The Rams made some strategic moves on defense this offseason. With the addition of two cornerbacks, they’ve notably strengthened that aspect of their game.
The trade that brought in Chiefs Pro Bowler Trent McDuffie, along with signing Jalen Watson in free agency, has revamped the Rams’ defensive lineup entirely.
Aside from these key moves, their defensive activity in free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft has been pretty low-key. This isn’t too surprising, considering they already boast a lot of young talent across most positions. However, their moves to improve the cornerback situation, which was a significant weak point last year, have certainly created a buzz.
So, here’s a look at their defensive depth following these offseason changes:
defensive line
starter: DE Braden Fisk, NT Poona Ford, DT Coby Turner
Reserves: Ty Hamilton, Jackson Moy, Jalen Logan-Redding, Tyler Davis, Tim Keenan III, Bill Norton, Larrell Murchison, Peyton Zdrojk
Thin people: The Rams have done well to establish a solid defensive line. They haven’t really faced any major needs here lately. Keenan, a late draft addition, will get the chance to earn a spot in the rotation, but overall, they seem pretty settled with the players they have.
Conclusion: The Rams effectively addressed their defensive issues from last season and will begin from a strong front line. Fisk and Ford are locked in through the 2027 season, while Turner’s contract will need a closer look down the line.
linebacker
starter: Byron Young, Jared Verse, Nate Landman, Omar Spaetz
Reserves: Josiah Stewart, Grant Steward, Sean Dolak, Elias Neal, Dejuan Johnson, Kia Thomas II, Eddie Walls III, Nikai Hill-Green, Wesley Bailey, Darryl Peterson III
Thin people: According to Pro Football Focus, only three edge rushers made the top 15 for both pass rush and run defense last season. One was Young, who had a breakout year in 2025 with career highs in sacks (12) and tackles (82). The others were Myles Garrett and Will Anderson.
This clearly shows Young’s potential as a key player. For the Rams to elevate their defensive game, especially in shutout scenarios, Vaas will need to step up in his third season. He has great skills, but there’s room for improvement in consistency. If he can smooth out the fluctuations in his performance, the Rams could have a formidable pass rush tandem.
Conclusion: With Young and Barth leading as edge players, the Rams have a strong potential. They chose not to make immediate upgrades at inside linebacker, hoping that Speights and Landman can keep contributing effectively, which I think they can.
cornerback
starter: Trent McDuffie, Jalen Watson, Quentin Lake
Reserves: Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Cam Lumpkin, Josh Wallace, Alex Johnson, Dray Norwood, Argilion Hamilton, Nijie Forkleen
Thin people: Cornerback was a persistent weakness for the Rams last season, a gap they’ve worked hard to fill this offseason. The trade for McDuffie and the signing of Watson changed that dynamic completely. What was once a vulnerable position has quickly transformed into one of their strengths. If they had these two last year, one can’t help but think they might have reached the Super Bowl.
Conclusion: With Lake in the slot and McDuffie and Watson on the outsides, the Rams’ cornerback unit is looking pretty strong. There’s depth with Lumpkin and Wallace backing them up, and while they seem solid for now, it wouldn’t be surprising if they sought additional veteran experience.
safety
starter: Camren Kinchens, Cam Karl
Reserves: Jalen McCollough, Nate Balcarcel, Tanner Ingle, Nick Andersen
Thin people: The Rams haven’t made many changes at safety this offseason, which signals confidence in their younger talent. Plus, having McDuffie in the fold allows Lake to shift into a natural safety role when needed.
Conclusion: The improvements made in the cornerback position have amplified their overall defensive performance, including the safety spot, in which they already had some strong players.
