With Stafford Returning, Rams Must Finally Invest in a True No. 1 Corner
The Los Angeles Rams got the news they were hoping for during the NFL Honors show: Matthew Stafford is coming back for one more run. That alone gives this team a legitimate shot to contend in 2026. But if the Rams are serious about chasing another Lombardi Trophy, there’s one glaring weakness they can’t ignore any longer-outside cornerback.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the Rams’ lack of investment at outside corner has been a long-running issue, and it finally caught up to them in the NFC Championship. Sam Darnold and the Seahawks picked them apart on the perimeter. That wasn’t just a bad day at the office-it was the culmination of years of patchwork solutions at a premium position.
A Premium Position That’s Been Overlooked
While the Rams have made splashy moves in the past-trading for Jalen Ramsey, pushing chips in for Stafford-they’ve curiously gone bargain-bin hunting when it comes to outside corners in recent years. We're talking waiver claims, late-round picks, and veterans well past their prime. That approach might get you through the regular season, but it won’t hold up against playoff-caliber quarterbacks and elite wideouts.
Just look at the blueprint from the league’s top defenses. The Seahawks had Devon Witherspoon locking down one side.
The Patriots leaned heavily on Christian Gonzalez. A year before that, the Eagles rode rookie standouts Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to a Super Bowl win.
These are young, high-end talents brought in through early draft capital-and they made a difference right away.
The Time to Invest Is Now
The Rams have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s a rare opportunity for a franchise that’s often traded away top picks in win-now moves. With Stafford back for what could be his final season, this is the moment to go all-in once again-but this time, on the defensive side of the ball.
Outside cornerback isn’t just a need-it’s the need. The rest of the roster has pieces in place.
The offense can still hum with Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams. The defensive front has emerging talent.
But without a true lockdown corner, the Rams are playing with fire in a league that’s more pass-happy than ever.
Yes, someone like Cobie Durant has shown flashes and might be worth keeping around. But he can't be the only answer.
The Rams need a top-tier outside corner who can go toe-to-toe with the league's best receivers. They need someone who can change the math on defense-erase one side of the field, force quarterbacks to think twice, and give Raheem Morris (or whoever’s calling the defense) the flexibility to get creative.
A Championship Window That’s Closing Fast
Let’s be clear: the Rams were close. If they had just one more difference-maker in the secondary, we might be talking about a different outcome in the NFC Championship-and maybe even a different Super Bowl champion. That’s how thin the margin is at this level.
Stafford’s return gives the Rams one more shot at glory. But to make it count, they need to fix the one hole that’s been holding them back.
No more stopgaps. No more hoping late-round picks turn into stars.
It’s time to invest in a true No. 1 cornerback.
Because if the Rams want to lift another Lombardi, they’ll need someone on the outside who can stop the kind of quarterback they couldn’t contain in January. The window is open-but only if they’re willing to go all-in where it matters most.