24 most important Rams for 2024 – No. 13: CB Tre'Davious White
The Los Angeles Rams have made plenty of splashes at cornerback over the years, bringing in veterans such as Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters and Jalen Ramsey since 2018. They made another big move at the position this offseason by signing two-time Pro Bowler Tre'Davious White to a one-year deal.
White is coming off a torn Achilles and the Rams don't have a clear timetable for his return, but when healthy, he has the talent to be one of the top cornerbacks in football. He just hasn't been available much in the last three seasons.
Still, he should be considered one of the Rams' most important players heading into the 2024 season.
How he got here
Toward the end of March, the Rams signed White to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million with incentives. The base value is much lower, however, coming in at $4.25 million with $3.25 million guaranteed. The Rams will be White's second NFL team after spending seven seasons with the Bills.
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2023 stats
4 games (4 starts) with Bills: 12 tackles, 1 INT, 2 passes defensed, 1 QB hit
Projected role
White has been a starting outside cornerback throughout his seven-year career and he'll remain that with the Rams in 2024. Though he can play in the slot if needed, he's at his best when lining up across from a wide receiver on the outside.
He's played just five snaps in the slot in the last two years and 20 since 2021, so he's been almost exclusively a boundary corner. With the Rams, he'll likely play one side of the field rather than switching sides or mirroring receivers.
The biggest question with White is his health and durability. He's coming off a torn Achilles suffered last October, which limited him to just four games, after also tearing his ACL in 2021. When healthy, he's a top-tier cornerback, but he simply hasn't played much in the last three years (21 games).
Why he's important
Ahkello Witherspoon played well for the Rams last season, but outside of that, they got inconsistent play from their cornerbacks. Derion Kendrick was a frequent target for opposing quarterbacks and Cobie Durant didn't make the second-year leap. The secondary was unreliable as a result, which the Rams saw as a weakness and addressed by signing not only White, but also Darious Williams.
Los Angeles needs White to stay healthy and play at a high level, particularly with the pass rush likely regressing a bit due to Aaron Donald's absence. Coverage will need to be much tighter from the snap.
Additionally, White has good ball skills that often lead to turnovers, something the Rams lacked last season; they ranked 23rd in total interceptions. He can help in that regard, too.
Rams' 24 most important players for 2024
