Rams Defensive Upgrades: Top Free Agents Still Remain

Rams Defensive Upgrades: Bolstering the Backfield and Linebacker Corps for 2025

As the Los Angeles Rams approach the 2025 NFL offseason, they stand at a crossroads with a roster brimming with potential yet riddled with gaps that could derail their Super Bowl aspirations. Fresh off a 10-7 season and an NFC West title in 2024, the Rams demonstrated resilience with a Wild Card win over the Vikings, only to fall to the Eagles in the Divisional Round. With Matthew Stafford locked in for two more years and Davante Adams now headlining a potent offense, the window for another championship remains open—but the defense needs reinforcement. General manager Les Snead, armed with over $58 million in cap space (ninth-most league-wide before free agency) and the 26th overall draft pick, has the resources to address key weaknesses. The secondary lacks a lockdown corner, the linebacker corps is thin and inexperienced, and overall defensive consistency waned late in 2024. Signing free agents Asante Samuel Jr., Isaiah Simmons, or Kyzir White could plug these holes, blending youth, versatility, and proven production to elevate a team poised for contention.

Asante Samuel Jr. could be the answer to the Rams’ ongoing search for a reliable cornerback. At 25 years old, the former Los Angeles Chargers second-round pick brings youth and upside to a secondary that lacks a clear No. 1 option beyond Ahkello Witherspoon and unproven youngsters like Cobie Durant and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. In 2024, Samuel’s season was derailed by a shoulder injury, limiting him to four games with 13 tackles and 2 passes defended, but his prior three years showcased his potential—6 interceptions and 37 passes defended across 46 starts. His familiarity with the Los Angeles area, having played at SoFi Stadium with the Chargers, and his pedigree as the son of four-time Pro Bowler Asante Samuel Sr., make him an intriguing fit. The Rams’ defensive scheme, blending Fangio-style concepts with Chris Shula’s tweaks, aligns with the system Samuel thrived under Brandon Staley. A one-year, prove-it deal could allow him to rebuild his value while bolstering a thin position group, playing along with recently re-signed Ahkello Witherspoon.

Isaiah Simmons offers the Rams a chance to inject versatility and athleticism into their linebacker corps, an area of concern after losing Christian Rozeboom to free agency and relying heavily on Omar Speights in 2024. Simmons, a former top-10 pick by the Cardinals, played all 17 games for the Giants in 2024, tallying 18 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 2 passes defended in a rotational role, while making a splash with a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown against Seattle. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, the 26-year-old’s rare physical tools remain tantalizing, even if his career stats (326 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 5 interceptions) suggest he’s yet to find a consistent niche. The Rams, with only Speights, and recently signed Nate Landman under contract, could use Simmons as a hybrid safety/linebacker under Shula, who might finally unlock his potential as a chess piece in sub-packages. His youth and special teams value make him a low-risk, high-reward signing for a team needing depth and playmaking.

Kyzir White would bring veteran stability and proven production to a Rams defense that struggled with missed tackles and lacks experience at linebacker. In 2024, White started all 17 games for the Cardinals, leading the team with 137 tackles, adding 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, 3 passes defended, and 9 tackles for loss—career highs in several categories. Now 29 and a free agent, White’s durability (only one game missed since 2020) and three-down capability make him an ideal fit alongside Speights, upgrading a unit that’s been a weak link since Bobby Wagner’s departure. His familiarity with Jonathan Gannon’s system in Arizona, which shares roots with the Rams’ scheme via the Fangio tree, could ease his transition. While his coverage skills need refinement (a 32.0 PFF coverage grade in 2024), his run-stopping prowess (73.0 PFF grade) and leadership as a former defensive captain align with the Rams’ goal of maintaining a top-tier defense around stars like Kobie Turner and Byron Young.

These three players address critical needs—cornerback depth, linebacker versatility, and defensive reliability—while fitting the Rams’ timeline as a contender with Stafford and Adams. Snead’s history of bold moves, like the Adams trade, suggests he won’t shy away from fortifying the roster. Samuel, Simmons, and White, each at different career stages, offer a mix of immediate impact and long-term potential, making them prime targets to keep Los Angeles in the NFC’s elite.

Asante Samuel Jr.’s 2024 NFL Season Stats

Asante Samuel Jr.’s 2024 season with the Chargers was cut short by injury, limiting him to just four games before he was placed on injured reserve on October 12, 2024, due to a shoulder issue. Despite the abbreviated campaign, Samuel showcased his skills as a starting cornerback under new head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Here’s a detailed breakdown of his 2024 regular-season performance:

Games Played: 4
Total Tackles: 13 (11 solo, 2 assisted)
Passes Defended: 2
Interceptions: 0
Touchdowns Allowed: 0 (per available data up to his injury)
Snaps Played: Approximately 150 defensive snaps (exact snap counts vary by source, but he was a near-every-down player before his injury)
Missed Tackles: 1 (a career-low missed tackle percentage in his limited sample)
Coverage Performance: While advanced metrics for 2024 are incomplete as of March 26, 2025, Samuel allowed no touchdowns in his four games, per early season reports, maintaining a reputation for sticky coverage.

Isaiah Simmons’ 2024 NFL Season Stats

In his second season with the New York Giants and fifth in the NFL, Simmons played all 17 games in 2024, starting 3, and continued to showcase his durability—he hasn’t missed a game in his career, totaling 84 consecutive appearances by season’s end. Under defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, Simmons was utilized in a rotational capacity, often deployed in sub-packages to exploit his coverage skills and athleticism. Below is a detailed breakdown of his 2024 regular-season performance, based on available data up to March 26, 2025:

Games Played/Started: 17/3
Total Tackles: 18 (14 solo, 4 assisted)
Sacks: 0.0
Passes Defended: 2
Interceptions: 0
Forced Fumbles: 1
Fumble Recoveries: 0
Touchdowns: 0
Defensive Snaps: Approximately 25-30% of total defensive snaps (exact counts unavailable as of this date, but estimated based on his rotational role)
Special Teams Contribution: Notable, including a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks on October 6, 2024, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors

Kyzir White’s 2024 NFL Season Stats

In his seventh NFL season and second with the Cardinals, Kyzir White delivered a standout performance in 2024, playing all 17 games and cementing his status as one of the league’s most productive inside linebackers. Under Gannon’s defensive scheme, White started every contest, often playing 100% of defensive snaps and serving as the on-field “quarterback” of the unit. Here’s a detailed look at his 2024 regular-season stats, based on data available as of March 26, 2025:

Games Played/Started: 17/17
Total Tackles: 137 (60 solo, 77 assisted)
Sacks: 2.5
Passes Defended: 3
Interceptions: 1
Forced Fumbles: 0
Fumble Recoveries: 1
Tackles for Loss: 9
Quarterback Hits: 8
Defensive Snaps: Estimated at over 90% of Arizona’s total defensive plays (exact snap counts unavailable here but consistent with his every-down role)
PFF Grades: Overall 48.8 (156th of 189 LBs), Run Defense 73.0 (50th), Coverage 32.0 (174th), Pass Rush 49.4 (155th)