roster analysis (March)

Rams depth chart analysis: New cornerback additions strengthen defense

Nate Atkins

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7123361/2026/03/18/rams-2026-depth-chart-analysis-free-agency/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.UFA.kAEU.m8KESWZd9T5s&smid=ta-ios-share

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams came out of the gates fast this offseason. Now they can see their roster clearly, and some finite needs come into focus.

General manager Les Snead said he wanted to boost the talent in the secondary after last season’s 31-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. And in Snead’s terms, that often means a very liberal definition of the phrase.

Snead has made just four outside additions so far, but two of them count as big-time swings. He traded a haul of picks for Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and gave him a four-year, $124 million extension as the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. He then signed McDuffie’s counterpart with the Chiefs, cornerback Jaylen Watson, to a three-year, $51 million deal.

The other outside additions included linebacker Grant Stuard and long snapper Joe Cardona to address the special teams units.

But Snead has also made a pair of retention signings: safety Kam Curl to a three-year, $36 million extension and tight end Tyler Higbee to a two-year, $8 million deal.

The Rams have also seen retirements and departures in free agency, so even a largely “run it back” mission is already seeing some turnover with free agency still ongoing and the NFL Draft approaching next month.

Here’s where the depth chart stands following the first wave of free agency.

Quarterback

Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett

The biggest news of the Rams’ offseason came when Stafford announced he would return for an 18th season at age 38. Retaining the league’s reigning MVP is instantly more crucial than anything else the Rams could have offered. It allows for strong offensive continuity, even as the offensive coordinator role changes hands from Mike LaFleur to Nathan Scheelhaase.

Los Angeles must now decide what to do with the backup spot. The Rams are interested in bringing back Jimmy Garoppolo, but the market for him is fluid. They could opt for another trusted veteran in a win-now campaign, or they could look to the draft to find both a backup and an heir for whenever Stafford hangs it up.

The No. 13 pick feels a bit rich for that kind of investment when next year’s quarterback draft class appears so strong. Either a trade back or a trade up from the second round could be a reasonable spot for a future investment that also has some current appeal.

Running back

Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Jarquez Hunter, Ronnie Rivers

The Rams appear happy to roll back a run game that spent much of the season atop the efficiency charts as Williams and Corum formed the one-two punch Los Angeles has been searching for in recent seasons. Williams turned in his third straight 1,000-plus-yard campaign, and Corum broke out with 746 yards and six touchdowns on 5.1 yards per carry.

The Rams could explore a bold upgrade in the draft in Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, but the likelihood is this is the group to handle a run-heavy approach again this season. The question will be whether Hunter can find any playing time after a rookie season in which the 2025 fourth-round pick was active for just five games and did not see an offensive snap.

Wide receiver

Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, Jordan Whittington

Los Angeles is also happy to run back one of the top wide receiver duos in the NFL. Last season, Nacua lead the league with 129 catches and Adams lead it with 14 touchdown receptions. This is also a sneaky need on this roster for the present and the future. Nacua and Adams each missed three games last season, and Adams will turn 34 late this season in the final year of his contract.

That calls for depth as well as a future high-end starter in an offense that has long had two horses at the top of the depth chart. Los Angeles couldn’t find much use for Tutu Atwell last season on a one-year, $10 million deal, but adding a receiver who can better fit the Rams’ blocking approach could allow more of those 11-personnel sets to activate and thrive.

This looks like a strong spot for the No. 13 pick in the draft, but Los Angeles could also fill it with a Day 2 selection. A wide receiver in the draft who also offers return abilities should shoot up the Rams’ draft board.

Tight end

Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, Tyler Higbee

The Rams saw a tight end explosion of sorts last year, as they leaned into three-tight-end sets for the first time under Sean McVay and at the highest rate in the league. It paid off in the run game as well.

By re-signing Higbee, the Rams signaled they plan to mostly run back this approach. What should be different is that Ferguson will no longer be a rookie, and his first offseason in an NFL strength program should lead to a significant uptick in the 2025 second-round pick’s 39 percent snap share and 25 targets from last season.

Ideally, a Ferguson emergence in a heavy 13-personnel offense can help offset the lack of depth at wide receiver.

Offensive line

Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon Jr., Justin Dedich

Los Angeles’ offensive line was a quiet hero in last year’s run to the No. 1 scoring offense. Once Avila and Dotson got healthy at guard and McClendon replaced Rob Havenstein at right tackle, the group surged in the run game and was adequate in pass protection.

With Havenstein retiring, the path could be clear for McClendon to build on his 10 starts from last season. The Rams could eye an upgrade at that spot in the first round of the draft. They need a swing tackle with Havenstein gone, and they also need to plan for an entire line that is entering the final two years of their current contracts. Expect to see this area as a heavy draft focus.

Defensive line

Jared Verse, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, Josaiah Stewart, Ty Hamilton, Tyler Davis, Desjuan Johnson

The line had been the one spot on defense the Rams invested in to maintain its effectiveness post-Aaron Donald. That led to some great success on the edges, where Verse, Young and Turner combined for 26.5 sacks last season.

Ford’s addition last season helped the run defense improve dramatically. Ford will turn 31 this season, so limiting his snaps would be wise if Hamilton can take a step. Otherwise, expect this group to run it back, just with the hope of steps for Verse, Fiske and Stewart as they gain more experience.

Linebacker

Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Grant Stuard, Shaun Dolac

The Rams finally invested in a linebacker when they extended Landman on a three-year, $22.5 million deal during last season’s breakout campaign. Landman has given the group a strong leader, a run defense specialist and a player who can create turnovers by punching out the ball.

The rest of the group is more specialized and naturally limited in roles by the Rams’ high usage of dime sets. Speights is a steady starter, but this could be a spot to upgrade either in free agency or the draft, perhaps even as high as the No. 13 pick. Dolac will assume another major special teams role, and so will Stuard, who reunites with special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone from their time with the Indianapolis Colts.

Cornerback

Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Josh Wallace

This is the group that has seen massive turnover already this offseason. McDuffie and Watson arrive from Kansas City to man the two outside spots after Darious Williams retired and Cobie Durant signed with the Dallas Cowboys.

The arrival of both players moves Forbes into more of a third outside cornerback spot, which might better suit a high-risk, high-reward athletic player. With Ahkello Witherspoon also a free agent, the Rams could use another outside cornerback option as depth, especially if they hope to sometimes play McDuffie inside, where he was a first-team All-Pro in Kansas City.

Safety

Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough

Los Angeles strongly believed in its safety quartet and showed that by extending Lake and Curl. Now, the hope is that the improved outside cornerbacks allow these players to add impact rather than just clean up mistakes in coverage and tackling.

Lake will man three positions again: nickel cornerback, strong safety and free safety, though nickel should be the primary role. McCollough is the best blitzing option of this group, and the Rams will often play three safeties in their dime looks.

Specialists

Harrison Mevis, K; Ethan Evans, P; Joe Cardona, LS

The Rams had a chaotic year on special teams, though there is some reason to believe in the kicking game heading into 2026. Mevis was a revelation of a midseason signing, as he made 18 of 19 field goals between the regular season and postseason, including an overtime game-winner over the Chicago Bears in the divisional round.

Evans fell off after a strong start, though the Rams will aim to improve mostly in coverage with additions such as Stuard. Cardona replaces Jake McQuaide at long snapper and brings 11 seasons and 177 games of experience from his time with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.

Expect special teams to be a real focus on Day 3 of the draft, from return men to protectors to coverage players.