The Rams made a massive splash on the defensive front this offseason, bringing in two of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history. As it turns out, Los Angeles came close to chasing another elite name as well.
According to The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero, the Rams “also called and kept tabs” on Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby during the offseason, signaling interest in one of the NFL’s most disruptive pass rushers.
Las Vegas was listening to trade offers for Crosby over the winter and had even lined up a deal with the Ravens. That move ultimately collapsed after Baltimore raised concerns about Crosby’s surgically repaired knee.
The timing is notable. The Rams finalized their trade with the Browns for Myles Garrett on June 1, while the Crosby-to-Baltimore discussions unfolded earlier, in early March.
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Whether Los Angeles would have continued its pursuit of Garrett after acquiring Crosby remains uncertain. Carrying both contracts may not have been impossible, but it would have been complicated — and perhaps unnecessary — with both players filling the same edge-rushing role.
Regardless, not acquiring Crosby worked out for Los Angeles, because it landed Garrett from the Browns and still was able to lure Aaron Donald out of retirement after he spent the past two seasons away from football.
Donald didn’t make the trip to Australia for the Rams’ season opener against the 49ers. He might return as early as their second game, and Los Angeles’ D-line will become nightmarish when he does.