Rams' biggest loser from an extremely competitive preseason is painfully obvious

The Los Angeles Rams learned a lot about themselves throughout the trials and tribulations of the 2024 NFL season. This was a team that struggled with the early defensive strategies and concepts installed by new DC Chris Shula, while at the same time struggling with the cascade effects of injuries on both sides of the football.

It was a difficult time for the team, complicated by the unexpected injuries to two cornerbacks who were projected to become significant contributors in Darious Williams and Derion Kendrick. The matter was even further complicated by veteran Tre'Davious White, whose own rehabilitation from two previous severe injuries limited his effectiveness.

The team did not falter. The front office re-signed former starting defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon. Shortly thereafter, the team claimed former first-round cornerback Emmanuel Forbes from the Washington Commanders' waiver wire. Armed with talent, the team's competition level rose tremendously. That placed the former sixth-round draft pick Derion Kendrick on the roster bubble.

DB Derion Kendrick is Rams' biggest preseason loser

The Rams drafted cornerback Derion Kendrick with the 212th overall pick in Round 6 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Kendrick is a defensive back who competed for the team for two seasons. He appeared in 32 games and started 18. He was not the most effective player in the secondary, but he did flash enough in his rookie season to be projected as a significant contributor in the future.

The first signs of regression occurred in 2023, when he struggled as a tackler. Despite a robust size of 6-foot-0 and 199 pounds, he missed 18.3 percent of his tackles. He was on track to improve in 2024, but an ACL injury ended his season before it began. In his absence, the secondary reloaded and improved.

He was released earlier in the offseason. But when plans fell through over trading for more secondary help, he was re-signed to the team. But the point was made. The damage was done. Kendrick, for lack of a better term, was expendable.

Kendrick returned to compete in 2025, but the addition of both Witherspoon and Forbes shut him out of first-sting reps. The attempt to recover from an ACL injury seemed to do the rest. He appeared in and played most of Game 3 of the preseason, while teammate Josh Wallace did not. Making matters worse, he was called for a penalty that extended the Browns' offensive drive, leading to their game-winning field goal.

Critical penalties that are mental mistakes will get veterans noticed, and not for the right reasons. It's been a precipitous fall of a cornerback once believed to have all the makings of a starter, to a veteran who stands to be released from the team, but such is life in the NFL. As always, thanks for reading.

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