Myles Garrett’s impact key as Rams retool defense around star pass rusher

Myles Garrett is the centerpiece of the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive overhaul entering 2026 after the team swapped him for Jared Verse in a blockbuster trade.

What the trade means for the Rams

The Rams sent multiple first-round picks and rising edge rusher Jared Verse to Cleveland in exchange for Garrett, a move ESPN’s Ben Solak calls a direct response to the defense’s playoff struggles. Garrett’s arrival gives the Rams a proven pass rusher with a career pressure-to-sack conversion rate of 19.3%, more than double Verse’s 8.4% over the past two seasons.

How Chris Shula will deploy Garrett

Solak expects defensive coordinator Chris Shula to lean on straightforward four-man rushes to maximize Garrett’s one-on-one matchups. The plan: overload the line away from Garrett, isolating him in favorable situations while still mixing in stunt packages to free up interior rushers Byron Young and Kobie Turner.

Why Garrett’s arrival changes everything

Garrett’s presence forces extra attention from offensive lines, opening lanes for teammates. The secondary overhaul-adding Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson-further bolsters the unit, giving the Rams the cover talent to play more man coverage, a weakness exploited by Carolina in last year’s playoffs.

What comes next for the Rams

Shula and Garrett will build chemistry throughout the season, with Week 1 schemes likely evolving by Week 18. The broader expectation: a proven defensive mind paired with one of the league’s best pass rushers should spark a strong season for both Garrett and the Rams’ defense as a whole.