MJD grades Rams' move to get DE Myles Garrett for LB Jared Verse, 2027 first round pick and additional draft picks
NFL Network's Maurice Jones-Drew breaks down his understanding and assessment of the Los Angeles Rams intending to trade for defensive end Myles Garrett and the implications of this transaction moving forward.
Video Transcript
I just can already tell that the Cind- the Cinderella story for this year is that the last time that the Super Bowl was played at SoFi Stadium, the Rams were in it, and they really are going all in again to be there in seven months playing again.
Now we are welcoming in Maurice Jones-Drew, who is with the Rams all the time.
MJD, what are your thoughts on this trade, and what are, what do you think they're saying internally?
Well, first of all, Taylor, I think the Rams don't care about anyone's personal business.
As I'm working out right now, trying to get a good sweat in, keep up with my guy Ian and Mike Garafolo, Rams are like, "Forget your workout, Maurice.
We wanna make a massive trade, and we wanna go ahead and solidify this defense."
That the Rams thought they had a championship, team last year, and obviously going to Seattle, doesn't pan out.
They address the secondary, but they felt that they needed a little bit more.
And, when you can get a guy like Myles Garrett, you don't hesitate, at all.
You go out and you do what you have to do.
Jared Verse was an awesome player for the Rams for a long, for the last couple years.
He was a leader in that Rams locker room, especially on that defense, the way he played.
and it sucks to see him go, to be honest with you.
but when you get a MVP-type player, a defensive MVP, a guy that can wreck a game, it seems like the Rams are going all in.
Like, and like Ian just said, F them picks, man.
We're, we're, we're here to try to find a way to, to, win a championship.
And, and as you saw last year, defense does that.
MJD, how long First of all, thank you for joining us from your workout.
That was very selfless and gracious of you.
but how long- Great job, Mo.
How long do you think that the Rams have really been thinking that this is a possibility of happening, in talking about Myles joining this team?
Well, well there's, there have been, multiple names thrown out with the Rams.
A.J.
Brown was one of them early in the off-season.
So the Rams are always looking to get better, right?
They're always looking to see how they can get better in this league.
If you stay the same, you're actually losing.
And so, I know there's a lot of people that were upset about the draft, and, "Oh, they took a quarterback, and they needed this, and they needed that."
Well, the Rams felt like they wanted to, to brace themselves for the future, obviously with Matthew Stafford as he's getting older, but also had the opportunity to go out and get a, a big-time playmaker.
When I got the text this morning, I thought it was gonna be A.J.
Brown, I'm not gonna lie to you.
I, immediately texted my group chat and was like, "Hey, listen, Rams big news.
Possible A.J.
Brown."
but this is bigger than that.
This is, this is, this is, colossal.
I, I don't know any other word to use besides that, to find a way to get Myles Garrett, a guy that literally can play all across the line of scrimmage, can wreck the game, can win games.
Won games for the Cleveland Browns.
and so when you have a explosive offense like the Rams have had, to add that piece to this defensive line is gonna be amazing.
And then also, he's a teacher and he's selfless, and that's what's the most important thing, I think that's gonna go on.
Yeah.
Oh my God, seriously?
Yeah, we're out here, we're out here working.
We're out here working.
Just like the Rams, to get better, Ian.
That's what we're doing today.
Is there anyone else that you're working out with who'd like to weigh in on this trade?
Because what you should do is just bring your phone over to them and ask what they think.
Like, any other really good defensive players or Who, who are you working out with?
well I'm working out solo, but you know, I think a lot of I had to go outside the gym, 'cause there's a lot of people in there.
It's rude, it's gym etiquette.
But, I, listen, I don't know what the Rams I'm, I'm, I've been in the building, I've talked to a lot of people.
They've always, like I said, they've always, they're always looking to get better.
That's the most important thing.
I think, again, to go out and find a way to get, Myles Garrett, which I didn't think was available because of his no trade clause, I know Judy spoke eloquently about that earlier, to see what other teams.
Judy, it doesn't matter what other teams, 'cause he's with we have a possible opportunity for him to be with the Rams, which would be awesome.
but again, to go out and get a player like that, that magnitude at this time in the season is gonna be huge.
And I, I mean, it just turns the NFC West into an arms race again.
I mean, Mike Evans is with the Niners.
We saw what the Seahawks have done.
it just, it's just gonna be a, a very tough division, and I'm super excited to call games for them and, and be able to say Myles Garrett, not sacking Matthew Stafford, or not sacking, whoever the quarterback is, but saying that he's there on this Rams defense and, getting after some guys.
Yeah.
MJD, you know what's really interesting is, is obviously Myles Garrett got the NFL sack record last year, was an unbelievable force.
Maybe the best season ever, probably the best season ever by a pass rusher.
But like, it's not like the Browns had to lead that much.
Imagine what Myles Garrett is going to be like with the Los Angeles Rams, who are really good, who have the returning MVP Matthew Stafford, who are probably gonna have some leads, and Myles Garrett probably gonna be facing quarterbacks that need to throw.
I don't know what his actual total is gonna be, because you know teams are gonna be game planning for him like crazy, but oh my God, this guy's gonna have a lot of opportunities to sack the quarterback, don't you think?
You know, Ian, I, I, I think not only does he have a lot of opportunities to sack the quarterback, he, there's a lot of opportunities for everyone else on that defensive line.
You talk about Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, opportunities to go there.
Josiah Stewart, who came on big last year in a reserve role, to get after the quarterback.
And then you have his ability to teach those guys, right on the front line on what he sees and how he does things.
You, you go from Aaron Donald to Myles Garrett, right?
And that, that's something that's special that needs to be talked about as well.
But then the thing about the guys on the back end, if I know that you have literally three seconds to get the ball off, and I can find a way, like, if you don't get it off you're gonna get sacked, now I can sit on some routes, I can do some different things.
I'm excited to kind of see what this defense is gonna look like.
they had to, last year you had to do some exotic blizzes to try to get some pressure on the quarterback.
Expect this year to see a lot of simple coverages, some man to man, maybe a little bit of zone.
But, you know, with Myles Garrett, he can play, Myles Garrett can play all across the line.
He can play over the center, over the guard, on the outside.
It just really makes it more a versatile defense.
And so I, again, this is something, again, like I said, I don't Ian, tell me if I'm wrong.
Is this something, that's open right now?
Or did, did it happen?
Or is it, is this a, this is gonna happen?
this is expected to happen.
Nothing can happen until after 4:00 today.
The two teams are kind of working through some of the final compensation, but all indications are this is expected to happen, and Myles Garrett will be a member of the Los Angeles Rams.
Yeah, last thing from me, go Rams.
Thanks, MJD.
Appreciate it.
I have one question for you, MJD, 'cause you obviously know the mindset of great players and great competitors.
Nobody ever questioned Myles Garrett's motor before, but when he's put into this position now, playing for a contending team really for the first time in his career, does he come with even more juice now?
Well, I, I think, Judy, I, I think it, it's gonna open up a ton, right?
He's gonna be in a, a new area.
He has to reinvent himself.
I know this sounds crazy, but any time you go from one team to another, you wanna go out and be the best version of yourself, right?
It's kind of like a breath of fresh air in a way.
and so he's gonna come out and play well and, and kind of get thrown into what the Rams want him to do.
I'm sure they're not gonna hesitate to give him everything in the playbook and see what he can and can't do, which probably isn't much.
but yeah, I, I'm sure that there's gonna be a competitive spirit.
These practices are gonna be competitive.
It makes training camp and mini camp and, and, some of these, you know, practices are gonna be super, super high-level competitive.
So, that, that's what you're looking for, right?
You want to, iron sharpens iron.
You hear that a lot, from coaches.
But I think with Myles Garrett being there, that's gonna help this offensive line out, that's gonna help this run game out, the passing game, the protections.
And maybe Sean's gonna have to do what he did with Aaron Donald, which I don't know if many know.
You know, there were some times the offense didn't look so good with Aaron Donald, so you had to sit Aaron Donald out.
Like, "Hey, man, you're, you're on time out for a little bit so we can get the ball off."
Maybe that happens again here with Myles Garrett.
Well, MJD, thank you so much for joining us from your workout.
