Rams Cut Ties With Former Starting DB, Signaling Possible Jalen Ramsey Reunion

The Los Angeles Rams have taken another step toward a possible reunion with All-Pro defensive back Jalen Ramsey.

The team waived cornerback Derion Kendrick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Friday.

Kendrick started 18 games over his first two seasons with the Rams but missed the entire 2024 campaign after suffering a torn ACL.

Once viewed as a developing piece in the Rams’ young defense, the 24-year-old now finds himself on the open market while Los Angeles suddenly looks thin in the secondary.

Rams’ Secondary Following Kendrick Move

Kendrick’s release arrives at a curious time. Despite a 10–7 season and a trip to the NFC Divisional Round, the Rams chose not to sign or draft a single cornerback during the offseason.

With Kendrick now gone, the unit is left with aging veterans and unproven youth. Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon, both 32 years old, are the likely starters heading into training camp.

Behind them, the Rams will rely on players like Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., and Josh Wallace. While each has upside, none have established themselves as long-term answers.

The lack of movement in the cornerback room throughout the offseason is beginning to look more deliberate than passive. With roster space opening and questions mounting, attention is shifting toward Ramsey, a major figure in Rams history.

He played a central role in the team’s Super Bowl LVI victory and was a fixture in Los Angeles until his 2023 trade to the Miami Dolphins. Though he missed the early part of the 2024 season due to a knee injury, Ramsey returned to form late in the year and remains one of the NFL’s top cover men.

Will Jalen Ramsey Sign With Rams?

Ramsey’s future in Miami has come under renewed scrutiny in recent months, largely due to his contract. He is owed $24.2 million in 2025 and carries escalating cap hits through 2027.

Miami’s front office has remained noncommittal about keeping him long-term, and while no trade has materialized, the potential for movement lingers.

Sean McVay was asked directly about the possibility of bringing Ramsey back to Los Angeles and kept the door wide open.

The Rams have not aggressively pursued other available corners, including recently released two-time Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander. The former Packers standout was briefly connected to Los Angeles by league insiders, but McVay publicly downplayed that scenario.

His tone when speaking about Ramsey, however, was notably different. The interest appears real, even if the logistics are still unclear.

Training camp is fast approaching, and the Rams are not likely to let the uncertainty linger much longer. McVay has emphasized the importance of culture and cohesion in recent years, and bringing back a player like Ramsey would align with both the team’s competitive ambitions and its identity.

Ramsey knows the environment, has chemistry with key players, and would not require a learning curve to contribute at a high level.

The Rams are still reshaping their post-Super Bowl identity. If Ramsey is part of that next chapter, Kendrick’s departure may be remembered as the quiet moment that started it all.