Rams keep ruthlessly pillaging a familiar source of success

The Los Angeles Rams have had a news-making offseason. They knew they had to get stronger on defense. So they did just that by trading for All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie, signing his Chiefs teammate Jaylen Watson, and landing premier defensive end Myles Garrett.

That slew of moves is no coincidence. As soon as the 2025 season ended, Rams brass held a meeting. The subject under discussion: how to upgrade an inexpensive defense with proven stars. The decision: attempt to transplant the cream of the AFC crop to the Los Angeles subdivision of the NFC West.

Stealing McDuffie away from Kansas City was surprisingly clever. The team parlayed a late first-round draft pick, plus other draft assets, into one of the NFL's top cornerbacks. While some still call it an overpay, they never mention that the move also helped lure in McDuffie's teammate, preserving their elite chemistry in the secondary.

Now the Rams have galvanized the entire roster and fanbase by adding the former face of the Cleveland Browns' franchise in Garrett, the best defender not just in the AFC but in the entire NFL.

Poona Ford gave Rams a template they immediately followed

It's not the first time general manager Les Snead has had success swiping top talent across conference lines. In fact, he did so quite recently by pilfering a stout Chargers run-stuffer named Poona Ford. Ford arrived to stiffen up LA's porous run defense, and that's what he did. Among 134 qualified interior defenders last season, Pro Football Focus ranked Ford fourth with an overall grade of 86.2.

His contributions altered the entire unit. In 2024, the Horns surrendered 130 rushing yards per game on 4.6 yards per carry. In 2025, Ford helped decrease those figures to 110.8 rushing yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry. And that despite facing an army of formidable running backs, including Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Kenneth Walker III.

After that success, why not wash, rinse, and repeat in 2026?

Los Angeles just poached the league's No. 1 pass rusher from AFC coffers. The Browns totaled 53 sacks last season, and Garrett recorded 23 of them.

In the same breath, the Rams pulled two of the AFC's most coveted corners from the stingy Kansas City Chiefs, whose defense allowed only 18 passing touchdowns and 195.6 passing yards per game.

If the new additions can replicate their performance in Los Angeles, the Rams' defense could outperform even that of the esteemed Seattle Seahawks.

Of course, there's more to it than simply adding up names and stats like it's fantasy football. The Blue and Yellow must assemble the new pieces to optimize everyone's contribution. Leave it to defensive coordinator Chris Shula to take his supercharged defense over the top, courtesy of the generous AFC.

As always, thanks for reading.

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