LOS ANGELES - The Rams have plenty of attention on the big names at Loyola Marymount, but the early read from training camp is that the roster around them looks deeper, sharper and more complete than it did a year ago.
That starts with the newcomers. Myles Garrett has reportedly lived up to the hype and then some, sliding into the defense without any visible friction and benefiting from the kind of front where he won’t have to carry everything on his own.
Trent McDuffie, meanwhile, has done exactly what the Rams wanted from him: he can line up outside, inside and in the slot, and he brings the kind of physical edge that can set the tone for a defense. There’s even a belief inside the building that he could wear a captain’s label in his first season with the Rams.
The team sees a path for him to grow into maybe the NFL’s best defensive back in a role that draws some comparison to what Jalen Ramsey did in Los Angeles, though Ramsey was the bigger and more physically imposing player. That duo alone could change a lot, and that’s before getting into Jared Verse, who was part of the price of landing Garrett.
The big defensive question hanging over camp is Aaron Donald. He’s working through training to get back to a point where he feels like himself, and that standard is obviously a high one.
Sean McVay and Donald have a close relationship, and they’ve already mapped out a rough timeline if Donald does decide to return. The expectation is that it wouldn’t happen until after the Rams leave Loyola Marymount and return to their home facility north of Los Angeles.
If he comes back, the buildup would likely follow the same pattern the Rams used in his holdout years in 2017 and ’18. The encouraging part for the team is that the depth up front gives them some room to handle that process.
Josaiah Stewart and Braden Fiske are also having the kind of offseasons that suggest a jump in their play could be coming.
On the offensive side, the core looks familiar in all the right ways. Davante Adams, Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams are where you’d expect them to be, while Colby Parkinson is leading a tight end group that has plenty of versatility.
The more intriguing changes are in the next wave of skill players. Terrance Ferguson has had a strong offseason and is showing he can move around the formation while also looking dangerous after the catch.
That’s exactly why the Rams targeted him in the 2025 draft, and why they think he has the ceiling to become one of the league’s best tight ends. Blake Corum is also pushing for a bigger role, seeing the game quicker and looking like someone who can bring a big-play element to a run game built on physicality.
There is one obvious concern on offense: tackle. Alaric Jackson is facing possible NFL discipline, and Rob Havenstein has retired.
Matthew Stafford has been a steady presence throughout camp. He’s coming off what was perhaps his best season as a pro at 37, and he’s been sharp and locked in from the start of the summer.
He also appears healthier at this point in the calendar than he has in a few years. If that holds, there’s every reason to think he can be just as effective in 2026.
More than anything, the sense around him is that he’s enjoying the game and the team, and that he was at the top of his game during the Rams’ playoff run.
Special teams could be another area where the Rams take a noticeable step. McVay brought in Bubba Ventrone as the new coordinator and added a pair of experienced leaders in Grant Stuard, a special teams ace from Detroit, and long snapper Joe Cardona from Miami. It all adds up to a roster that looks built to travel, with the Rams set to head to Australia for Week 1.
In Other News...
Sean McDermott Suddenly Feels Like A Rams Name To Watch
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McDermott's presence comes at a time when the Rams have added to that side of the roster and are trying to keep the staff picture steady as the season approaches. There is no official word on any role for McDermott, but the timing has only added to the intrigue around Chris Shula's place in the bigger coaching picture and whether the Rams could be looking at another noteworthy addition before long. [Read more 🡒]
Matthew Stafford Just Gave Rams Fans The Camp Sign They Needed
Matthew Stafford was back on the field for the second day of Rams training camp, a welcome sight after he sat out the opener as the team works through a modified schedule for its veteran quarterback. The early approach is all about keeping him on track to be at his best when Week 1 arrives, and Stafford sounded comfortable with where the group stands heading into the season.
Sean McVay came away encouraged by what he saw once Stafford returned, with the offense already showing some of the early camp rhythm the Rams want to build on. With receivers and tight ends drawing positive notices around camp, Staffords sharp start offers a reassuring sign that the passing game can get moving quickly once the pads and pace keep ramping up. [Read more 🡒]
Myles Garretts Rams Absence Has Fans Watching One Bigger Date
Myles Garretts recent absence from practice has been easy enough for the Rams to explain away so far. Sean McVay has pushed the concern level down, saying the team is simply being cautious with Garrett while managing his workload, and the defender is being handled with an eye toward keeping him fresh rather than chasing anything more serious.
Still, the longer a player sits out, the more attention the next checkpoint draws. Garrett is slated to get a planned day off before the Rams move into their next practice block, and that looming return is the date fans have started circling as the one that matters more than the day-to-day noise around camp. [Read more 🡒]