4 LA Rams who may lose their starting jobs to rookies

III – Defensive back

The LA Rams acquired defensive back Troy Hill in a very similar manner as their signing of Riley Dixon. The only difference is the fact is the manner in which the team acquired him, trading a future late-round draft pick for a player who arrives as the projected starting cornerback opposite Jalen Ramsey.

He’s done it before, he is particularly well-suited to play the zone defense that Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris tends to favor, and he is familiar with many of the Rams coaches and players. That familiarity means that the coaches have a pretty good idea of what they are getting in him.

But that did not stop the team from letting him test the NFL Free Agency market and sign on with the Cleveland Browns. So what has changed? Well, the Rams roster needs have changed, for starters.

When the Rams allowed Hill to sign elsewhere, they were focused on re-signing defensive back Darious Williams to play in 2021. While Williams played well enough, it was clear that he was less effective without John Johnson behind him and Troy Hill beside him. So this offseason, Williams signed elsewhere, and veteran Troy Hill returns to the fold.

But the LA Rams are not done just yet.

The Rams added DB Robert Rochell, a young and quite promising defensive back whose progress was hampered by a wrist injury in training camp and then by a rib injury in the latter part of the season. He is just one of nearly a dozen young defensive backs gunning for playing time, and perhaps even a starting role.

Rookie Decobie Durant is going to make a strong push for time in the Rams’ slot cornerback role. In the past, the Rams had parked Troy Hill in that spot to help cover the opponent’s WR3 or tight end. But Durant is clearly a young defender whose speed alone will keep him in the receiver’s back pocket. Think Darious Williams, but much faster.