The Los Angeles Rams acquired Myles Garrett, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and five-time All-Pro defensive end, from the Cleveland Browns. The futures market reacted to the blockbuster trade, and the Rams are the outright favorite to win Super Bowl 61 at +600 odds, according to BetMGM.
The Seattle Seahawks, who defeated the Rams in the NFC Championship and went on to win Super Bowl 60, are +1100 odds to repeat as champions.
The Philadelphia Eagles traded disgruntled wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots. The Patriots, last season’s AFC champion, are +1600 to win the Super Bowl. The Patriots are tied for fifth on the NFL futures board, along with the Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Rams: When a Great Defense Becomes Awesome
Although the Rams fielded a strong defense last season, ranked #4 in defensive DVOA, they could not stop Sam Darnold and the Seahawks in the NFC Championship. Darnold lit up the Rams for 346 yards and three touchdowns in a thrilling 31-27 victory.
The Rams knew they needed to bolster their pass rush if they expected to legitimately contend for the Super Bowl. That’s why they targeted Garrett. The Rams gave up Jared Verse plus three draft picks (a first, second, and third rounder) to acquire the league’s premier pass rusher.
With 23 sacks, Garrett set the single-season sack record for a five-win Browns squad last year. Garrett now anchors a formidable front that features Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Poona Ford.
Coaches in the NFC West will spend the rest of the summer scheming up ways to slow down Garrett. No one is more bummed out about the Garrett trade than Darnold and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
Meanwhile, Aaron Donald’s workout videos continue to circulate on social media, fueling speculation about ending his retirement. It’s a fun rumor to talk about, but the Rams are so stacked on defense that they don’t need their former star edge rusher to contend for the Super Bowl.
Stafford and McVay: All-In on Super Bowl 61
Head coach Sean McVay loves the Garrett trade. The Rams now boast the NFL’s best offensive and defensive players.
Matthew Stafford secured his first MVP award in his 17th NFL season. The 37-year-old gunslinger threw a career-high 46 touchdowns while tossing only eight interceptions. Stafford exceeded 4K passing yards for the 10th time in his career and posted his fourth-best season with 4,707 air yards. He also established a career-best 109.2 QB rating and his second-best QBR (71.2)
Despite retirement rumors, Stafford squashed any speculation when he inked a three-year extension. Stafford has a recent history of nagging injuries, including his back, so you never know if this will be his final season. The Rams hope that’s not the case, but there’s a sense of urgency with a “win-now” mentality.
At the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, general manager Les Snead will have tough decisions to make with key free agents like wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Three members of the offensive line will also become free agents, including center Coleman Shelton and guards Kevin Dotson and Steve Avila.
The Rams have a narrow window to win a Super Bowl. Stafford is not getting any younger, and their O-line and top two wide receivers are in the final year of their contracts. You can back the Rams to clinch the NFC Championship at +300 and twin the Super Bowl at +600.
Patriots Upgrade Their Offense with A.J. Brown
The Patriots are finally making non-tabloid headlines for the first time this offseason with the A.J. Brown trade. After the Patriots severed ties with veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs, they aggressively pursued Brown in a trade. Other teams were also interested in Brown’s elite services, including the Chiefs and Rams.
Brown caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games last season with the Eagles. His numbers were off compared to a sensational 2023 campaign when he established career-high receptions (106), targets (158), and touchdowns (11). He also caught the second-most yards (1,456) of his career.
The trade reunites Brown with head coach Mike Vrabel, who previously coached him with the Tennessee Titans. Brown is excited to have a bona fide downfield passer with Drake Maye.
No other QB aired the ball out more than Maye last season, which was impressive considering he led the NFL with a 72.0 percent completion rate. Maye finished the season third overall in touchdowns (21), fourth in yards (4,394), and he only threw eight picks. Maye also led the NFL in QBR (77.1) and passer rating (113.5).
As the primary wide receiver, Brown has an opportunity for another career-defining season. His size and playmaking ability should pair well with Maye’s aggressive downfield approach. The Patriots offense becomes even more lethal. Brown will lead a solid trio of wideouts with Romeo Doubs and Kayshon Boutte, who stood out during last year’s playoffs.
Eagles: Addition by Subtraction
Brown wanted the ball more last season with the Eagles, but had to split targets with DeVonta Smith. Brown was clearly not on the same page with quarterback Jalen Hurts and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.
A slow start haunted Brown. He caught one touchdown and recorded 100 yards just once in the first six games. He had only two 100-plus-yard performances in his first nine games, with just three touchdowns.
Hurts and Brown had a falling out, stemming from alleged off-the-field rumors that were exacerbated by his inability to get him the ball in crunch time. There were four games in which Brown caught two or fewer passes.
Hurts was not as accurate as in previous seasons, and he prefers the middle of the field more than the sidelines, where Brown does his best work. In the NFC Wild Card, the 49ers knocked out the Eagles. Brown caught only three passes for 25 yards in his final game with the Eagles.
The Eagles won Super Bowl 59 with Kellen Moore as their offensive coordinator. The New Orleans Saints hired Moore as their head coach last season, so the Eagles promoted Kevin Patullo to OC. The Eagles offense sputtered when Patullo took over play-calling duties, and Brown’s numbers dipped. Brown vented his early-season frustrations on social media, much to the dismay of coaches and teammates.
The Eagles fired Patullo after their embarrassing playoff exit and hired former NFL quarterback Sean Mannion as their new OC. Mannion spent last season as the Green Bay Packers’ quarterbacks coach.
The Eagles also added Makai Lemon with the #20 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Lemon was one of the top WR prospects on the board, and the Eagles hope Mannion and Lemon can inject new life into the offense. Early reports suggest the players are thrilled that Mannion is their new OC. However, fans have mixed feelings about Brown’s departure.
Although the Eagles lose a playmaker like Brown, sometimes removing an unhappy player can vastly improve the vibes in the locker room. Talent matters, but success in the NFL often hinges on culture and chemistry.
You can back the Eagles to win the Super Bowl at +1600 odds, and they’re priced at +825 to win the NFC Championship for a third time in the last five seasons.
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