Tre’Davious White hasn’t played a game yet for the Los Angeles Rams, but his impact is already being felt on the field and in the locker room. The eighth-year cornerback has a wealth of experience and he’s bringing that to Los Angeles after earning two Pro Bowl selections and a first-team All-Pro nod during his time in Buffalo.
In his prime, White was viewed as one of the best corners in the game and has a reputation of being an absolute ball hawk thanks to his 18 career interceptions in only 82 games.
Sean McVay always appreciated his talent from afar but now that he’s gotten an up-close look at White on the practice field, he’s even more grateful to have him on the Rams’ roster. McVay heaped praise on the veteran corner after Thursday’s walkthrough, not just for being a great player, but for his leadership qualities and character off the field.
“He’s such a special guy. He’s all about the right stuff. Even when you get a chance – you watch him from afar and you think this is how he’s going to be, and then he’s even better when you get to know him,” McVay said. “You meet with him on his visit, and you hear the things he’s passionate about with his family, with football, with the ability to overcome some of the things that he’s gone through as he’s had an incredibly successful career. You go through injuries where, you look at the Achilles, you look at the ACL and some of the different challenges that it forces you to go through, but [that’s] where the real growth occurs. I’ve been so impressed with him. I think what comes with that is a gratitude, a perspective, and an appreciation. He’s been awesome.”
White is beloved in Buffalo for all that he accomplished with the Bills and the way he supported the local community, but players in the locker room loved him, too. He’s already imparting his wisdom on the Rams’ younger defensive backs, helping them improve ahead of the 2024 season.
For a secondary that was incredibly young last season, White’s mentorship and experience should help players such as Cobie Durant, Quentin Lake, Russ Yeast and Tre Tomlinson.
“You can just see it’s very seamless and easy for him to want to mentor and to want to help other guys,” McVay added. “The respect that the other guys in the room with him have… when you look at the way that a Cobie Durant looks up to him, listens to him, even a Russ Yeast. He’s so willing to put his arm around these guys and be able to share and offer his perspectives. That’s what it’s all about. There’s been really cool experiences throughout our tenure like you mentioned.”
In addition to coaching up younger players, White is also very coachable himself. That’s something McVay has noticed in their brief time together this offseason.
“I just think the perspective and the willingness to share,” McVay said. “I have a funny feeling he’s probably always been that way, but you gain some wisdom. He is still young. He has an amazing amount of experience and wisdom that he’s gathered through his experiences at LSU or even in Buffalo. To be able to provide that mentorship and then how receptive he is to Aubrey [Pleasant], to coach [Chris] Beake, and to [defensive assistant] Mike Harris. It’s been really fun to watch.”