Myles Garrett trade instantly makes Rams clear Super Bowl favorites

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Myles Garrett trade instantly makes Rams clear Super Bowl favorites

Douglas Fritz, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, Jun 1, 2026 ·

4 min read

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The Los Angeles Rams didn't do anything out of their own ordinary when they sent a bunch of draft picks to the Browns for star edge rusher Myles Garrett . And it's a trade that instantly made the Rams the clear Super Bowl favorites.

To be fair, there were some NFL observers already picking the Rams to win the Super Bowl. However, there was plenty of ammunition available for those who thought other teams had a better shot.

The blockbuster deal saw the Rams send Jared Verse , a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 2nd and a 2029 3rd for the reigning NFL defensive player of the year, according to a post on X by Adam Schefter.

Why does this deal put the Rams over the top?

Let's not diminish what the Rams gave up in Verse. He earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first two NFL seasons after getting selected in the first round of the 2024 draft. In those years, he totaled 12 sacks and 45 quarterback hits. Also, he added 124 tackles, three passes defended, and forced five fumbles.

However, Garrett turns the Rams' defense into a juggernaut. They now have the No. 2 edge rusher in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. He teams up with Bryon Young, who had 12 sacks and ranked No. 10 as an edge rusher and fellow Pro Bowl selection.

Also, defensive interior standouts Poona Ford (No. 4) and Kobie Turner (No. 6) provide plenty of stability.

The interior linebacker group isn't of the same quality, but Nate Landman and Omar Speights are adequate.

And the secondary is reloaded. The Rams had rebuilt things with Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie at the cornerback positions. They ranked No. 13 and No. 18, respectively. This is a defense good enough to be in the top 10 in the NFL. And that's the starting point for a Super Bowl run.

The Rams needed better defensive play last year in their Super Bowl quest, according to The Athletic.

"When the Rams looked back on last season's run to the NFC Championship Game, what they found missing was star play on defense," Nate Atkins wrote. "Remember, this was a franchise that won a Super Bowl in 2021 with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey making star plays at premium positions. And such impact was noticeably missing in three playoff games last season, when pass rushers Verse, Byron Young , and Kobie Turner combined for just one sack."

But this trade isn't all about defense.

Getting Myles Garrett helps the offense, too

Rams head coach Sean McVay won't feel as much pressure to gamble on fourth down. Last year, there were times when it felt like the Rams simply had to score when they had the football.

For example, trailing 31-27 to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship game, the Rams went for a touchdown on fourth and four from the Seahawks' 6-yard line. It made sense because of the defensive liabilities. And the Rams didn't get the ball back until 25 seconds were left in the game.

With a player like Garrett on the other side, the Rams don't have to assume they can't stop the opponent.

And check out that Rams' offense. Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP season at quarterback. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum provide an impressive one-two punch out of the backfield.

And the receiver group is one of the league's best on the top end with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams . There are question marks after those guys, but they are such big target eaters that the other receivers don't need to produce as much as they might on other teams.

Plus, Colby Parkinson is an emerging threat at tight end.

The only question mark the Rams left on the table comes from the draft. They could have solidified the offense by selecting wide receiver Makai Lemon or tight end Kenyon Sadiq.

For a team that clearly sees 2026 as an all-in season, the selection of Ty Simpson will be a narrative that follows them throughout the year.

Of course, the Rams might not be done yet. They may still have another trade left in the arsenal to add another offensive piece along the way.

But even though no team has ever won a Super Bowl in June, the Rams absolutely took a big step in that direction with the trade for Garrett. And it probably took a lot of air out of the sails of two of their division rivals. The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks will now take a clear back seat to the Rams. And the hopeful 49ers have a mountain of work to do to get on the same level as the Rams.

Still, it will come down to health. If the Rams stay relatively healthy, they will be extremely tough to beat.

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