The Los Angeles Rams’ aggressive offseason overhaul is paying off in the rankings, at least on paper. ESPN’s Matt Bowen looked at the NFL’s most impactful newcomers and placed three Los Angeles additions inside the top 20 — more than any other team.
Topping the list at No. 1 is Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year who set the single-season sack record with 23 last year before the Rams landed him in a blockbuster trade with Cleveland. The move is clearly the headline addition of the entire offseason, with Garrett expected to elevate not just the pass rush but the play of the secondary behind him.
Cornerback Trent McDuffie checks in at No. 3 after arriving via trade from Kansas City. The two-time All-Pro is expected to line up on the perimeter for coordinator Chris Shula’s defense, addressing a cornerback group that struggled for much of last season. His ability to stay attached against quick routes and carry receivers vertically made him one of the more coveted defensive backs on the trade market.
Rounding out the trio is Jaylen Watson at No. 18, another secondary piece plucked from Kansas City. Watson projects as the boundary corner opposite McDuffie, giving the Rams a pair of former Chiefs defensive backs anchoring the outside. Between the two additions, Los Angeles overhauled a cornerback room that was viewed as a weak link a year ago.
The three rankings underscore just how aggressively the Rams attacked the defensive side of the ball this offseason, pairing two premium trades for Garrett and McDuffie with the value add of Watson in free agency. It’s the second consecutive year a Rams acquisition has topped the list — wide receiver Davante Adams held that distinction a year ago — a sign of how consistently the front office has prioritized swinging for immediate, difference-making talent rather than developmental projects.
With Garrett, McDuffie and Watson all folded into a defense that already featured Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske up front, the Rams enter training camp with arguably the most talent-rich roster in the NFC — and, according to at least one metric, three of the 20 best bets to make good on that investment in Year 1.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams land 3 players in ESPN’s top 20 offseason newcomers list
Reporting by Oliver G., Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
