Blame the Underwear Olympics. That’s how NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice described the misguided emphasis on combine testing that allowed a high-end talent like Kamren Kinchens to slip to the penultimate pick of Round 3 for the Los Angeles Rams. “Shoddy athletic testing at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine depressed the safety’s draft stock,” Filice wrote. “But the 4.65 40-yard dash didn’t prevent the rookie from picking off four passes — and taking one 103 yards to the house.”
Indeed, the Los Angeles Rams didn’t need a stopwatch to see what mattered. Kinchens was an instinctive ballhawk at Miami, where he snagged 11 interceptions in his final two seasons. What he may have lacked in combine speed, he made up for in anticipation, intelligence, and pure playmaking — as Filice says, the same formula that once defined Hall of Famer Ed Reed, who ran a 4.57 himself.
Los Angeles Rams Safety Kamren Kinchens Named Most Underappreciated
Kinchens’ rookie year proved the tape doesn’t lie. He finished with 57 tackles, four picks, six pass breakups, a forced fumble, and one unforgettable pick-six — a 103-yard sprint that flipped a midseason game against Seattle. And yet, his impact mostly flew under the national radar, making Filice’s “most underappreciated” label for the Rams a fitting one.
His path wasn’t easy. Buried on the depth chart early, Kinchens played mostly special teams before injuries to veterans John Johnson III and Kam Curl opened the door. When his moment came, he was ready — thanks in part to extra hours in the film room. “You just see that progression and how he’s becoming more and more comfortable,” said Rams DC Chris Shula. “The hard work is paying off.”
From a midseason benching to game-clinching interceptions, Kinchens’ rookie year was a masterclass in growth. His instincts, toughness, and ball skills made him a crucial part of L.A.’s defense — and validated the Rams’ bet on production over measurables.
Play speed matters more than track speed. Kinchens is proving it — and the rest of the league is starting to notice.