Derion

Kendrick

The 2022 second-round pick will seek work elsewhere. The Rams also waived OL A.J. Arcuri, OL Wyatt Bowles, WR Tru Edwards, DT Jack Heflin, S Tanner Ingle, CB Derion Kendrick, CB Cam Lampkin, OL Dylan McMahon, OLB Jamil Muhammad, ILB Elias Neal, DL Bill Norton, ILB Chris Paul Jr., WR Brennan Presley, RB Ronnie Rivers, RB Cody Schrader, S Nate Valcarcel, CB Charles Woods, WR Britain Covey, OLB Brennan Jackson, TE Mark Redman, WR Drake Stoops, WR Jordan Waters, OL Willie Lampkin IV and CB Shaun Jolly. The Rams released CB A.J. Green.

It’s an unfortunate development for a once-promising, yet troubled player. The 2022 sixth-round pick broke out in 2023, ranking second on the team with eight forced incompletions. He was arrested on firearms-related charges that same year. Kendrick suffered a season-ending ACL tear during the Rams’ 2024 training camp, when he could not afford another negative development. Perhaps another team will invite him for a training camp tryout this summer.

Rotational CB Derion Kendrick suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Wednesday’s practice as well, worsening the impact of Williams’ soft-tissue issue. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reports Williams’ injury, of unknown severity, occurred during the final play of Thursday’s practice. The Rams front office signed Williams and Tre’Davious White, formerly of the Bills, to man the perimeter cornerback positions this offseason. While White is currently a full practice participant, it should be noted he suffered season-ending injuries in both 2021 (ACL tear) and 2023 (Achilles tendon rupture).

Tests will be done to confirm, but it sounds like Kendrick is trending toward missing the 2024 season. A sixth-round pick of the Rams back in 2022, Kendrick started a career-high 12 games last season, totaling 49 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and one interception while earning a PFF coverage grade of 60.5. He was expected to slide into a starting role again this season, which would leave the Rams thin at the position just days into training camp.

Originally a wide receiver, Kendrick (6’0/190) spent three years at Clemson before transferring to Georgia for his senior season. He made first-team All-ACC as a junior after having six pass breakups, a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. After his junior year, he was arrested for unlawful possession of a gun and simple possession of marijuana. He was dismissed by Dabo Swinney due to the charges that were later dropped. He transferred to Georgia and thrived. On the great Bulldogs defense, he achieved career-high PFF grades of 83.2 and 82.5 in coverage. He also set career highs with four interceptions and five pass breakups. He has good pattern recognition from his time as a wide receiver and has kick return ability. Unfortunately, his testing was abysmal. His relative athletic score came in at a paltry 1.55 with a 4.79 40-yard dash. Those testing numbers will hinder his ceiling.

After a relatively successful college career, Kendrick (6'0/190) had a disastrous day of testing at his pro day. In running a 4.79 40-yard dash (3rd percentile), he didn’t help himself with his jumps. Both his vertical (31") and broad (9' 6") both finished under the 17th-percentile. One has to wonder if Kendrick was dealing with any form of injury during the testing process. Regardless if he was or not, this is crushing to his draft stock.

Kendrick (6'0/190) has been highly effective for the Bulldogs across coverage snaps in 2021, allowing just eight catches, zero touchdowns and one interception across 233 coverage snaps. So far this season, Kendrick totals 20 tackles (10 solo), two passes defended and one interception.

Kendrick (6'0/190) was probably the hottest name left on the transfer market this offseason. A potential first-round pick, Kendrick was arrested in mid-March on a misdemeanor charge of unlawful carrying of a handgun, resulting in him leaving Clemson. On the field, Kendrick is a stud. He is a former five-star recruit from the 2018 signing class who started appeared in nearly 40 games for Clemson, racking up 11 passes defended and two interceptions over his last two seasons as a starter. With Georgia losing as much DB talent to the NFL as they did this offseason, Kendrick is a massive get.

There have been a few little birdies chirping in Farrell’s ear about a possible announcement in Georgia’s favor sometime in the next week. The 6-foot, 190-pound cornerback was a consensus five-star recruit for the 2018 cycle and appeared in 39 total games with Clemson before leaving the team at the end of February. While a potential major get for the Bulldogs, Kendrick does have a few legal issues to be ironed out after he was arrested in mid-March on a misdemeanor charge of unlawful carrying of a handgun (he was also cited for marijuana possession). Adding a little more intrigue to the mix, Georgia happens to open the season against Clemson the first weekend of September.

Kendrick (6'0/190) was dismissed from the Clemson program in late-February, and after entering his name into the transfer portal the defensive back hasn’t lacked for options. In addition to Florida and Georgia, Alabama, Texas and TCU are among the programs that are said to have been in contact with Kendrick. Georgia could be an intriguing spot, as the Bulldogs have to account for the departure of all three starting cornerbacks from last season’s team. Also, Georgia opens the 2021 season with a game against Clemson. According to Hummer, Georgia and Florida appear to be the two most likely options for Kendrick.