The Rams have piled up enough star power to make the rest of the league squint, and Aaron Donald’s return only turned up the noise around their Super Bowl hopes. But John Middlekauff thinks the bigger issue isn’t talent at all.
On Monday’s episode of his 3 and Out podcast, the former NFL scout said that loading up on stars the way general manager Les Snead has can create a real chemistry test, especially when new faces have to blend with players already established in the room.
Middlekauff pointed to edge rusher Myles Garrett as the clearest example of the tension. In a Cleveland.com feature shortly after Garrett was traded, sources told Mary Kay Cabot that the reigning Defensive Player of the Year was “respected and revered” by teammates but “wasn’t necessarily universally loved” and did not become “the great unifier the Browns always hoped he’d be.”
“Myles Garrett is now the best player on the defense. But Aaron Donald is clearly the alpha, the leader.
Let's face it. I mean, there was an article in The Athletic (sic) ...
It's like, 'Yeah, we need him to show up on time, to be a better kind of leader.' That's the opposite of Aaron Donald.”
That skepticism has already shown up elsewhere, too. In an ESPN feature, Rams insider Sarah Barshop wrote that Byron Young said early in training camp that Garrett was “changing the culture” inside the team, even though a knee injury kept him out for much of preseason camp.
But 92.3 The Fan’s Ken Carman and Anthony Lima pushed back on that idea on their show.
“It’s just funny to see that headline when the whole argument we’re making now is maybe we’re just better in the leadership department. And it's like, 'No, they’re getting Myles Garrett, the all-time great pass rusher, and they’re getting a terrific leader.' He was not a terrific leader here.”
They added:
"Once he felt like the Browns were never going to put together a real Super Bowl contender after that first run, he was like, 'Why bother?' Good leaders don't do that."
If Garrett is healthy enough to go, he’s set to make his Rams debut on September 11 against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne.
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 🡒]