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znModerator@RamsNFL @KCurl_2 @PatrickClaybon fun interview with a complete safety that the Rams just extended for 3 more years!!! Not bad for a prospect selected #216 in the 7th round 6 years ago. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/YP8AZCM0kE
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) March 11, 2026
znModeratorThe Raiders are pretty fucked right now.
I decided to start a new thread on this (nothing here has to be moved).
But there are so many “name brand” tweets on this, it would overwhelm this thread.
znModeratorDunno where to put this.
Yeah when in doubt it goes in “tweets.” That’s my rule for myself.
znModeratorcurl will be in his age 27 season. lake in his age 27 season. kinchens will be 24. mcduffie 26 and watson 28. a young secondary that should be at or are around their prime years.
On paper this is the best defense they’ve had in quite some time. On paper.
w
vWhat I hope to see this year:
1. Better tackling.
2. Obviously, more cohesive and effectice CB play.
3. Along with that, a more effective pass rush…it fell off a bit in 2025 from a promising new start in 2024.Could be those boxes have all been checked.
znModeratorfrom https://www.therams.com/news/rams-re-sign-safety-kam-curl-to-three-year-deal-nfl-free-agency-2026
Curl was the Rams’ second-leading tackler last season, and his 122 total tackles were the second-most among all NFL defensive backs. He also caught two interceptions in the regular season and one clutch pick in the playoffs that helped the Rams get past the Bears in overtime of the divisional round.
Curl moved around the formation frequently last year, taking 58.6% of his snaps at free safety, 26.3% in the box and 10.3% in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus.
znModerator.@RamsNFL @ChicagoBears @KCurl_2 maybe the best defensive player on the field in this playoff thriller was Curl….Rams make sure they lock him up for another "Deep Run". #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/i8EPFltNzt
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) March 10, 2026
znModeratorfrom The Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7103156/2026/03/10/free-agent-fits-linderbaum-evans-willis/?campaign=17222259&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=603890
Jaylen Watson, CB, Rams
Last season, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula was able to mask the Rams’ lack of talent at cornerback, but in the playoffs, the Seahawks exposed that weakness and negated the pass rush.
Rams general manager Les Snead was very aware of this weakness because he’s attacked it aggressively. Before free agency, they traded a first-round pick for Trent McDuffie, who can play inside or outside, and gave him a massive contract extension. On the first day of free agency, Snead reunited McDuffie with his former teammate, Jaylen Watson.
Suddenly, the Rams cornerback group is a strength with McDuffie, Watson and nickel Quentin Lake. Watson is a long corner who specializes in press-man coverage. Shula will be able to play a lot more man than they have previously, disrupt routes, and give their young pass rushers a better chance of sacking the quarterback.
znModeratorThe Rams’ acquisition of CB Trent McDuffie remains one of the best offseason moves thus far. pic.twitter.com/Kfu4KYCvgL
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) March 10, 2026
znModeratorSign [long snapper] Joe Cardona to 2-year deal
Grade: AWe don’t yet know the numbers on his contract, but the Rams were wise to add such a veteran, reliable long snapper. Cardona is a two-time Super Bowl champion and as a graduate of the Naval Academy, he’s an exceptional leader on special teams, too. He was a multi-year captain for the Patriots, which shows how highly regarded he was in New England.
znModeratorNFL Stats@NFL_Stats
Current cap space remaining for each NFL team:Commanders $75.7M
Raiders – $71.3M
Chargers – $67.3M
Jets – $49.9M
Titans – $43.9M
Seahawks – $45.6M
Cardinals – $36.1M
Patriots – $31.8M
Packers – $30.6M
Bengals – $30.5M
Colts – $23.7M
Rams – $22.3M
Texans – $21.7M
Saints – $20.8M
49ers – $20.5M
Chiefs – $19.8M
Steelers – $18.1M
Giants – $17.0M
Broncos – $16.9M
Eagles – $13.7M
Falcons – $13.4M
Bears – $13.4M
Jaguars – $10.8M
Panthers – $7.3M
Lions – $5.5M
Browns – $3.3M
Buccaneers – $2.1M
Dolphins – ($6.1M)
Vikings – ($6.2M)
Ravens – ($10.3M)
Bills – ($11.6M)
Cowboys – ($22.8M)(Estimated via http://Spotrac.com)
znModerator“As much as everybody wants to say, ‘well, if he wasn't drafted to the Jets…’ I think we saw enough struggles by Sam Darnold early in his career to say this wasn't JUST about the situation he was in.”@Kurt13Warner discusses the Seahawks QB: pic.twitter.com/tR6t1nj1j1
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) March 10, 2026
znModeratorHoldenCantor@HoldenCantor
Cardinals apparently “struck out” with Jimmy G, my sense is Jimmy wants to be back with Sean McVay and the Rams. They’re in talks to bring him back. Anything can happen but he should be back.znModeratorHey, now. The Saints just signed Travis Etienne, and the Chiefs already got Kenneth Walker.
Who the hell is going to draft Jeremiyah Love?
Todd McShay@McShay13
It’s important to note; every GM in the league is taking Jeremiyah Love on a rookie deal over Walker III or Etienne on a veteran deal (not a knock on them, it’s just financial sense). Mickey Loomis and Brett Veach were well aware that Love wasn’t making it to them (at picks 7 and 8, respectively).znModeratorWould you like to know more about how I can adapt my persona to be more helpful in our conversations? “
Yes. Speak in German, backwards, and reverse all number values: 0 is now 9, 1 is now 8, and so on.
znModeratorMatt Bowen on Jaylen Watson (from https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/raiders-named-best-fit-cornerback-171245875.html )
“He has the length to challenge in press and the route awareness to play top-down on the ball in zone.”
znModeratorfrom Seth Walder: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47911726/2026-nfl-free-agency-grades-signings-trades-latest-best-worst-deals-draft-outlook#watson
Rams sign CB Jaylen Watson
Terms: Three years, $54 million, per NFL Network
Grade: B+
Watson and Trent McDuffie are reunited again.
The Rams knew their weakness last season was their cornerbacks, so they haven’t held back in addressing the issue. They started by trading for McDuffie and handing him a huge contract, then they added Watson to bring the former Chiefs cornerbacks back together.
The issue is solved on paper. McDuffie is a premier corner and Watson has been a consistently strong player in Kansas City. In each of the past four seasons, Watson has allowed 1.1 yards per coverage snap (average for an outside corner) or better. And that consistency is meaningful. I would much rather invest in a cornerback who plays well year after year than someone coming off a single great season given how erratic cornerback play can be from one year to the next.
There is also something to be said for having multiple strong cornerbacks. Pass coverage can be a weak link system, meaning that a single strong cornerback can help but if the player opposite him is poor in coverage, opponents still can pick on the weaker player. A defense with two good corners is much harder to defeat.
The Rams are doubling down on a very particular risk here — the Steve Spagnuolo factor. We’ve seen defensive backs have great success under Spagnuolo and struggle to reach that same level elsewhere. If that continues, it could cost the Rams double.
But $18 million really isn’t too big a price to pay here. It’s what I thought Watson would go for but it’s also a far cry from the $31 million McDuffie got this weekend. And the theoretical top (if we adjust for cap inflation) is just over $32 million.
Watson doesn’t have to be a star to pay off. And the Rams — who actually are among the teams with the most 2027 cap space right now, per OverTheCap.com — are trying to maximize their Super Bowl window before Matthew Stafford retires. I also don’t love a lot of the alternatives in the free agent market, so locking in the second part of the former Chiefs tandem makes sense to me.
znModeratorznModerator69RamFan
Now we have an outstanding Nickel Package, Watson, Curl, Kinchens, Lake & McDuffie
Then to add for our Dime package: Forbes and McCollough
On paper we now have a Super Bowl Defense!
Watson will be the CB who will cover those big WR, the likes of Evans who the Whiners plan on signing. While McD will be covering JSN. As for Forbes, I can see him playing the nickel, if an offense brings in 11PG and he’ll be covering their smaller/WR3.
znModeratorRams got much more physical at CB
Beyond being great coverage guys, the additions of Trent McDuffie and Watson give the Rams a much better presence on the outside in terms of run support and tackling. Like McDuffie, Watson is an outstanding tackler, missing just four attempts all year in 2025.
He’s 6-foot-2 and isn’t afraid to scrap it up with ball carriers, always coming up and helping in run support when backs bounce it outside. Cobie Durant and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. were below-average tacklers last season so this is a huge upgrade in that department.
znModeratorfrom PFF: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2026-nfl-free-agency-live-deal-grader
The Rams add a cornerback from the Chiefs for the second time in the past few days. A seventh-round draft pick in 2022, Watson has played 500 or more snaps in every season as an NFL player. He has also earned PFF coverage grades above 65.0 in each of the past three campaigns. The Rams have already taken huge steps to improve their defense this offseason.
znModeratorRams Tapes@RamsTapes
Former Patriots (LS) Joe Cardona has signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams.znModeratorNate Atkins@NateAtkins_
The Rams were awarded two 7th-round compensatory draft picks for this year’s haul:No. 251
No. 252They sent out two Day 3 draft picks and three total picks (including No. 29 overall) to acquire Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs.
Now they have a little back-fill to the trade.
znModeratorAlbert Breer@AlbertBreer
The Seahawks paying Rashid Shaheed makes sense based on the picks they gave up for him—but having his deal and Cooper Kupp’s on the books ahead of an expected blockbuster for Jaxon Smith-Njigba is going to make for a tight fit.They do plan to make it work with all three.
znModeratorryan anderson@RLAndersonLAFB
The Rams are adding two proven man corners in Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson — key pieces from a Chiefs defense that ranked #1 in man coverage EPA/play in 2025.LA finished 20th in man defense, so these additions will expand the playbook: more flexibility in dime packages, more true man-match looks, and the ability to lean into tighter coverage structures.
znModeratorfrom The Athletic, NFL free agency grades 2026: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7093735/2026/03/09/nfl-free-agency-grades-2026/?campaign=17206088&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=603890
…
WR Mike Evans exits Tampa Bay for San Francisco
Top 150 ranking: 6
Reported deal: 3 years, $60.4 million
Grade: B-The 49ers add the career Buccaneer in Evans, who until last year’s injury-plagued campaign (hamstring, broken clavicle) had recorded 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Evans, 32, showed late last season that he remains a handful, recording six catches for 132 yards against Atlanta. If that Week 15 showing is any indication of Evans’ capabilities this season, he’ll give Brock Purdy another big target and red zone threat. — Jones
znModeratorThe Rams are solidify their defensive backfield as we speak. The signing of Jaylen Watson gives the Rams a very physical unit in whole
Watkins 6’2 and 197 lbs. Does not shy away from contact and can move well for his size. Stick like glue. Excited to see our new guys get to work pic.twitter.com/rUjJXYqPAi
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) March 9, 2026
znModeratorznModeratorthis draft just gets more and more interesting.
Absolutely.
It can go anywhere they want to take it.
Rock star at 13? Trade up? Trade down?
This draft is like the opposite of 2000, where they knew they had a contender and then blew all their picks.
The only thing I know in advance I would not like is taking Ty Simpson at 13.
znModeratorBREAKING: Super Bowl MVP RB Kenneth Walker III intends to sign with the #Chiefs, per multiple sources.
A big time new weapon added for Patrick Mahomes. pic.twitter.com/6HB7NBiw4X
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 9, 2026
znModerator.@LRiddickESPN and @JFowlerESPN react to Malik Willis' agreement with the Dolphins 🏈 pic.twitter.com/7E8W7YNGE8
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 9, 2026
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