Rams can ironically offer Cam Lampkin his greatest opportunity yet

Adding Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson as the new starting cornerbacks was a massive win for the Los Angeles Rams, kicking off a fresh chapter after the secondary fought through some tough times in recent years. Alongside those two major splashes, however, the Rams' depth trickled out the door. Cobie Durant, gone. Roger McCreary, see ya. Darious Williams, retired. Farewell, Ahkello Witherspoon and Derion Kendrick.

While that's not great for L.A., ironically it does create an opening for the likes of Cam Lampkin, an undrafted free agent who arrived in Los Angeles two years ago. He did not appear in a game in 2025 after getting a rookie cup of coffee on special teams. 

Part of the reason Lampkin didn't see any kind of opportunity on the 53-man roster last season was that the Rams simply had other options to call on. The secondary was weak overall, but even with the injuries, other bodies stepped in to fill the void. Lampkin observed from the practice squad.

With a spot or two to fill at the backend of the 2026 rotation, however, the Rams can give Lampkin a legitimate crack at leveling up on the depth chart. It'll be on him to maximize the opportunity.

Lampkin can claim a spot on thinned-out Rams depth chart

What kind of opening actually exists depends on how many defensive backs the Horns carry. The cornerback rotation consists of McDuffie, Watson, and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. as the primary backup. At the nickel, L.A. has Quentin Lake and Josh Wallace. 

The centerfield safeties are Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens, and Jaylen McCollough, accounting for eight DBs in all. 

Last season, 12 players appeared in a game as a member of the Rams secondary. Nearly half are off the team. 

Of course, the defense would not have tagged a dozen DBs for reps without substantial injuries. Hopefully L.A. does not encounter anything similar this season. And they won't have to for Lampkin to carve out a spot as the fourth corner on the roster. 

He has a lot to prove. His NFL career consists of 31 special teams snaps in 2024. Lampkin had a pedestrian college career at Utah State and Washington. Yet the Rams have seen enough to keep him around for the past two seasons. 

Among their depth options at cornerback, Lampkin has the most experience within the organizational culture and schematic system. His arrival coincided with Chris Shula's promotion to defensive coordinator. In a training-camp scrum against fellow UDFAs and cast-outs, that familiarity should work to Lampkin's advantage. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow