Cornerback was viewed as a major position of need this offseason but the Los Angeles Rams opted not to make any significant additions to that room. Heading into training camp and with Jalen Ramsey now off the market, it’s once again a focal point on the roster.
Cobie Durant is a player who can ease some of those questions and concerns if he puts together the breakout season some believe he could have in 2025. He’s No. 20 on our list of the Rams’ 25 most important players for 2025, entering his pivotal fourth year in the NFL with higher hopes and expectations.
He’s a valuable piece of the secondary but will need to prove himself in camp and joint practices once again this summer in order to earn significant playing time.
How he got here
The Rams drafted Durant out of South Carolina State in 2022, selecting him 142nd overall in the fourth round of the draft. He played sparingly as a rookie but still had a huge impact, recording 22 tackles, three interceptions, one touchdown and a league-high 151 interception return yards. He also added a sack, for good measure.
2024 stats
15 games (14 starts): 40 tackles, 1 INT, 8 passes defensed, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FF, 58 targets, 33 receptions allowed, 358 yards allowed
Projected role
Durant played 70% of the defensive snaps last season, which was the most of any cornerback besides Quentin Lake. He missed time with a lung bruise late in the year but returned for the playoffs and was solid against both the Vikings and Eagles.
Heading into 2025, Durant’s role is still to be determined because the Rams have Lake, Ahkello Witherspoon and Darious Williams all at cornerback, too. Lake is certain to be a starter and Williams figures to play the majority of the snaps as a boundary corner, leaving Durant and Witherspoon competing for snaps on the other side of the defense.
If Durant has a strong showing in camp, he could secure that spot and be a full-time player. But even if he doesn’t significantly outplay Witherspoon, he’ll still get on the field often in nickel and dime packages.
Why he’s important
Durant brings a lot of versatility to the table, far more than Williams and Witherspoon, who are almost exclusively outside cornerbacks. Durant can play outside or in the slot, dropping back into coverage, helping in run defense and also rushing the passer off the edge as a blitzer.
That provides a lot of value to a defensive coordinator like Chris Shula, who tends to move players around and rotate his defensive backs to find the best possible matchups.
Durant has the potential to be a true No. 1 cornerback in the NFL with his combination of speed, instincts and coverage skills, but he needs to stay available and display the consistency of a top corner. If he takes the next steps in 2025, it’ll provide the coaching staff with a lot of confidence in a secondary that comes with some question marks.
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This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: LA Rams’ most important players for 2025: No. 21 CB Cobie Durant