How effective will the Rams Kams be in the refurbished secondary in 2024?

Kamren Kinchens is a drive-killing cutpurse

What Kamren Curl is to playing in-the-box, rookie defensive back is the master of playing center field. He is the epitome of a snake in the grass, a defender who lies low and sneaks up on the play as it develops in front of him, uncoiling to strike just as the ball arrives. He has mad-coverage skills, and his view is that every football in the air is his to claim.

And he frequently does.

Of course, for any and every rookie who has joined the NFL this year, it will come down to opportunities and subsequent performance. Does Kinchens have the type of self-assured mindset that can handle the pressure of the NFL? He oozes confidence, a trait that comes from entering every game well-prepared, and then exceeding the expectations of opposing teams.

In nearly every draft profile, Kinchens was lauded as a nickel safety, and as a slot cornerback. But I see him as a safety who the Rams will position in center field:

One of the constant themes in Kamren Kinchens draft profile is the claim that he lacks speed. For the Rams front office, that is music to their ears. They vet every rookie prospect by assessing how fast and agile they play on the football field. They all but ignore the straight-line track speed times from the NFL Scouting Combine, and often want those times to come in lower than expected.

Slower measured times depresses interest in that player. The Rams love to have less competition when they target a rookie prospect.