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In the quiet part of the NFL offseason, the Los Angeles Rams came out of nowhere to make the biggest move of the offseason, acquiring Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns.
The Rams are sending the Browns pass rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick and more draft pick compensation to land the 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. This is the latest move as Los Angeles looks to compete with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers in a difficult NFC West division.
Last season, Los Angeles had a solid defense, but the team plugged a few holes to make it even more dangerous this year. As a result, the Rams enter the 2026 season as perhaps the definitive favorites to win not only the NFC, but the Super Bowl as well.
Here's a look at how Garrett fits in the Rams defense.
MORE: Myles Garrett trade grades
Rams depth chart projection with Myles Garrett
| Position | First team | Second team | Third team | Fourth team |
| DE | Kobie Turner | Larrell Murchison | Jaxson Moi | |
| NT | Poona Ford | Ty Hamilton | Tim Keenan III | Bill Norton |
| DE | Braden Fiske | Tyler Davis | Payton Zdroik | Jalen Logan-Redding |
| OLB | Myles Garrett | Desjuan Johnson | Keir Thomas II | Daryl Peterson III |
| ILB | Nate Landman | Grant Stuard | ||
| ILB | Omar Speights | Shaun Dolac | Elias Neal | Nikhal Hill-Green |
| OLB | Byron Young | Josaiah Stewart | Wesley Bailey | Eddie Walls III |
| CB | Trent McDuffie | Emmanuel Forbes Jr. | Drey Norwood | |
| Slot | Quentin Lake | Josh Wallace | ||
| S | Kamren Kinchens | Jaylen McCollough | Nate Valcarcel | |
| S | Kam Curl | Tanner Ingle | Alex Johnson | Nick Andersen |
| CB | Jay;em Watson | Cam Lampkin | Al'zillion Hamilton | Nyzier Fourqurean |
The Rams had a strong defense in 2025, but they decided to revamp it this offseason anyway.
Myles Garrett replaces Verse on the depth chart, but Los Angeles usually plays more 3-4 while Garrett is used to playing in a 4-3. It's possible defensive coordinator Chris Shula blends the two systems to make sure Garrett is in a more comfortable position.
The Rams started the offseason by adding two new cornerbacks in Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, who both came from a stout Kansas City Chiefs defense. The secondary was the Rams' biggest defense weakness last year, and those players will certainly be a welcome addition.
Garrett, McDuffie and Watson should combine to make Los Angeles' defense arguably the best in the league. While the Rams lose Verse, Garrett is considered the best defensive player in the league and should be an upgrade as a pass rusher.
Why the Rams traded for Myles Garrett
In 2025, Myles Garrett set the all-time single-season sacks record, becoming the first player ever to reach 23 sacks in one season. Garrett has never had a season with less than 10 sacks since entering the league in 2017, and his 125.5 sacks are already in the top 30 for most in NFL history.
With Matthew Stafford near the end of his career, the Rams are looking to maximize this window to win another Super Bowl with Stafford as the starting quarterback. The Rams now have the reigning MVP and reigning Defensive Player of the Year as they look to avenge their loss in the NFC Championship Game.
Garrett is signed on his current contract for the next five seasons, so the Rams don't have to worry about any contract drama in the near-term. After the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, the Rams decided to load up instead of keeping the status quo.
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