Trent McDuffie is rocking a 0.0 passer rating against him through two games, and Quentin Lake isn’t far behind with a 92.2 PFF coverage grade, making them the top corner and safety in the NFL right now. The 2026 Los Angeles Rams might be a question mark after splitting their first two games, losing to NFC West rival San Francisco in Week 1 before bouncing back against the New York Giants, but these two defensive backs are absolutely on fire, hitting superstar levels early in the season.
McDuffie is the Real Deal
Let’s talk about Trent McDuffie because what he’s doing is just plain absurd. The Rams went all-in to get him, sending a haul of draft picks to Kansas City and then dropping one of the richest contracts in the league on him. Guess what? It’s already paying massive dividends. McDuffie’s PFF coverage grade is a staggering 93.2, putting him first among *all* corners. He’s currently the best corner in the NFL, period. Opposing quarterbacks have tried him eight times through two games, and he’s allowed exactly ONE reception for a measly 13 yards. Add in an interception and three pass breakups, and you get that beautiful, impossible 0.0 passer rating. You heard that right, it literally does not get any better than that! This dude is relentless, aggressive in the screen game and always stepping up to make a tackle, which is impressive for a guy often seen as undersized. We even saw him pick off Jameis Winston. He brings some much-needed tenacity to that defense.
Lake is a Game-Changer
Quentin Lake isn’t just riding shotgun either. The Rams committed to him long-term before last season even ended, and that move is looking like pure genius right now. His PFF coverage grade of 92.2 is first among all safeties in the league. Remember that 49ers game that got away from the Rams? Lake still managed to snag a Brock Purdy deep ball for one of the few defensive stops. And in Week 2, with Kamren Kinchens out due to injury, Lake locked it down, holding his assigned receiver to just three catches on six targets for a measly 10 yards. He broke up three of those incompletions, giving him five pass breakups already this season! His 44.8 passer rating when targeted isn’t McDuffie’s impossible 0.0, but it’s still elite; for comparison, just spiking the ball over and over would get you a 39.6 rating. Lower ratings only happen because of interceptions, so 44.8 is doing just fine.
Both McDuffie and Lake are on pace for All-Pro seasons, and while it’s expected for McDuffie, this would be a first for Lake. If these two keep this pace, the Rams’ defense could turn into something truly special, making every snap a must-watch going forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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