Before Myles Garrett, Rams Also Pursued Maxx Crosby

“Garrett wasn’t the only superstar edge the Rams strongly considered acquiring in the spring,” The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero said. “They also called and kept tabs on Maxx Crosby, who ended up back in Las Vegas after a blockbuster deal with the Ravens came apart in March over concerns about the knee Crosby had repaired in January.”

That knee concern worked in the Rams’ favor. Rather than risk a player still recovering from meniscus surgery, Los Angeles pivoted to a bigger, cleaner addition in Garrett.

Getting him wasn’t easy. It took real persistence for general manager Les Snead to crack the Cleveland Browns’ resistance to trading the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, fresh off a 23-sack season that broke the NFL’s single-season record. Offering Jared Verse and three draft picks finally got it done.

A Defense Upgraded at Every Level

With Garrett now in the fold, the Rams’ defensive line looks like one of the best in NFL history , Garrett alongside a returning Aaron Donald, plus Byron Young, Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner. That pressure up front should ease the load on the secondary, which Snead upgraded too, adding cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to turn that group into a strength.

This report lands one day before the Rams open their season against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, fitting since Los Angeles enters the year with no roster holes and is the favorite to win the Super Bowl.

As for Crosby, his story isn’t over. The rebuilding Las Vegas Raiders could still deal him to a contender before this deadline if he proves fully healthy, still one of the best pass rushers in the league.

Either way, it’s another reminder of how aggressive the Rams front office is when it comes to chasing superstars.