Rams Eyeing Edge, Cornerback Help

No NFL team’s in a better position through eight weeks than the 8-0 Rams, but they are in the market for defensive help.

Los Angeles is looking around for edge defenders and cornerbacks ahead of the Tuesday trade deadline, Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic reports (subscription required). Dialogue’s commencing on the outside linebacker front, per Bonsignore (on Twitter).

The Rams brought in Aqib Talib and Ndamukong Suh and extended Brandin Cooks, Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald. This meant sacrificing some at other spots. They unloaded high-priced defenders Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn, with the latter’s departure not being filled by proven players. Los Angeles is seeking edge help as a result, particularly given the opportunities Donald’s dominance creates for that position.

Not even $2MM under the cap, the Rams are open to restructures that free up space necessary to acquire help for this Super Bowl-contending roster, per Bonsignore.

While their more immediate need is on the edge, where Samson Ebukam‘s two sacks pace that position group — one that, with Dominique Easley on IR, doesn’t house a player picked before the fourth round of a draft — the Rams have been without Talib for weeks. And Marcus Peters has dealt with a calf injury. The Rams don’t appear to be hunting for corner help as much as they’re seeking edge aid, and Bonsignore writes the team doesn’t want to merely add a rental corner who would slide down to No. 4 on the depth chart once Talib returns. But the team would be more interested in corners whose contracts don’t expire at season’s end.

The Rams gave up their second-round pick to get Peters but still own their own first-, third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-round selections in next year’s draft.