There’s a lot of excitement about the Los Angeles Rams’ revamped defense, which added Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and now Myles Garrett this offseason. The pass rush was already one of the best in football, and now with more talent in the secondary, the improvements should be substantial.
Just how much will the Rams improve after ranking 17th in yards allowed last season, though?
USA TODAY’s Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz ranked every NFL defense heading into the 2026 season now that the Rams have Garrett, and Los Angeles is still outside the top 3 – just barely.
Middlehurst-Schwartz ranked the Rams defense No. 4 in the league, behind the Seahawks, Texans and Broncos. That’s perfectly understandable after seeing how dominant all three of those defenses were in 2025.
The league’s best? Not yet. It’s understandable that some might be prepared to crown what might already be the league’s most robust set of defensive starters after the arrivals of Garrett, McDuffie and Watson. But Los Angeles hasn’t exhibited the same resiliency as the other top-notch outfits, especially as it comes off last season’s late collapse against the pass. Still, it might not be long before it becomes fully clear what the Rams are about to unleash on the rest of the NFL. Garrett gives defensive coordinator Chris Shula a figure who will prompt offenses to collapse into themselves in anticipation of his game-wrecking capabilities, as well as someone who substantially alleviates the ask on the secondary. If the Rams ascend to elite territory, it won’t surprise anyone. For now, though, any such proclamation is premature.
The Rams have the pieces to field a top defense in 2026. Their secondary has complementary pieces with McDuffie’s versatility and Watson’s size and physicality. The edge rushers go three strong with Garrett, Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart. The defensive line is loaded with players who can stop the run and rush the passer, too.
The biggest question mark is at inside linebacker. Nate Landman started last year strong but faded down the stretch and was exposed in coverage. Omar Speights struggles in space, too.
The combination of a ferocious pass rush and sticky secondary should mask any issues at linebacker, but on paper, there are still a few teams with better defenses than the Rams.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Where does Rams defense rank among NFL’s best after Myles Garrett trade?
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
