Grading the trade: Cleveland Browns ship Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in the blockbuster move of the year
One of the biggest trades in NFL history just made headlines. The Cleveland Browns have shipped Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for a big return.
With how rocky the Cleveland Browns’ relationship has been with Myles Garrett as of late, it seems more and more likely they would be parting ways.
On the first day the Browns could trade Garrett and it was financially possible (June 1), they agreed to send him to the Los Angeles Rams. Garrett gets to go and compete for a Super Bowl, while the Browns hope to speed up their rebuild.
Grading the Myles Garrett trade from the Cleveland Browns to the Los Angeles Rams
According to Adam Schefter, the Browns are finalizing a deal to trade Garrett to the Rams in exchange for EDGE Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick.
Garrett’s actions this offseason have pointed to this becoming a real possibility. He hasn’t met Browns head coach Todd Monken despite him being in place since the end of January, and he’s made zero effort to attend any of the voluntary work to get acclimated in a new system.
Cleveland is on one timeline where they’re trying to open a Super Bowl window and trying to get back to being a playoff team, while Garrett wants to go and compete for a Super Bowl now.
The Browns getting back Verse is as well as the Browns could have done in terms of a player at the same position. Verse is no Garrett, but he’s already a two-time Pro Bowler who had 7.5 sacks a season ago, and 4.5 sacks as a rookie.
Cleveland now has two first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft which is expected to be a strong one. The Browns now have more ammo to trade up for their quarterback if need be, or to continue stacking talent.
Trading Garrett is Cleveland’s best chance at speeding up the rebuild and by getting back Verse they’ll at least maintain a capable pass rush.
There’s no one who wanted to see Garrett be moved following his second Defensive Player of the Year award and a 23-sack season. But it’s a business at the end of the day and tough decisions have to be made. The Browns are worse off for this in 2026, but could be better off for it in the future.
Initial grade: B-