The Los Angeles Rams were reportedly checking out trade options for both Maxx Crosby and A.J. Brown this past spring, but holding off on those deals allowed them to pull off one of the biggest moves of the summer: landing Myles Garrett. And get this, bringing Garrett in was the key that unlocked Aaron Donald coming out of retirement. Talk about a domino effect, right? What if those initial trade whispers had actually turned into reality? The whole trajectory of their defense could be completely different right now.
The Knee That Could Have Cost Everything
Let’s dive into that Maxx Crosby situation. Rams brass were strongly considering a move for him in the spring. But let’s be real, would Donald have even bothered lacing up his cleats again for Crosby? Probably not. You hear the whispers, right? Even the Las Vegas Raiders, who eventually traded Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks, including the 14th overall in 2026, weren’t totally sold. The Ravens actually nixed that deal after Crosby’s physical. While Crosby has apparently made it through training camp without any major health scares and seems ready for Week 1, the team was super cautious with him, holding him out of every preseason game. Interestingly enough, Myles Garrett’s knee has been a much bigger story in camp than Crosby’s, but that’s just how things are right now, and it could change on a dime.
Cap Headaches and Missed Targets
Then there’s the A.J. Brown saga, a story we’ve heard pieces of for a long time. Even if the Rams *had* gone for Brown, reports say they still would have pursued Trent McDuffie and eventually Myles Garrett. But where in the world would the money for Brown even come from? L.A. is already slammed up against that 2026 salary cap, and Brown is currently rocking a $7 million cap hit with the New England Patriots, a deal that cost New England a 2028 first-round pick. Sure, reports had the Rams giving up Davante Adams to offset some of that money, but let’s be serious, no team is trading A.J. Brown for Adams straight-up. A first-round pick likely still would have been involved, adding to the cost.
So instead of Matthew Stafford potentially throwing to Puka Nacua and A.J. Brown, with a defensive line featuring Crosby but no Aaron Donald or Myles Garrett, the Rams have something else entirely. They’ve got their 2028 first-round pick, which they could still use to entice a team to trade them a wide receiver before the deadline if they really want to. The Rams have to be feeling pretty darn good about their defense with Garrett and Donald leading the charge, alongside Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, though Watson just popped up on the injury report. It’s wild to think about what Maxx Crosby could have been for them, but fans might not have even known the true future cost. Sometimes, the best moves are the ones you don’t make.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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