The NFL trade deadline is nearing, and the Los Angeles Rams are proactively upgrading their roster ahead of a NFC West title chase. Recently, the Rams secured cornerback Roger McCreary along with a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick from the Tennessee Titans in return for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2026.
While this transaction may not involve a marquee player, it indicates the Titans are beginning to break down their roster following a disappointing 1-7 start. The Rams, currently enjoying a bye week with a 5-2 record, are in contention for the NFC West championship.
Who Comes Out on Top in This Trade?
Let’s evaluate how this trade influences both franchises.
Rams: Grade B+
The Rams faced a critical need for outside cornerback after Ahkello Witherspoon suffered a clavicle injury in Week 2, leading to various unsatisfactory performances by replacements. The Rams had seen contributions from Emmanuel Forbes, Cobie Durant, and Darious Williams but to inconsistent effect.
Forbes allowed two touchdowns and an alarming 118.3 passer rating while serving as the primary cornerback. Williams contributed a solitary touchdown allowed with a 59.7 rating, whereas Durant yielded 205 passing yards with a 64.6 rating, making takeaways a concerning aspect for the Rams secondary. Durant holds the lone interception recorded by a Rams cornerback this season.
Can McCreary alleviate this turnover dilemma? He’s recorded just one interception across 184 coverage snaps, yielding an 87.8 passer rating as the primary defender.
A notable starter with 38 career games, McCreary’s opportunity to show he merits a contract extension comes with this new position in Los Angeles. His versatility as an outside and slot cornerback is crucial for a Rams unit in urgent need of assistance at both slots. The Rams’ exchange for a fifth-round pick they initially owned is viewed as an astute bargain.
Titans: Grade C
The rationale behind the Titans moving on from young talent may not be immediately clear, though McCreary’s future was in question. He was drafted under former Titans GM Jon Robinson, who has since been succeeded by multiple GMs. With the prospect of a new head coach arriving shortly, the strategies and requirements may reshape the team’s defensive outlook.
McCreary, despite having shown improvement after a rocky rookie season in which he allowed seven passing touchdowns, struggled to fit into the Titans’ system. This likely stems from systematic issues rather than his personal capabilities. The team seems to be gearing up for a complete restructuring during this disappointing season, especially following the firing of their head coach in October.
Moving forward with just a fifth-round pick while giving up a sixth-round pick, the Titans are seemingly left to scrape what they can from their diminishing resources. This reinforces their lack of success in maintaining solid players on their roster.
If McCreary thrives with the Rams, it would only heighten criticism of the Titans’ player development approach.
