March free agency madness is in full swing.
It’s a moment when NFL teams set the plan for the upcoming season. There has already been a flurry of activity as the league’s salary cap for 2026 has increased by $22 million. Many clubs have already improved their numbers, but the Los Angeles Rams were the the most competent.
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In the span of a week in March, the Rams acquired standout cornerback Trent McDuffie in a blockbuster trade with the Chiefs and doubled down on Kansas City to agree to terms with the starting cornerback Jaylen Watsonalso formerly chefs.
The Rams not only revamped their corner room with two starting corners, but they also fixed their most glaring weakness.
Los Angeles’ secondary is the main reason they saw their NFC West rival, the Seattle Seahawks, hoist the title. Super Bowl 60 Lombardi Trophy.
Rams’ backfield torched by Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the NFC Championship Game to the tune of 10 receptions, 153 yards and a touchdown on the way to giving up 31 points.
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Defensive shortcomings overshadowed quarterback fact Matthew Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns. And they did Puka NacuaThe nine receptions, 165 yards and one touchdown were afterthoughts.
Los Angeles’ defense allowed 276 passing yards and 382 total yards per game during the playoffs, statistics that ranked them among the bottom four teams in the playoffs.
McDuffie and Watson will undoubtedly help strengthen the Rams’ pass defense.
McDuffie, a 2023 first-team All-Pro, has allowed just 6.2 yards per target over the last four seasons, the 10th the fewest among qualified cornerbacks, per Next generation statistics. He also leads all cornerbacks with 34 quarterback pressures since 2022.
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Watson is coming off his best overall season in which he threw a career-best two interceptions, tied a career-best six pass deflections and allowed a 69.0 passer rating when targeted — eighth at his position, according to PFF.
Add recently re-signed defensive backs Kam Curl And Lake Quentinand the Rams secondary is in a much better position to complement a strong defensive front that features edge rushers Jared Verse And Byron Youngwho totaled 19.5 sacks and 144 pressures last year.
Of course, Matthew Stafford may not be able to replicate his MVP campaign. It’s always safe to assume that the league’s best offense from a year ago won’t fall off the cliff. And if new Rams special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone coaches the unit to be around league average, the Rams, on paper, are poised to enter next season with the most complete team in the NFL.
Even before next month’s draft, the Rams didn’t have any glaring holes.
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“A lot of times our macro philosophy is if we can use free agency to not be desperate in the draft,” Rams general manager Les Snead said March 3. “We’ll most likely be better editors because we’re not reaching and we’re not desperate. We’re not going in with a major gap or a major hole that needs to be filled. That’s generally the approach.”
Mission accomplished, Rams.
The Rams and Seahawks are currently tied for the best Super Bowl odds, according to BetMGM. And as the NFL officially begins a new championship year on Wednesday, the Rams’ offseason moves have already positioned themselves to make another Super Bowl run. in 2026 when Los Angeles will host.
The last time Los Angeles hosted the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium, it was the Rams who won the Lombardi Trophy.
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This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Rams’ NFL Offseason Moves Address Critical Weakness
