These 7 Rams UDFAs have the best chance to make the team
By Bret Stuter
VI: DB Jaylen McCollough, Tennessee
The team's secondary has been on everyone's mind throughout the 2023 NFL season and throughout the 2024 offseason. Of course, the Rams front office has to assume responsibility for the chatter among fans over the past 14 months. After all, the team invested next to nothing in terms of compensation into defensive backs a year ago, got a solid performance out of the group, but wiped the slate clean by not resigning anyone.
The 2024 Rams secondary is practically rebaked from scratch.
One of the areas that the team's front office appeared to prioritize for the secondary this offseason is the ability to manufacture turnovers. The Rams secondary was not especially proficient at that task in 2023, and the team hopes to correct that this year. One step in the right direction is former Tennessee Volunteers rookie defensive back Jaylen McCollough:
Standing 6-foot-0 and weighing 206 pounds, McCollough is certainly big enough to hold up under the pressure and physicality of the NFL. But he plays with a passion that makes him more than just a guy who runs interference in the opposing team's attempts to complete passes. When that football is in the air, he sees it as his football, and makes plays to claim his pigskin. While a five year starter for the Volunteers, he continued to show growth and development.
In 2023, he put up 58 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, broke up five passes, snatched three interceptions, and even had one pick-six to his credit. While the Rams safety position is absolutely loaded for the 2024 NFL season, McCollough has a shot of earning a roster spot. At the least, I love his chances of making the team's practice squad, and possibly being called up later in the season.