Later this week, the Los Angeles Rams are set to report for training camp, which will be the first step in what Sean McVay hopes to be another successful season.

This offseason, the Rams made several big moves to help elevate the defense, which included trading for star edge rusher Myles Garrett and star cornerback Trent McDuffie in addition to signing another solid cornerback in Jaylen Watson.

With the changes the Rams made on the defensive line and in the secondary, this unit has the potential to take another step forward under defensive coordinator Chris Shula. However, there are still a few questions the defense must answer.

So here are the four biggest questions for the Rams defense heading into training camp.

4. Can Quentin Lake Stay Healthy for the Full Season?

The Rams' secondary looks to be solid, especially with safeties like Kam Curl, Kam Kinchens, and Quentin Lake. However, this group does need to stay healthy to ensure that the back end of the defense can stay intact and provide consistent communication all season long.

The primary player to look for to stay healthy is Lake, who played just 10 games in the regular season in 2025 and has played just one full season in his career thus far. In the games that he did play, he tallied 61 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery, one interception, and 10 pass breakups.

Even though Lake did miss significant time last season, he proved that he could be productive and effective for the Rams at the safety position in run support and in coverage. If he can stay healthy and continue to be productive, the Rams may have one of the best starting secondaries in the entire NFL.

3. Where Does Josiah Stewart Fit into the Defensive End Rotation?

There is no question that the Rams now have one of the more talented defensive lines in the NFL after trading for Myles Garrett, but following the trade, Josiah Stewart could see less of a role because of how productive Garrett is.

Stewart is a solid player and was effective for the Rams last season, but he may need time to develop into his full potential. In 2025 with the Rams, he recorded 22 tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, 21 pressures (according to PFF), two pass deflections, and one forced fumble.

While Stewart did show promise in his rookie season, earning reps on this defensive line that now has Garrett and another great player in Byron Young will not be easy. So, throughout camp, it will be interesting to see how many reps he earns and how he takes advantage of those reps.

2. Has Emmanuel Forbes Jr. Done Enough to be the Rams' Cornerback 3?

As previously mentioned, the Rams appear to have significantly upgraded the cornerback room with the additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason. However, to truly make this group one of the best in the league, having a clear CB3 could be critical.

In line for the CB3 could be Emmanuel Forbes Jr., who returns to the Rams following an up-and-down 2025 campaign. Last season, due to the lack of depth at corner, Forbes was operating as the Rams' top corner, which put a lot of pressure on him to perform.

At times, Forbes answered the call as he recorded 18 pass breakups and three interceptions, but over the course of the season, his consistency in coverage was not ideal as he posted a coverage grade of 56.1 per Pro Football Focus (No. 84 among all corners).

While Forbes did struggle with consistency last season, being the third cornerback could be exactly what he needs to gain his confidence back and become one of the Rams' top secondary contributors.

In order for Forbes to prove he is the top option at cornerback three, he must show it during camp on a consistent basis; otherwise, the Rams may look to other players on the roster to find the final piece for this cornerback group.

1. Is Omar Speights the Clear Second Linebacker Next to Nate Landman?

At the second level of the defense, the Rams seem to have found a very reliable starter in Nate Landman, but they do need a second player to step up to create a strong linebacker duo.

The player who could be that answer is Omar Speights, who is coming off a solid second NFL season as he recorded 85 tackles and one pass breakup. With Speights heading into his third NFL season, it is as good a time as any for him to take another step forward and assert himself as the second linebacker next to Landman.

For Speights to do that, consistently generating negative plays in the backfield by securing tackles for loss, especially in the run game, is something that could really help his case during camp. If he is unable to firmly grab the second linebacker spot, that opens the door for Grant Stuard, Shaun Dolac, and Elias Neal to surpass him.

For the Rams defense to truly take the next step, having reliable play from two linebackers is critical, and at this point, Speights does seem like the best option next to Landman. However, if he does not have a strong camp, this is a position battle that could turn out to be one that is decided a lot closer to the season than the team may prefer.