Myles Garrett Traded to Los Angeles Rams

The Cleveland Browns have agreed to trade Myles Garrett, a two-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, to the Los Angeles Rams. This information was shared by three individuals who are privy to the details, though the trade is not yet official.

The trade arrangement involves the Browns acquiring Jared Verse, the 2024 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, along with a first-round pick in 2027 and other draft selections. Details of the additional picks are still being finalized.

Garrett has been notably absent from the Browns’ offseason activities despite visiting Cleveland during the Cavaliers’ NBA playoff. Garrett retains a minority interest in the Cavaliers. Browns coach Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg have each had limited communication with Garrett since late January. Garrett voiced support for promoting defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to head coach before the organization chose Monken. Schwartz has since resigned from the Browns after a three-year tenure.

Garrett’s standout performance last season included a record-breaking 23 sacks, earning him the unanimous choice for Defensive Player of the Year. However, there has been dissatisfaction with the Browns’ trajectory, having gone 8-26 in the last two seasons. Following the 2024 season, Garrett requested a trade but later agreed to a substantial four-year extension worth $204.8 million, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. This contract included a no-trade clause, allowing Garrett authority over his trade destination.

Despite the contract extension, Garrett’s dissatisfaction with the team’s strategies persisted. A contract modification was agreed upon in March to defer option payments across the 2026-28 seasons. The first deferred payment of about $10 million, originally due on May 28, was rescheduled to the start of the regular season. On January 2, before a game against Cincinnati, Garrett commented, “I’m committed to winning as long as the team is committed to the same goal. If the mindset is other than winning, that’s not for me.”

Dee and Jimmy Haslam have hired Monken as their seventh coach since purchasing the franchise in 2012. Under their ownership, the team’s coaches have accumulated a regular-season record of 73-139-1, ranking as the NFL’s second-worst. Since re-entering the NFL in 1999, the Browns have had a modest four winning seasons.

This trade signifies yet another impactful move orchestrated by Rams general manager Les Snead. His strategy of trading draft picks for veteran stars has helped maintain the Rams as one of the NFL’s premier teams during coach Sean McVay’s tenure. Snead is recognized for notable acquisitions like Jalen Ramsey in 2019 and Matthew Stafford in 2021, both pivotal to the team’s successes. More recently, Snead traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie to address the secondary’s weaknesses.’

Before this significant trade involving quarterback Ty Simpson this season, the Rams made only one first-round selection over nine years. That pick was used to acquire Verse, a rising talent who became a vital part of the Rams’ pass rush following Aaron Donald’s retirement. Verse, as a rookie, recorded 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, gradually establishing himself as a cornerstone of the defense.

The Rams are currently preseason favorites for the Super Bowl, having won 12 games and reached the NFC championship last season. Led by reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford, they boast one of the league’s strongest offenses. The defense now includes McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, acquired from Kansas City, alongside Garrett, adding another dimension to an already potent roster.

Snead’s approach has transformed the Rams into Super Bowl contenders once more, utilizing defensive line depth with key additions like Garrett to further strengthen the lineup.