The Cleveland Browns traded star edge rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday in a blockbuster deal that brings younger defensive talent and future draft capital to Cleveland. The Rams sent linebacker Jared Verse and three draft picks to the Browns in exchange for the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Garrett, 30, has been one of the league's premier pass rushers since the Browns selected him first overall in 2017. He holds the records for most sacks, pressures, and tackles for loss among all players since that draft year. In the 2025 season, he set a single-season sacks record with 23 and earned All-Pro recognition despite the Browns' disappointing 5-12 record and playoff miss.
The trade comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Garrett's future with the franchise. He requested a trade in 2024 following the team's 3-14 season, expressing a desire to play for a championship contender. Though the Browns signed him to a four-year, $160 million extension shortly after that request, which made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history at the time, Garrett's frustrations with the organization's direction lingered.
General manager Andrew Berry negotiated a contract restructuring with Garrett in March that deferred option payments across the 2026-28 seasons, allowing the trade to become financially feasible. Berry explained the decision to move on from their cornerstone player in a statement after the trade was announced.
"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.
The Browns will receive a 2027 first-round selection, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round selection alongside Verse. The 25-year-old defensive end was a first-round pick by Los Angeles in 2024 and won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He also earned Pro Bowl selection this past season and has recorded 12 career sacks with 22 tackles for loss.
The Rams, who lost to the Seattle Seahawks in last season's NFC championship game, are pursuing another Super Bowl run. Los Angeles is familiar with bold trades, having acquired Matthew Stafford from Detroit in 2021. Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory in his first season, and won the NFL MVP award last year.
The addition of Garrett gives the Rams a defensive anchor alongside Stafford as they prepare for Super Bowl LXI, which will be played at their home stadium, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.