March free agency madness is in full swing.
It’s a time when NFL teams set the blueprint for the upcoming season. There’s already been a flurry of activity as the league’s 2026 salary cap increased by $22 million. Plenty of clubs have already improved their rosters, but the Los Angeles Rams have been the most proficient.
Within a week’s span in March, the Rams acquired standout cornerback Trent McDuffie in a blockbuster trade with the Chiefs and doubled back in Kansas City to agree to terms with starting cornerback Jaylen Watson, also formerly of the Chiefs.
The Rams not only revamped their cornerback room with two starting corners — they also addressed their most glaring weakness.
Los Angeles’ secondary was the main reason it witnessed their NFC West rival, the Seattle Seahawks, hoist the Super Bowl 60 Lombardi Trophy.
The backend of the Rams’ defense got torched by Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the NFC championship game to the tune of 10 receptions, 153 yards, and one touchdown on its way to giving up 31 points.
The defensive shortcomings overshadowed the fact quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns. And they made Puka Nacua’s nine receptions, 165 yards and one touchdown performance an afterthought.
Los Angeles’ defense allowed 276 passing yards and 382 total yards per game during the playoffs, statistics that ranked them in the bottom four of all postseason teams.
McDuffie and Watson will no doubt aid in shoring up the Rams’ pass defense.
McDuffie, a 2023 first-team All-Pro, has allowed just 6.2 yards per target over the past four seasons, the 10th fewest among qualified cornerbacks, per Next Gen Stats. He also leads all cornerbacks with 34 quarterback pressures since 2022.
Watson is coming off his best overall season in which he produced a career-best two interceptions, equaled a career-best six pass deflections and allowed a 69.0 passer rating when targeted – eighth at his position, per PFF.
Add recently re-signed defensive backs Kam Curl and Quentin Lake, and the Rams’ secondary is in a much better position to complement a stout defensive front that features edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young, who combined for 19.5 sacks and 144 pressures last year.
Sure, Matthew Stafford might not be able to replicate his MVP campaign. It’s still safe to assume the league’s top offense from a year ago won’t fall off a cliff. And if new Rams special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone coaches the unit to be around league average, the Rams, on paper, are primed to go into next season with the most complete team in the NFL.
Even before next month’s draft, the Rams have no glaring holes.
“A lot of times, our macro philosophy is if we can use free agency to not be desperate in the draft,” Rams general manager Les Snead said on March 3. “We more than likely will be better drafters because we’re not reaching and we’re not desperate. We’re not going in there with a major void or major hole that has to be filled. That’s usually the approach.”
Mission accomplished, Rams.
The Rams and the Seahawks are currently tied for the best Super Bowl odds, per BetMGM. And as the NFL officially starts a new league year on Wednesday, the Rams’ offseason moves have already positioned themselves to make another Super Bowl run in 2026 when LA hosts.
The last time Los Angeles hosted the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium, it was the Rams who lifted the Lombardi Trophy.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
