The Rams’ offseason pass-rush shopping list apparently went deeper than the deal that landed Myles Garrett in Los Angeles.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Rams spent time this spring checking on Maxx Crosby before Garrett ended up being the move that got done. Pelissero wrote in an article published on The Ringer on Wednesday that Los Angeles was looking at multiple edge rushers through both free agency and trade conversations.
“Garrett wasn’t the only superstar edge the Rams strongly considered acquiring in the spring,” Pelissero wrote. “They also called and kept tabs on Maxx Crosby, who ended up back in Las Vegas after a blockbuster deal with the Ravens came apart in March over concerns about the knee Crosby had repaired in January.”
Pelissero added that Crosby was a legitimate possibility for the Rams, not just a name they kicked around.
This wasn’t the first time Los Angeles had been tied to Crosby, either. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that the Rams made a similar offer for Crosby in 2022, around the same period they were also pursuing Carolina’s Brian Burns. Neither push landed.
Crosby was nearly moved again this year before that path collapsed. The Ravens agreed to send two first-round picks to the Raiders in March, but the trade fell apart when Crosby did not pass his physical, leading general manager Eric DeCosta to back out.
So while Garrett is already in Los Angeles, Crosby is still with the Raiders, and another Rams run at him seems unlikely anytime soon.
In Other News...
Rams Opener Just Took A Dramatic Turn Thanks To 49ers Injury Blow
The Rams Week 1 picture got a little clearer, and a lot more complicated, when San Francisco lost defensive tackle Alfred Collins for the season with a torn patellar tendon, as coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed. Collins went down in practice ahead of the opener in Australia, a setback that immediately changes the tone of a matchup already carrying plenty of intrigue between two NFC West rivals.
San Francisco is also dealing with injuries to Sam Okuayinonu, even as veterans George Kittle and Nick Bosa remain on track to suit up. Their availability gives the 49ers some stability, but the uncertainty around how much theyll be used leaves the Rams with a game plan that could look different by the time kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Sent Their Strongest Signal Yet About Melbourne
The Seahawks are leaning harder into their Australia push, announcing a strategic partnership with Collingwood that is designed to connect the two clubs fan bases in Australia and New Zealand. It is part of Seattles marketing rights under the NFL Global Markets program, another sign that the leagues international footprint is becoming more than a branding exercise.
Melbourne is already set to become a key stop in that effort, with the teams planning to co-host a kids AFL and NFL crossover flag football clinic there. For the Rams, it is another reminder that an NFC West rival is trying to build a broader identity far beyond its home market, and the reach of that move could matter well beyond one event or one summer. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Open Week 1 With Aaron Donald Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Sean McVay put Aaron Donalds status in plain terms before the Rams opened the season, and the message was clear enough for anyone watching this team closely. Donald will not play in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, and he also will not travel with the team to Australia, a reminder that his return from retirement is still in its earliest stages.
Donald has been practicing for less than two weeks since unretiring, so the Rams are treating the opener as a hold-and-wait situation rather than forcing the issue. The expectation is that hell be back by Week 3 at the latest, and the decision to keep him out now reflects the teams belief that this is the best move for both Donald and the Rams as they try to manage the early stretch of the season without rushing one of their most important players. [Read more 🡒]