{"success":true,"data":{"id":"f6a7d5ea-18bb-4d60-9be6-7817cc710a82","title":"How new veteran leaders are transforming Rams at training camp","summary":"Open NFL navigation Sports Breaking News How new veteran leaders are transforming Rams at training camp The Rams won the NFL offseason. They traded for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. Signed cornerback Jaylen Watson.","content":"Open NFL navigation Sports\n\n#### Breaking News\n\n# How new veteran leaders are transforming Rams at training camp\n\nThe Rams won the NFL offseason.\n\nThey [traded for All-Pro cornerback](https://nypost.com/2026/03/08/sports/trent-mcduffie-rams-ok-record-breaking-contract-extension/) Trent McDuffie. Signed [cornerback Jaylen Watson](https://nypost.com/2026/03/14/sports/jaylen-watsons-journey-from-working-at-wendys-with-mom-to-rams-cornerback/). Traded for two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winner [Myles Garrett](https://nypost.com/2026/06/01/sports/who-is-myles-garrett-meet-the-rams-new-star-defensive-end/)and drafted their future franchise quarterback in Ty Simpson.\n\nAnd that doesn’t even include re-signing their own free agents.\n\nBut the Rams didn’t just spend the offseason collecting Pro-Bowlers, they assembled veteran leaders that can also help teach the next generation of young players.\n\nTrent McDuffie is pictured during the Rams’ training camp practice July 26. MediaNews Group via Getty Images\n\nSunday marked the Rams’ first day of training camp at Loyola Marymount University, an opportunity for the entire team to get together and practice what football is all about: 11-on-11, the best on offense going against the best on defense. And after that first day, one theme echoed through the noise: The Rams have a bevy of veteran leaders in all three facets of the game that can help teach the younger players.\n\nLet’s start with two-time Super Bowl Champions McDuffie and Watson.\n\n“They’re true pros,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said of his new cornerbacks. “They bring a great perspective to the room. Leadership is influence.”\n\n## Explore More\n\nThe evidence of that was already unfolding on the practice field at LMU.\n\nYoung defensive backs peppered McDuffie and Watson with questions between sessions. Veterans shared ideas instead of holding them close to the chest. Conversations flowed as naturally as the breeze off the Pacific Ocean.\n\n“Everybody is combining their knowledge to become the best defense possible,” Shula said.\n\nMcDuffie, fresh off four seasons with the Chiefs, could have walked into camp with his two Super Bowl rings. Instead, he left his résumé at the door.\n\nMyles Garrett is pictured during the Rams’ training camp practice July 26. Getty Images\n\n“I’m not trying to change the culture,” McDuffie said after practice. “It’s a clean slate. Let’s come in and build with each other. I don’t think there should be one guy up there that has to talk all the time. Everybody should have a voice.”\n\nThat philosophy already existed inside the Rams’ locker room where they had a handful of veteran leaders in quarterback and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, safety Quentin Lake, linebacker Nate Landman, running back Kyren Williams, defensive end Kobie Turner, and punter Ethan Evans. All captains last season and players who coaches called “the glue” of the team and “coaches on the field.” You can now add McDuffie, Watson, and Garrett to that list.\n\nGarrett’s arrival may be the biggest addition of them all. The seven-time Pro-Bowler and five-time All-Pro changes games with his mere presence. Last season with the Browns, Garrett set the NFL’s single-season sack record with 23 sacks, breaking the previous mark held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Now, his influence on his teammates could become just as valuable as his pass rush.\n\nJaylen Watson is pictured during the Rams’ practice June 2. Getty Images\n\n“When he’s out there you can just feel his presence,” said McDuffie of Garrett. “Everybody talks about a player’s aura, and he definitely has one. He’s gigantic. He’s a monster.”\n\nNew Rams’ special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, who coached Garrett in Cleveland, knows him better than anyone.\n\n“When there was an opportunity to acquire him, people started asking me about his character and the kind of person he is,” said Ventrone. “Having coached him over the last three years, I can tell you he’s a great dude, a great teammate, and incredibly hard worker and just a complete freak of an athlete. Everyone is going to see it. He’s a special, special player.”\n\nJaylen Watson is pictured during the Rams’ practice June 2. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect\n\nVentrone, who was hired in the offseason to revamp a miserable Rams’ special teams unit that was ranked among the worst in the league last season, brought on two veteran special teamers in Joe Cardona and Grant Stuard to help leadership and accountability to that unit.\n\nBy clicking \"SIGN UP\" you agree to the [Terms of Use](https://nypost.com/terms)&[Privacy Notice](https://pagesix.com/privacy)\n\nAlready a subscriber? [Login](https://nypost.com/2026/07/27/sports/myles-garrett-trent-mcduffie-lead-new-wave-of-veteran-leadership-for-rams/#)\n\n“They’re two of my favorite players that I’ve ever coached,” said Ventrone of Cardona and Stuard’s NFL credibility. “They’re not only smart football players. They’re smart people. I’m grateful Les and Sean were able to bring them here.”\n\nSnead and McVay didn’t just simply add talent this offseason, they surrounded one of the NFL’s youngest teams with veteran leaders, teachers, and extensions of the coaching staff.\n\nIf that investment pays off with another Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium next February, then they didn’t just assemble one of the most talented teams in NFL history. They may have assembled the smartest.\n\n## **Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters**\n\n**California Post News**: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheCaliforniaPost/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/californiapost), [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@CaliforniaPost), [X](https://x.com/californiapost), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@thecaliforniapost), [WhatsApp](https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6a2IV1NCrL6q2AWq0E), [LinkedIn](http://linkedin.com/company/californiapost)\n\n**California Post Sports**[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/capostsports/), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/capostsports/?hl=en), [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@capostsports), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@CaliforniaPostSports), [X](https://x.com/capostsports)\n\n**California Post**[Opinion](https://x.com/californiapost)\n\n**California Post Newsletters**: [Sign up here!](https://email.nypost.com/#california-post)\n\n**California Post App**: [Download here!](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/california-post/id6751343487)\n\n**Home delivery**: [Sign up here!](https://subscribe.californiapost.com/defaultCAP)[](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/california-post/id6751343487)**Page Six Hollywood**: [Sign up here!](https://pagesix.com/hollywood-signup/)\n\nFiled under\n\nSPONSORED STORIES\n\n#### Trending Now  in Sports\n\n*   [![Image 23: WNBA star accuses ex of cheating on her with multiple players in affair drama](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/newspress-collage-8foxu2izl-1785105532385.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1785091442&w=260&h=174&crop=1)](https://nypost.com/2026/07/26/sports/dijonai-carrington-accuses-nalyssa-smith-of-cheating-on-her-with-multiple-wnba-players/)This story has been shared 18,712 times.18,712   ### [WNBA star accuses ex of cheating on her with multiple players in affair drama](https://nypost.com/2026/07/26/sports/dijonai-carrington-accuses-nalyssa-smith-of-cheating-on-her-with-multiple-wnba-players/) \n*   This story has been shared 4,826 times.4,826   ### [Tony Romo withdraws from public appearance after DUI arrest](https://nypost.com/2026/07/26/sports/tony-romo-withdraws-fromtexas-state-open-golf-tournament-after-dui-arrest/) \n*   This story has been shared 4,192 times.4,192   ### [49ers coach suffers horrific injuries in car crash near California home](https://nypost.com/2026/07/25/sports/49ers-coach-kyle-shanahan-injured-in-car-crash-before-training-camp/) \n*   This story has been shared 3,325 times.3,325   ### [PGA Tour golfer oddly removing shoes on green after golfers’ complaints: ‘Singled me out’](https://nypost.com/2026/07/26/sports/lucas-glover-oddly-removing-shoes-at-pga-tours-3m-open-after-golfers-complaints/) \n*   This story has been shared 3,266 times.3,266   ### [Cavaliers signing ex-Knick after LeBron James spurned them for 76ers](https://nypost.com/2026/07/26/sports/cavaliers-signing-mario-hezonja-after-lebron-james-spurned-them-for-76ers/) \n\n#### Scoreboard\n\n Trent McDuffie is pictured during the Rams' training camp practice July 26. MediaNews Group via Getty Images\n\n Myles Garrett is pictured during the Rams' training camp practice July 26. Getty Images\n\n Jaylen Watson is pictured during the Rams' practice June 2. Getty Images\n\n Jaylen Watson is pictured during the Rams' practice June 2. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect\n\nYou are viewing**1** of **4**images Previous Image Next Image\n\n## More Stories\n\n### Page Six\n\n### Decider\n\n### NYPost","source_name":"New York Post","source_url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/27/sports/myles-garrett-trent-mcduffie-lead-new-wave-of-veteran-leadership-for-rams/","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/27/sports/myles-garrett-trent-mcduffie-lead-new-wave-of-veteran-leadership-for-rams/","author":"Michael Duarte","author_name":"Michael Duarte","published_at":"2026-07-27T05:00:13.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-27T05:00:13.000Z","image_url":"https://images.outbrainimg.com/transform/v3/eyJpdSI6IjQ4YTc5MGY4NWJkMTZlYjEyYTE2MDkzYjNlNGNhZTE2YTI1NDdmYjU2NzViNjgwYWFmOGMxZmE2NDQxYWNmYmYiLCJ3Ijo5MCwiaCI6NjAsImQiOjEuMCwiY3MiOjAsImYiOjR9.webp","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":6,"word_count":1060,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot","language":null}}