Rams' weak link on star-studded defense revealed by ESPN analyst

3 weeks ago 9

The Los Angeles Rams have built a superteam. While the offense hasn't changed much, the defense, compared to last season, is vastly different.

Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson are new faces on the defensive side of the ball. That's some massive upgrades made to the defense. This unit, and the team as a whole, should be the best in the NFL.

That doesn't mean there isn't a weak link. As ESPN's Ben Solak notes, Rams linebacker Nate Landman is the team's X-Factor, not because of the upside he brings, but rather because of how he could derail the defense in 2026 despite the superteam around him.

Rams LB Nate Landman is X-Factor for the wrong reasons

"But if something goes wrong, the linebacker spot feels like the culprit," Solak writes. "... I'm a Landman believer. But if 2025 was a magical season whose heights cannot be recaptured, opposing offenses will quickly put him under the microscope as the one Achilles' heel on the Rams' defense."

The Rams defense has some of the best talent of any unit across the entire NFL. If the defense is firing on all cylinders, it has a strong case as being the best in the league.

However, Landman could be, as Solak called it, "fool's gold." He broke out in 2025 and looked like a quality starting linebacker. But if that was a fluke, the Rams could be in trouble.

MORE: Raiders name Kirk Cousins as Week 1 starter over Fernando Mendoza

With an elite pass rush, teams will be getting the ball to their receiving options in the short area of the field. Long-developing plays are going to be hard to come by against this defense.

But for the Rams linebacker, he will need to thrive in pass coverage and also factor heavily into the run game. He's a big piece of this defense.

While he could totally have a good 2026 season and prove any doubters wrong, until he does, he's currently the weakest link on the defensive side of the ball.

If there is one player on this Rams' defense who could derail the sky-high potential, it would be Landman. If he struggles, the Rams could be in trouble.