After initial plans on defensive backs fall through, the Rams are trying to regroup

The third in a series of occasional stories on the Rams’ depth by position, as the team prepares for the April 28-30 NFL draft. Today, the defensive backs:

There would be no question about status of the Rams’ secondary if the team’s brain trust had executed its proclaimed off-season strategy of re-signing four key free agents.

The team put the near $14-million-per-year franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson and re-signed safety-linebacker Mark Barron to a five-year contract reportedly worth $45 million, but cornerback Janoris Jenkins signed a huge deal with the New York Giants and safety Rodney McLeod joined the Philadelphia Eagles.

So, half of the group that the Rams drafted or signed and developed the last four years will compete against them next season.

“This is the first time since we’ve been here… we’ve had to deal with unrestricted free agency,” said Coach Jeff Fisher, who is preparing for his fifth season with the Rams. “Try and keep them all ... you can’t.”

Fisher said the Rams and Jenkins “were a lot closer than people think” to working out a deal. The Giants reportedly gave Jenkins a five-year, $62-million contract.

“I spoke to him several times during the process and prior to the process,” Fisher said. “I expected that we were going to get things worked out. And then the money did take off. The market was there.”

General Manager Les Snead declined to provide specifics when asked why the team chose to franchise Johnson rather than Jenkins. But Johnson, 26, now appears to be the leader of the secondary. He intercepted seven passes last season.

To help offset the loss of Jenkins, the Rams signed free agent Coty Sensabaugh, 27. He intercepted one pass last season for the Tennessee Titans, returning it for a touchdown.

“Coty is an instinctive, smart, I think, productive player that you can plug in and play either side,” Fisher said.

At last month’s NFL owners meeting Titans Coach Mike Mularkey described Sensabaugh as a “very smart player. … He can cover, he can tackle. He can do a lot for the Rams.”

The Rams’ Trumaine Johnson, right, tries to take down San Francisco’s Bruce Ellington during a game on Jan. 3.

(Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

Sensabaugh will compete with E.J. Gaines, who is coming off a foot injury that sidelined him last season, and Lamarcus Joyner. Marcus Roberson, Eric Patterson and Troy Hill are other cornerbacks on the roster. The Rams also could bolster the position in the draft.

Safety T.J. McDonald, the former USC standout, will return after undergoing shoulder surgery for an injury that sidelined him the final four games last season. Cody Davis, Maurice Alexander, Christian Bryant and Joyner are players that will compete to replace MacLeod.

And the Rams could possibly bring in a veteran.

“There’s still some free agents out there that have the experience,” Fisher said. “And plus … we’re not hesitant to go draft at that position and play them early.”

Snead said defensive coordinator Gregg Williams would find a creative way to blend the unit.

“All of those guys play a role,” Snead said. “That’s how Gregg is.”

Draft prospects

The Rams have four picks among the first 100 in this month’s draft. They have the 15th overall pick, two second-round picks (Nos. 43 and 45) and spots in the third (No. 76), fourth (No. 110th) and sixth (No. 190th) rounds.

The Rams are seeking to upgrade at quarterback and also at receiver, but the loss of Jenkins makes cornerback another priority the team could try to fill early, and should not have to move up from No. 15 to grab one.

In his first mock draft, the Times’ Sam Farmer projected five defensive backs would be selected in the first round, including Florida State safety Jalen Ramsey fifth overall, Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves sixth, Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple 14th, Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller 24th and Ohio State safety Vonn Bell 25th.

Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander and Louisiana State safety Jalen Mills are among other defensive backs in the draft.