The NFC title race just escalated. Myles Garrett is headed to Los Angeles, and while the Rams got stronger, the move may have quietly helped the Lions’ path to a division title.
The NFL landscape shifted dramatically this week when reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick.
The blockbuster move marks the second consecutive offseason in which an elite All-Pro pass rusher has been traded to an NFC contender. Last year, the Green Bay Packers made headlines by acquiring Micah Parsons. This time, it is the Rams making the splash, and the price was steep.
Los Angeles wasted no time becoming the clear favorite in the NFC. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Rams’ Super Bowl odds jumped from +900 to +550 immediately following the trade. With Garrett joining a roster that already features veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford and one of the league’s most respected coaching staffs, the Rams have firmly established themselves as the team to beat.
For Detroit, there is at least one silver lining. The Lions are not scheduled to face Los Angeles during the regular season, meaning any potential showdown would likely have to come in the playoffs. The same cannot be said for Green Bay, which now faces an even more difficult path after having to contend with a Rams team loaded with star power.
As news of the trade spread across social media, fans quickly voiced their opinions. Many expressed disappointment that Lions general manager Brad Holmes did not make a similarly aggressive move to acquire an elite defensive playmaker. However, those criticisms fail to account for the likely cost Detroit would have faced.
To land Garrett, the Lions almost certainly would have had to part with cornerstone pieces of their roster. Any deal likely would have started with Aidan Hutchinson, and that simply was never a realistic option for Detroit. Hutchinson remains one of the league’s premier young edge rushers and is a foundational piece of the franchise’s future.
Despite the Rams’ rise, Detroit remains firmly in the Super Bowl conversation. When opening odds were released following Super Bowl LX, the Lions were listed at +1600 to win the championship. Since then, their odds have dipped slightly to +1800, giving them the ninth-best odds in the NFL.
The Rams, meanwhile, saw their NFC odds improve to +310, making them the conference favorites. Detroit currently sits at +900 to win the NFC.
The NFC West appears poised to be one of the toughest divisions in football this season. The Rams, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers all rank among the favorites to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. Ironically, that could benefit Detroit. The Lions are the only NFC North team that does not have to navigate a regular-season matchup against one of those NFC West powers.
In fact, the Garrett trade may have indirectly improved Detroit’s chances of winning the division. Before the move, the Lions were slight favorites to reclaim the NFC North at +180, with the Packers close behind at +190. Following the trade, Detroit’s odds improved to +150, while Green Bay dropped to +250, largely because of its more difficult schedule.
Still, no amount of talent guarantees success in the NFL.
The Rams look dominant on paper, but every contender is only one significant injury away from seeing its championship hopes altered. The Packers experienced that reality last season when Parsons suffered a torn ACL that derailed what many expected to be a dominant year in Green Bay.
The same concerns apply to Los Angeles. Garrett is one of the league’s most impactful defenders, but injuries can affect anyone. The Rams also rely heavily on Stafford, who is entering his age-38 season. Should either player suffer a major injury, the perception of this trade could change quickly.
For now, however, the Rams have made their intentions clear. Los Angeles is pushing all of its chips to the center of the table in pursuit of another Super Bowl title. While the move clearly strengthens an NFC rival, Detroit remains in a strong position heading into the 2026 season and still has every reason to believe its championship window is wide open.
