The Rams made a move in their secondary, but it was not an addition.
Cornerback Derion Kendrick, sidelined last season after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament during training camp, was waived, the team announced Friday.
Kendrick, a sixth-round draft pick in 2022, participated in the Rams’ offseason program and organized team activities. He was scheduled to earn $3.4 million this season, according to Overthecap.com.
The secondary is something of a question mark for a Rams team that is regarded as a potential Super Bowl contender.
After finishing 10-7 and advancing to the NFC divisional round last season, the Rams neither signed a cornerback during free agency nor drafted one.
Veterans Darious Williams, 32, and Ahkello Witherspoon, 32, are the projected starting cornerbacks. Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Josh Wallace are among others expected to play.
When asked, coach Sean McVay has not ruled out the possibility of trading for Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI. But Ramsey is due to earn $24.2 million this season and will have a salary-cap number of at least $25 million in the following three seasons, according to Overthecap.com. McVay has repeatedly pointed to “a lot of layers” that would have to be addressed for a reunion with Ramsey to take place.
Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander was recently released by the Green Bay Packers.
“Nothing but respect for the player but I don’t know if that’s a direction we would go,” McVay said this week about Alexander.
Kendrick played in 32 games for the Rams. He started six games as a rookie and 12 in 2023. He intercepted one pass.
