Rams to make NFL's most underappreciated list creates unintentional controversy

The Los Angeles Rams never fail to have at least one player who seems to perform incredibly well, but who simply does not generate the buzz of less productive players on other NFL teams. But per NFL Deputy Editor Gennaro Filice, that is about to change. For one underappreciated Rams player, that is. He has compiled the NFL's most underappreciated players for all 32 teams.

And I was a bit surprised at his nominee for the Rams.

You see, to name a player from any NFL team, you want to get that guy who the spotlight outright missed. Players who are drafted have their moments in that spotlight, and as they are introduced to the fans of the team and of the NFL at large, they are lauded for everything positive that they might and will bring to the NFL

But undrafted players, signed to the team after the draft concludes, never get their praise-filled introductions. On many occasions, their names are merely listed. That is why we work hard to showcase undrafted collegiate free agent signings. They deserve their moment in the spotlight as well.

However brief, they have joined the Rams roster with the same hopes to make the team.

In Filice's article, he tags Rams defensive back Kamren Kinchens as the team's unsung hero. And that may be. But if Kamren Kinchens is the underappreciated workhorse for the team, then I am simply not certain how to categorize undrafted safety Jaylen McCollough.

Why Kamren Kinchens is deserving

The Rams drafted Miami safety Kamren Kinchens to join a defensive back platoon that already seemed somewhat deep before his arrival. In fact, Kinchens was the only defensive back drafted by the team in 2024, and we viewed him as an ideal fit for what the team wanted to do on defense one year ago.

And Kinchens did not disappoint. In 514 defensive snaps and four starts, he put up 57 tackles, six pass deflections, one tackle for a loss, and four interceptions that include a 103-yard pick-six for a touchdown. That's pretty amazing stuff for a rookie.

"But the 4.65 40-yard dash did not prevent the rookie from picking off four passes -- and taking one 103 yards to the house. An instinctive ballhawk who grabbed 11 interceptions in his final two collegiate campaigns at Miami, Kinchens is further proof that play speed transfers quite nicely to the NFL. After all, Ed Reed ran a 4.57 40 in Indy, and he might be the greatest center fielder in league history."

Gennaro Filice

The Rams have every reason to believe that Kinchens is ready for a larger role, and that's ideally timed as both DBs Quentin Lake and Kamren Curl are in the last year of their respective contracts. Kinchens will likely earn a starting role on merits alone. But in a dead-heat finish, it is a significant strategic advantage for Kinchens to start in 2025.

Why Jaylen McCollough is deserving

Regardless of how open-minded an NFL team is regarding competing for playing time, undrafted players will always face a steeper climb to earn a roster spot and to earn playing time. So it's no wonder that 6-foot-0, 202-pound former Tennessee safety Jaylen McCollough only saw one start in 2024, and that start was the final game of the season when starters sat.

McCollough did not get many defensive snaps in 2024. He played just 335 defensive snaps, but he did make them count. He recorded 43 tackles, four pass deflections, and four interceptions. And he too had a pick-six for a touchdown. He was targeted 25 times, and only allowed 16 passes to find their mark. That is a 64 percent completion rate. Best of all, he only missed one tackle.

McCollough did not hear his name called out because, among other reasons, he could only muster a rumored 4.69-second 40-yard dash. His official time was clocked at an even slower 4.71 seconds. But football speed is not a straight-line sprint, and the Rams inked McCollough to a deal after the draft.

Conclusion

Both Kinchens and McCollough were surprisingly effective in 2024. Both players had remarkable rookie seasons, despite limited playing time. And with the Rams projected to lose two starting defensive backs in 2026, the team has plenty of incentive to hand over the reins to at least one, if not both, player this season.

The team will need even better performances out of both Kinchens and McCollough in 2025 to be successful. Ironically, I fear that in attempting to name Kamren Kinchens as the most underrated player on the Rams roster in 2025, NFL Deputy Editor Gennaro Filice, himself, underestimated the other Rams overlooked defensive back, Jauylen McCollough.

Thankfully, we were here in time to correct that omission. As always, thanks for reading.

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