It’s hard not to be excited about the future of the Los Angeles Rams’ defense after seeing the way it performed toward the end of the 2024 season. Jared Verse, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske gave the Rams one of the best pass-rush groups in football by the end of the year, as the team recorded 16 total sacks in two playoff games.
As promising as that unit is, the Rams have a chance to put it completely over the top as the top defensive line in football. How? By acquiring six-time Pro Bowler Myles Garrett this offseason.
Garrett requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns on Monday, seeking to join a team that’s ready to win a Super Bowl. The Rams are just three years removed from winning the Lombardi and after reaching the divisional round this past season, they’re positioned to contend again in 2025 – so long as Matthew Stafford returns.
Breaking: Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and #Browns star Myles Garrett has requested a trade.
Exclusive statement: pic.twitter.com/LgS5YCeCnP
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 3, 2025
The cost to acquire a player of Garrett’s caliber would obviously be high, likely similar to what Khalil Mack fetched when the Raiders traded him to the Bears in 2018.
Raiders receive:
- 2019 first-round pick
- 2020 first-round pick
- 2020 third-round pick
- 2019 sixth-round pick
Bears receive:
- Khalil Mack
- 2020 second-round pick
- 2020 conditional fifth-round pick
The starting point for Garrett would probably be two first-round picks, even considering Garrett only has two years left on his contract. He’s a generational talent and a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, similar to how Aaron Donald was with the Rams.
With his size and athleticism, he can play anywhere on the defensive front, which gives his defensive coordinator endless options. He can stand up and rush off the edge on first down, put his hand in the dirt on second down and move into defensive tackle on third down in an obvious passing situation.
The Rams appear set along the defensive line with Verse, Young, Fiske and Turner but that shouldn’t prevent them from at least inquiring about Garrett. If anything, they should include Young in a package to land Garrett. As impressive as Young has been, Garrett is in a completely different tier as an all-around defender.
Garrett’s current contract wouldn’t be impossible for the Rams to absorb, either. According to Spotrac, the acquiring team will take on $19.8 million in 2025 and $25 million in 2026, which are cap hits that would both fit under the cap for the Rams. Of course, Garrett will want a new contract from whichever team acquires him, so the Rams would probably need to make him the highest-paid defender in the NFL, but they did that before with Donald and they’d do it again with Garrett.
Plus, they currently have the cheapest defense of any team, so they have money to spend on that side of the ball.
If the Rams can bring back Stafford, their Super Bowl window will be open for maybe one or two more years. Going all-in with a move like this one for Garrett would maximize their title chances while No. 9 is still under center.
It’s at least worth exploring for Les Snead and Sean McVay.
