The Cleveland Browns have agreed to trade reigning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster deal that sends 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse and multiple high-value draft picks to Cleveland, the team announced Monday. The trade marks the end of an era for the Browns, who selected Garrett with the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft and watched him develop into arguably the most dominant defensive player of his generation.
The deal, executed as a post-June 1 transaction, sends Verse — the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year — along with a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick to Cleveland in exchange for the two-time Defensive Player of the Year. The trade reshapes the NFL landscape, giving the Rams an immediate Super Bowl window with Garrett joining forces alongside Aaron Donald's successor Kobie Turner and a loaded offensive roster featuring Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Kyren Williams.
How the Trade Unfolded: From Trade Request to Blockbuster Deal
Garrett's departure from Cleveland was set in motion over 16 months ago when he publicly requested a trade in February 2025. In a statement released at the time, Garrett said: "While I've loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete for a Super Bowl has always been my driving force. I just don't think we're aligned on the team's near future." The Browns initially resisted, with general manager Andrew Berry publicly stating the team had no intention of trading its franchise cornerstone.
Instead of trading him, the Browns doubled down in March 2025, signing Garrett to a record four-year, $204.8 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Garrett rewarded that faith with a historic 2025 season, recording an NFL-record 23 sacks to break Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt's previous mark of 22.5. But the Browns stumbled to a 5-12 record, and with the organization facing a lengthy rebuild, both sides ultimately recognized that a fresh start made sense.
Timeline: How the Garrett Era Unfolded in Cleveland
April 2017: The Browns select Myles Garrett with the first overall pick in the NFL draft out of Texas A&M, where he recorded 32.5 sacks in three collegiate seasons.
2017-2019: Garrett shows flashes of dominance despite missing time with injuries, recording 23.5 sacks over his first three seasons. His 2019 season is marred by a suspension for his infamous brawl with Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph.
2020-2023: Garrett establishes himself as the NFL's premier pass rusher. He wins his first Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023 after posting 16 sacks and 4 forced fumbles, helping lead the Browns to an 11-6 record and a playoff berth. He earns first-team All-Pro honors each season from 2020 through 2024.
February 2025: Garrett publicly requests a trade, citing his "desire to win" as the Browns come off a 3-14 season. He consults with Cleveland sports icon LeBron James before making the announcement.
March 2025: Rather than accommodate the request, the Browns sign Garrett to a four-year, $204.8 million extension, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
2025 Season: Garrett delivers the greatest pass-rushing season in NFL history with 23 sacks, breaking the single-season record. Despite his heroics, the Browns finish 5-12.
June 1, 2026: The Browns and Rams finalize a blockbuster trade sending Garrett to Los Angeles for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick.
Why the Trade Makes Sense for Both Sides
For the Los Angeles Rams, the trade represents an all-in move to maximize their Super Bowl window. At 30 years old, Garrett is still in his prime and coming off arguably the greatest pass-rushing season in NFL history. Pairing him with a defense that already featured rising stars positions the Rams as immediate NFC contenders. General Manager Les Snead, known for his aggressive "f*** them picks" philosophy, once again demonstrates his willingness to mortgage future assets for present success.
"Trading Jared Verse was difficult," a Rams insider noted to Sports Illustrated. "But the Rams viewed Myles Garrett as a rare opportunity to maximize their Super Bowl window." Verse, the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year who recorded 9 sacks in his debut season, was seen as the necessary centerpiece to make the deal happen.
For the Browns, the trade is about accumulating assets for a rebuild. Cleveland had gone 58-90-1 over Garrett's nine seasons — an average of 10 losses per year — making only one playoff appearance during that span. By acquiring Verse — a 24-year-old edge rusher with All-Pro potential on a rookie contract — along with three premium draft picks, Berry positions the Browns for a more sustainable future. The post-June 1 designation also significantly reduces the dead cap hit, allowing Cleveland to absorb roughly $15.5 million in dead money this season rather than a crippling $36.7 million.
What Comes Next: A New Chapter for a Legendary Pass Rusher
Myles Garrett joins a Rams team that believes it can compete for a Super Bowl immediately. With Matthew Stafford still playing at a high level and an offensive core that includes Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams, Los Angeles has the firepower to make a deep playoff run. Garrett's presence transforms a Rams defense that struggled to generate consistent pressure in 2025.
"I'm committed to winning, and I want to go to a team that's playing for a Super Bowl," Garrett said during his initial trade request. He now gets that opportunity in Los Angeles, where the Rams went to the playoffs in 2024 and view themselves as perennial contenders in the NFC.
For the Browns, the focus shifts to developing Jared Verse as their new cornerstone edge rusher and using their stockpile of draft picks to address a roster that needs talent at nearly every position. Verse, who recorded 9 sacks as a rookie and 12 more in 2025, gives Cleveland a young building block who could develop into a perennial Pro Bowler.
Key Takeaways: Everything You Need to Know
- The Trade: Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams; Jared Verse, 2027 1st-round pick, 2028 2nd-round pick, 2029 3rd-round pick to the Cleveland Browns
- Garrett's Browns Legacy: 125.5 sacks (franchise record), 412 tackles, 149 TFL, 23 forced fumbles, 7 Pro Bowls, 5 first-team All-Pro selections, 2 Defensive Player of the Year awards (2023, 2024)
- Record-Breaking 2025: 23 sacks, breaking the NFL single-season record previously held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt
- Contract: Garrett had four years remaining on his $204.8 million extension signed in March 2025
- Rams Outlook: Immediate Super Bowl contenders in the NFC with Garrett joining an already talented roster
- Browns Outlook: Rebuilding with young talent and premium draft capital, led by new cornerstone Jared Verse
