The Los Angeles Rams made a decisive move ahead of the NFL trade deadline, acquiring cornerback Roger McCreary from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a conditional fifth/sixth-round pick swap, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schefter reported that Tennessee will receive the fifth-round pick closer to the start of the round — likely its original selection — while Los Angeles will get the sixth-round pick positioned near the end. The Titans currently hold three sixth-round picks.
The move comes as the Rams enter their Week 8 bye at 5–2, tied atop the NFC West and looking like legitimate Super Bowl contenders behind Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams. But despite an elite offense and disruptive defensive front, the team’s secondary has been its biggest vulnerability, prompting general manager Les Snead to act.
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Filling a Critical Need
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According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Rams were among several contenders — including the Ravens, Colts, and Lions — “making calls for a corner” in recent days. The acquisition of McCreary, a former second-round pick out of Auburn, gives Los Angeles a versatile defensive back capable of playing both outside and nickel roles.
Through seven games this season, McCreary has recorded 18 tackles and one interception. The 25-year-old was a first-team All-American and All-SEC selection in 2021 before being drafted No. 35 overall by Tennessee in 2022.
With veteran Ahkello Witherspoon still sidelined by a clavicle injury, McCreary joins a rotation featuring Cobie Durant, Darius Williams, Emmanuel Forbes, and Tre Brown. The group has held steady, but McCreary’s addition adds depth and starting experience to a defense hoping to tighten up for a playoff push.
McCreary has struggled significantly in man coverage this season, allowing a perfect 100% completion rate when targeted (5 completions on 5 targets for 79 yards). This is concerning performance compared to his zone coverage, where he allows an 88.9% completion rate (16 completions on 18 targets).
Interestingly, his press coverage numbers are much better at 69.6% completion rate allowed (39 completions on 56 targets), suggesting he’s more effective when he can use physicality at the line of scrimmage rather than in pure man coverage situations.
Overall, this season, McCreary has been targeted frequently across all coverage types with a 91.7% completion rate allowed (22 completions on 24 targets), recording 1 interception and 1 pass defended – both coming in zone coverage rather than man coverage.
Snead and McVay Stay Aggressive
For the Rams, this is a familiar pattern. Their 2021 Super Bowl run was sparked by midseason trades for Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr., and this move signals a similar intent: go all in while Stafford and the offense remain in peak form.
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. PT, and the Rams’ latest move suggests they may not be done yet.
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