Rams named as an 'ideal landing spot' for free-agent CB and S

[ASFN Admin]

The Los Angeles Rams aren't finished loading up their roster for the 2025 season. While the biggest waves of free agency have subsided, there are still some good players on the open market who could be signed to shore up some positions of need for L.A.

ESPN's Bill Barnell put together a list of the best fits for the best remaining free agents and listed the Rams are a top spot for former Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr and Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons.

His reasons for Samuel are simple: The ex-second-rounder is a young and solid player who battled a bad injury in 2024 amid inconsistent play. He won't get much in a new deal, but Samuel would still be a quality depth piece for a defense in need of secondary help.

"Unlike many of the other players in this conversation, Samuel is only 25 years old and entering the prime of his career," Barnwell wrote. "He wasn't spectacular during his time with the Chargers, but we didn't get to see him play much for new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter before the injury. Samuel had spent the entirety of his career up to that point under Brandon Staley, and it's possible he could look better in a different defense.

"Samuel has played exclusively in zone-heavy schemes with the Chargers, so I would expect teams that lean toward zone coverages to give him serious consideration. His medicals will play a big role in determining how comfortable organizations are with investing in the former second-round pick, but given his abbreviated 2024 campaign, I would expect him to sign a one-year deal with the hopes of reestablishing his health and cashing in after a complete season next spring."

Samuel missed all but four games in 2024 because of a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4. News of the injury remained a bit mystery throughout the year before Samuel admitted at the end of the season that it's something he's dealt with his whole life. That uncertainty around his availability is concerning.

Samuel started 47 of 50 games for the Chargers since 2021. He recorded six total interceptions through his first three seasons and defended 45 passes over that span. Samuel has 176 combined tackles to his name as well.

As Barnwell said, a Samuel deal would likely be a one-year prove-it deal for any time interested in the young cornerback. The Rams aren't dire at the position, but there is no clear-cut No. 1 cornerback between the trio of Darious Williams, Cobie Durant and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. Los Angeles could bring back Ahkello Witherspoon as well or take a cornerback early in April.

There are a lot of options on the table for the Rams, but Samuel is certainly one who could earn some interest.

Simmons is intriguing because the Rams don't need safety help. Kam Curl and Kamren Kinchens were solid starters for Chris Shula's defense and are both young players.

As Barnwell explains, the addition of Simmons to any team would be more about his experience than anything. He has nine NFL seasons and 134 games under his belt with 32 career interceptions, 666 combined tackles and 71 defended passes. Other teams with more glaring needs at the position could swoop in for Simmons, but the Rams could also be in the mix if they prefer veteran support and depth as well.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL free agency: Rams named as an 'ideal landing spot' for 2 DBs

Continue reading...