Seeing a void at cornerback, the Los Angeles Rams brought back a familiar face this offseason by acquiring Troy Hill from the Cleveland Browns on the third day of the draft. Hill played well for the Rams in 2020 before leaving in free agency, and the Rams missed him in the secondary last season.
What makes Hill so valuable is his versatility, being able to play both outside and in the slot. It allows the Rams to move Jalen Ramsey around, too, knowing Hill can play any cornerback spot. Hill is at his best in the slot, however.
Pro Football Focus’ Anthony Treash ranked the NFL’s best slot corners in the NFL and Hill came in at No. 6 on the list. Treash notes that while Hill struggled with the Browns last season, he was excellent with the Rams when utilized in the slot. His 89.2 slot coverage grade in 2020 was the best among all players at that position.
He endured these struggles while watching his former team hoist the Lombardi Trophy. However, he was traded back to L.A. during the 2022 NFL Draft and will hope to be a key piece in the franchise’s title defense. While Hill’s versatility is important to the Rams, he should be playing most of his snaps on the inside and has the chance to get back to his previous elite standard in this system.
The Rams plan to move Hill around depending on where Ramsey lines up, using them almost interchangeably in the secondary. Having him back in the mix will prove beneficial for the Rams.
