacks might turn Super Bowl dreams into reality…
The Rams had been selective in the defensive strikes they made during the offseason, however no person improved more than they did on that aspect of the ball due to the two additions they made at cornerback.
The commerce for Chiefs Pro Bowler Trent McDuffie, then signing his teammate, Jaylen Watson, in free company fully modified the complexion of the Rams’ protection.
The Rams added former Chiefs Pro Bowl cornerback Trent McDuffie by way of commerce. IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters Connect
Outside of that, they had been comparatively quiet in each free company and the 2026 NFL Draft on protection. That isn’t essentially a shock, as they’re brimming with younger expertise at almost every place. But by way of noise, they may not have been any louder in bettering their cornerback room, which was their greatest weak spot last season.
Here is a take a look at the place the defensive depth chart stands, publish free company and draft:
Defensive line
Starters: DE Braden Fiske, NT Poona Ford, DT Kobie Turner
Reserves: Ty Hamilton, Jaxson Moi, Jalen Logan-Redding, Tyler Davis, Tim Keenan III, Bill Norton, Larrell Murchison, Payton Zdroik
The skinny: The Rams have executed a stable job of constructing an efficient line of defense over the last few years, leaving them with no big wants in this space. They added Keenan as a late-draft reinforcement, and he’ll get an opportunity to earn a spot in the rotation, however the Rams had been primarily set right here due to the work they’ve executed over the years.
Bottom line: The Rams had been glorious against the run last yr, and it begins up entrance. In phrases of lengthy vary, Fiske and Ford are under contract by means of the 2027 season, however Turner is on an expiring contract, so a call must be made on his long-term future.
Rams beginning linebacker Byron Young had profession highs in sacks and tackles last season. IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters Connect
Linebackers
Starters: Byron Young, Jared Verse, Nate Landman, Omar Speights
Reserves: Josaiah Stewart, Grant Stuard, Shaun Dolac, Elias Neal, Desjuan Johnson, Keir Thomas II, Eddie Walls III, Nikhai Hill-Green, Wesley Bailey, Darryl Peterson III
The skinny: According to Pro Football Focus, only three edge rushers earned a top-15 grade in each cross rush and run protection last yr. One was Young, who broke by means of in 2025 with profession highs in sacks (12) and 82 tackles. The other two had been Myles Garrett and Will Anderson.
That speaks to Young’s emergence as a drive off the edge and why he’s up for a big payday on a new contract extension. But for the Rams’ protection to take another step ahead, particularly in closing out games, they want Verse to have the same emergence in his third season. Verse is an impressive participant, however he must be more constant by way of nice reps to common ones. He’s too good for the high-to-low fluctuation he’s sometimes liable to. If that occurs, the Rams will subject certainly one of the most deadly cross rush tandems in the NFL.
Rams beginning linebacker Jared Verse (8) is an impressive participant, however he must be more constant. IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters Connect
Bottom line: The Rams have certainly one of the best one-two punches off the edge in Young and Verse, and there’s an absolute ceiling to enhance. As far as their inside linebackers, they handed on upgrading at that place, hoping Speights and Landman can continue to offer serviceable play. Expect them to handle that space shifting ahead.
Cornerback
Starters: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Quentin Lake
Reserves: Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Cam Lampkin, Josh Wallace, Alex Johnson, Drey Norwood, Al’zillion Hamilton, Nyzier Fourqurean
The Rams signed former Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson in the offseason. IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters Connect
The skinny: Cornerback turned a legal responsibility for the Rams last yr, they usually prioritized that place in the offseason. It’s exhausting to think about them dealing with that process any better than they did in buying and selling for McDuffie and then signing Watson in free company. In the blink of an eye fixed, a weak spot turned a strength. To put that in perspective, if that cornerback tandem had been in place last yr, the Rams doubtless would have performed in the Super Bowl.
Bottom line: With Lake manning the slot cornerback spot, and McDuffie and Watson on the perimeter, the Rams are as strong as they’ve been in years at their top three nook spots. Lampkin and Wallace present stable depth. The Rams are set right here for a while, but it surely wouldn’t be a shock in the event that they added another veteran depth piece.
Safety
Starters: Kamren Kinchens, Kam Curl
Reserves: Jaylen McCollough, Nate Valcarcel, Tanner Ingle, Nick Andersen
The skinny: The Rams had been primarily hands-off at security this offseason, a clear signal they’re inspired by the younger expertise they’ve assembled. Also, bear in mind that with McDuffie, a do-it-all nook in a position to line up in the slot, that means Lake will be deployed at his more pure security place every so often.
Bottom line: The work the Rams did at cornerback improves all phases of their protection, including on the again end at security, a place they already felt good about.
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