Trade for Myles Garrett would put Rams’ excellent young defense over the top

It’s hard not to be excited about the future of Los Angeles Rams‘Defense after seeing the way it appeared in the late 2024 season. Jared Verse, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske gave Rams one of the best pass-rush groups in football at the end of the year as the team registered 16 total sacks in two playoffs.

As promising as this device is, Rams has 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 season.

Garrett requested a trade from Cleveland Browns Monday and tried to join a team ready to win a Super Bowl. Rams is only three years removed from winning Lombardi, and after reaching the divisional round this last season, they are positioned to fight again in 2025 – as long as Matthew Stafford returns.

The cost of acquiring a player of Garrett’s caliber would of course be high, probably similar to Khalil Mack picked up when Raiders traded him to the bears in 2018.

Raiders Recipient:

• 2019 selection of first round

• 2020 First Round Pick

• 2020 Third Round Election

• 2019 sixth round choices

Bears receive:

The starting point for Garrett would probably be two choices of the first round, even considering that Garrett has only two years left on his contract. He is a generational talent and a multi -year defensive player of this year’s candidate, similar to how Aaron Donald was with Rams.

With his size and athletics, he can play anywhere on the defensive front, giving his defensive coordinator endless possibilities. He can get up and hurry out of the edge at first down, put his hand in dirt in second place and move to defensive tackle on the third down into an overtly passing situation.

Rams appear set along the defensive line of verses, Young, Fishing and Turner, but it should not prevent them from at least asking about Garrett. If something, they should include young people in a package to land Garrett. As impressive as Young has been, Garrett is at a completely different level as an all -round defender.

Garrett’s current contract would also not be impossible for rams to absorb. According to SpotracThe acquiring team will take on $ 19.8 million in 2025 and $ 25 million in 2026, which are Cap hits, both of which would fit under the cap for Rams. Of course, Garrett will have a new contract from the team that acquires him, so Rams would probably need to make him the highest paid defender in the NFL, but they did it before with Donald and they would 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 Rams can bring Stafford back, their Super Bowl window will be open for maybe one or two years. Going all-in with a move like this for Garrett would maximize their title chances, while # 9 is still under the center.

It is at least worth exploring for Les Snead and Sean McVay.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Trade for Myles Garrett would put Rams’ excellent young defense over the top