Stephen A. Smith has declared the Los Angeles Rams an NFL super team, and he is not hedging his words. The reason for the bold claim is the newly formed defensive line pairing of Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald, a combination that Smith says should terrify every quarterback in the league. The excitement began when Donald ended his two-year retirement to rejoin the Rams.
Garrett, meanwhile, arrives after setting the NFL single-season sack record. Together, the two defensive monsters have amassed 13 first-team All-Pro selections and five Defensive Player of the Year awards. No defense in league history has ever featured this much individual accolades on one line. Donald made his intentions clear at his return press conference.
Asked if he could still play at a high level, he responded, “Yes. Do I feel like I can still be myself? 100%. If I didn’t feel like that, I wouldn’t be here.
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Smith, speaking on the team’s prospects, was emphatic about what the return means. He argued that the Rams were already Super Bowl favorites before Donald came back, and now there are simply no excuses. He noted that a B+ game from Donald is an A+ game for most players at his position. The Rams were not idle during the offseason.
They traded for top cornerback Trent McDuffie from Kansas City and also signed his former Chiefs teammate Jaylen Watson. The front office then made the blockbuster move to acquire Myles Garrett. Add the return of Donald, and the roster has been dramatically upgraded on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the team returns reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford at quarterback.
Puka Nacua is back with something to prove, and Davante Adams gives Stafford another elite weapon in the passing game. Sean McVay remains head coach, and Kyren Williams is in the backfield. Smith said the only excuse for the Rams not winning the Super Bowl would be health, pointing to injuries as the sole thing that could derail everything. The stakes are made even higher by the location of Super Bowl LXI, which will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
If the Rams earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, they could potentially win a championship in their own building. Smith called the situation simple: “There’s nothing to think about. There are no excuses. ”
Donald’s return is historically rare.
Only Deion Sanders has ever returned to the NFL at an elite level after a layoff of at least 750 days. Donald, now 35, is a five-time first-team All-Pro, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a Super Bowl champion. Smith said his return after two years away puts him in exclusive company with Sanders. Garrett gives the Rams a pass-rushing presence on the opposite end to Donald.
Coming off a record-setting 23-sack season, Garrett is in his prime. Together, the two could make offensive lines miserable for four quarters. Smith said even when quarterbacks don’t get sacked, getting hit by those two is a completely different experience. The comparisons to past super teams are already rolling in.
Some have compared this Rams roster to the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles, who were heavily hyped but underperformed. Smith, however, rejected the comparison, arguing that the Rams were a far stronger team going into this season than those Eagles were. Some analysts point to last season as evidence the Rams were the best team in football. They lost a crucial Thursday night game in Seattle when Zach Charbonnet recovered a two-point conversion attempt in the end zone.
That fumble recovery helped decide the NFC West and ultimately affected who hosted the NFC Championship game. Since then, the Rams have only added more talent. Still, the hype comes with serious questions. Garrett has not practiced in two weeks due to knee swelling.
Donald has not played competitive football in over two years, and no one knows what shape he will be in when the season starts. The rest of the league has taken notice and is waiting for a chance to test the Rams. Smith acknowledged the concerns but remained confident. He compared the Rams situation to when Tom Brady signed with Tampa Bay, saying the expectation level and impact are similar.
He argued that if the Rams enter the playoffs healthy, there is no reason they shouldn’t win the Super Bowl. At an organizational level, the Rams have six future Hall of Famers either on the roster or in the building. McVay could cement his Hall of Fame case with another championship, and general manager Les Snead could also earn that honor. Smith called it a rare instance of a team built perfectly from top to bottom, with veteran leadership and young talent managed by a coach capable of handling it all.
The central question hanging over Los Angeles remains health. The NFL season is 17 games long, and injuries are unpredictable. One bad Sunday can change everything. For now, the Rams look unstoppable on paper.
Whether they can stay healthy enough to prove it on the field is the challenge that lies ahead. Donald believes he can still be himself on the field. If that proves true, the Rams could become something the league has almost never seen.
And every quarterback in the NFL now knows exactly what awaits them in Los Angeles.
