Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford sees how the move to the team could invigorate their newest star defender, Myles Garrett.
The Los Angeles Rams have upgraded their roster in a very significant way this offseason.
One of the most significant ways was trading for Myles Garrett, a blockbuster deal that sent shockwaves through the NFL.
Garrett spent the first nine years of his career with the Cleveland Browns. Individually speaking, Garrett has put himself in the conversation as one of the best defenders to ever grace the field. However, he has yet to experience team success at a high level, and now he has a real chance to do so with the Rams.
Garrett will now experience real expectations for the first time in his career, and quarterback Matthew Stafford believes it could invigorate him, rather than make him lethargic.
Stafford appeared on the "Green Light with Chris Long" podcast and said Garrett has a chance to take his game to the next level in Los Angeles.
"You get traded, and you're suddenly the new guy who's got to learn everything. And it's like this new juice where you're like, 'Alright, now I just got to make sure I'm up to par with everybody else.' And obviously, the physical traits, his stats and his ability are second to none. He's an incredible football player, so I'm not worried about those things. You're just- hey, man- there's some new energy to it where it's like football isn't the exact same as it's been the last 8, 10, 11, 12 years. And I know that can be energizing for a player and a guy that is smart enough to understand what the stakes are and the opportunity that he's just been given. So, I'm excited to have him."
Garrett has done it all thus far in his NFL career. He’s won two Defensive Player of the Year awards, has been named a seven-time Pro Bowler, and a five-time first-team All-Pro.
One of the most important accolades that has eluded Garrett is reaching a conference championship and the Super Bowl.
Garrett has been to the playoffs two times and has played in a total of three games with a 1-2 record to show for. In those games, Garrett has recorded six total tackles and one sack.
Now in Los Angeles, Garrett is expected to experience team success almost immediately, with the ultimate goal of competing for and winning a Super Bowl this season.
Garrett has played on a team that has not had many All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections and on the same unit. He now joins a defense that has just that with players like Byron Young, Quentin Lake, and more.
The 30-year-old has been one of the NFL's most dominant defensive players throughout his career, but after years of individual excellence, he now has an opportunity to pair that production with consistent winning and a legitimate championship pursuit.
Much like Stafford, Garrett is arriving in Los Angeles after spending years with a franchise that has struggled to consistently contend. Now, the former No. 1 overall pick has a great chance to capitalize on the prime years of his career with the Rams and potentially cap off an already remarkable tenure in the NFL with the postseason success and championship opportunities that have largely eluded him thus far.
