{"id":763693,"date":"2026-02-20T03:21:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T03:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/763693\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T03:21:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T03:21:15","slug":"rams-defensive-free-agency-targets-montaric-brown-can-help-at-corner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/763693\/","title":{"rendered":"Rams defensive free agency targets: Montaric Brown can help at corner"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">There is work to do on the defensive side of the ball for the Los Angeles Rams this offseason.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The first priority will be finding stability at corner. It may get worse before it gets better. Cobie Durant, Ahkello Witherspoon, and Roger McCreary are slated to hit free agency. That leaves just Emmanuel Forbes, Josh Wallace, and Darious Williams under contract so far for 2026, and Williams is a likely cap casualty.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Will the Rams opt for secure veteran options through free agency or wait to fix longer term through the draft?<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">And Kamren Curl will be one of the top players hitting the open market at safety. The Athletic has pegged his price tag at four years and $65M total. It would be uncharacteristic for the Rams to pay such a lofty price at what they consider a lower value position.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Which defenders could the Rams target in free agency? These are options I would be excited about should they sign in LA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7043952\/2026\/02\/18\/nfl-2026-free-agent-rankings-best-available\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">followed by their projected contract from The Athletic<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.turfshowtimes.com\/los-angeles-rams-free-agency\/135315\/rams-free-agency-shopping-list-2026#comments\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read the list from the offensive side of the ball here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The Rams are rich along the interior. While they may need to extend Kobie Turner at a hefty price tag, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis, and Ty Hamilton are all on rookie deals. Poona Ford proved to be a relative bargain signing from last offseason.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Can LA add depth through the draft and possibly avoid signing someone like Fiske in future years? Yes, and this would be a worthwhile investment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The two starting EDGE spots are set with Jared Verse and Byron Young. Young is entering the final year of his rookie deal and Martin could be a short-term solution that brings a floor into 2027. His projected contract value won\u2019t break the bank.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Signing a veteran could be detrimental to the development of Josaiah Stewart and recently converted OLB Desjuan Johnson. But you can never have too many EDGE rushers. If you can buy them at a bargain bin price you should.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Martin had 45 pressures last season and sacks. He\u2019s also a capable run defender for being a little slight of frame.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Walker was a draft disappointment given his status as a 2022 former first round pick. At this point he is still more of an idea than a polished football player; however, his athleticism and pass coverage skills would give the Rams something they don\u2019t have.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Would we feel better about Nate Landman if he was primarily asked to stop the run and then paired with a coverage specialist? That is the dream of buying low in Walker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Waiting until the draft to course correct at corner invites uncertainty. Solving the problem through free agency at least sets the floor shorter term and then the draft could bring solutions for further down the line. With how many players the Rams are set to lose at corner this offseason they are in need of a total overhaul.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Woolen is a risky signing because he\u2019s fallen out of favor at times on one of the best defenses in football. His physical profile and athletic traits are as good as it gets, and the Rams can bet on their coaching staff to get the most out of him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Brown is more of a floor player that can bring starting experience at a cost that won\u2019t break the bank. He\u2019s a capable player that is at least an inch taller and ten pounds heavier than Durant and McCreary. For as much as the Rams need new bodies at corner, they also are in need of size.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">No projection (outside of top 150)<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The Rams have found success in the later rounds of the draft in terms of buying low on safeties, but it\u2019s a bit problematic because they haven\u2019t done it recently. Kamren Kinchens will return as a starter. Kam Curl will likely leave for greener pastures filled with money.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">That leaves LA with Jalen McCollough with notable playing experience. McCollough is more of a hybrid player than a traditional safety.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Belton isn\u2019t anything special. He\u2019ll be 26 for next season and appeared in 66 games (22 starts) across his first four seasons with the Giants. Would the Rams hope to find a better option through the draft? Sure. This signing at least lessens the chance you are drafting for need.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There is work to do on the defensive side of the ball for the Los Angeles Rams this&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":763694,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2079],"tags":[7,1014,58,4800,2444,2611,6,424],"class_list":{"0":"post-763693","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles-rams","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-los-angeles","10":"tag-los-angeles-rams","11":"tag-los-angeles-rams-free-agency","12":"tag-losangeles","13":"tag-losangelesrams","14":"tag-nfl","15":"tag-rams"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116100811015969372","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/763693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=763693"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/763693\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/763694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=763693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=763693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=763693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}