Several months ago, the Los Angeles Rams' trade for Myles Garrett was the talk of the NFL. Many were claiming the Rams had created a super-team following Garrett's addition, with a few making predictions that winning a title was simply a matter of time.
Through six weeks of NFL action, Garrett has been more of a myth than a mythical being, as a knee issue hindered his preseason training and led to an awful debut in Melbourne, Australia. Since Week 1, Garrett has been on injured reserve, while his team sinks to 2-4 on the season.
When he does return, he can't be eased back into the fold as the team is desperate to rewrite the narrative of its 2026 season. In order to do that, Garrett will have to become the player he wasn't with the Cleveland Browns.
He has to become the unquestioned leader of the defense.
Garrett's skills are undeniable, as is his production. But when we look back at his time with the Browns, we never saw the All-Pro take on the vocal leader role. It isn't who he is. For the Rams, they have enough voices. However, they need an amplifier, and that's what Garrett is.
Quiet leadership. Dictate through being the example. This team is missing the fighting spirit, and Aaron Donald can only do so much. When the Rams traded away Jared Verse, they lost their vocal leader. The Browns have him, and regardless of his play, Verse and his Browns teammates are leading the division, while Los Angeles sits in last place in the West.
Garrett has to be the superhuman that he has been in the past to give the team the confidence to dominate. What that looks like is up to the player himself, but if Garrett wants to be considered one of the greatest to ever do it, he needs to be the man the locker room can look to. Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Donald. When we think about the best defensive linemen in NFL history, it's those who won at all costs.
For the Rams to rewrite their season, it's the reigning Defensive Player of the Year who will need to hold the pen.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Myles Garrett has to be the Rams' defensive leader when he returns
