ESPN names Rams personality as free agency winner, and its not who you think

Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula has had to be a bit of a miracle worker in the past. Since taking over from former defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, the team has not spent much on the defense. In both 2024 and 2025, general manager Les Snead was incredibly generous with limited cap dollars when adding offensive players.

Not so much for defensive players. Well, that's all changing in 2026.

ESPN noticed, naming Chris Shula as one of the NFL's top free agency winners. They are not wrong, either. Whether trading, extending, or signing free agents, the team has invested heavily in the defensive side of the football. Just consider the financial moves from Snead and company so far to bolster the defense:

• Inside linebacker Nate Landman extension
• Defensive back Quentin Lake extension
• Defensive back Kam Curl extension
• Trade for cornerback Trent McDuffie (and record-setting extension)
• Signing cornerback Jaylen Watson

Money matters. After several seasons on a beer budget, Chris Shula is getting his first taste of NFL champagne players. And after turning solid defensive play on a stingy budget, fans have every reason to be hopeful with his ability to get the best from elite performers.

Rams Les Snead has spent shrewdly so far to fix the secondary

LA Rams Les Snead has not thrown around money to look affluent. This has all been executing a clearly well-thought-out plan to infuse elite coverage cornerbacks into an already physical defense. Because the particulars were so specific, LA had to acquire the rare fit to it's plans.

Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson add significant coverage skills while maintaining the team's insistence on physical play and sure-handed tackling. With their arrival, the team now has the luxury of fitting cornerbacks Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Josh Wallace into less demanding roles.

The offseason strategy also sets Los Angeles up to invest in talented but raw defensive backs in the draft and coach them up for larger roles in the future.

Is the defense fixed? Perhaps not entirely. But if fans were hoping for a solid foundation for Chris Shula to work with in 2026, Snead has absolutely delivered it. Now the team can be far more selective in finding value-added opportunities in the remainder of free agency and the upcoming draft.

That just so happens to be when Les Snead is at his most dangerous.

As always, thanks for reading.