A lot of cornerbacks will be connected to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason for the obvious reason that L.A. faltered down the stretch because of their secondary unit. The Rams gave up the 19th-most passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2025, including at least 250 passing yards in all three playoff games and six total passing touchdowns in those matches.
General manager Les Snead also noted the team would attack the cornerback position group this offseason.
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Several cornerbacks could be on the free-agent market, but Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman named Jamel Dean as a top player that fits the Rams’ defensive identity.
The Rams’ secondary was a big reason why the team fell short of the Super Bowl. For the season, they ranked third in the NFL in PFF coverage grade, but from Week 13 onward, they ranked just 19th. Struggles at cornerback, where a cast of characters played for Los Angeles all season, left the Rams with an incomplete defense that cost them in big moments.
Tampa Bay’s Jamel Dean is arguably the top cornerback on the market. He earned a 75.9 PFF coverage grade this season while picking off three passes. He is still just 29 years old and has earned at least a 72.5 PFF coverage grade in each of his seven NFL seasons. Dean has historically excelled in zone coverage, which fits with a Rams defense that runs zone at the second-highest rate in the NFL.
Dean corralled a career-best three interceptions in 2025, as well as nine defended passes and 46 combined tackles. He would immediately slot in as the Rams’ top cornerbacks, even if L.A. brought back some combination of Cobie Durant, Akhello Witherspoon and/or Roger McCreary.
The issue will be how much the Rams want to spend at this position, especially when they have two first-round picks that could be used on rookie cornerbacks. Deal signed at a four-year, $52 million deal with Tampa Bay in 2023, but the final year was voided by the team to make him a free agent this offseason. Spotrac put Dean’s market evaluation at three years, $37.4 million.
This would be a small splash for the Rams, but one that could revolutionize the cornerback room. He won’t be the only option they have, though, this offseason.
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This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: PFF explains why Rams should sign this CB in free agency
