The Myles Garrett trade was the headline, no question. But it might also be the thing that unlocks something deeper in the Rams’ defense.
ESPN’s Ben Solak recently pegged Josaiah Stewart as Los Angeles’ top breakout candidate for 2026, and the reasoning is pretty straightforward. Stewart had a quietly effective rookie year in 2025 even though he only saw 166 pass-rush snaps. That’s rotational usage, sure. But the tape showed a guy who can bend the edge, hit with power, and finish plays.
What makes Stewart interesting is the fit. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula likes him in subpackages because he can drop into coverage, too. That versatility meant he was already earning looks on blitzing downs. And now with Garrett in the building, Stewart’s path to snaps gets even wider.
Garrett can kick inside on obvious passing downs. He’s got the size for it. That leaves the outside rush lanes more open for someone like Stewart who thrives snapping off the edge from wide alignments. Basically, Garrett’s presence creates the kind of chaos that lets a second-year guy feast on one-on-one matchups.
The Rams went 12-5 last season before falling to Seattle in the NFC Championship game. They’ve been knocking on the door for two years now. The front office isn’t messing around. They added Trent McDuffie to the secondary this offseason and flipped Jared Verse for Garrett. This is a team trying to win now, with Matthew Stafford’s window narrowing by the month.
Stewart might not be the name that sells jerseys. But in Shula’s scheme, the guy who can rush from multiple spots and stay on the field in obvious passing situations is going to get chances. And if those 166 snaps from last year are any indication, he’s ready to turn those chances into production.
Leave a Comment