Rams 2026 NFL season preview: Report Card by unit

Perhaps the easiest way to explain the 2026 Rams is to look at what happened after their season ended. The Rams lost the NFC Championship game in Seattle with the football at the Seahawks’ 6-yard line, just 4 yards separating them from the potential game-winning touchdown and a Super Bowl berth. This offseason, the Rams responded to that heartbreak with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball. General manager Les Snead traded for Trent McDuffie.He signed Jaylen Watson.

Then came the earthquake: reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, acquired from the Browns after setting an NFL single-season record with 23 sacks.Apparently that still wasn’t enough.Aaron Donald came out of retirement.All those additions sound amazing, but stop for a second and consider what they are joining. Matthew Stafford is coming off the best season in his 18-year career and is the reigning NFL MVP after throwing for a career-high 46 touchdown passes with only eight interceptions.He led the league with more than 4,700 passing yards. His top two receivers are elite.

Puka Nacua caught an NFL-best 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns.He finished second for the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.

His teammate on the outside, Davante Adams, led the league in touchdowns.Running back Kyren Williams rushed for more than 1,100 yards for the third straight season. The Rams had the NFL’s highest-scoring offense last season, and their defense finished seventh with 47 sacks before adding Garrett and Donald.

The addition of McDuffie gives the defense the shutdown corner it was so desperately missing. Nonetheless, legitimate concerns are hiding beneath all that star power.Stafford is 38 years old.

Donald is 35 and hasn’t played football in 2 1/2 years.Garrett dealt with knee soreness throughout training camp.

The offensive line lost longtime right tackle Rob Havenstein to retirement.The Rams face one of football’s toughest schedules and begin the season approximate...