Jalen Ramsey, David Long Jr., Taylor Rapp and Nick Scott are all gone from the Rams secondary. All four were starters last season, along with Troy Hill, who remains a free agent.
With those players gone, the Rams’ secondary is in rebuild mode, similar to the rest of the roster. It’s hard to lock in any single player as a starter right now, aside from maybe Jordan Fuller, but eventually, the starting corners and safeties will begin to separate from the pack.
Cobie Durant is one player worth watching closely this year because he has perhaps the highest ceiling of any defensive back on the Rams’ roster. His goal is to earn a starting spot, but he says that’s the case for everyone in the secondary and that all spots are up for grabs.
“Yeah, it’s a goal for everybody on the backend,” Durant said this week. “I feel like all positions is open and they’re gonna play the best. Going through OTAs and walk into a training camp, wherever the coaches want us to play, we’ll play. Everybody knows every position, so it’s good.”
On paper, Durant, Derion Kendrick and Robert Rochell look like they’ll be the three starters at cornerback initially. Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson and Shaun Jolly will try to grab one of those top three spots, too, as will a host of undrafted rookies.
The safety position is equally up for grabs with Russ Yeast, Quentin Lake, Jason Taylor II and others competing to presumably start alongside Fuller. However, even Fuller will have to earn his spot in this wide-open secondary.
Competition is good on the football field and the Rams hope it will bring out the best in their players.
