Jared Verse and Braden Fiske have gotten a lot of attention this season for being the standout players of the Los Angeles Rams’ 2024 draft class, but one of their most impactful rookies wasn’t even drafted.
Safety Jaylen McCollough, who signed as an undrafted rookie out of Tennessee, has been a spark on defense despite playing limited snaps. Remarkably, he leads the team with four interceptions in only 110 defensive snaps.
He’s helped fill in with John Johnson and Kam Curl banged up, also contributing as a dime defender when the Rams get six defensive backs on the field. His play has made many people wonder how he went undrafted, showing he deserved to be selected at some point in April.
The Rams shared some stats from his rookie year and they’re unbelievably good. In 69 coverage snaps, he has yet to allow a single reception. He has more pick-sixes than he has receptions allowed and he’s given up a 0.0 passer rating in coverage.
In 69 coverage snaps this season, S Jaylen McCollough has recorded four interceptions, one defensive touchdown, four passes defended, one pass breakup, and two incompletions against as the primary defender.
His 0.0 passer rating against as the primary defender is tied for first… pic.twitter.com/4SXFMSnr6H
— Los Angeles Rams PR (@TheLARamsPR) November 5, 2024
It’s a small sample size as a part-time player, but McCollough is making Les Snead and the Rams look brilliant for signing him after the draft ended.
Johnson will be back at some point this season and Curl will still be a starter alongside Quentin Lake, but the Rams will have to find ways to get McCollough on the field. His play has been too good to keep on the bench.
