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 blockbuster deal reshapes both franchises and sends one of the league's most dominant defensive players to a Super Bowl contender.
Garrett, 30, is a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Since the Browns selected him first overall in 2017, he has established himself as one of football's premier pass rushers. He holds the record for most sacks (125.5), pressures (413) and tackles for loss (149) among all players since his draft year. In 2025, Garrett set the single-season sacks record with 23.
The defensive end had requested a trade from Cleveland in 2024 after the Browns finished 3-14, expressing his desire to play for a championship contender. A month later, he signed a four-year, $160 million extension that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history at the time. The deal included $122.8 million in guaranteed money and averaged $40 million annually.
Despite Garrett's individual excellence, the Browns continued struggling. They finished 2025 with a 5-12 record and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year, though Garrett earned All-Pro recognition. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was fired and replaced by Todd Monken, the former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator. Monken stated he had not met face-to-face with Garrett since being hired.
General manager Andrew Berry facilitated the trade after he and Garrett agreed to modify the contract in March, deferring option payments across the 2026-28 seasons. This restructuring allowed the organization to proceed with 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.
The Browns received Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round selection and a 2029 third-round choice. Verse, 25, was a first-round 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, the acquisition represents an aggressive bid to win immediately. Los Angeles, which lost to the Seattle Seahawks in last season's NFC championship game, has a history of making bold trades. The team won the Super Bowl in 2022 with Matthew Stafford after acquiring him from Detroit. Super Bowl LXI will be played at SoFi Stadium in February, where the Rams won their previous championship.