LA Rams waived DB Tyrique McGhee

In unsurprising news, the LA Rams released defensive back Tyrique McGhee. The news was reported on Monday, April 19, on the NFL’s waiver wire. So why what McGhee’s release not the least bit surprising, even as the team is focusing upon onboarding several cornerbacks during and after the 2021 NFL Draft?

Well, just two weeks ago, the news surfaced that the LA Rams defensive back was cited for his second violation for stimulants or diuretics, which resulted in a five-game suspension for McGhee in 2021. When news of McGhee’s five-game suspension was initially reported, we were concerned for McGhee’s ability to rebound with the LA  Rams once more.  He had already been suspended two games during the 2020 NFL season, and this second event occurred in a very short time afterward.

Tyrique McGhee is an undrafted free agent signed to the LA Rams roster after the 2020 NFL Draft. Originally hailing out of Georgia University, the former SEC Bulldog impressed the coaching staff well enough to stick around on the practice squad in 2020. But that itself was enough of a vote of confidence in a bigger and better role for the young man, at least in theory, for the 2021 NFL season.

The Rams knew that they would be fighting against the current to re-sign either veteran cornerbacks Troy Hill and or Darious Williams. Even successful with Williams meant that the team would only have him for one more year.  So now the Rams set about filling those two roster spots. McGhee was certainly in the running for one such role, as the coaching staff and organization were familiar with him.

Now, McGhee will be hard-pressed to sign on with a new team quickly, while the pressure will increase on the Rams to find multiple cornerbacks in this draft.  If there is a silver lining, the Rams know about the need before the draft and will be able to address it either during or after the 2021 NFL Draft.