Rams Chase Pass Rush
Los Angeles Rams Explored Trading For Maxx Crosby Before Acquiring Myles Garrett
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Key Points
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The Rams’ pursuit reflected a broader effort to upgrade a pass rush that had tied for seventh in the league in sacks, with Byron Young the only Los Angeles player to reach double-digit sacks in 2025.
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Garrett offered a significant durability advantage: he had missed only two games combined over the previous five seasons and was coming off a 23-sack campaign, a single-season record cited by the report.
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Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension in March 2025, with base salaries of $22.236 million and $18.84 million scheduled for the final two years of the deal.
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Before the Garrett trade, Los Angeles’ edge-rusher group included Jared Verse and Byron Young as starters, with second-year player Josaiah Stewart expected to serve as a key reserve; the deal ultimately sent Verse to Cleveland.
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One report suggested that Aaron Donald’s decision to return may have been connected to the Rams’ acquisition of Garrett, saying Donald might not have come back had Los Angeles failed to land the star pass rusher.
The Los Angeles Rams explored trading for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby this spring before landing Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett in a blockbuster June deal Yahoo Sports. Rams GM Les Snead had pursued Crosby for years, dating back to the 2022 trade deadline, but Baltimore's concerns about his surgically repaired knee derailed a potential move. Garrett ultimately won out — the two-time Defensive Player of the Year had missed just two games over five seasons and posted a single-season record 23 sacks, making him a more durable option despite costing the Rams edge rusher Jared Verse.
Rams' Pass Rush Problem Drove Urgent Pursuit
Los Angeles' edge rush ranked tied for seventh in sacks last year, a weakness that demanded fixing. Byron Young was the only Rams pass rusher to reach double-digit sacks in 2025 Audacy. The team's starter group of Young and Jared Verse looked incomplete heading into the offseason, pushing GM Snead to hunt for elite talent.
Why Garrett Won Over Crosby in the End
Myles Garrett offered something Crosby couldn't: proven durability at an elite level. Over the past five seasons, Garrett missed only two games combined and just posted a 23-sack campaign USA Today. Crosby, meanwhile, carried injury risk after knee surgery, a red flag that scared off Baltimore when they nearly dealt for him. The Rams bet Garrett's track record made him the safer long-term investment.
Crosby Signs Massive Extension While Still in Vegas
Despite missing out on Los Angeles, Crosby locked in his future with the Raiders. He signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension in March 2025, with base salaries of $22.236 million and $18.84 million in the final two years Yahoo Sports. That mega-deal keeps him in silver and black for now, though he could still attract trade interest before the deadline if he returns to peak form and stays healthy.
Aaron Donald's Return May Have Hinged on Garrett
One report suggested that Aaron Donald's decision to come out of retirement was tied directly to the Garrett acquisition Yahoo Sports. Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, might not have returned to Los Angeles had the Rams failed to land the star pass rusher. The defense-first front office apparently convinced their all-time great that the team would finally get the edge-rushing help it needed.
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