If you glance at the Los Angeles Rams’ roster, it’s hard to find any major weaknesses. At the same time, you could make a case for them to draft any position (besides special teams) with their first pick.
They could add another wide receiver, bolster their pass rush with an outside linebacker, solidify the middle of the defense with an inside linebacker or prepare for the future with an offensive tackle. Nothing should be off the table at No. 26, which is a good thing.
But in Daniel Jeremiah’s mind, there’s one position that should take priority as the Rams’ biggest need: cornerback.
Believes Los Angeles has to leave the draft with at least one cornerback who can be a long-term starter, and he’s absolutely right.
“I think they need another corner,” Jeremiah said on “Ricky’s Ram Jam” when asked which position the Rams must address. “I just think of who you have to get through, not only on the division side, but the NFC side. Their goal, when you have Matthew (Stafford) coming back, is to win another Super Bowl. And you know what comes out of the AFC at this point in time with the quarterbacks and the passing offenses. And to get that done – yeah, they can rush, no doubt – but they need to get a little bit better on the back end and improve there. That would be, to me, you’d like to leave this draft with someone you feel like can be a long-term starter at corner.”
If the Rams don’t draft a cornerback early, it’s not as if the secondary will fall apart. They still have Ahkello Witherspoon, Darious Williams, Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes and Derion Kendrick. Any of those five players could start at some point in 2025.
The problem is, they don’t have a long-term player to build around at corner. Witherspoon is on a one-year deal, Williams is 32 years old, Durant is entering the final year of his rookie contract and who knows what Forbes or Kendrick will offer this season.
Drafting a young cornerback such as Jahdae Barron, Trey Amos, Azareye’h Thomas or even Shavon Revel could set Los Angeles up for the future at that position.
Jeremiah mentioned Jacob Parrish, Mac McWilliams and Nohl Williams as three cornerbacks outside the first round who he considers sleepers – promising prospects who could surprise people in the NFL.
If the Rams pass on the top corners, perhaps they’ll look toward the third round and later to address that spot.
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