Myles Garrett was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, but an NFL coach thinks the team's additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson will have a bigger impact on their defense.
What happened?
The coach made these comments to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, stating the trade for Garrett "isn't as big" as the McDuffie trade and Watson signing.
The Rams had a respectable pass defense last season, finishing 12th in fewest yards per pass attempt allowed with 5.8 YPA.
Why it matters for Myles Garrett
Garrett, the reigning Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year, had an NFL-record 23.0 sacks last season and is a seven-time Pro Bowler.
He has amassed 125.5 sacks and 239 quarterback hits in his career, making him a significant addition to the Rams' pass-rushing unit.
The Rams tied for seventh in the league with 47 sacks last year, with 7.5 of those coming from Jared Verse, who is now a Brown after being sent to L.A. in the Garrett trade.
What comes next?
McDuffie and Watson are stepping in as the team's starting cornerbacks, with McDuffie being a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and second-team All-Pro in 2024.
Watson became a full-time starter in 2025 and impressed with 64 tackles and six pass breakups, finishing 17th among all cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus grades.
The Rams are going all-in on a Super Bowl this year, with the Big Game being held in their home stadium, SoFi Stadium.
And the team is clearly capable of a deep championship run, given that they're returning much of their core and making key additions.
But the coach's comments suggest that the Rams' defense will be more impacted by the additions of McDuffie and Watson than by Garrett's presence.
So the Rams will look to balance their pass-rushing unit with their new cornerbacks and make a push for the Super Bowl.
The team's pass-rush is already sound, and with Garrett on board, it could be elite this year.
Garrett's addition will help the Rams' already solid pass-rushing unit, which could be a key factor in their championship run.