Primarily, Kamren Curl played safety for the Washington Commanders. He played a fair amount at slot corner, and out wide. Even lined up at outside backer from time to time.
So when the Rams pitched him this free agency on how Curl could fit into their defense, head coach Sean McVay primarily talked the safety position. But there were a few ideas bandied about, too.
“Coach McVay was telling me he wants to tap into all my other skill sets as well, everything that I did in Washington plus some,” Curl said during a Zoom call with reporters. “I’m just ready to see what he’s got set up for me.”
Curl, in a black T-shirt with a Rams-colored message of “Welcome to Los Angeles” across the chest, signed his two-year contract with the Rams on Monday. He’s the second addition to the Rams’ secondary this year following cornerback Darious Williams, who agreed to return to the team in free agency.
Curl fits the mold of the type of players the Rams have tried to add in the secondary in recent years. Safety Quentin Lake and cornerback Cobie Durant have been prized for their versatility and their ability to line up at dime linebacker and star corner, respectively.
Curl adds to that mix-and-match ability for new defensive coordinator Chris Shula, and at 24 is a match for the rest of the youth movement at secondary for the Rams.
“They got a lot of upside and they fly around. Fly around to the ball, making plays on the ball, and that’s what you love to see,” Curl said. “Fly around, play hard. Just another piece that they want to bring in to bring another Super Bowl back to the town.”
Curl has spoken with Shula already, saying the coach valued the “violence” that he brought to the game and what that would mean for the Rams. Curl said he enjoyed the energy and was excited to work with the first-time coordinator.
McVay also reached out to Curl as part of the recruitment efforts to get him to Los Angeles, and that stood out to the safety as he made the choice where to play the next two seasons.
“Just off the bat that meant a lot. Like I said, just knowing about him since being in the league, this is a coach that I would love to play for,” Curl said. “It’s just like he lives football. That’s what you want, a guy that’s all about football. And the energy he brings on the sideline and just the way the players who play for him play, you can tell we’re just ready to run through a brick wall for him so that’s the type of guy I want to play for.”
