Los Angeles announced on June 1 that the Rams completed a blockbuster trade for Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, instantly reshaping the NFL Defensive Rankings landscape. This move isn’t just a roster addition; it is a seismic shift in the power balance of the NFC. The move follows a flurry of offseason activity, including the addition of OLB Jonathan Greenard and the signing of CB Riq Woolen, positioning the Rams among the league’s elite defenses. By securing a generational talent in his prime, General Manager Les Snead has once again leaned into his “all-in” philosophy, prioritizing immediate championship windows over long-term asset accumulation.
Garrett, arriving from Cleveland, brings a proven pass‑rushing arsenal that should complement the Rams’ existing scheme and help them chase a Super Bowl berth. Since entering the league, Garrett has been a perennial All-Pro, known for a rare combination of size, speed, and a violent first step that forces offensive coordinators to double-team him on nearly every snap. With the trade, the Rams surrender a 2027 first‑round pick, a 2028 second‑rounder and a 2029 third‑rounder, plus edge rusher Jared Verse, according to FOX Sports. The transaction marks the most aggressive defensive overhaul in the NFC West this offseason, putting immense pressure on the 49ers and Seahawks to respond to a Los Angeles front that now possesses arguably the most feared edge-rushing tandem in professional football.
Los Angeles Rams: A Defensive Renaissance in the Making
The Los Angeles Rams have oscillated between top‑ten and mid‑tier spots over the past few seasons, but the addition of Garrett signals a clear intent to climb the NFL Defensive Rankings. Historically, the Rams’ success has been tied to their ability to disrupt the quarterback, reminiscent of the Aaron Donald era where a singular, dominant interior force dictated the geometry of the field. Last season the team finished 12th in total defense and 14th in points allowed, prompting front‑office brass to pursue high‑impact talent to fill the void left by the transition away from their previous defensive identity. The Rams’ aggressive free‑agency moves, highlighted by the acquisition of cornerback Trent McDuffie earlier this year, laid groundwork for this upgrade, creating a secondary capable of holding for longer durations to allow the pass rush to get home.
The numbers reveal a defense that allowed 22.3 points per game in 2025, a figure the front office hopes to shave below 20 with the new pass rush. In the modern NFL, where explosive plays often decide games, the ability to generate pressure without blitzing is the gold standard. By adding Garrett, the Rams are moving toward a “pressure-cooker” philosophy, where the front four can dictate the pace of the game. This strategy reduces the reliance on high-risk blitz packages, allowing the defensive coordinator to drop more players into coverage and disguise looks, effectively neutralizing the league’s most prolific passing attacks.
Myles Garrett: Impact Beyond the Sack Column
Myles Garrett’s career sack total of 115 places him among the most productive edge rushers of the past decade, and his presence is expected to boost the Rams’ sack rate by at least 0.3 per game, according to advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus. However, Garrett’s value extends far beyond the stat sheet. His ability to collapse the pocket from the edge forces quarterbacks to flush into the interior, where the Rams’ defensive tackles can capitalize. This synergy creates a compounding effect: when the edge is secure, the interior becomes more productive, and vice versa.
Supporting Garrett is a reinforced supporting cast. Greenard contributed 9.5 sacks last season, providing a reliable complementary rush that prevents opposing teams from simply sliding their protection toward Garrett. Meanwhile, Woolen’s coverage grades rank in the top 25 for rookie corners, providing the necessary lockdown capability on the perimeter. Together, these pieces should improve the Rams’ pass‑rush win rate—the percentage of snaps where a defender beats their blocker—and tighten the secondary. When a team possesses both a top-five edge rusher and a top-tier secondary, they typically ascend into the top five of the NFL Defensive Rankings, as the synergy between the rush and the coverage creates a suffocating environment for opposing offenses.
Key Developments
- The Rams gave up a 2027 first‑round draft pick, a 2028 second‑rounder and a 2029 third‑rounder as part of the Garrett deal, a price reflecting the rarity of a Defensive Player of the Year in his prime.
- Edge rusher Jared Verse was included in the trade package sent to Cleveland, giving the Browns a high-upside young talent to rebuild their own defensive line.
- Additional offseason moves added OLB Jonathan Greenard, CB Riq Woolen and OLB Arnold Ebiketie to the roster, ensuring that the defense has depth and versatility across multiple positions.
- The Broncos, who led the league in pass rush last season, recorded 48 sacks, the most since 2015, and ranked No. 2 in total defense, serving as the blueprint the Rams are attempting to emulate by prioritizing a dominant front four.
- The Rams lost former defensive end Jaelan Phillips to free agency, a departure mitigated by the Garrett acquisition, effectively upgrading a very good player for an elite, Hall-of-Fame trajectory talent.
Strategic Analysis: The 4-3 Front and Two-Gap Responsibility
As training camp opens, the Rams will integrate Garrett into a 4‑3 front that emphasizes two‑gap responsibility, a scheme that should maximize his ability to disrupt quarterback timing. In a two-gap system, defensive linemen are tasked with controlling the gaps on either side of the offensive lineman, which requires immense strength and lateral agility. Garrett’s physical profile—standing 6’4
