The Los Angeles Rams are somewhat the consensus Super Bowl favorites, and the sheer talent on both sides of the ball is a major reason for this feeling. That was before the addition of Myles Garrett, who joined Los Angeles in early June.

Now, with a rebuilt defense that includes Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson, the Rams may not have a team that lacks any weaknesses. There are some questions, such as what may happen with Alaric Jackson, but nothing else is as concerning.

That said, there are a few players who need to have a big 2026 for contractual reasons and otherwise.

Putting Myles Garrett on the list might be a bit obvious, but his placement is certainly not obvious. He is at the bottom of the list cause it's hard to imagine he will not be at the level he was with the Cleveland Browns.

Garrett needs a big year to justify the trade that led to Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick being sent to the Browns.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year should still draw double teams due to the nature of his physical violence, but he will need to secure a sack count that is at least in the double digits to justify the sheer weight of what was given up to acquire him.

Fellow defender Kobie Turner has been a bright spot for the Rams and is expected to have a solid 2026. But much more than that, he needs to have a year due to it being a contract situation.

Turner has spoken truthfully about the need for a contract extension, but he also said he understood the business nature of the current Los Angeles roster. He understands the huge value that Garrett, McDuffie, and Watson bring, but that doesn't mean he should forget about his own deal.

Even if the Rams run into a situation where Turner becomes a cap hit casualty, he needs to perform at a high level to get a solid deal from whatever teams go after him if he does not return to Los Angeles.

Puka Nacua was expected to get a mega deal, but his off-field issues reared their ugly head, and likely caused the Rams to take a huge pause on potentially making him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.

The Seattle Seahawks gave Jaxson Smith-Njigba a four-year, $168 million deal, making him the highest-paid receiver in the league. Nacua is expected to exceed or get very close to the $42 million annual amount that Smith-Njigba will get.

Nacua's performance in 2026 will be two-fold. Firstly, the receiver can shake his off-field issues by putting together a solid performance on and off the field. 

Secondly, Nacua needs to show that he can play at a high level to secure that mega deal. He has been an ascending star in the league since his arrival, and his 1,715 yards, 10 touchdowns, and league-leading 129 receptions prove he is on the same level as Smith-Njigba.

It will just be up to Nacua to show up in what is the most important year of his career thus far.