The Los Angeles Rams came into the 2026 NFL season with a clear priority: build a Super Bowl-caliber roster. The Rams did just that, spending hundreds of millions on their defensive secondary and adding Myles Garrett, making history as the first team to enter a season with the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.
For the MVP, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford returns, flanked by the accompaniment of his entire 2025 starting offense. The unit that finished off a highly successful year is back and with some young, promising prospects. As a result of their aggressive approach, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards ranked the Rams as having the fourth-best offseason in the NFL.
Every Rams offseason decision — with the exception of drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson No. 13 overall — has been made in service of one goal: compete for a Super Bowl now,” wrote Reynolds. “They traded for accomplished veterans Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, in addition to signing Jaylen Watson. Those moves addressed a weak point on the team while also adding the game’s best pass rusher to close out contested affairs. When the Rams won their most recent Super Bowl, Aaron Donald, who is contemplating a return, fulfilled that role.
The selection of Simpson did give the franchise some insurance in the present and a potential heir apparent to Matthew Stafford. The one hiccup within the franchise’s plans has been the domestic incident involving left tackle Alaric Jackson. Los Angeles does not want to find itself in a situation against a really good pass-rushing unit that can exploit poor tackle play. The Rams are barren when considering future draft capital, so they have to capitalize on the current window.
Interestingly enough, Reynolds ranked the Cleveland Browns as the team that had the best offseason, in part due to the addition of Jared Verse.
The analysis
The Rams’ offseason was fantastic, and Simpson does fill a crucial role. He’s a competent, athletic backup who can steer the ship in case Stafford gets hurt. While some could say this move was insurance, it’s more of a second option considering Stafford almost started 2025 on injured reserve due to a back issue.
Jackson’s legal situation still needs to play out, but the Rams also have coverage for him. Warren McClendon Jr. has experience at right tackle, while rookie Keagen Trost was one of the best tackles in college football last season. Trost is also 25 years old.
The beauty of these moves is that while the Rams did have to give away a lot of capital, they also have long-term options at top positions. Garrett and McDuffie are under contract for the next five years, their entire starting secondary has at least two more years on their deals, they have an answer at quarterback for at least three years (if not more), and Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Byron Young and others are all in their prime.
The roster is built to outlast Matthew Stafford, and that might be the most beautiful part about it.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Analyst ranks Rams’ offseason as 4th-best in NFL, lower than Browns
Reporting by Brock Vierra, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brock Vierra, Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
