Rams connected to blockbuster trade that might solve quietest problem

Do the Los Angeles Rams have a secondary problem? I suppose that depends on who you rely upon for your foundational beliefs about this team. Just as many NFL analysts grade on a curve for teams that adhere to their pre-draft mocks, those same talking heads who speculate about free agent signings and rumored trades give standing ovations to any front office that follows through. Confused yet?

This defense allowed just 114 net passing yards on average over two playoff games last season, and that wasn’t solely due to a ferocious pass rush. The unit finally gelled, with consistent performances from Ahkello Witherspoon, Darious Williams, and Cobie Durant at cornerback, and a deep safety group that included Kamren Curl, Quentin Lake, Jaylen McCollough, and Kamren Kinchens. Add former Round 1 pick Emmanuel Forbes Jr. entering his third season, and there’s plenty of reason for optimism.

Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton has his sights set on the pass defense, arguing that a trade is needed to bring coverage back to respectable levels. He goes a step further, identifying what he believes is the missing piece: Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II.

Why Greg Newsome II isn’t the answer for a fully loaded Rams secondary

Moton’s foundation for the hypothetical deal is a bit... dated. He claims L.A. already showed its hand by attempting to reunite with Jalen Ramsey, signaling their interest in a splash addition. He then cites struggles from both Williams and Witherspoon last season as further justification, and finally points to Newsome’s inconsistent play in Cleveland, along with the fact that he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal.

Sounds simple enough, right?

But there are holes in the logic. Interest in Ramsey existed because he was already on the trade block and had an established relationship with the organization. The “struggles” of Williams (who battled a nagging hamstring) and Witherspoon (who joined midseason) aren’t exactly relevant to the current outlook. And at this point, L.A. already has reinforcements in the form of Durant and Forbes, both of whom made strong pushes to win starting jobs this offseason, and still might.

As for Newsome? He’s younger, sure, and a former first-rounder from the 2021 draft, which could imply untapped upside. But we’re not in the preseason anymore. Moton already knocked the team for cutting Derion Kendrick, yet here he is suggesting they have room for a new corner with no familiarity in the scheme.

Newsome could make sense if one of the core contributors goes down. Barring that, the team is already fully invested in Forbes’ development and resurgence. There’s simply not enough coaching bandwidth to bring in another project.

Unless something drastic happens, L.A.’s not in the market. And that might be the real story here. As always, thanks for reading.

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