June is typically a slow month on the NFL calendar, but the first few days are setting up to be rather active. The Los Angeles Rams kicked off the festivities by reaching a deal to acquire star defensive end Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns, as general manager Les Snead keeps his "F them picks" philosophy going.
The cost to acquire Garrett was of course very steep - three draft picks and young edge rusher Jared Verse. But the Rams know that, with an older quarterback in Matthew Stafford, they are in a win-now window. Super LXI being at their home stadium again may also be a factor in why they were reportedly persistent in their pursuit of Garrett, but it seems they make a move like this every offseason.
Meanwhile, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes continues to say his team is not in any kind of "Super Bowl window", and he will not operate on that term. But at least one notable player on the team seems to disagree.
Somehow, the Rams (and other teams) manage to draft well and make all-in moves. The myth that both things can't be done is just that, a myth. The Lions' commitment to re-signing their own players is an important differentiator there, and the Garrett trade stands to postpone the Rams doing that to some extent.
Radio host points to key difference between Brad Holmes and Les Snead
On Monday's edition of 97.1 The Ticket's "The Valenti Show with Rico", co-hosts Mike Valenti and Rico Beard talked about the Rams move to trade for Garrett.
Valenti called out listeners to the show who swore Garrett would never get traded, as he cited reports of how dogged the Rams were.
"You know how guys like Garrett get moved? When you're relentless", Valenti said..."This is why the Rams have something in their trophy case, and why you don't."
Valenti kept ranting harshly, but then hit some bottom lines.
"Here's what Garrett is costing the Rams this year, $8 million, against the cap. Why? It's post-June 1."
It's technically an $8.14 million cap hit, according to Spotrac, but Valenti's point absolutely stands. The Rams are getting one of the best defensive players in the league for practically the same 2026 cap hit Jameson Williams has for the Lions.
Valenti called out the flimsy notion that the Lions having "bills to pay" prevents them from making notable moves. That's not, and never has been, an excuse for the Rams and some other teams.
READ MORE: Taylor Decker offered another team he'd better run to sign with if they want him
Holmes, through actions and words, has proven he's fine with the Lions being a really good team for as long as possible. That philosophy can certainly work well, and possibly pay off with a Super Bowl ring.
Valenti then hit some uncomfortable nails on the head to finish his soliloquy.
"There are killers as GMs, and there are lambs. (Les) Snead's a killer. You can't tell me Holmes is a killer yet, but Snead isn't gonna stop. The last time the Super Bowl was in LA they traded for Matthew 'Effin' Stafford."
"I think the Lions want to be good, no one doubts that. Everybody wants to win. But the Lions are not doing everything in their power to win. The Rams are."
Holmes would of course vehemently disagree with Valenti regarding the Lions not doing everything in their power to win. But when other NFC teams are making big moves with no excuses and winning Super Bowls, "stunting" (as Valenti called it when Holmes walked to the podium to talk to the media) when you used a second-round pick on an edge rusher lands as small potatoes.
Meanwhile the organization (and general manager) Holmes spent a long time working for continues to show him what "all-in", when you're in a Super Bowl window, looks like.
Add us as a preferred source on Google