Jul 27, 2026; Westchester, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Rams' 2026 Bet: Win Now, Draft Later

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Parrish Jr. | Last updated Sep 8, 2026 7:30 AM ET

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After falling one game shy of the Super Bowl, the Rams went all in to become the favorite. General manager Les Snead spent the offseason building a 2026 roster many consider the league’s best, upgrading a defense to match an offense that already ranked No. 1 in the NFL.

Now the work is done, and it’s Week 1, when the games start counting. Getting here took some bold moves, none bigger than trading Jared Verse and three future draft picks to the Cleveland Browns for Myles Garrett, fresh off a record-breaking, 23-sack season and his second Defensive Player of the Year award.

Going All-In: Garrett, Donald, and a Retooled Secondary

The move wasn’t cheap. The risk is losing Verse, a superstar-trajectory talent just a few seasons into a rookie contract. Still, the Rams are built to win now with 38-year-old Matthew Stafford, whose window may close within a year or two, and Garrett fits that urgency better than Verse would have. The trade made the Rams Super Bowl favorites, though only time will tell if giving up future draft capital for immediate contention was the right call. Adding Aaron Donald tipped the scales further, pairing two Defensive Player of the Year winners on the same disruptive line.

Garrett and Donald weren’t the only priority. Cornerback was another home run, a position that had been the Rams’ Achilles’ heel down the stretch, especially in the NFC Championship Game loss. The additions of former Kansas City Chiefs teammates Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson fixed that. It’s now a strength rather than a liability.

Balancing today’s contender with tomorrow’s quarterback

Jul 29, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass as quarterback Ty Simpson (15) watches during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Not every move was about winning now. Drafting Ty Simpson at No. 13 overall is a bet on the future, the highest pick Snead and head coach Sean McVay have spent on a quarterback, even with Stafford’s own timeline still alive. Critics wanted the pick used elsewhere, given Stafford was coming off an MVP season.

The Verse trade and the Simpson pick reflect a franchise balancing present and future.

“You’re always threading that needle for sustainability, trying to win consistently. But it’s a hard one to thread,” Snead said.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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