​The Los Angeles Rams made arguably the boldest move of the offseason by trading for Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. Even at 30 years old, Garrett is firmly positioned in the team’s long-term plans, and with a contract extending through 2030, he isn’t going anywhere soon. Yet, the allocation of more cap space to Garrett could squeeze the pockets of other Rams players, potentially limiting what the team can offer the rest of its roster.
Garrett’s arrival could transform an already solid Rams defense, but it also raises questions about the organization’s longer-term strategy, particularly at the edge-rusher spot. In a clear display of upgrading the position, Los Angeles traded away its best young edge rusher in the Verse deal to bring in Garrett. The move signals the team’s intent to maximize the edge pressure they can generate, but it leaves the opposite side of the line with Byron Young as the primary pass-rusher to pair with Garrett.
Byron Young had a standout season, earning praise for his 12-sack performance, and he now enters the final year of his contract. While his production suggests he could demand a substantial raise, keeping him in 2026 and beyond may prove difficult for a Rams team that is balancing a championship chase with salary-cap realities. The Athletic’s Rams insider, Nate Atkins, recently suggested that it’s “very unlikely” the Rams will be able to retain Young after this season. Atkins explained that Young is uniquely positioned to capitalize on a favorable 2025 campaign, given the attention he draws opposite Garrett and the one-on-one opportunities that arise when pressure comes from that side of the line. He noted that the Rams would gladly welcome another Pro Bowl season from Young, but the financial feasibility of keeping him long-term is murkier.
If Young does have another big year, the timing could work against the Rams from a financial standpoint. At 29, Young could be staring at a lucrative payday, and the Rams may be reluctant or unable to meet that price tag within their broader cap strategy. It’s a classic dilemma that comes with pursuing a so-called super-team strategy: you build around a pair of high-profile stars, land another Big-Name acquisition, and take your shot at a championship, but you also risk creating a finanzial squeeze that forces tough choices down the road.
Even so, the short-term upside remains compelling. If the Rams can leverage Garrett’s presence to sustain a dominant defense and chase another Super Bowl ring this season, questions about who will be on the roster in 2025 or 2026 could fade into the background. In the here and now, the Rams appear committed to pushing for championships by stacking talent, even if it means confronting some difficult salary decisions in the not-so-distant future. The wager is simple: maximize the window for a championship run with a roster built to win now, and worry about the rest once the confetti settles. If Garrett and Young can sustain elite production, the Rams will likely face a familiar choice at the end of the season: pay the price to keep the talent, or let it walk in pursuit of a broader competitive balance. Ultimately, if the Rams bring home another Lombardi Trophy this year, the debate over 2026 and beyond will be plenty muted.