Los Angeles added Myles Garrett to a defense already stocked through aggressive moves, paying with rare future draft capital as the team heads toward another Super Bowl push at SoFi Stadium.
For the Los Angeles Rams, it’s the kind of decision that makes the offseason feel like a shortcut to the next parade.
The franchise—already riding the momentum of playing host to Super Bowl 56—has returned to the same playbook by going all in again. After winning Super Bowl 56 at home inside SoFi Stadium. the Rams now find themselves preparing for Super Bowl 61 at the same venue. with Myles Garrett heading to the team in a blockbuster deal.
The Rams last time they reached this moment. they helped bring quarterback Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles in a blockbuster offseason trade. then turned that win-accelerating strategy into a championship. This year’s shopping spree has mirrored the urgency. In March, Los Angeles acquired cornerback Trent McDuffie. Then. on Monday. June 1. the Rams agreed to terms to obtain defensive end Myles Garrett—months before Super Bowl 61 returns to SoFi Stadium.
The price, as it always seems to be with the Rams when they choose urgency over caution, was heavy. The trade for Garrett included a first-round pick for McDuffie. plus Jared Verse. a 2027 first-round pick. a 2028 second-rounder. and a 2029 third-round selection. In exchange. Los Angeles received the two-time defensive player of the year recipient—and the player who owns the NFL’s single-season sack record.
Rams general manager Les Snead put the philosophy into plain. memorable language on a T-shirt: “(expletive) them picks.” The Garrett move. paired with the team’s earlier decision to spend a rare first-round pick on QB Ty Simpson. lands in the same place: using draft capital now to reshape what the franchise can do immediately.
Los Angeles has only had two first-round picks since 2017 due to trades. including two separate deals that awarded the team quarterback Matthew Stafford and cornerback Jalen Ramsey—both of whom helped deliver Super Bowl 56. The Rams’ current offseason approach follows the same belief: if the goal is to win at the highest level. the franchise is willing to spend futures to build a roster capable of getting there.
A year ago, the signal was clear that the team needed to fix its defense fast. Los Angeles identified defense as its Achilles heel after its unit surrendered 321 passing yards and three passing touchdowns during its NFC championship game loss to the eventual Super Bowl 60 champion. the Seattle Seahawks. This spring and summer has been the response: upgrade cornerback talent with McDuffie. then add Garrett. who has registered 125.5 career sacks.
Then there’s the other side of the equation. The Rams have combined that defense-forward reshaping with an offense loaded with marquee targets. Stafford—reigning MVP—recently signed an extension. Los Angeles also features the NFL’s defending receiving touchdown leader. Davante Adams. and last season’s receptions champ. Puka Nacua.
A simple relationship ties the moves together: Los Angeles paid for defensive impact with Garrett and McDuffie, then paired it with offensive weapons that can take over games once the pressure starts.
The market agrees the Rams are pointed toward the biggest stage. BetMGM lists them as the currently Super Bowl 61 favorite. That doesn’t mean wins happen in June—season football is still a long road—but the roster construction is designed for a postseason that peaks at home.
Head coach Sean McVay captured the team’s mindset in remarks this offseason. saying. “I sure hope this season ends the same way that one did. you know?. I mean. hey. it is something that we’re always going to be smart and aggressive to try to be competitive for the short and long. That’ll be consistent as long as Les (Snead) and I are able to lead the way.”.
With Snead and McVay steering the same strategy again, the Rams aren’t treating this like a rebuild. They’re treating it like another sprint—one aimed at returning to SoFi Stadium and ending the season the way it began, with the final weekend in their hands.
Los Angeles Rams Myles Garrett trade Myles Garrett Trent McDuffie Jared Verse Ty Simpson Les Snead Sean McVay SoFi Stadium Super Bowl 61 BetMGM NFL offseason trade rumors