Savvy GM Les Snead may have coaxed All-Pro lightning to strike twice in LA

One of the things that Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead can be counted on to do is tackle blockbuster trades that he believes will improve the roster. Another thing he can be depended on is not to try to hide the fact that he will be aggressive. In a recent interview with The Athletic's Nate Atkins, Snead admitted his off-season strategy.

"“Is there an All-Pro that you could add? That would be nice.”"

Les Snead via The Athletic's Nate Atkins

And then he went out and did exactly that. It's not enough that Snead is the mastermind with impeccable planning. He follows through with those plans and may have landed one of the most important players of the soon-to-arrive 2026 NFL season. After all, acquiring an All-Pro in the prime of his career is not an easy thing to accomplish.

Trent McDuffie brings an aura that will remind fans of former Rams All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Both arrive in their prime. Both were acquired via trade. Both wanted to be paid and were not likely to optimize their next contract with their original team.

And both offer much more than blanket coverage. Trent McDuffie is a hard-thumping defensive back who tackles like a dump truck and pressures quarterbacks like an edge rusher. Right now, he seems to check all the boxes for LA's secondary.

Trent McDuffie offers same upside to secondary as Jalen Ramsey in 2020

In 2020, the LA Rams needed to overhaul their secondary. The team parted ways with both cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib to make roster and cap space to acquire defensive back Jalen Ramsey. And Ramsey not only played incredibly well, but he allowed the team to promote Darious Williams to a starting role that he mastered in 2021.

While McDuffie is not as physically intimidating as the 6-foot-1, 211-pound Ramsey, he certainly makes his presence felt in the secondary. He is a master of velcro-like coverage for long periods of time, and has allowed just 6.2 yards per target over the last four seasons (per Next Gen Stats). At 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds, that's not something to sneeze at.

Much like Ramsey, McDuffie allows the secondary to better fit players into their optimal roles. The secondary struggled with inconsistency last season because no cornerback could handle the CB1 role. McDuffie can give his teammates relief in covering the opposing offense's best receivers. And other cornerbacks should find more success at covering other, less talented players.

Even as LA struggled in coverage, it was not a complete disaster. No defensive back could neutralize Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Now, the team has the talent on the roster to do exactly that.

The Rams acquired cornerback Marcus Peters in time for a run at Super Bowl LIII. LA added cornerback Jalen Ramsey in time to win Super Bowl LVI. Now, the team addes cornerback Trent McDuffier. is there a pattern here?

Jalen Ramsey catapulted this team to a Super Bowl LVI victory in 2021. Hopefully, Trent McDuffie's arrival can foster the same outcome in Super Bowl LXI.

As always, thanks for reading.