Cobie Durant was one of the few bright spots in what was a very disappointing 2022 season for the Los Angeles Rams. Despite missing four games, Durant made the most of his opportunities as a third-round rookie, even leading the NFL in interception return yards (151) while playing just 33% of the Rams’ defensive snaps.
Many expected Durant to take the next step in 2023 but he was fairly inconsistent at corner and fell out of favor in the middle of the season before reemerging in the final three weeks.
The Rams signed Darious Williams and Tre’Davious White in free agency this offseason but they still need a third cornerback to round out the secondary when they’re in nickel packages, which has essentially become their base defense.
Durant could be the all-important nickel defender for Los Angeles.
Reports of Durant’s play in training camp have been unanimously positive, which is encouraging for the Rams. He has the talent to be a high-end starting cornerback, showing off his ball skills and instincts as a rookie in 2023, and he seems to be putting it all together this year.
“A guy that’s really grown,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said Wednesday. “He’s playing a lot more outside now, where, his first year, I was actually the DBs coach, and he was playing more inside all the time. It’s a guy that’s really understanding. Tre White actually took him under his wing in the offseason. He’s really understanding route combinations, splits, exactly what he is going to get. A guy that has just been playing consistent and he really has all offseason.”
With the injuries suffered by Derion Kendrick (ACL) and Williams (hamstring), the Rams need Durant more than ever. He’s the favorite to be the third starting cornerback after the Rams seemingly made the decision to primarily play Quentin Lake at safety, so Durant is going to be on the field a lot.
Sean McVay raved about the offseason Durant has had to date, emphasizing his improvements in the mental aspects of the game – similar to the way Shula did.
“I think he’s been excellent,” McVay said. “I thought he had a really good offseason. I think he’s picked up where he left off in the offseason. Really understands what’s going on. He can see the game slowing down. I think he’s really understanding some of the things that (DBs coach) Aubrey (Pleasant) is teaching in his room, where his play opportunities arise.”
Tackling has never been a strong suit for the 5-foot-11 cornerback, missing 11 tackles in the last two years. And while he was great in coverage as a rookie in 2022 but he gave up 370 yards on only 42 targets last season, allowing a passer rating of 98.3.
Durant looked to be on his way to a breakout 2023 season after emerging as a playmaking rookie, but he suffered a second-year slump. His third year in the Rams defense could be the one that elevates him to new heights.