The Los Angeles Rams had a glaring weakness in their secondary in 2025. Pass defense ranked 19th in the league, and they allowed 216.7 yards per game. That’s not exactly championship-level work. So instead of patching it with a mid-tier free agent or a late-round flier, the Rams did something more aggressive. They basically rebuilt the cornerback room from scratch.
They traded for Trent McDuffie and signed Jaylen Watson in free agency. Both came from the Kansas City Chiefs, where they won a Super Bowl together in 2022. Now they’re reunited in L.A., and early rankings have them as the fourth-best cornerback duo in the NFL. Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated put them there, just behind New York (Ahmad Gardner and D.J. Reed), Green Bay (Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes), and Cleveland (Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II).
But here’s the thing. The Rams also have Myles Garrett now. And that changes everything for a cornerback duo.
Manzano pointed out that if McDuffie and Watson were still with the Chiefs, they probably wouldn’t have cracked the top five. But they’re in L.A. now, lining up behind the best defensive player in football. Garrett’s presence means quarterbacks will have less time to throw. That gives corners a smaller window to defend and a bigger chance to jump routes.
McDuffie put up 63 tackles, seven passes defended, and one interception in 2025. Pro Football Focus graded him at 75.6, which was 12th among 114 qualifying cornerbacks. Watson wasn’t far off. His 74.1 grade ranked 17th. He also had 64 tackles, six pass breakups, and six interceptions in his final year with the Chiefs. Both are legit starters. Both are still in their prime. And both are now playing behind a front that includes Garrett and edge rusher Byron Young.
That’s a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. And it’s exactly what the Rams needed after a season where their secondary was a liability.
Still, rankings are just rankings. McDuffie and Watson will have to prove it on the field in 2026. The Rams as a whole still have questions to answer offensively. But walking into training camp with a top-tier cornerback duo and a generational pass rusher? That’s a good place to start.
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