Roger McCreary’s second visit to Los Angeles is an extended stay: The Tennessee Titans traded the cornerback to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday.
“Still getting used to it,” McCreary said. “Traffic is crazy. First day, it is hot. It’s cold in Nashville, so getting used to it. Little sweat now, it’s so hot. But, I mean, December, that’s going to be the shocker, you know, Christmas. I’m ready to get cold in Christmas, so that’s going to be something different for me in December.”
The Titans traded the former Williamson High School and Auburn standout and a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the Rams for a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“I can’t thank Roger enough for everything he did here for this organization,” Tennessee interim coach Mike McCoy said. “He’s a true pro. Showed up every day, did what we asked him to do, so wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
The trade moves McCreary from a team with a 1-7 record and in last place in the AFC South to one with a 5-2 record and tied for first in the NFC West.
McCreary described himself as “mind-flipped” by the change in circumstances.
“Happy to be here,” McCreary said. “Just to see how these guys play, practice, you can tell why they are, the record they play, how they play. Just from seeing how they act, I respect that. I respect that a lot, and I’m just willing to learn off them, just feed off their energy.”
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McCreary got a good look at the Rams on Sept. 14, when Los Angeles defeated Tennessee 33-19 in Nashville.
“I got that insight when we played against them,” McCreary said, “you know, just from how they play. They play tough. Guys, they were having fun beating us and stuff. So I see it in person now. Still having fun.”
The Rams also got a good look at McCreary in that game, Los Angeles coach Sean McVay said.
“I saw a competitive player on tape,” McVay said. “Played big at the point of attack. Could, would get his face dirty if he was involved in the run fit. They could blitz him internally, externally, so we just saw a good player, so it did have a positive impact based on going against him even though it was in Week 2.
“And then obviously some of the feedback that I got from (assistant head coach and pass-game coordinator) Aubrey (Pleasant) being around him. And I was glad that we were able to get it done.”
Pleasant worked as a defensive coordinator when McCreary returned to his hometown of Mobile to play in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
“I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, he was up here at the Senior Bowl,” McCreary said. “He’s got the same energy, the same personality -- funny, goofy -- so I feel like he made it comfortable right away. It felt like home, that relationship with me and him. I feel like this is just the beginning right here. I feel like I can learn a lot from him, so I’m happy about that.”
McCreary had been playing slot corner for the Titans. His acquisition could allow Quentin Lake to move back to safety, where Kamren Kinchens is dealing with a toe injury.
With cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon on injured reserve with a broken clavicle after starting the first two games of the season, Los Angeles has used Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes and former UAB standout Darious Williams at outside corner, starting five, four and three games, respectively, in 2025. Williams is dealing with a shoulder injury this week.
McCreary played every Tennessee defensive snap in his rookie season primarily at outside corner.
“I like him for his versatility,” McVay said. “Quentin Lake does a great job playing so many different things, but there’s not a whole lot of depth behind him. So Roger comes in, I think what we want to be able to do is we had a like for the football player in terms of his body of work. even going back to when he was coming out of Auburn. He’s, obviously, played the slot exclusively for the Titans this year. He has played a little bit of outside corner, but it was more just the competitor, what he was about. …
“He could play inside or outside, but feel really good about, obviously, what Quentin Lake does and the many hats that he wears for us. But being able to add some depth in that room was the key to be able to get Roger in here.”
McCreary said he could play outside if the Rams needed him to.
“I feel like it’s just me getting back in that mode of knowing how people attack me playing outside versus inside,” McCreary said. “So it’s just lots of memories just coming back to me, getting back comfortable out there. But I know it’s not going to be hard. I just got to get back to it.”
McCreary’s first opportunity to play for Los Angeles will come when the Rams return from their bye week to play the New Orleans Saints at 3:05 p.m. CST Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
McCreary might have the opportunity to change teams again in March. He is playing in the final season of his four-year rookie contract and is on course to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.
“I feel I just got to play and just be the player that I am, and then all the rest is going to take care of itself,” McCreary said of his NFL future. “Leave it in God’s hands, so I’m a firm believer in that and just have faith no matter what.”
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