After coming 21st in the league in sacks in 2025, and with them still not having found a true complement to Pro Bowler Montez Sweat – after free agent signing Dayo Odeyingbo had a limited impact in year one with the franchise, the Chicago Bears are still very much in the hunt for high-level help at edge rusher.
No additions were made at the position either during free agency or the draft, and it remains at this point the biggest need on the roster for an organization that is looking to make a Super Bowl run in 2026.
One name that had popped up consistently as a trade possibility for the Bears – indeed in volume, second only to Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby – is two-time (and currently reigning) Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
Garrett has been rumored to have desired a trade away from the Cleveland Browns for well over a year at this point, although him signing a then-record breaking four year, $160 million extension in March 2025 abated noise on that front for a little while.
However, the former first overall pick has now been traded! But – unfortunately for Bears fans – to the Los Angeles Rams.
Bombshell: The Browns are finalizing a trade that will send two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, per @rapsheet, @TomPelissero and me.
In exchange for Garrett, the Rams are expected to send Pro-Bowl edge Jared Verse, a 2027
“Bombshell: The Browns are finalizing a trade that will send two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, per @rapsheet, @TomPelissero, and me.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on June 1.
“In exchange for Garrett, the Rams are expected to send Pro-Bowl edge Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick and other draft-pick compensation still being negotiated to the Browns.”
Bears Miss Out on Trade for Myles Garrett
Although there are always rumblings of a trade when elite players are stuck on franchises that have produced little success over their tenure, the trade talk heated up this past spring after the Browns made some modifications to Garrett’s contract that made him easier to trade.
“The Rams interest in Myles Garrett was sparked shortly after the Browns modified the contract of the seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end in March, pushing back the options bonuses from the 15th day of the league year in March to seven days before the start of the regular season, making it easier to trade him. And now the trade is happening.” Schefter wrote on X.
Sadly for Chicago, they could end up with the future Hall of Famer in their starting lineup. There had been no public statements from Bears’ officials confirming interest in the edge rusher, but their were reports of the team having offered two first round picks for Crosby earlier this year. It would be surprising if the interest was there for the Raiders man, but not for Garrett.
Multiple trade proposals over the past few days had linked the two as smart destinations for one another; Garrett could enter a contender with an emerging franchise quarterback, whilst for the Bears he could be the true “missing piece” from a potential championship team.
Alas, Garrett will turn his attention to the NFC. The one consolation for Chicago is that they will not play the Rams in the 2026 season.
Browns Get Unfortunate Myles Garrett Final Decision