Myles Garrett, widely regarded as the NFL’s most dangerous defender, is now a Los Angeles Ram after the Cleveland Browns agreed to a blockbuster trade that reshapes the balance of power in the league.
The Browns, who had publicly insisted they would not move the 30-year-old defensive end, will receive linebacker Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick in exchange. The deal was finalised after the Browns reworked Garrett’s contract in March, pushing back option bonuses in a move that made him easier to trade. Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry confirmed on Monday that discussions were under way, saying: “Nothing is final at this point, we are in discussions on a potential transaction including him. I’ll have a lot more to say on it once it becomes final, if it becomes final.”
Rams go all-in for Super Bowl glory
The acquisition almost certainly makes the Rams favourites to win Super Bowl LXI, which will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Valentine’s Day 2027. Head coach Sean McVay, a Super Bowl-winning coach, is desperate for another title while quarterback Matthew Stafford remains at an elite level. Stafford, 38, was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for the 2025 season after leading the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, posting a career-best passer rating of 109.2. He has indicated he will return for the 2026 campaign.
Garrett’s résumé explains why Los Angeles is prepared to pay such a heavy price. Over the last three seasons alone he has recorded an astonishing 51 sacks, the most of any player in the NFL. Last year he became the first player to record 12 sacks in six straight seasons, and in the 2025 season he broke the single-season sack record with 23. He has 125.5 career sacks, holds the Browns’ all-time record, and is the first player in league history to reach 100 sacks before his 29th birthday. A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, five-time first-team All-Pro and two-time Defensive Player of the Year (2023 and 2025), he has never won a Super Bowl. His injury record is near-flawless: he has missed only one game due to injury in the last six seasons.
The Rams had already bolstered their secondary heavily this offseason. They traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs, sending four draft picks to Kansas City, and then signed him to a contract extension reportedly worth $105 million — making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL at the time. They also signed former Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson to a three-year deal worth up to $51 million, with $34 million guaranteed, reuniting him with McDuffie. The total spending on the secondary this offseason exceeds $211 million. With Garrett joining a defensive line that now features an upgrade on Jared Verse — the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year who was sent to Cleveland — the Rams’ defence is expected to terrify opposing offences.
Los Angeles already possessed one of the league’s most explosive attacks, with Stafford throwing to elite weapons including Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. The addition of Garrett on defence, combined with the revamped secondary, puts the Rams in a “win now” window. Anything short of a Super Bowl victory at their own stadium will be considered a failure.
Garrett is expected to arrive in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, having recently returned from a holiday in Japan with his girlfriend, United States Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim. He signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension with the Browns in March 2025 — at the time the richest deal ever for a non-quarterback — which included a no-trade clause. That clause meant he had to approve any move.
Garrett first requested a trade on February 3, 2025, after the Browns finished 3-14 in the 2024 season, citing a “desire to win”. Talks between the Rams and Browns accelerated after the NFL draft at the end of April, according to NFL insiders. The Browns insisted that Verse, 25, be part of any deal. Verse was selected 19th overall by the Rams in the 2024 draft and had a standout rookie campaign.
The move also sets up one of the most competitive divisions in recent memory. The Rams will compete in the NFC West alongside the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, and fellow title contenders the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams open the 2026 season against the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia in September.
Browns begin rebuild under new head coach
For the Browns, the trade marks the start of a significant recalibration under new head coach Todd Monken. Monken, hired to replace Kevin Stefanski, now has two first-round picks in the coveted 2027 draft — a vital asset for a rebuilding franchise. Hours before the trade was announced, Monken said he had never been given a guarantee that Garrett would remain with the team in 2026.
Cleveland also underwent a coaching shake-up that may have nudged Garrett towards the exit. The Browns hired Monken over their highly-rated defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who then resigned. Schwartz’s departure meant the Browns lost a defensive leader, and there are suggestions it helped push Garrett closer to leaving. The Browns retain Schwartz’s contractual rights for two seasons, meaning he cannot coach elsewhere without a trade.
Garrett, who turns 31 in December, was the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. He stands 6’4″ and weighs 272 lbs. His nicknames include “Superman” and “Big Foot”. He has never won a Super Bowl in nine seasons with Cleveland. Now he joins a team that has made clear it will stop at nothing to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy on Valentine’s Day 2027.
