Bengals just won big after latest NFL blockbuster trade sends their worst nightmare as far away as possible
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals no longer have to face defensive end Myles Garrett twice a season. Garrett is being traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Cincinnati Bengals no longer have to face defensive end Myles Garrett twice a season.
Garrett is being traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Los Angeles Rams in return for DE Jared Verse, and three future NFL Draft picks including L.A.’s 2027 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, and 2020 third-round pick.
The trade has not been officially processed as of this posting. When it goes through, Cincinnati can sit back and exhale.
Bengals no longer have to worry about Myles Garrett
No player in the AFC North has been a larger headache for the Bengals than Garrett. The first overall pick from the 2017 NFL Draft is already a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he calls it a career. Much of his legendary production has come at the Bengals’ expense.
17 of Garrett’s 125.5 sacks have been on Cincinnati quarterbacks. Joe Burrow has taken 12.5 of them in his career. No player in the NFL has sacked Burrow more since 2020.
“He’s the focus of our game plan every time we play them, it’s no secret,” Burrow said after losing to Garrett’s Browns in Week 18 of last season. “You have to. And it’s challenging because you have to commit resources to that, and that takes away resources from from elsewhere. But for the most part, we’re pretty good against him today, but you can see how impactful we have no help on him one time he gets one. He’s an aware, elite player that you have to revolve your game plan around.”
Twice a year Burrow and the Bengals have had to scheme around Garrett and the nightmare his is off the edge. No longer.
Who will take Garrett’s place?
Verse is already one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. The No. 19 pick in the 2024 draft won Defensive Rookie of the Year, and has 12 sacks and two Pro Bowls to his name. He turns 26 in November.
Verse makes complete sense for the Browns in this trade as he has two years left on his rookie contract, and can produce great results immediately.
Cleveland is indeed getting a great player in return for Garrett, but sending the latter away only emphasizes a greater point for the Bengals.
This year becomes even more important for Cincy to win
Cincinnati was already in position to capitalize on its division. The other three AFC North clubs have new head coaches. Retaining Zac Taylor and loading his defense up with quality veterans gives the Bengals a real chance at climbing back to the top.
Cleveland never won the AFC North with Garrett, but his presence alone always made it tough for Cincy to snag even one divisional victory against the Browns. He was that much of a game-wrecker.
Verse is no slouch, but until he proves he’s on Garrett’s level, Cleveland is now an easier opponent for the Bengals to plan and play against.
The literal pressure may be knocked down a notch on Burrow and Co. in this year, but taking advantage of both matchups becomes significant in Cincinnati’s quest to win the division for the first time since 2022.