The NFL is officially on notice, and according to Rams safety Quentin Lake, “all these other teams probably hate us.” That’s the vibe coming out of Los Angeles right now, where the Rams are embracing the “new Dodgers” label after a wild offseason that shook the entire league.
The Super Team Assemble
Lake isn’t wrong about that “hate us” feeling. The comparison to the Dodgers, who just bagged back-to-back World Series titles, tells you everything about the sky-high hype around this Rams team. Why the buzz? The Rams pulled off the biggest trade of the offseason, landing reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett. But wait, it gets crazier. Just when you thought they were done, Aaron Donald, after two years in retirement, decided to strap on the pads again days later. Talk about a one-two punch nobody saw coming!
The cost for this defensive juggernaut was no joke. To get Garrett, they shipped their 2024 first-round pick and Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse to Cleveland, plus a bevy of other draft picks, including their 2027 first-rounder. But for a game-wrecker like Garrett, who shattered the single-season sack record last year, it’s a price they clearly thought was worth every penny. He signed a monster four-year, $160 million deal, with $123.6 million guaranteed. And the injury news is looking good too. Even after a recent knee issue in camp, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported he’s “ramping up slowly, but surely,” hitting weights and getting on the practice field. Coach Sean McVay even confirmed Garrett will practice this Sunday. That’s a terrifying prospect for any offense. You know it’s serious when one NFL General Manager told insider Jordan Schultz that Donald signing with Los Angeles “is so f*****.” That right there? That’s pure, unadulterated fear.
The Math Changes
Last season, the Rams defense was good, but not *this* good. They finished seventh in sacks and were fourth in pressure rate. Solid numbers, no doubt, but their pass defense was only 19th in the league. Now, adding Garrett, a bona fide sack machine, to that front, and pairing him with Donald anchoring the middle? Forget about it. The math changes completely. They’re going to be an absolute nightmare to block, bringing pressure from every single angle. Quarterbacks are going to be living in fear every Sunday.
Of course, assembling a super team isn’t cheap. Over The Cap projects the Rams will be $1.3 million over the cap once their top-51 salaries are tallied on September 9. But for what they’ve assembled? That’s a tiny price for what could be a truly historic defensive unit. The “hate” from every other team in the league? That’s just part of the deal now. The Rams are not shying away; they’re wearing it like a badge of honor, ready to prove everyone right about being the team to beat.
This isn’t just big names; this is a seismic shift in the league. When the season kicks off, every snap against this Rams D-line is going to be an absolute battle. Get ready for some serious chaos, because this defense looks absolutely stacked and ready to roll right from Week 1.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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