Rams secondary includes two top-15 CBs, per PFF rankings
· Yahoo Sports
The Los Angeles Rams enter the 2026 season with two cornerbacks ranked among the NFL's top 15, according to Pro Football Focus's annual cornerback rankings.
Trent McDuffie checked in at No. 4 overall, and Jaylen Watson landed at No. 15, giving the Rams one of the more decorated cornerback duos in the league heading into the year. Both were added in the offseason: McDuffie via a big trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, and Watson in free agency on a three-year deal.
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Since entering the league in 2022, McDuffie's 90.2 PFF coverage grade ranks second among all NFL cornerbacks, trailing only Sauce Gardner. In 2025, McDuffie's 74.7 coverage grade ranked 18th among 114 qualified cornerbacks, while his run-defense grade of 78.5 ranked 11th at the position. He recorded one interception and broke up four passes in coverage, and allowed a 94.7 passer rating when targeted. Limited to 13 games by a knee injury, he still earned a four-year, $124 million extension upon arriving in Los Angeles.
Watson follows McDuffie to Los Angeles after four seasons in Kansas City, reuniting the two former teammates in the Rams' secondary. He's coming off his best season to date. Watson started all 15 games in 2025, setting career highs in tackles (64) and interceptions (two), while tying career bests in passes defended (six), sacks (2.0) and tackles for loss (three). His 68.4 coverage grade ranked 31st among 114 qualified cornerbacks, but his 83.5 run-defense grade ranked sixth at the position, and he allowed just a 69.0 passer rating when targeted. He also spent 22.6% of his snaps in tight coverage of one yard or less last season, sixth-best among cornerbacks with at least 200 snaps, and successfully made 92.8% of his tackle attempts, the 10th-highest efficiency rate at the position.
Together, McDuffie and Watson give the Rams a corner pairing that grades out well in both coverage and run support. McDuffie's track record as one of the league's premier coverage players gives Los Angeles a true No. 1 option, while Watson's tackling efficiency and run-defense marks suggest he can hold up against the run without sacrificing coverage ability.
These additions come a year after the Rams had one of the worst secondaries in the NFL, highlighting how much L.A. prioritized upgrading the position. Now, the Rams have one of the best cornerback duos heading into 2026.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams secondary includes two top-15 CBs, per PFF rankings