The Rams' blockbuster acquisition of the Cleveland icon ignited an NFC West arms race, forcing the defending champion Seahawks to choose between roster upgrades and internal growth.
The Seattle Seahawks recently watched their division rivals from Los Angeles set the NFL world on fire as they traded for two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett - the iconic all-time Texas A&M Aggies legend.
And many think that trade from Cleveland now shifts the balance of power in the NFL.
But the Seahawks - who know the Rams well as they are NFC West enemies - are the defending champions.
And they might just think the path still goes through The Emerald City.
No doubt, with the sack monster now in Seattle's division, it puts a bigger emphasis on the Seahawks' offensive line to shape up and in a hurry because they'll be facing a player who you can easily say is the best defensive player in football right now.
Given how active the Rams have been in acquiring Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson, the Seahawks could be thinking they need to muscle up and join this NFC arms race.
If the Rams weren't in the division, it likely wouldn't matter too much, but given that Seattle will face them twice a year, it could impact the Seahawks' playoff hopes.
So, does coach Mike Macdonald's team have to now go and try to improve the roster to compete with Los Angeles?
Michael Bumpus, an analyst on Seattle Sports, doesn't think so.
“I don’t think (Seahawks head coach) Mike Macdonald is looking at this trade and saying, oh my gosh, what are we going to do?” Bumpus said on Seattle Sports. “I think Mike Macdonald believes in his system, his program, his coaches, his players, and … they’re going to put them in position to win ballgames.
“If I’m the Seahawks, I ain’t flinching. I ain’t scared, because I believe in what Mike Macdonald is doing over here.”
That is a confident stance to take as the Rams are now the biggest shadow looming over the NFC West and are Seattle's biggest threat to the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks have $28.8 million in cap space per Over The Cap, so there is money to make a big move or two.
But that wouldn't be in line with what the plan has been this offseason.
Seattle has allowed free agents to walk, re-signed its own, and is banking on internal development to push this Super Bowl defense forward.
But the Rams just changed the game with Garrett. That might not be enough. ... and for his entire nine-year career in the NFL, Garrett himself was a game-changer, just as he was with the Aggies.
One could make the case that Macdonald has done wonders with the Seahawks, and after winning the Super Bowl, he's earned the right to do things as he pleases.
But Aggies fans might see what's about to unfold from a different perspective - a Garrett-focused perspective.
