Rams face instant regret potential to Seahawks (and it’s not who you think)

The Los Angeles Rams lost four players to the waiver wire — a league high — and one more player who opted to sign on to another team’s practice squad. Some fans view it for what it is: a depletion of discovered talent that could have remained with the team and contributed to future success. Other fans view it for what it is as well: a sign that the Rams roster is so laden with quality talent that other teams are rummaging through their waived players in the hopes of upgrading their own teams.

It's safe to conclude that the team had every intention of signing all five players to the practice squad. History proves that players who make the practice squad eventually see playing time at some point. However, one former starter never returned. That player was cornerback Derion Kendrick, who joins Cooper Kupp, Ernest Jones IV, and Chris "Pooh" Paul Jr. in Seattle.

According to Bleacher Report's Moe Moton, releasing Kendrick is one of five cuts that NFL teams will regret in 2025. While he makes a case for his conclusion, it's a familiar one. LA's secondary struggled in 2024. And releasing any defensive back with starting experience is a disastrous move, no matter what. This argument carries the same repackaged narrative that fans have been bombarded with the entire offseason.

Don't despair over the absence of Rams DB Derion Kendrick too much

If you follow the line of thinking of NFL analysts this offseason, the front office was painted into a no-win corner. By declaring the secondary as insufficient, the team was portrayed as needing to make changes. But at the first indication of change, analysts are now screaming that the team will regret the move. Let’s set the record straight.

Several factors contributed to the Rams’ secondary struggles in 2024:

• An ACL injury shut Kendrick down for the entire season.
• A hamstring injury placed CB Darious Williams on IR to open the season, and seemed to bother him through most of it.
• A horrifically failed experiment of starting veteran CB Tre’Davious White after two very serious injuries — he was not close to being ready.
• The delayed signing of prior-season starter Ahkello Witherspoon, which delayed his ability to contribute to pass coverage.
• A mid-season claim of former Washington Commanders Round 1 rookie CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.

The team rectified many of those challenges by getting both Witherspoon and Forbes working out throughout the offseason. The team traded away White last season. And best of all, all defensive backs are healthy.

This team is sitting on four starting-caliber CBs in Darious Williams, Cobie Durant, Witherspoon, and Forbes. Suggesting that Kendrick’s release cripples the secondary’s ability to cover passes and make plays is quite a stretch.

To make room for Kendrick, the Seahawks were forced to cut accomplished CB Shaquill Griffin. Griffin practiced with their defense all summer. Is Kendrick truly an upgrade who will outplay the 30-year-old? The Seahawks believe so. Most fans don't.

There very well may be regrets over Derion Kendrick in 2025. But evidence suggests it may be the Seahawks — not the Rams — who regret this chain of events. In the meantime, thank you very much for reading.

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