Following a dismal start to his time with the Los Angeles Rams, safety Kamren Curl improved in his second season with the team. Curl is set to hit free agency this offseason, but the Rams must do what they can to retain the veteran defender.
In 17 starts, Curl amassed a career-high 122 combined tackles, had two interceptions, two sacks and five passes defensed. According to Pro Football Reference, he allowed a passer rating of 89.1 in coverage and only one touchdown. That is drastically down from the 112.2 rating and four touchdowns he allowed during his first season with the team.
Plus, Curl’s play in the Divisional Round in Chicago essentially saved the season, which was very much-needed on a day when the offense played like complete crap.
While Curl hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations since he was signed over from Washington, he’s still a solid veteran presence on a defensive unit that needs it. For such a young roster on that side of the ball, Los Angeles needs as much help and guidance as it can muster.
The Rams should be adding this offseason, not subtracting. However, things will get dicey considering what a hot commodity Curl will be in free agency.
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles mentioned Curl as one free agent that the team should make sure to keep:
“Kamren Curl, 26, has well outplayed the two-year, $9 million deal he signed with Los Angeles two seasons ago. Always a willing tackler against the run, Curl is a steady presence for a team that very much needs that in the secondary, especially given the ups and downs of its cornerbacks. Even if the Rams add at cornerback — especially given their two first-round picks — having a solid veteran presence in Curl would be smart.”
About a year ago, I wrote that the Rams would be wise to give up on Curl after a year, saying there was a “slim chance he could bounce back.” What a difference a year makes, that I’m now writing a post urging L.A. to retain him.
Re-signing him, as I said, will be tricky, due to how many suitors he’ll have this offseason, and the fact that the front office just extended Quentin Lake on a three-year, $42 million deal in January. Hard to believe that the organization will pour more resources into a player like Curl when there are other pressing needs on the roster.
Curl did enough last season to prove to the Rams that they should extend him. With him set to hit the open market, does the team feel comfortable backing up the money truck to keep him in Los Angeles?
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