The Cleveland Browns have traded star edge rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for linebacker Jared Verse and three draft selections. The deal reshapes both franchises as the Browns continue their roster rebuild and the Rams pursue another championship run.
Garrett, 30, is a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Since Cleveland selected him first overall in 2017, he has established himself as one of the league's elite defensive players. He leads all players drafted since 2017 with 125.5 sacks, 413 pressures, and 149 tackles for loss. In 2025, Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23, earning All-Pro recognition even as the Browns finished 5-12 and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Garrett had requested a trade in 2024 after the Browns struggled to a 3-14 record, expressing his desire to play for a championship contender. Despite this request, he signed a four-year, $160 million extension one month later, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history at the time. The deal includes $122.8 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $40 million.
The trade became possible after the Browns and Garrett agreed to modify his contract in March, deferring option payments to the 2026-28 seasons. A payment originally due March 28 was moved to near the start of the regular season, providing the financial flexibility necessary for the move.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry acknowledged the difficult decision in a statement. "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 received a 2027 first-round selection, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round selection along with Verse. The 25-year-old linebacker was a first-round draft pick by the Rams in 2024 and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He has recorded 12 career sacks and 22 tackles for loss while also earning Pro Bowl selection this past season.
For the Rams, acquiring Garrett adds elite pass rush talent to a defense that lost to the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks in last season's NFC championship game. The franchise has a history of making significant trades to improve its roster, including the 2021 blockbuster quarterback trade with Detroit that brought Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles. Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory in his first season and won the Associated Press NFL MVP award last season. Garrett's arrival marks the first time the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year will be teammates.