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Roger McCreary #25 of the Los Angeles Rams forces Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks out of bounds during the NFC Championship Game.
There are plenty of calls for the Los Angeles Rams to address an issue on their roster that they already attempted to correct during the 2025 regular season. However, there is a chance that the best solution, or at least one of them, is the one they have already tried.
The Rams’ trade for former Tennessee Titans draft pick Roger McCreary did not pan out as hoped when LA made the deal.
However, McCreary’s track record could suggest he warrants another look.
Rams’ Roger McCreary Lands on Watchlist
GettyRoger McCreary #21 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates an interception against the Denver Broncos.
The Rams sent a conditional fifth-round draft pick to the Titans for McCreary before the 2025 trade deadline. They also received a conditional sixth-rounder in the trade. McCreary played in six games for the Rams before an injury ended his season.
He allowed two receptions on three targets with LA, per Pro Football Reference. Limited playing time and experience in the Rams’ defense may have contributed to uneven play.
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles listed McCreary among the potential “gems” in free agency.
“Roger McCreary split his season between the Titans and the Rams, and the former second-round pick was PFF’s No. 25 cornerback,” Pereles wrote on February 20. “He has always been a willing tackler. While the coverage metrics have been up and down, he’s just 26 years old and he has allowed just four passing touchdowns as the primary defender over the past three seasons combined.”
McCreary is coming off his four-year, $9.1 million rookie contract. He heads to free agency with $10.8 million in earnings. Spotrac projects he could receive up to $6.2 million annually on his next deal, offering a two-year, $12.3 million deal as an example.
McCreary has played in a full regular-season slate once in his career, which was his rookie campaign.
However, he has never missed more than three games in a single season.
Rams Urged to Address Secondary
Tyler Schank |Getty ImagesRoger McCreary #21 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates against the Denver Broncos.
Pereles’ note about McCreary dropped right as NFL.com’s Matt Okada suggested the Rams look to beef up their defense, targeting the secondary.
Okada picked that as the Rams’ “highest priority fix” heading into the offseason.
“In all five regular-season losses, and in the NFC Championship, the Rams scored at least 23 points but allowed at least 26 points. Their 31.0 points allowed per loss were the most among the eight teams with six or fewer losses in 2025 (including the playoffs). In particular, they need a more consistent pass defense. The Rams allowed the ninth-lowest passer rating overall in 2025 but the 10th-highest passer rating specifically in losses,” Okada wrote on February 20
“This probably means starting on the outside: their best coverage cornerback, Cobie Durant, still allowed a 5.3% completion percentage over expected in 2025, per NFL Pro … and he’s an unrestricted free agent.”
Okada suggested pending free agents like Jamel Dean, Jaylen Watson, Nahshon Wright, or Riq Woolen. Given their flexibility, the Rams could retain McCeary and add in other ways.
Multiple mocks have projected them to draft a cornerback (maybe two) in the first round.
McCreary’s ability to play the slot would allow the Rams to disguise their coverages with him and safety Quentin Lake on the back end. He would also allow the Rams to address their group prudently, rather than be left reaching to fill the gap.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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