Veteran Rams Star Informs Los Angeles He Will Not Return Next Season Following the Arrival of McDuffie

Los Angeles Rams appear set to lose one of their veteran defensive backs as the offseason approaches.

According to sources around the league, the veteran cornerback has informed people close to the organization that he does not expect to return to Los Angeles once the new league year begins.

The situation stems largely from stalled contract negotiations and the recent blockbuster acquisition of Trent McDuffie. With the Rams currently navigating salary-cap considerations—despite having around $40-42 million in space—and multiple roster priorities heading into free agency, talks between the team and the veteran cornerback failed to produce a new agreement, especially after the trade for the All-Pro McDuffie shifted the secondary's future outlook.

That player is Ahkello Witherspoon, whose one-year deal with Los Angeles will officially expire when the NFL’s new league year begins on March 11.

Despite the short stints in recent years, Witherspoon made a noticeable impact during his time in Inglewood, providing veteran presence, size, and matchup versatility as a rotational cornerback.

In his 2025 season with the Rams, limited by injuries, he produced modest numbers across a reduced role. The veteran recorded 8 total tackles (6 solo), 1 interception, and 2 passes defended in just 6 games (2 starts), after suffering a recurring scapula/shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of the year.

Those contributions highlighted his continued effectiveness as a boundary defender against bigger receivers, even as the team relied more on youth and rotation in the secondary.

Even with that production, the Rams' acquisition of McDuffie—a versatile, elite cornerback who signed a record extension—has complicated any attempt to retain him long-term. The team is prioritizing a revamped, younger secondary rotation and could move on from aging or injury-prone veterans to build around the new cornerstone.

The veteran cornerback has already drawn interest from multiple teams as free agency approaches.

Teams seeking experienced depth at cornerback, particularly those needing physical matchups on the perimeter, are believed to be monitoring his situation and could pursue the 31-year-old once the legal tampering period begins.

For the Rams, his expected departure represents another significant roster decision in an offseason already shaped by aggressive moves like the McDuffie trade, cap management, and pushing for contention.

Unless something changes dramatically before free agency opens, it now appears that Ahkello Witherspoon’s time in Los Angeles is coming to an end.