By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The talk is everywhere around the NFL: Myles Garrett is headed to the Los Angeles Rams.
The blockbuster trade is one of the biggest moves of the offseason and fits the Rams’ recent history. This is a franchise that made a similar all-in move in 2021, acquiring quarterback Matthew Stafford before the season that ended with the Rams winning Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium.
Now, with Super Bowl LXI scheduled for Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the Rams are again pushing their chips to the center of the table. The message is clear: Los Angeles is chasing another championship on home turf.
The Browns agreed to trade Garrett to the Rams in exchange for defensive end Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick. Cleveland officially announced the deal Monday.
For Cleveland, the trade closes a major chapter. Garrett was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and became one of the best players in Browns history. He leaves as the franchise’s all-time sack leader with 125.5 sacks and as the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam acknowledged how difficult the move was.
“We met with Myles on Saturday and told him we are extremely grateful for all that he contributed to our team and to our community and that he will always be a Cleveland Brown,” the Haslams said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming him back at the appropriate time and wish him and his family only the best.”
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said the organization had hoped Garrett would spend his entire career in Cleveland, but the Rams’ offer forced the team to reconsider its direction.
Berry said the Browns reached a “legitimate crossroads” as talks intensified and ultimately decided the deal was best for the franchise’s long-term future. He also pointed to Verse as a key part of the return, calling him a young, elite player at a premium position.
Verse gives Cleveland a talented young pass rusher to build around. The former Florida State standout was drafted 19th overall by the Rams in 2024 and quickly became one of the league’s rising defensive players. In his first two NFL seasons, he appeared in 34 games, recording 124 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The reaction from sportsbooks was immediate. ESPN reported that DraftKings moved the Rams from 8-1 to 13-2 to win the Super Bowl after news of the trade. DraftKings Network listed the Rams’ Super Bowl odds moving from +750 to +600, with their NFC title odds improving from +425 to +300.
That kind of market shift shows how much respect Garrett commands. He is still producing at an elite level, and his arrival gives the Rams a game-changing defensive presence to pair with an already aggressive roster.
For the Rams, the move is bold, expensive and familiar. They have never been shy about sacrificing future draft picks for proven stars. It worked with Stafford. Now they are betting Garrett can help deliver another championship run in Los Angeles.