The Los Angeles Rams will be looking to make upgrades at the cornerback position this offseason. With money to spend in free agency, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Rams spend on a cornerback and
then draft one in April. This is another weak free agent class and, while the draft has depth, it’s hard to expect a rookie to make a high-level impact immediately. Here are five cornerbacks that the Rams could look to sign in free agency.
1. Tariq Woolen, Seahawks
If the Rams add cornerbacks this offseason, bringing in someone with size would be preferred. Tariq Woolen would be a fantastic fit for the Rams. He’s spent four years in the NFC West and brings a rare blend of size and speed. Woolen is 6’4” and his pre-draft 40-yard dash, height, weight, and arm length were all in the 90th percentile or higher. According to Mockdraftable, Woolen is a 68.9 percent athletic match to Ahkello Witherspoon, who the Rams have had over the last three seasons. At 26 years old, Woolen is also well within his prime and someone that the Rams could use as a building block at cornerback.
Woolen hasn’t built on his rookie season in which he had six interceptions, but he’s managed 10 or more pass breakups in three of the last four years. He’s also allowed a reception on under 60 percent of his targets in three of the last four seasons. Woolen hasn’t been a great fit in Mike Macdonald’s defense that is a heavy Cover 6 unit. The Rams primarily use Cover 2 and Cover 3. In 2022 and 2023, Woolen thrived in Pete Carroll’s heavy Cover 3 defense. This is a player that brings the size and speed that the Rams need at the position with experience in the NFC West who is still in the middle of his prime.
2. Jamel Dean, Buccaneers
Jamel Dean is a popular name on the wishlist of Rams free agent targets this offseason. It’s hard to argue against that given Dean’s production last season. Dean hasn’t ever been an elite cornerback, but he’s been a model of consistency. According to PFF, he’s never had a coverage grade lower than 74.7, but his highest has also been 78.6. Again, he’s simply been consistent throughout his career which is what the Rams need at the cornerback position.
Using RAS models, Dean is also an athletic match to Jalen Ramsey who had success in the Rams’ secondary. However, there are concerns with Dean. He is 29 and coming off a career season in which he had three interceptions in a contract year. The Rams have invested in older cornerbacks over the last two years in Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon. Typically there is a drop-off for cornerbacks after 30. It’s also worth noting that Dean has dealt with injuries throughout his career. His 14 games played last season were his most since 2022. With that said, Dean would give the Rams a ‘set it and forget it’ type player at cornerback who can take away a team’s primary receiver.
3. Cam Taylor-Britt, Bengals
Free agency should rarely be used to build a roster and rather to supplement it. At the end of the day, rarely will teams be able to sign a bona fide top cornerback in free agency. The same can be said about the Rams when free agency begins this spring. Ideally, the Rams are able to upgrade at their second cornerback spot and then draft a player that they can build around in the secondary going forward.
Taylor-Britt may not be the most exciting name, but he is a great fit for what the Rams look for at cornerback as a player with top-end speed and ball skills. In the two years prior to 2025, Taylor-Britt had five or more pass breakups and a combined seven interceptions. Pro Football Focus credited him with 10 touchdowns allowed in 2024, but the Bengals defense also struggled. Last season, the Rams and Bengals ran almost an identical rate of Cover 3 and Cover 1 coverages. He spent last season injured and has declined over the last two seasons. A change of scenery to find some consistency may be what he needs to get back on track. Still, this may be a move similar to signing Emmanuel Forbes last year in which the Rams would be hoping for something that hasn’t necessarily come to fruition.
4. Jaylen Watson, Chiefs
Back in 2022, the Kansas City Chiefs rebuilt their secondary in the draft and Jaylen Watson was a big part of that. The Chiefs drafted Watson in the seventh round and similar to Woolen, he brings the size and length that the Rams need. Watson is 6’2 with his arm length in the 78th percentile. However, unlike Woolen, Watson doesn’t have the ball production throughout the first four years of his career. During 2023 and 2024, Watson went without an interception and he doesn’t have a single year with double digit pass breakups. The most pass breakups that Watson has had in a single season is seven which came in 2023. He also allowed five or more touchdowns in 2022 and 2023.
From a measurables standpoint, Watson gives the Rams what they need. However, from a schematic standpoint, the Rams and Chiefs are very different. The Chiefs are a man heavy scheme as they ran the second-most Cover 0 while the Rams were in the bottom-five. Additionally, the Rams ran the ninth-most Cover 3 while the Chiefs were inside the bottom-five. That doesn’t mean that Watson wouldn’t work, but corners tend to be more scheme dependent than other positions. This would be a larger risk than others on this list.
5. Eric Stokes, Raiders
Eric Stokes is an example of a change of scenery helping a player. Stokes was seen as a draft bust with the Green Bay Packers. However, he had a career season in 2025, allowing just 9.3 yards per reception and a 77.2 passer-rating when targeted. With how Stokes played, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Las Vegas Raiders look to re-sign him.
Like others on this list, Stokes is an extremely fast and long cornerback. His arm length and 40-time were above the 89th percentile and he plays that way. Stokes is only 26, but he hasn’t recorded an interception since his rookie season. Additionally, he struggled with the Packers who have a similar defensive philosophy with the Rams. It’s possible that this just wouldn’t be a great fit.
HM. Alontae Taylor, Saints
Taylor is an intriguing player heading into 2025 free agency. While he brings good size and speed, he did allow eight touchdowns in coverage this past season. Taylor also brings versatility that the Rams value as he can play both in the slot and outside. He’s gone back and forth throughout his career, but was primarily a slot player last season and that’s where he had most of his success. Taylor allowed 1.12 yards per snap from the slot which was ranked 11th among cornerbacks.
If the Rams don’t bring back Roger McCreary or Cobie Durant, a player like Taylor makes sense. However, as a player to put on the outside and expect to play there 85 percent of the time, that’s not Taylor’s strength. He’s much better utilized as a player that’s used similarly to how the Rams currently use Quentin Lake. That doesn’t fit what the Rams currently need.
