Rams’ sneaky Roger McCreary trade may be a long-term steal

Not only will the Los Angeles Rams' secondary be refreshed coming out of the bye, but it will also be reinforced. The team's general manager, Les Snead, gave the group a considerable boost by acquiring veteran cornerback Roger McCreary from the Tennessee Titans.

McCreary has been one of the few bright spots for the Titans this season and doesn't turn 26 until February. Why a rebuilding Tennessee squad was willing to trade a talented, productive young player for merely a late-round pick swap is anyone's guess. That's neither here nor there for Snead, who delivered two messages to the rest of the NFC with this transaction, one short-term and another forward-thinking.

Given his age, versatility, draft pedigree, and untapped potential, McCreary may ultimately be more than a rental for the Rams despite his expiring contract. A strong stretch run could serve as an audition for him to stick around in Los Angeles beyond this campaign.

Rams' shrewd Roger McCreary trade could be more than a short-term fix

Across three-plus years with the Titans before getting rerouted to the Rams, McCreary racked up 38 starts. He's showcased the ability to positively contribute in several facets of the game and line up in multiple areas of the field. His ability to apply pressure from the defensive backfield and stop the run supplements above-average coverage skills.

While McCreary has primarily functioned from the slot for Tennessee, he has experience on the boundary, amassing 893 outside snaps (h/t Pro Football Focus [$]). His malleability is desirable, especially for a club with pending free agents at the position and financial flexibility.

Ahkello Witherspoon and Cobie Durant are each slated to hit the open market this coming offseason, when the Rams have the fourth-most projected cap space. The fact that McCreary can effectively operate from the nickel or perimeter makes putting the puzzle pieces together around him easier for Snead.

Things didn't work out for McCreary in Tennessee. Yet, that might largely be a byproduct of the regime that selected him No. 35 overall in the 2022 draft is no longer there. Joining a contender that develops talent as well as anyone in the NFL and needs his services like the Rams is a best-case scenario.

Through eight contests with the Titans in 2025, McCreary yielded 33 tackles, two pass deflections, one sack, one interception and a quarterback hit. His 66.4 overall PFF grade ranks 36th out of 113 qualified corner options.