Four of the ten current members of the LA Rams secondary are free agents. Thus, the status of the defensive backfield in this 2024 offseason is somewhat uncertain.
Although a case can be made that the 2023 Rams secondary overachieved, there is certainly room for improvement. Indeed, as reported at Ramblin’ Fan:
In terms of yards allowed, the Rams secondary was ranked 20th out of 32 teams. In terms of passing TDs allowed, the Rams ranked 23rd out of 32 teams. In terms of interceptions, the Rams were once again ranked 23rd out of 32 teams.
Accordingly, Rams enthusiasts and sports analysts alike are calling for the team to shore up the secondary, either through free agency or the draft. Draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. feels improvement of the defensive backfield is one of the Rams’ “major needs” for the upcoming season.
Of course, you get what you pay for. And, the Rams have not spent much on their secondary. The Rams’ spending on defensive backs in the 2023 season was 30th out of 32 teams. Their total expenditure on the secondary was $9.8 million. That is approximately 60% less than the league average of $24.3 million.
The Current Members of the LA Rams Secondary
Here are the ten current members of the youthful Rams secondary, four of whom are free agents, as noted:
- Cobie Durant – CB (26-year-old 4th-round draft pick)
- Jordan Fuller – Safety (26-year-old 6th-round draft pick) FREE AGENT
- John Johnson III – Safety (28-year-old 3rd-round draft pick) FREE AGENT
- Derion Kendrick – CB (23-year-old 6th-round draft pick)
- Quentin Lake – Safety (25-year-old 6th-round draft pick)
- Duke Shelley – CB (27-year-old 6th-round draft pick) FREE AGENT
- Jason Taylor II – Safety (24-year-old 7th-round draft pick)
- Tre Tomlinson – CB (24-year-old 6th-round draft pick)
- Ahkello Witherspoon – CB (28-year-old 3th-round draft pick) FREE AGENT
- Russ Yeast – Safety (24-year-old 7th-round draft pick)
Taylor and Tomlinson just completed their rookie seasons. Durant, Kendrick, Lake, and Yeast just finished their “sophomore” seasons. So, these six are still under their rookie contracts. All members of the secondary are in their 20s. Thus, 28-year-old Witherspoon is regarded as the “veteran” of the group.
Mel Kiper made the following observations about the current status of the Rams secondary:
“Fourth-round pick Cobie Durant was a revelation as a rookie in 2022, but he was inconsistent last season, and Derion Kendrick — taken in Round 6 in the same draft — didn’t take a step forward either. So while the Rams got a resurgent season from Ahkello Witherspoon, the veteran is a free agent, meaning there are big questions in this secondary. I see corner as their single biggest need.”
Which Free Agents Should the Rams Seek to Retain?
Given the overall youth of the Rams secondary, the Rams should certainly explore the possibility of keeping veteran free agents, particularly Ahkello Witherspoon, who was “the number one corner for the Rams” in 2023.
Stu Jackson, senior staff writer for theRams.com reported on Witherspoon’s valuable contribution to the LA Rams secondary in the 2023 season:
“Both teammates and coaches see Witherspoon as an even-keeled, stabilizing force in the secondary….
“Rams second-year defensive back Russ Yeast said the veteran presence of ‘AK’ in their position group has been ‘huge,’ especially because of the way they can go to him – and his leadership and his experience – when things go bad.
“‘We’re very young, you know, we’re very energetic, sometimes we might be a little bit too much energetic, and we might get a little bit too high, might get a little too low sometimes,’ Yeast said. ‘AK is kind of the guy that can level us out and make sure that we’re all even-keeled. So I’m grateful for him, and we learn from him every day.'”
In the 2023 season, Witherspoon was “sensational for the Rams.” As reported in Turf Show Times, he was “among the top 10 or close [to the top 10] in most of the important cornerback metrics in the league.” He was “top-10 in catch% allowed, pass breakups, passer rating allowed, forced incompletions, and in man coverage.”
Accordingly, LA Rams and NFL live-streamer Jake Ellebogen extolled Witherspoon’s performance in a fairly recent tweet:
Ahkello Witherspoon continues his spectacular run as the #Rams #1 corner:
3rd in Catch % Allowed
T-5th in Pass Breakups
8th in Targeted Passer Rating
T-8th in Forced Incompletions
11th in Snaps per Reception AllowedMan Coverage:
6th in Catch % Allowed
T-4th in Pass Breakups… pic.twitter.com/SRUcsjn4wA— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) December 4, 2023
Thus, ample reason exists for the Rams to make a concerted effort to keep Witherspooon. During the 2023 season, “teammates and coaches s[aw] Witherspoon as an even-keeled, stabilizing force in the secondary.” Furthermore, Witherspoon has been retrospectively rated as the Rams best acquisition in the 2023 offseason. During the 2023 season, Witherspoon made 52 tackles and three interceptions.
However, the prospect has been floated that Witherspoon may follow Raheem Morris to Atlanta. Of course, Morris, who was the Rams Defensive Coordinator last year, is now the head coach of the Falcons.
Witherspoon staying on would likely have a continued positive impact on the Rams secondary. His status will be closely monitored.
Which Free Agents Should the Rams Seek to Bring In?
A number of free-agent defensive backs are available. In particular, this year’s group of free agents features a glut of talented safeties.
The #Rams picked a good offseason to have cap space and need a safety…current market:
Justin Simmons
Jordan Fuller
Xavier McKinney
Kyle Dugger
Kamren Curl
Eddie Jackson
Kevin Byard
Julian Blackmon
Geno Stone
Micah Hyde
Jordan Poyer
C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Quandre Diggs
Jamal…— Ryan Dyrud (@RyanDyrudLAFB) March 7, 2024
Thus, the Rams have plenty of defensive back options to pursue in the free-agent market. Here is a list of ten free-agent defensive backs the Rams could pursue:
1. Justin Simmons – Safety
Justin Simmons is “one of the best safeties in the NFL.” Despite that, the Denver Broncos released him for salary cap reasons. In 2021, Simmons signed a four-year, $61 million contract with the Broncos, averaging $15.25 million per year.
In the words of USA Today Sports, “The Rams don’t typically pay up for safeties, but Simmons would be worth an exception. He’s that good.” Simmons has been to the Pro Bowl twice and has 30 career interceptions. He has been a second-team All-Pro four times. He has been in the NFL since 2016. So, he would bring needed veteran leadership to the youthful LA Rams secondary.
2. Darious Williams – Corner
Could the Rams reunite with Darious Williams? Williams previously was a starting corner for the Rams. He played five full seasons for the Rams before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He was part of the 2021 Rams Super Bowl champion team. “Williams was a cap casualty in Jacksonville, which open[s] the door for him to return to the Rams….” Thus, like Justin Simmons, Williams could bring needed experience to the Rams’ defensive backfield.
3. Stephon Gilmore – Corner
USA Today Sports describes how Stephon Gilmore could be an ideal fit for the LA Rams secondary:
Gilmore is coming off a solid season with the Cowboys, his first in Dallas. As a pure outside corner, he’d help the Rams considerably, potentially starting opposite Cobie Durant with Quentin Lake in the slot. Signing Gilmore wouldn’t break the bank, given his age (33), which makes him an even more intriguing player for Los Angeles.
4. Xavien Howard – Corner
Cornerback Xavien Howard was a second-team All-Pro in 2018 and a first-team All-Pro in 2020. In both of those standout seasons, he led the NFL in interceptions. He was “a cap casualty for the [Miami] Dolphins this [(2024)] offseason….” He is yet another excellent veteran option for the Rams to explore.
5. Xavier McKinney – Safety
Drafted out of Alabama where he was first-team All-SEC in 2019, Xavier McKinney played four seasons with the New York Giants. He could also be a good fit for the Rams:
McKinney will only be 25 this year and is coming off a season in which he had 116 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defensed. He’s someone who often finds the ball, both in the passing game and against the run, while also displaying the ability to play in the slot or deep.
6. Jordan Poyer – Safety
Jordan Poyer has played 11 seasons in the NFL. In his senior season at Oregon State, he was a consensus All-American. In the NFL, he has 24 career interceptions and 806 tackles. He played with the Buffalo Bills from 2017 through 2023. In 2021, he was named to the All-Pro team and was ranked 45th by his fellow players on the list of the top 100 players in the NFL in 2022.
He is a true free safety. At 33 years of age, he is another seasoned option for the Rams to consider, and he could likely be signed to a cost-efficient, short-term deal. (Poyer was released by the Bills in their recent salary cap shedding maneuvers.)
7. C.J. Gardner-Johnson – Safety
C.J. Gardner-Johnson played his college ball for the Florida Gators. As a sophomore, he was the MVP of the 2017 Outback Bowl, in which he had two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six. He left college a year early to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in his inaugural NFL year with the New Orleans Saints. In 2022, the Saints traded Gardner-Johnson to the Philadelphia Eagles. He started eleven games for the Eagles and was leading the league in interceptions when he was placed on the injured reserve list due to a lacerated kidney. In March 2023, Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Detroit Lions. However, due to injuries, he only started two games for the Lions in 2023. He could be a playmaker for the Rams.
8. Darnell Savage, Jr. – Safety
In five seasons for the Green Bay Packers, Darnell Savage, Jr. had nine interceptions and 302 tackles. The Packers traded up to select Savage in the first round (21st overall pick) of the 2019 NFL Draft. As a collegiate athlete, Savage was a Maryland Terrapin. Here’s how USA Today Sports summarizes the prospect of the Rams picking up Savage:
Savage hasn’t lived up to expectations as a former first-round pick[,] but despite playing five seasons already, he’ll still only be 27 this year. Savage can cover the slot or play the post/deep-half, giving new defensive coordinator Chris Shula some options if the Rams bring him in as a free agent.
9. Geno Stone – Safety
Geno Stone played three years in college for the Iowa Hawkeyes. After being named second-team All-Big Ten in his junior year, he declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Baltimore Ravens. Although he played very little during his rookie season, his playing time increased thereafter. During the 2023 season, he started 11 games and raked in a league-leading seven interceptions. Stone is yet another fairly experienced playmaker for the Rams to consider.
10. Julian Blackmon – Safety
“Blackmon is another intriguing player in a loaded safety class. He’s a sure tackler and a ball hawk in the secondary, recording four interceptions last season alone. If Jordan Fuller and/or John Johnson III leave[] in free agency, Blackmon should be in consideration for Los Angeles.”
– From USA Today Sports
LA Rams Secondary Prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft
The Rams also have the opportunity to fortify their defensive backfield in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
For the first time in eight years, the Rams have a first-round pick in the draft. In addition, they have a second-round pick and two third-round picks.
As noted above, Mel Kiper believes cornerback is the position at which the Rams have the greatest need. Thus, in his mock draft, Kiper forecasts the team will use its first-round pick — the 19th overall pick — to select cornerback Cooper DeJean out of Iowa. DeJean, who stands 6’1″ and had five interceptions for the Hawkeyes last season, is in the No. 15 spot on Kiper’s Big Board. DeJean, who also excels at punt returning, was a first-team All-American selection last year.
Mel Kiper’s fellow ESPN draft analyst, Jordan Reid, also has the Rams selecting a cornerback with the 19th overall pick. However, instead of DeJean, Reid has LA taking speedy Clemson corner Nate Wiggins; Reid has DeJean going to the Green Bay Packers with the 25th overall pick. Wiggins ran a blazing 4.29 forty-yard dash at the NFL combine but only weighed in at 173 pounds. Kiper has Wiggins in the No. 16 spot on his Big Board, only one spot below DeJean.
Thus, there is not much daylight between the positions of Kiper and Reid on what LA is likely to do with its first-round selection; they both forecast the team using the pick on one of the first, if not the first, cornerbacks to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. And both Kiper and Reid reflect the seeming consensus that the Rams need to focus on building the strength of their defensive backfield. If the Rams do so, their potential for success in the 2024 season will be quite high. Indeed, well-regarded ESPN analysts Jeremy Fowler and Field Yates are already forecasting the Rams making it to the Super Bowl.
