Rams veteran defensive backs labeling young player as ‘All-Pro’

Kamren Kinchens is set to begin his third season in the NFL and is reportedly set for a breakout year by some of his teammates.

According to Nate Atkins of The Athletic, Rams safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl are saying the growth of their fellow defensive back is turning him into an “All-Pro” caliber player.

Kinchens was selected by the Rams with the 99th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and has played in 34 games in the regular season over the last two years.

Known for his ability to be a ball-hawk in the secondary, Kinches had 11 interceptions through two seasons as a starter in College. Since he’s been in the NFL, he’s had six, in a crowded Rams safety room.

“That’s one of his gifts,” Curl told Atkins. “The ball finds him.”

Atkins reported that the ball has indeed been finding him during training camp as he’s picked off fourth-year veteran quarterback Stetson Bennett and reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford by picking off the ball after it was tipped.

“We always talk about calculated risk: If you see it, go get it,” Lake told Atkins. “… Q, just go out there. Sometimes you’re going to have to nut up and believe in it and go get it.”

Chasing after the ball has been Kinchens’ bread and butter as a safety, as his two interceptions from last season came in their Week 11 game against the Seattle Seahawks, which helped edge them past the Seattle Seahawks 21-19.

Kinchens acknowledged his success with interceptions during camp and said to him, it’s how he always graded his season, but admitted going after the ball could be his greatest curse.

“Last year was the first year I had to switch my mindset to, ‘You can’t get the ball on every down,” Kinchens told Atkins. “…There’d be games where I had great games but didn’t get my hands on the ball too much, and I’d be down on myself because that’s what I value.”

Kinchens told Atkins that the reason why he’s been getting the ball so much during camp is because of how dominant the Rams’ pass rush has been since the acquisition of Myles Garret.

“It brings some more space for me to make some plays,” Kinchens said.

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