The Los Angeles Rams have needed to bolster their cornerback depth in each of the past two seasons. In 2023, the team needed a veteran presence to ensure consistent quality of play. In 2024, the Rams cornerback position suffered unexpected injuries, and the team needed to restock a depleted cornerback room. In each scenario, the team turned to veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, and the result was adding a player who played in 30 games and 22 starts for the team.
But in 2023, the Rams signed Witherspoon to the team at the end of June. In 2024, the team did not ink Witherspoon to a contract until the middle of September. In each scenario, Ahkello Witherspoon managed to work his way up the depth chart to earn a significant role in the Rams secondary. But you have to second-guess the timing of his signings. How much better would the Rams be if Ahkello Witherspoon had signed early enough to become a full participant in OTAs and training camp?
Well, we are about to find out.
Ahkello Witherspoon is coming back to the Rams on a 1-year deal, per @JFowlerESPN pic.twitter.com/PuzEEXY1La
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) March 19, 2025
I love this move. While I'm under no false pretense that Witherspoon is a Pro Bowler, I love the fact that the Rams show enough wisdom to get him back on the roster in time to allow him to fully participate in all Rams off-season practices. Despite appearing in 30 games over the past two seasons, Witherspoon signed with the Rams too late in 2023 and 2024 to get all the bugs worked out. Now, in 2025, he will finally have the chance to establish communication and rapport with his teammates.
Better still, he is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound defensive back who is tied for the tallest Rams defensive back with safety Kamren Curl and cornerback A.J. Green. But Witherspoon will return for his ninth NFL season, and is just turning 30 years old.
The Rams are still likely to address the cornerback position in the 2025 NFL Draft. But with Witherspoon's return, the need drops from a Day 1 to Day 3 rookie prospect. And with the Rams holding four picks on Day 3, that aligns well with when the team makes its selections.
As always, thanks for reading.