The Cleveland Browns traded star edge rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday in exchange for linebacker Jared Verse and three draft picks. The deal sends one of the NFL's premier defensive players to Los Angeles as the franchise seeks to strengthen its championship contention.
Garrett, 30, is a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Since the Browns selected him with the first overall pick in 2017, he has established himself among the league's elite defensive talents. He holds the record for most sacks with 125.5, most pressures with 413, and most tackles for loss with 149 of any player since his draft year. In 2025, he set a single-season sacks record with 23 despite playing for a struggling team.
Garrett had requested a trade from Cleveland in 2024 after the Browns finished with a 3-14 record. He expressed his desire to play for a team with genuine championship prospects. Despite his trade request, the Browns signed him to a four-year, $160 million extension that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history at the time. The deal included an average annual salary of $40 million and $122.8 million in guaranteed money.
The 2025 season proved difficult for Cleveland, which finished 5-12 and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Garrett remained the franchise's standout performer, earning All-Pro recognition. The team also made coaching changes, firing Kevin Stefanski and hiring former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken in January.
General manager Andrew Berry facilitated the trade after Garrett and the Browns agreed to restructure his contract in March. The modification deferred option payments across the 2026-28 seasons, allowing the organization to complete the deal.
"As discussions intensified we were stuck at a legitimate crossroads: do we hold on to a truly generational player who has become the identity of our team, or do we make the difficult decision that we think is best for the organization over the long run?" Berry said after announcing the trade.
Cleveland received a 2027 first-round selection, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round selection alongside Verse. The 25-year-old linebacker was selected by the Rams in the first round of the 2024 draft and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He recorded 12 career sacks and 22 tackles for loss.
The Rams, who lost to the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks in last season's NFC Championship Game, are pursuing another Super Bowl appearance. This trade reunites Garrett with quarterback Matthew Stafford, last season's Associated Press NFL MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, marking their first time as teammates.