Offensive tackle and corner are still major concerns for Rams in 2025
It’s clear the Los Angeles Rams have Super Bowl expectations in 2025.
They renewed their commitment to Matthew Stafford this offseason, even though around the time of the NFL scouting combine it seemed they could possibly ship the veteran to the New York Giants or Las Vegas Raiders.
Still, if the Rams are going to get where they want to get this season, they will need to thread a needle at a couple weaker areas on their roster. This includes both offensive tackle and cornerback, according to Gary Klein at the Los Angeles Times:
Offensive Tackle:
But uncertainty now reigns. Jackson sat out the final week of offseason workouts because he is dealing with blood-clot issues for the second time in his career. If, or when, he will be able to practice and play is unknown.
Right tackle Rob Havenstein, 33, is entering his 11th season and the final year of his contract. He is coming off two shoulder surgeries.
Swing tackle Warren McClendon Jr. started five games last season, but he has not established himself as a frontline player. The Rams also recently signed eight-year pro David Quessenberry, who made 17 of his career 30 starts in 2021.
Cornerback:
The Rams are confident in the secondary — in large part because of the defensive front…
So the Rams stood pat with the same defensive backs from last season.
Cornerback Darious Williams, 32, does not have salary guarantees beyond this season, according to Overthecap.com. Ahkello Witherspoon, 30, is playing on a one-year deal for the third consecutive season but was signed early enough this time to participate in offseason workouts.
Cobie Durant is in the final year of his rookie contract, and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. is trying to prove that the Washington Commanders erred by releasing the 2023 first-round pick last season.
While Alaric Jackson’s injury forced the Rams between a rock and a hard place, it’s not often you find a player of DJ Humphries’ caliber this late into the offseason. This crunch is also entirely outside of their control; however, you could argue that LA could have done more to future proof the offensive tackle position instead of taking a luxury pick at TE with their earliest selection in the NFL Draft.
The corner room is in as equally of a tough spot, except the Rams have put themselves in this position. They didn’t make any meaningful moves this offseason outside of bringing back Ahkello Witherspoon and potentially trading for Jalen Ramsey currently of the Miami Dolphins. It’s clear LA is taking a quantity over quality approach to the secondary this year. It’s not clear whether that plan is wise or will lead to ideal results.
If the Rams aren’t able to live up to their Super Bowl expectations, we will probably be able to look back on the tackle and corner positions as an explanation why. This much is clear in June.
