Rams shock NFL by claiming best possible defensive back for playoff run

Turnabout is fair play, it seems. After the Los Angeles Rams watched a handful of NFL teams circle when the team was forced into paring down the roster to the 53-man limit, it seemed as though many of the players who had serious potential were lost for good. Ah, but that would be a sad and short tale, indeed.

One such player who seemed to be lost for the foreseeable future was cornerback Derion Kendrick. The team tried to sneak him to their practice squad, but the Seattle Seahawks cunningly lay in wait, claiming the veteran upon his release.

The move created roster complications for both teams. Without Kendrick, LA's secondary was in disarray, and the team was forced to speed up plans for Emmanuel Forbes Jr. Meanwhile, the Seahawks were forced to shuffle their roster

But the Seahawks did not have much loyalty for their early-season playmaker. One reporter attributes Kendrick's mystifying release to a bad play on special teams. Still, the Seattle secondary got healthy, and the team sought any reason to trim cornerbacks from the roster. Not For Long was Kendrick's fate once more, and he was claimed by Los Angeles instantly.

Derion Kendrick is a huge addition to a robust Rams secondary

While the path to getting back on the Rams roster may have many twists, turns, and cul-de-sacs, Derion Kendrick has found his way home to Los Angeles. He is more than another player. He has two interceptions in limited action and has only allowed six completions in 12 targets. The Seahawks secondary is a pretty solid group, so Kendrick was deemed expendable.

Not only did general manager Les Snead stumble into a winning lottery ticket by sheer coincidence, but Kendrick is now armed with an entire database of behind-enemy-lines intel about the Seahawks, a team that LA must face one more time.

Kendrick was not a popular player with all fans. But he has been an improving defender whose return will only help the number one defense to reach new heights. How many of Snead's defensive back additions are attributable to losing Kendrick? It matters not.

Los Angeles has a solid secondary, has traded for promising young cornerback Roger McCarty, and now Derion Kendrick is back.

As always, thanks for reading.