Intriguing position battles for LA Rams in 2024 will shock some fans

II: Safety solution

The 2024 Rams training camp will feature significant heated competition, but one that will be particularly fierce is the contest for a starting safety role between DB Quentin Lake vs. rookie DB Kamren Kinchens. After all, the core players of the Rams secondary in 2023 are all but gone and forgotten already, and include DBs John Johnson III, Jordan Fuller, and Ahkello Witherspoon.

The front office did not hesitate the secondary makeover, jumping on the opportunities to sign veterans Darious Williams, Tre'Various White, and super safety Kamren Curl. Still, that standard starting complement of defensive backs in a base defense is four. That means that even with three free agent additions added, the final safety spot is up for grabs.

Returning veteran Quentin Lake appeared to hold the pole position for that starting spot. After all, he played 453 defensive snaps last year, recording 53 tackles, breaking up six passes, and allowing just 62.3 percent of passes targeting his receiver to find the mark. But in all 14 games played and four starts in 2023, Lake did not generate a single interception. Nada.

If that is a concern, then you will be ecstatic over the Rams selection of Miami safety Kamren Kinchens with the 99th overall pick in Round 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Kinchens is a poster child of ball-hawking defensive backs, hauling in 11 interceptions in his last two seasons with Miami. When we discussed him in a recent article, we stated that he has averaged 59 tackles, 2.0 tackles for a loss, 5.5 pass break ups, 5.5 interceptions, and one pick-six per season in his final two years of college football.

Of course, college football is a far cry from the NFL. But if Kinchens can translate that ball-hawking finesse that he perfected in NCAA football to the NFL, he will do more than give Quentin Lake a run for his money. He will earn the final starting spot in the Rams secondary.