The NFL landscape changed dramatically when the Cleveland Browns agreed to trade reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick. The deal immediately became one of the biggest defensive trades in NFL history, sending arguably the best player in football from a franchise still searching for its identity to a team that appears fully committed to winning a championship right now.
At first glance, the trade feels impossible to justify from Cleveland’s perspective. Garrett is a future Hall of Famer coming off a historic season in which he recorded 23 sacks and captured his second Defensive Player of the Year award. Since entering the league as the first overall pick in 2017, Garrett has established himself as one of the most dominant defenders the sport has ever seen, accumulating 125.5 sacks while leading the NFL in numerous pass-rushing categories over that span. Players of Garrett’s caliber almost never become available, and teams rarely choose to move on from them willingly.
However, while the Rams undoubtedly acquired the best player involved in the trade, evaluating deals solely through the lens of who landed the biggest star often ignores the realities of roster construction and team-building timelines. When viewed through that lens, this trade makes a tremendous amount of sense for both organizations. The Browns acquired a younger cornerstone player and additional assets that better align with their long-term plans, while the Rams pushed all their chips into the center of the table in pursuit of another Lombardi Trophy.
Why Cleveland Ultimately Had To Make This Move
The hardest part of evaluating this trade is separating Myles Garrett the player from the Browns’ current situation as a franchise.
If Cleveland were already competing for championships, trading Garrett would be impossible to defend. The Browns would be voluntarily moving on from arguably the most impactful defensive player in football while weakening their chances of winning immediately. However, that is not where the organization currently finds itself.
The Browns have spent the last several seasons rebuilding significant portions of their roster. While there are reasons for optimism regarding the team’s future, the franchise still lacks the single most important piece required to become a legitimate contender: a franchise quarterback. Until Cleveland finds that player, everything else becomes secondary.
The Browns can continue improving the offensive line. They can continue adding weapons. They can continue building one of the league’s better defenses. None of it matters if they do not solve the quarterback position. History has repeatedly shown that sustained championship contention in today’s NFL is almost impossible without high-level quarterback play. That reality creates a difficult timeline problem when discussing Garrett.
At 30 years old, Garrett remains at the peak of his ability. He is still the best edge defender in football and shows no immediate signs of slowing down. However, edge rushers eventually decline just like every other player. Cleveland had to determine whether Garrett’s remaining elite years would overlap with the point at which the rest of the roster is finally ready to compete for championships. The likely answer was no.
If the Browns spend the next year searching for a quarterback and then spend additional time developing that player, Garrett could realistically be entering his mid-30s before Cleveland reaches true contender status. While he would likely still be productive, expecting him to remain the dominant force he is today becomes increasingly unrealistic.
Rather than allowing that scenario to unfold, Cleveland capitalized on Garrett’s value at arguably the highest point it will ever be. The Browns recognized that while Garrett is still one of the league’s best players, he simply no longer matched the timeline of the organization.
Jared Verse Is The Key To The Entire Deal
The biggest reason this trade works for Cleveland is Jared Verse.
Had the Browns accepted a package consisting primarily of draft picks, the reaction would have been far different. Draft picks are valuable, but they are also projections. There is no guarantee any future selection becomes an impact player, let alone a foundational piece. Verse changes the equation entirely.
According to multiple reports, Cleveland made it clear throughout negotiations that any trade involving Garrett would require the inclusion of Verse. The Rams were initially reluctant to move the former Defensive Rookie of the Year, but eventually agreed once the rest of the compensation package was finalized.
It is easy to understand why the Browns viewed him as a non-negotiable piece. Verse is only 25 years old and already is one of the NFL’s premier edge defenders. Through two seasons, he has recorded 12 sacks and 22 tackles for loss while consistently generating pressure at one of the highest rates in football. According to Next Gen Stats, Verse ranks among the league leaders in quarterback pressures since entering the NFL, placing him in the same conversation as some of the game’s elite pass rushers.
While comparing him directly to Garrett would be unfair, Verse does not need to become Garrett for this trade to work. In many ways, Cleveland is acquiring exactly the type of player it needs. Verse is already a highly productive pass rusher, but he is still young enough that his best football may be ahead of him. There is a realistic scenario where Verse continues ascending over the next several seasons and enters the peak of his career just as the Browns are finally prepared to compete.
That timeline fit is critical. The Browns are effectively exchanging a 30-year-old superstar for a 25-year-old ascending star who could anchor the defense for the next decade. While Garrett is unquestionably the better player today, there is tremendous value in acquiring someone whose prime years better align with the rest of the roster.
Even if Verse never reaches anywhere close to Garrett’s level, he still projects as one of the league’s top edge defenders for years to come. For a rebuilding team, that type of player is invaluable.
The Draft Capital Could Shape Cleveland’s Future
While Verse headlines the return package, the draft compensation should not be overlooked. In addition to acquiring their new franchise edge rusher, the Browns received a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028, and a third-round pick in 2029. On paper, those selections may not appear overwhelming compared to some blockbuster trades of the past, particularly because they are spread across multiple years. However, their importance becomes clear when viewed within the context of Cleveland’s current situation.
The Browns are still searching for their quarterback of the future. Those additional picks provide flexibility that many rebuilding organizations desperately need. If Cleveland identifies a quarterback prospect in a future draft, those assets can be packaged together to move up the board. If a veteran quarterback becomes available via trade, the Browns now have additional ammunition to make the strongest offer. Cleveland now has the ability to cough up resources for a franchise quarterback while not just retaining their surrounding roster, but even continuing to improve it.
It is also important to remember that Cleveland now possesses a roster that is significantly younger than it was just a few seasons ago. The Browns have spent recent drafts adding foundational talent across multiple positions and now they have Jared Verse leading the way for their young star studded defense.
For a team that is still trying to determine what its next championship window will look like, accumulating young talent and draft resources is the smartest path forward. The Browns are losing arguably the best player in football, but there is a legitimate chance this move accelerates the rebuild rather than setting it back.
Especially considering the plethora of potential first round quarterback prospects next season, this deal was made at the perfect time. Whether it’s Julian Sayin, Dante Moore, Arch Manning, Drew Mestemaker, or another prospect who shoots up the big board; the Browns will have an opportunity to finally go get their franchise quarterback thanks to this deal.
The Rams Are Going All-In On A Championship
While Cleveland focused on the future, the Rams are focused entirely on the present. This trade is the latest example of an organization that has never been afraid to aggressively pursue elite talent. General manager Les Snead built a reputation around his willingness to sacrifice future assets in exchange for proven stars, and that philosophy has already resulted in a Super Bowl championship.
The Rams entered the offseason already viewed as one of the NFL’s premier contenders. The Rams were just in the NFC Championship, in what was arguably the true “Super Bowl” matchup. Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP season. Puka Nacua established himself as one of football’s most dangerous offensive weapons and emerged as an Offensive Player of the Year candidate. Sean McVay remains one of the sport’s premier head coaches and once again found himself in the Coach of the Year conversation. Overall, the Rams had maybe the very best offense in the league last year and not much had changed going into this upcoming season.
That unit should remain among the league’s elite as the only starter they lost was via the retirement of longtime right tackle Rob Havenstein. While losing a veteran leader is never ideal, Los Angeles appears well-positioned to handle the transition. Warren McClendon Jr. stepped into the starting lineup following Havenstein’s injury last season and performed at an exceptionally high level, earning elite marks from Pro Football Focus across 667 snaps. The Rams also selected Keagen Trost in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, further strengthening the depth at right tackle.
As long as Stafford, Nacua, and the rest of the offensive core remain healthy, there is little reason to expect any regression from a group that was already the league’s best. That is what makes the defensive additions so important.
Los Angeles Completely Transformed Its Defense
The Rams did not just trade for an edge rusher. They completely rebuilt their defense over the course of a single offseason.
Prior to acquiring Garrett, Los Angeles already made major additions to its secondary by bringing in Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Kam Curl. Those moves alone significantly upgraded a defensive backfield that experienced inconsistency throughout portions of last season, creating what on paper is an elite secondary unit. Adding Garrett takes the transformation to another level.
Since entering the league, Garrett has led the NFL in sacks, pressures, and tackles for loss. Offensive coordinators regularly build entire game plans around slowing him down, and even then he frequently dominates games. His ability to generate pressure without requiring exotic blitz packages creates opportunities for every defender around him.
Furthermore, this is the best surrounding defense Garrett himself has ever been on as well. Not only do the Rams have the remarkable new secondary led by McDuffie, but this is easily the strongest supporting cast Garrett has played with on the defensive line in his career.
Byron Young was tied for 8th in the league in sacks last season with 12, offering an incredible edge defender opposite of the DPOY. Out of interior defensive linemen Kobie Turner was tied for 4th in sacks with 7 last season, making Turner arguably the best defensive tackle Garrett has ever played alongside with. For reference, the other defensive tackles who had 7 sacks last season include Chris Jones, Leonard Williams, and Zach Allen. Throw in Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, and Josaiah Stewart; the defensive line playing around Garrett is ridiculous.
We have never seen Garrett on a defensive front this competent, so he has the potential to not just continue his dominance from last season, but he could potentially even break his own sack record. This team not only has a chance to lead the league in sacks, but the Rams may even have a chance to break the record for the most sacks in a season which currently sits at 72, a record held by the 1984 Chicago Bears.
Overall while the Rams did surrender a tremendous player in Verse, Garrett clearly remains the superior player. For a team operating within a championship window, maximizing current performance matters more than projecting future development and this was a clear upgrade.
The Clear Super Bowl Favorites
There are talented teams across the NFL. There are legitimate contenders across both conferences. The Rams now exist in a category of their own.
Los Angeles may have a team truly capable of going undefeated the entire season, and it wouldn’t even be surprising. The best offense in the league with arguably the best offensive mind in the world at head coach just added the best defensive player in the world.
Quite frankly, this team has the potential to sweep the major individual awards next season. Stafford could contend for another MVP. Nacua should once again find himself in the Offensive Player of the Year discussion. Garrett will immediately become one of the favorites for Defensive Player of the Year. McVay remains one of the strongest Coach of the Year candidates in football.
If this team stays healthy, there is no reason it should not enter every game expecting to win. Injuries and bad luck can always alter a season, but on paper, Los Angeles has assembled the league’s most talented roster possibly ever seen.
The most remarkable part is that the Rams may have simultaneously protected their future. By selecting Ty Simpson in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Los Angeles potentially secured its succession plan at quarterback before making this move. If Simpson develops into the player the organization believes he can become, the Rams may remain the Super Bowl favorite even after Stafford retires or suffers an injury.
Overall, both organizations accomplished exactly what they set out to do, but there is no question which team more-so improved its chances of hoisting a Lombardi Trophy. The Rams entered the offseason as contenders. They leave it looking like the only real answer to win Super Bowl LXI.
