Following a heartbreaking defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in the 2025 NFC Championship game, the Los Angeles Rams have shifted into a hyper-aggressive “win-now” mode for the 2026 season. Safety Kamren Curl amplified those soaring expectations during a Thursday appearance on the “Up & Adams” show, stating the completely rebuilt defensive unit now has “a chance to be legendary.”
Curl admitted he is still processing the reality of sharing a locker room with Myles Garrett after general manager Les Snead executed a blockbuster offseason trade with Cleveland that sent ascending edge rusher Jared Verse to the Browns. But the defensive back also fueled the loudest ongoing rumor in Los Angeles, directly addressing fans hoping recently retired icon Aaron Donald might unretire for another championship run. Curl enthusiastically backed the idea, noting that Donald still frequently visits the team facility.
“He be in there sometimes, but he be chilling,” Curl said regarding Donald’s continued presence around the organization. When pressed on the possibility of a comeback, the safety was blunt: “I want him to, too. I want to play with him.”
Even without Donald, the front office heavily reinforced the secondary that Curl anchors. Los Angeles traded for two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs and signed former Chief Jaylen Watson to a three-year, $51 million free-agent contract, moves that fundamentally reshape the roster alongside the Garrett acquisition.
Why the Secondary Overhaul Might Eclipse the Myles Garrett Acquisition
While bringing in the NFL’s single-season sack king dominated offseason headlines, rival executives see a different threat. An anonymous NFL coach told The Athletic that acquiring championship-pedigree cornerbacks like McDuffie and Watson could ultimately have a larger overall impact on the Rams’ defense than Garrett’s arrival.
By locking down opposing receivers longer, the upgraded secondary buys critical time for a defensive front desperately attempting to replace the historic interior pressure void created by Donald’s initial retirement. Garrett will now pair with Byron Young, who led the Rams with 12 sacks last season, creating an edge-rushing tandem built specifically to capitalize on the tighter coverage.