The Los Angeles Rams re-signed cornerback Derion Kendrick last month, which came just a few days after the team waived him ahead of holding their minicamp in Maui.
Kendrick went unclaimed on waivers before returning to the Rams for less money, saving the team roughly $3.4 million in cap space.
The 24-year-old missed the entire 2024 season due to a torn ACL, but before that, appeared in 32 games (18 starts) with the Rams from 2022-23.
Kendrick explained his decision to re-sign with the Rams, citing his relationships in the organization and easy understanding of the playbook, via Greg Beacham of the Associated Press:
“I love the people here,” Kendrick said Wednesday. “I’ve built so many relationships in this organization, and I’ve got so much love for it. And I know the playbook like the back of my hand, so I wouldn’t want to be nowhere else, for real.”
As of now, Kendrick is behind Darious Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon, Quentin Lake, Cobie Durant and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. on the Rams’ depth chart. Although he faces an uphill climb to playing time, Kendrick is staying focused on improving each day:
“Just being a competitor, I always want to be the first one going out there,” he said. “But right now, I’m just stacking my days, getting better each day.”
Originally a sixth-round draft pick in 2022, Kendrick has shown flashes of being a quality cornerback, but he will need to stay healthy and stand out in training camp to earn a spot on the Rams’ 53-man roster.
Perhaps helping Kendrick’s case is the fact that the Rams lack a true No. 1 cornerback, and any of the aforementioned names could emerge at any time and take hold of the role.
Sean McVay ‘really glad’ Rams re-signed Derion Kendrick
Head coach Sean McVay explained why the Rams waived Derion Kendrick in the first place and expressed his excitement for the former Georgia Bulldog to still be with the team.
“Really glad that he was able to get back with us,” McVay told reporters. “It was really just a kind of a financial business deal based on some things that he had earned the right for his salary to fall where it was.”
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