In the wake of Derion Kendrick's injury, the Los Angeles Rams were searching for cornerback depth. They have seemingly found it, with reports coming out that the team plans to sign former Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs, pending a physical.
Source: Corner Jerry Jacobs plans to sign with the #Rams.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 26, 2024
Former Lions starter finds a home in the NFC West. pic.twitter.com/jL7ZUupPHE
Jacobs spent the last three seasons with the Lions, signing with Detroit as a UDFA following the 2021 NFL Draft. He emerged as a starter for the team early on in their rebuild under Dan Campbell and stayed as a starter for 2022 and 2023, playing in 40 games with the Lions. In 2023, Jacobs set career-highs with 55 tackles and three INTs. He missed time with injury in 2022 and 2023 and was cut from the Lions following a season-ending thigh/knee injury that saw him land on IR.
There were plenty of other options for the Rams to sign, but the top targets might be waiting for starting opportunities instead of depth. Jacobs allowed seven touchdowns in 2023, tied for seventh-most among all corners, and amassed just four PBUs in 2023. However, his 3 interceptions would have tied for first place in LA last season. By all accounts from Lions beat writers, he's a competitive, feisty cornerback that was popular among Lions fans.
At this point of the offseason, the Rams are looking for bodies in the secondary after Kendrick's injury and a strained hamstring suffered by Darious Williams. It's not an inspiring move, given how eagerly Detroit moved on from Jacobs and spent so heavily at DB in the offseason, but this might be the best they're going to get.