There’s been a revolving door in the Rams’ secondary since 2017, but the one consistent presence throughout it all has been Nickell Robey-Coleman. He’s been the team’s slot corner the last three seasons, starting alongside Trumaine Johnson, Kayvon Webster, Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill.
His tenure in Los Angeles has come to an end, however, as the Rams declined his option for 2020. It’s a move that saves the team $4.5 million in cap space, while also making Robey-Coleman an unrestricted free agent.
With how well Robey-Coleman has played since joining the Rams – he had a PFF grade of at least 74.5 each year – this move is a surprising one. Why part with a reliable starter to save only $4.5 million? It’s a hard decision for fans to swallow, but there are layers to this move.
David Long Jr. is ready to start
The Rams took Long in the third round last year, showing how much they valued the former Michigan Wolverine. He had trouble getting on the field in the Rams’ loaded secondary, and when he did get playing time, he had his share of struggles.
But with Robey-Coleman gone, Long is clearly the top choice to take his spot in the slot. He’s not the biggest corner, but he’s excellent in man coverage, which the Rams are expected to utilize more of under Brandon Staley.
Darious Williams could get a chance to compete for the starting slot role, too, as the Rams possess a ton of depth at cornerback right now. That’s the primary reason the front office felt good about letting Robey-Coleman go.