To a man, the Los Angeles Rams safety unit are all on board for 2026. More importantly, the room appears set for future years. New money was doled to primary starters Quentin Lake and Kamren Curl, locking them through 2028. Kamren Kinchens is still on his rookie deal and the rest of the individuals in the unit do not have enough accrued seasons to leave on their own, L.A. has them tied up if they so choose.
2026 should be an exciting year for the Rams secondary. Alongside the shiny new cornerback
additions, reports out of camp are that the L.A. defensive braintrust is really sold on the safety group’s veteran leadership, versatility, and communication. And much should be expected from the safety unit, last year the Rams leaned heavily onto dime (six secondary players) formations, their 32.4 percent usage rate (per Next Gen Stats). That really stands out when compared to other NFL teams, most use it under 10 percent. The Rams also used “big” nickel, inserting a safety as the fifth secondary player, on 30.3 percent of defensive snaps.
With the depth at safety, it will be tough to move up the food chain for the players towards the bottom. Let’s look at them all.
A pair to draw to
Quentin Lake – 6’1” 205 lb.
Lake has started 30 of his 50 pro games and although he missed seven games last season with an elbow injury, the Rams re-upped him last season with a three-year extension for a little over $38mil. He was on track for his best pro season in 2025 before injury struck. Pro Football Focus gave him scores of 75.1 overall (13th) broken into 72.9 for coverage (19th) and 74.6 against the run (29th).
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula calls him a “coach on the field” and the “glue” of the defense. L.A. moves him around the defensive formation and recently have used in the “STAR” role, as a safety/slot/linebacker hybrid. Not a thumper, but good wrap-up tackler. Strong in zone coverage, using his vision, understanding of routes, read/react ability. Average athleticism, but loose-limbed and has good play speed.
Kamren Curl – 6’1” 207 lb.
Solid but not spectacular safety. Consistently produced over six years in the league. Curl has proven durable and sports a well-rounded game. Best suited working underneath. Last year over 10000+ snaps, he accrued a 77.8 (9th) Pro Football Focus overall grade, punctuated with a 87.9 score (2nd) against the run and 71.9 (15th) versus the pass. The Rams rewarded him with a three-year $36-39mil extension this past March.
At 27, Curl should be entering his prime. He’s improved on his missed tackles and coverage over his NFL tenure. Excellent versatility and now has a deep understanding of what the Rams defense is supposed to be doing. Sure tackler, not a banger, but physical when fitting gaps at the line of scrimmage. Takes good angles and and flows to the ball fluidly. Above average speed/athleticism with good arm length. Best in zone coverage, tacks ball well and although he allows a fairly high completion rate, he’s quite stingy giving up yards after catch.
The future?
Kamren Kinchens – 5’11” 203 lb.
Comfortably settled in as the Rams S#3 and arguably has the most playmaker potential in the Rams safety room. Because the Rams use so many multi-safety personnel groupings (big nickel or dime), Kinchens gets a fair share of defensive snaps, 1356 over his first two seasons. L.A. has used him predominantly deep. Although he didn’t test well at the NFL Combine or Pro Day, Kinchens came into the league with reputation as a ball hawk.
In his first two pro seasons, Kinchens has given glimpses of his ability to track the ball with six interceptions, 12 passes broken up, and three fumbles recovered. He makes up for average athleticism with loose hips and good footwork. Stellar vision, instincts, and understanding space get him a jump on the football. Willing in run support, comes downhill very well and plays with an aggressive style. Angles still need some work, but he’s improved on wrapping up tackles instead of always going for the big hit.
Jaylen McCollough – 6’ 211 lb.
Started 51 out of 60 SEC games at Tennessee, but still went undrafted. He impressed right away with the Rams and made the roster as a rookie. Played in every game and tied for the team lead in interceptions with four. In Year 2, he did not match the picked off passes, but made strides with the rest of his game. Again, he played in every game, also adding six starts and upped his production number across the board.
High-effort player with physical play style. Early on, he was best suited underneath and the Rams often used him as a pseudo-linebacker. As 2025 progressed he saw a fair share of action deeper in the secondary. Not a gifted athlete, bit of a stocky build. Plays faster and looks more athletic than his pedestrian Pro Day testing. Wins with good instincts assignment-based play. Also an important piece on special teams.
Roster battle
Nick Anderson – 5’11” 195 lb.
Safety that plays with a linebacker’s attitude. Very versatile, ability to play that role as an overhang, as a traditional underneath strong safety, or deep, in Cover2 and possibly single high. I say possibly, because although his instincts, read react skills, and ball tracking fit, it remains to be answered how his long speed will translate deep in the NFL.
Doesn’t have elite twitch, but strong football IQ and play recognition help him to quick-trigger and play fast. While likely best suited for zone coverage, Anderson does have enough move skills and the requisite physicality to match tight ends 1on1. He times hits well in the secondary and is very physical at the catch point. Strong ball tracking and hawking. Good hands, eyes and the body control to snag awry passes. Stellar in run support. Solid tackler, generally breaks down and wraps up. Anticipates well and takes good angles in pursuit.
Tanner Ingle – 5’9” 179 lb.
Enters his fourth season in L.A. Ingle was active in three regular-season games and one in the playoffs last year, his only action with the Rams, logging three defensive snaps and 43 on special teams. He’s an aggressive, overachieving safety who is under-sized and lacks elite athleticism.
Ferocious downhill defender whose best work is done around the line of scrimmage. There’s no doubt that he’s a downhill missile in run support and on short passes, but he needs a lot of coverage work. To the point of being too small for an NFL safety and currently lacks coverage skills to work out of the slot.
Can his toughness overcome his size around the line of scrimmage? Fits the Rams mold of hot motor and football instincts. HIs ball pursuit and willingness to bang heads makes him fit and is his path to a possible role HIs relentless, pursuit, effort, and willingness to bang heads makes him fit for a possible role as special teams demon.
Nate Valcarcel – 6’ 194 lb.
Recruited as a cornerback in college, Valcarcel switched to safety midway through his tenure. Lean build. Valcarcel’s pursuit to the ball, both on the ground and through the air stands out. Played a lot of single-high safety. Versus the run, he shows good pursuit angles, quick read/react processing, and an aggressive demeanor. His tackling is good, breaking down and getting himself under control, and wrapping up. Against the pass, his cornerback past clearly shows. He reads the quarterback well, shows route recognition, and is adept at both breaking downhill or flipping his hips open and turning to cover deep routes.
Valcarcel is an anomaly in his second training camp with the Rams, he appears to have the game and traits of a true free safety. Can he adapt his range, ball-hawking, and pursuit skills to the pro game?
Alex Cook – 6’ 195 lb.
Began college as a wide receiver and transitioned to safety after his freshman season. Had a solid career as a physical safety. Adequate size and speed, Cook is at his best as a downhill attacker with relentless pursuit. Adequate in zone coverage, but doesn’t appear to be a ball hawk type. Willing, physical tackler.
Undrafted in 2023, the well-traveled 27 year-old has made four NFL stops. His only pro action came in his rookie season with the Carolina Panthers. Played in 10 games, two starts, 155 defensive reps and another 111 on special teams.
Cook did however, post a solid season in the United Football League this past spring. Watched some of his UFL film and it matches his college work, a tough, hard-nosed defender that is best suited as a run stopper. Was able to locate him on kickoff coverage, as well.
2026 outlook: Who’s in and who’s out?
The L.A. braintrust must have cast the blame for last year’s pass defense problems on the cornerbacks, they brought the whole safety back intact and gave the veterans, Quentin Lake and Kamren Curl, big raises. Between those two, along with Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough, the cupboard appears pretty well stocked.
With all the multi-safety packages the Rams use, it would make sense to roster a fifth safety. Alex Cook still looks too raw in coverage. It might be fun to watch Nate Valcarcel for a couple of reasons. One, he’s more of a natural free safety than Rams fans are used to and two, seeing if he’s gotten stronger and improved with a season under his belt. Tanner Ingle is a fun guy to watch in preseason with his hair-on-fire play style, but after three seasons, it’s hard to make a case for him challenging this this deep roster. I projected Nick Anderson to the opening roster because of special teams upside, but that is still a long shot.
L.A. opened up last season with a total of nine secondary players and versatility is highly regarded to the defensive staff. Finding a S#5 out of this group could end up being moot. Over in the cornerback room, reports out of camp are that Cam Lampkin is showing out. If he continues on this pace, he and Josh Wallace could be the final two inclusions. Wallace played a lot of safety last year.
Which safeties do you think the Rams should roster to start 2026?
