The Los Angeles Rams acquired star edge rusher Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns in a major trade on Monday, sending linebacker Jared Verse and three draft picks to Cleveland in the deal.
Garrett, 30, is a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Since being drafted first overall by the Browns in 2017, he has established himself as one of the league's premier defensive players. He holds the record for most sacks (125.5), pressures (413), and tackles for loss (149) among players selected in that draft class. In 2025, Garrett set the single-season sacks record with 23.
The star pass rusher had requested a trade from the Browns in 2024 after the team finished with a 3-14 record. Seeking a fresh start with a championship contender, Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million extension with Cleveland a month later that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history at the time. The deal includes $122.8 million in guaranteed money and averages $40 million annually.
Despite Garrett's individual excellence, the Browns finished 2025 with a 5-12 record and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. General manager Andrew Berry said the team faced a difficult decision. "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.
The contract modifications proved essential to completing the deal. The Browns and Garrett agreed to defer option payments over the 2026-28 seasons, pushing a $10 million payment due in March to the start of the regular season.
The Rams, coming off a loss to the eventual champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship game, add another elite defensive weapon to their roster. This marks the first time the reigning AP NFL MVP and Defensive Player of the Year will be teammates, with quarterback Matthew Stafford winning his first MVP award last season.
Verse, the 25-year-old linebacker sent to Cleveland, was a first-round pick by the Rams in 2024. He earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors while recording 12 career sacks and 22 tackles for loss. The Browns also received a 2027 first-round selection, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round selection.
The Rams have a track record of ambitious trades. In 2021, they swapped Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions to acquire Matthew Stafford, who led Los Angeles to a Super Bowl victory in his first season with the team.