Rams bolster defense with addition of Ndamukong Suh

LOS ANGELES -- The Rams had one of the best defenses in the league last year, but Sean McVay and company were not content with the early playoff exit. It is Super Bowl or bust in McVay’s sophomore season as head coach.

The Rams managed to sign Ndamukong Suh on Tuesday, the best remaining free agent and arguably one of the most feared men in the league, to a one-year, $14 million deal. 

Suh will join Aaron Donald, the recipient of Defensive Player of the Year honors last season, for at least one year, creating one of the most dominate interior lineman duos of all time. 

To put it in perspective, only 22 defensive linemen have been made First Team All Pro three times or more in their careers. Suh and Donald each have been selected three times making them the only defensive tackle tandem to ever have at least three on the same team.

Suh will also join the newly acquired shutdown corners, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib in Los Angeles, to create one of the best all-around defenses in the league. Their hope is if Suh and Donald can rush the quarterback, Peters and Talib will be able to pick off poor passes.

Rams’ defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will have his hands full keeping his new defensive weapons in check. All three have been criticized at some point in their careers for their polarizing personalities or questionable decisions on and off the field. 

Each of the superstar signees have had prior incidents both on and off the gridiron. Each have had the quality of their characters called into question, which makes me wonder if the Rams are truly aware of who exactly they are welcoming into their locker room. 

On paper the Rams look like a sure bet to win the NFC West, but the 49ers have made some dynamic signings ever since last season when they surprised everyone by picking up Jimmy Garoppolo midseason from the Patriots. He will have his hands full trying to compete against these Rams.