Second wave of hires could be deepest cut of all to Rams coaching staff

The Los Angeles Rams were fortunate enough to weather the first wave of the NFL's annual coiaching carousel virtually unscathed. Yes, the team lost offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to assume the head coaching position of the Arizona Cardinals. But multiple key coordinators were in the queue for head coaching positions.

Losing just one seems better than expected.

Unfortunately, head coaches need new coordinators and positional coaches on staff as well. And so, the same Los Angeles coaching staff that survived the first round of hiring must now brace for the aftershocks of a second round. Now, Assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant is interviewing for open defensive coordinator positions with both the Arizona Cardinals and the Cleveland Browns.

He is likely to be offered one of the two positions.

This could be the deepest cut of all. It's particularly detrimental to a secondary that seemed to regress in 2025. The defense is currently in a state of flux, and nobody is more familiar with LA's defensive backs than Coach Pleasant.

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The secret is out. As if the LA Rams roster was not under enough pressure with multiple expiring contracts from the secondary, the final games showcased defensive backs struggling to sustain coverage as the stakes were raised. It was something that even ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick noticed.

But fixes require a defined solution. New coaches cannot be expected to diagnose and solve issues present before their arrival. That translates into a front office with less optimal specifications, or a position coach who inherits players who do not fit his style of play. Or both.

You may assert that Aubrey Pleasant was overseeing the secondary as the regression took place. But he had a lesser tier of talent to work with, and untimely injuries to starting cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and defensive back Quentin Lake derailed communication in the latter stage of the season.

And it was Pleasant who oversaw the reclamation of tarnished cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr.

The expiring contracts of multiple defensive backs make this defense particularly vulnerable. Five players may not be back. Even if general manager Les Snead proposes an extension, that player may opt to follow Pleasant to a new team.

Que será será.

As was the case with head coaching opportunities, perhaps Aubrey Pleasant will remain on the coaching staff for 2026. But should he accept a defensive coordinator position elsewhere, that could prove to be the deepest cut to the LA Rams' coaching staff.

As always, thanks for reading.