Myles Garrett’s arrival in Los Angeles has already come with a different kind of reputation than the one he carried in Cleveland.
When the Rams pulled off their blockbuster trade with the Browns in June, a report had noted that Garrett “wasn’t the great unifier the Browns always hoped he’d be” after Cleveland made him the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. But this summer, the early read from Rams camp is that Garrett has fit in fast - and, according to Byron Young, he’s helped push the group in the right direction.
Young said Garrett is “absolutely 'changing the culture'” for the franchise with the way he carries himself. He pointed to a small moment in training camp that stood out.
“We were about to leave yesterday, and he said, 'We're not going to break it down?'" Young said about Garrett during training camp.
"I was like, 'We're breaking down in the meeting room?' And he said, 'Yeah, we're going to break it down in here.'
So I said, 'OK!' That's a piece of the culture that he's bringing in."
That kind of detail matters because Garrett’s leadership has been a talking point for years. He drew criticism from media personalities and former teammates for what was seen at times as a lack of leadership in Cleveland. After he signed a four-year, $160M extension that included $123.5M guaranteed in March 2025, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam said the organization had “challenged” Garrett “to become a real leader of the team.”
None of that changes the player himself. Garrett is still a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and someone widely viewed as a future Hall of Famer. But his Browns tenure ended with just three playoff appearances and one postseason win.
Now he’s landed with a Rams team that already had big expectations, even before Aaron Donald ended his retirement and returned. Per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, the Rams shifted from +550 favorites to win Super Bowl LXI to +500 after the Donald news.
Stafford said Garrett has blended in quickly. “...
He's done a great job of just figuring out what we're about, understanding how we go about things, and fitting right in,” the quarterback said. “I mean, it's hard not to when you're as good a player as he is.”
For the Rams, the early signs suggest Garrett is giving them exactly what they wanted: elite production, and maybe something more.
In Other News...
Rams Just Sent A Clear Message About Who Leads This Team
Leadership in Los Angeles now has a much broader cast. The Rams named a record 11 team captains for the 2026 season, and the group says plenty about where the organization wants its authority to live: with established veterans, trusted voices and the players expected to set the tone every week. Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Tyler Higbee, Coleman Shelton, Davante Adams, Myles Garrett, Kobie Turner, Nate Landman, Quentin Lake, Trent McDuffie and Joe Cardona make up the list, giving the roster a mix of offensive, defensive and special teams anchors.
The most notable twist is the arrival of Garrett and McDuffie into that leadership circle after recent trades and acquisitions, a sign that the Rams are not waiting for newcomers to settle in before handing them real responsibility. For a team that has leaned heavily on veteran presence in recent years, expanding the captain group this far feels less like a formality and more like a statement about how the locker room is being organized heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Left Themselves Dangerously Thin Where They Could Least Afford It
The Rams went into roster cuts with a little room to maneuver at wide receiver and tight end, but not nearly as much margin at cornerback. By carrying only four cornerbacks on the initial 53-man roster, they made a clear choice about where they wanted their depth to live, and it was not in the one spot where injuries and matchups can turn a secondary upside down in a hurry. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson remain key pieces at the position, but the overall numbers leave little cushion behind them.
For a defense that has to survive a long season against varied passing attacks, the balance looks precarious. Los Angeles waived other coverage options and may have to lean on the practice squad to patch holes if the cornerback room gets tested, which is exactly the kind of scenario teams try to avoid when setting their opening roster. The concern is not just talent, but how quickly the Rams could be forced to reshuffle if the position takes even a modest hit. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face An Unusual Roster Problem Before Their Australia Opener
Before the Rams even get to worry about the 49ers on the field, there is the unusual business of getting everyone on the plane for Australia. The season opener will be played overseas, which means passports are not a side detail but part of the roster math, and both teams have had to spend real time making sure travel documents are in order for a trip unlike anything they see during a normal NFL season.
John Lynch described the process as a logistical grind, especially when it comes to new practice squad players who may still need passports and visas sorted out. For Los Angeles, the challenge is the same one facing San Francisco: the longest road trip in league history is also one of the most complicated, and the work behind the scenes has already started well before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]