Rams' 2-for-2 swap fixes problem that cost them a Super Bowl

The Los Angeles Rams lost the NFC Championship game to the Seattle Seahawks in a heartbreaking loss and now have to climb once more during the 2026 season.

But they've learned from their mistakes and addressed the biggest problem with the team this offseason. As ESPN's Ben Solak pointed out, the Rams made a 2-for-2 swap in the secondary that will make all the difference in 2026.

By moving on from Darious Williams and Cobie Durant, and replacing them with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, the Rams had Solak's sixth-best position group upgrade from this offseason in their cornerback room.

Rams' 2-for-2 CB swap will fix biggest issue from 2025

"The Rams traded a first-round pick (and then some!) for McDuffie, then snagged his teammate Watson in free agency not a week later," Solak writes, "rebuilding the cornerbacks room that was their Achilles' heel during last season's run through the NFC playoffs."

During the Rams' playoff run last year, the reason they lost to the Seahawks in the Championship game was due to poor cornerback play.

Seattle's offense was able to move the ball through the air much better than it had against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

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If the Rams' defense could've made just one stop, they might've beaten the Seahawks and advanced to the Super Bowl, where they likely would've beaten the Patriots.

But, with Durant and Williams struggling, and Emmanuel Forbes also not in an ideal situation, the Rams' cornerback room was taken advantage of.

That won't be the case in 2026, as Les Snead and Sean McVay went out and added McDuffie in a blockbuster trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, and then added Watson, also a former Chief, in free agency.

This 2-for-2 swap, of McDuffie and Watson replacing Williams and Durant, is one of the biggest leaps any position group made this offseason. These new corners should fix the issue that cost them the Super Bowl last season.

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